5.5. SR 01-18-1994
rei --'\j
( );
ffi~
ITEM 5.5.
TO:
MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM:
PATRICK KLAERS, CIT~~MINISTRATOR
JANUARY 12, 1994 }~~
DATE:
SUBJECT: STORM SEWER FEES
Storm drainage has been an issue of significant concern for the
City Council throughout 1993. The guidelines for an overall
plan was first discussed at a 4/24/93 worksession in which the
City Council indicated that the City Engineer was moving in the
right direction in formulating a city-wide comprehensive plan
and that he should continue his efforts. Also, a motion was
approved directing staff to evaluate financial options for
implementing a storm drainage system throughout the entire
city. 1993 was somewhat of wet year, which caused the City to
pay even more attention to storm drainage issues.
e
The Comprehensive Storm Drainage Plan was presented in a
preliminary fashion at the 9/13/93 meeting. At this time, the
City Council found the Plan to be acceptable and discussed
funding options. Also at this time, the City Council
authorized staff to continue working on the cost, timing, and
funding, of the major storm drainage problems in the City
including the Deerfield III, SChultz/Deschenes, and Main/Evans
Avenue areas.
At the 10/25/93 City Council meeting, a number of storm
drainage issues were again discussed by the Council including a
review of the bid for the Deerfield III project. At this
10/25/93 meeting, the Council directed staff to send a memo to
Elk River Utilities informing them of the possibility of having
them do the billing for storm sewer fees. This letter was sent
by the Finance Director to the Utilities Superintendent.
Financing mechanisms for a comprehensive storm drainage program
included an impact fee against development projects and a
city-wide fee that would be collected through the Municipal
Utilities from all, or most, property owners.
e
Most recently, on 1/8/94, the City Council held a worksession
on a number of engineering related issues. Included in this
worksession was an update on the Comprehensive Storm Drainage
Plan. At this meeting, the costs for the three most urgently
needed storm drainage improvements projects were reviewed as
well as the current negative status of the storm sewer fund.
The City Council directed staff to continue to work on issues
to move forward in 1994 on the Deerfield III and
Schultz/Deschenes projects. An additional funding method, a
city-wide levy for storm drainage problems, was reviewed as an
option by the City Council. Staff was directed to provide more
information on the ramifications of such a city-wide levy.
Additionally, this storm drainage funding issue was directed to
P.O. Box 490 · 13065 Orono Parkway · Elk River, MN 55330 · (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425
e
e
e
be put on the 1/18/94 City Council agenda. In this regard, the
City Council indicated its intent to formally pass a motion
that would request the Elk River Municipal Utilities assistance
and participation in the establishment and billing of a
city-wide storm drainage fee.
The City Council will decide the actual billing amount or fee
based on land utilization. This issue is expected to reach the
City Council in February, 1994 for a final decision on the
rates for various developed and undeveloped parcels of property
in the City.
a motion
working
utility
It is recommended that the City Council approve
requesting the Elk River Municipal Utilities to begin
with the City in the anticipation of the storm drainage
fee being first sent out in the July, 1994 bills.