AGENDA DATE: 4/11/2018
TITLE:
Title
Stormwater Program Discussion
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Update the Board on work to date on the Stormwater program. Review initial assumptions from the Water Resources Committee and provide the Board the opportunity to discuss and direct staff on how to proceed with exploring water resources program funding alternatives.
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Letteri, Walker, Kamptner, Henry, Harper
PRESENTER (S): Greg Harper
LEGAL REVIEW: Not Required
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: : For the last several years, Albemarle County has been considering how to best support water resource programs that comply with federal and state mandates and that meet growing community expectations. Attachment A includes a brief history of Board actions related to this effort. In 2014, the Board appointed an advisory committee to develop recommendations and the committee produced a report summarizing their recommendations in 2015 (Attachment B). On September 7, 2016, the Board took the following actions and directed staff to take steps necessary to establish a stormwater utility.
• affirmed the level of service represented by the recommended 10-Year Program Plan
• supported the recommendation to establish a stormwater utility
Since July 2017, the Board has received several updates on progress made in establishing a utility. In addition, the Board has had an opportunity to review the major programs to be supported by the utility and a revised summary of projected program costs over a 10-year planning horizon (Attachment C).
STRATEGIC PLAN: Infrastructure Investment - Prioritize, plan, and invest in critical infrastructure that responds to past and future changes and improves the capacity to serve community needs. Natural Resources Stewardship - Thoughtfully protect and manage Albemarle County’s ecosystems and natural resources in both the rural and development areas to safeguard the quality of life of current and future generations.
DISCUSSION: Beginning in June 2017, staff - with assistance from a consultant - have been working with stakeholder representatives to determine a suitable method by which to compute utility fees for each County parcel. Details associated with a draft methodology have been publicly-available as early as December 2017 and were further circulated through the posting of frequently asked questions to the County website on March 8th. This information has resulted in an abundance of community feedback to Board members.
Per direction from the Board at its March 29 budget work session, today’s work session will be an opportunity for the Board to receive a brief update on the effort to develop an alternative means of funding water resources programs, to share current views, to discuss options for moving forward, and to provide direction to staff.
BUDGET IMPACT: The proposed FY19 Budget fully supports current water resources programs and, using one-time funds, provides funding to begin the implementation of new programs - previously presented as grey and green infrastructure. There is no further impact in FY18 or FY19.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Provide direction to staff on how to proceed with exploring water resources program funding alternatives.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A - History of Board Meetings and Actions
Attachment B - Recommendations Report of Advisory Committee (2015)
Attachment C - Water Resources 10-Year Program Cost Estimates