The City of Johnston is exploring the concept of implementing a stormwater utility fee. Below is a list of frequently asked questions about the stormwater utility fee.
What are stormwater utility fees?
Like gas, electricity, water, and sewage, stormwater runoff can be managed as a utility and billed as a fee. The fee is based on the concept that every property in a watershed contributes runoff and should support the operation, maintenance, and rehabilitation of the stormwater drainage system in the watershed. The amount of support is based on the amount of runoff the property contributes to the stormwater drainage system. The amount of runoff a property contributes is directly proportional to the amount of impervious area that is on the property.
For the City of Johnston, a stormwater utility fee would be a new fee the City would implement to fund stormwater expenses. Specifically, the revenue from the fee would be used to fund activities that would maintain and improve the infrastructure that transports stormwater in the City plus fund activities that would improve the quality of the stormwater discharged to creeks in the City. Every property owner within the City would be billed for the stormwater utility fee. The stormwater utility fee would be based on the amount of impervious area on the property.
What is stormwater?
Stormwater is the runoff that results from rainfall. As this water flows over construction sites, farm fields, lawns, driveways, parking lots, and streets, it picks up sediment, nutrients, bacteria, metals, pesticides, and other pollutants. Unlike sanitary sewers that go to a treatment plant, most stormwater is discharged directly to local water bodies. Increasing amounts of impervious surfaces in urban areas, such as roof tops, driveways, parking lots, and streets, decreases the ability of the water to soak into the ground, thus increasing the amount of stormwater. More stormwater places more demands on the City’s stormwater infrastructure.
What is an impervious surface?
An impervious surface is a hard surface that does not allow rain to absorb into the ground. Impervious surfaces increase stormwater runoff. Examples of impervious surfaces are roofs, parking lots, streets, sidewalks, and driveways.
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Who pays the fees?
Owners of all developed land in the City of Johnston would pay the stormwater utility fee. This includes residential properties, commercial properties, industrial properties, churches, and other non-profit organizations. Undeveloped land is not charged stormwater utility fees because it does not have impervious surfaces.
How are stormwater utility fees charged?
Property owners are charged stormwater management fees based on the total impervious surface area on the property. This impervious area for a property is defined by the total number of ERUs. An ERU (equivalent residential unit) is a measure of impervious surface on a property. The City of Johnston has established one ERU as 4,000 square feet of impervious surface. Thus, the stormwater utility fee system is based on the total impervious surface area divided by one ERU.
All single family dwelling properties are charged a minimum of one ERU, properties with greater than one ERU of impervious surface are charged for the total ERUs but not more than a total of 4 ERUs. For example: a residential property with 8,000 square feet of total impervious surface would be billed for 2.0 ERUs.
How will stormwater utility fees be used?
The stormwater management fees pay for operations and maintenance costs of the stormwater management benefits and services and may include but are not limited to the provision of adequate systems of collection, conveyance, detention, treatment and release of stormwater; the reduction of hazard to property and life resulting from stormwater runoff and flooding; improvement in general health and welfare through reduction of undesirable stormwater conditions and flooding; and improvement to the water quality in the stormwater and surface water system and its receiving waters.
How was the ERU rate determined for Johnston?
To determine the appropriate level of revenue needed to fund the utility, the City first analyzed the unmet needs of the stormwater utility system. The following list of critical projects was developed through the work completed with the Watershed Assessment and Stormwater Management Plan (this is a large file and may take some time to download) since that time other critical projects have been identified through the Capital Improvement Program and the following are the projects currently identified:
Additionally, the City the City Council is considering setting aside a portion of the stormwater utility revenue annually for operations and maintenance of the stormwater management system, with the intent of doing preventative maintenance to reduce the number of future capital improvement program projects. These funds would be used to correct minor deficiencies in the stormwater system (replacing flared end sections, cleaning drainageways, adding rip rap or stabilization to eroding channels, etc.). Using those projects and expenses, the City worked with Northland Securities, the City’s financial advisor to determine the minimum fee necessary to fund those projects over a long term basis. The result of their work is summarized in a November 16, 2011 memo.
How much are stormwater management fees?
The recommendation from the financial analysis noted above is the need for a fee of $4.90 per ERU per month beginning July 1, 2012, with an annual adjustment of 5%. However, the City Council is reviewing various components of the proposed Stormwater Utility, as currently drafted the starting ERU rate would be $4.55, with no planned increases. However, the City Council will review the rate annually to determine if any changes are necessary
The stormwater management fees are billed by the Johnston Water Utility and are made payable monthly at the same time payment for City water and garbage is made.
What are the next steps for the stormwater utility fee?
On December 5, 2011, the City Council conducted a public hearing to consider an Ordinance implementing the Stormwater Utility and conducted a public input meeting regarding a proposed Storm Water Utility on Monday, February 13, 2012. A copy of the City Staff presentation regarding the stormwater management needs and how a stormwater utility can be utilized to address those needs is available here . Follwing these meeting, changes have been made to the ordinance and the City Council has scheduled a public hearing for Monday, March 5, 2012, at 7:00 p.m. The public can attend this meeting to provide any input on the proposed ordinance. In addition, written comments and questions can be directed to David Wilwerding, Community Development Director at the contact information listed below at any time.
Do other cities have stormwater user-fees?
Yes. A number of municipalities in the United States have established stormwater utilities to fund their stormwater management programs and facilities. Communities in central Iowa include Altoona, Ames, Clive, Des Moines, Norwalk, Urbandale, Waukee, Windsor Heights and West Des Moines.
A current draft of the stormwater utility ordinance is available here. Please note, this draft is still being developed and may be updated prior to the February 13th, meeting.
Persons seeking more information or wishing to comment on this proposed amendment may review the ordinance at City Hall during workdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or contact David Wilwerding at 727-7775 or by email at dwilwerding@ci.johnston.ia.us.
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