Stormwater Utility Fee Hike Up For Consideration In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — After Alexandria City Council delayed the final consideration date for the proposed doubling of the stormwater utility fee, an initial vote is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 26 and the public hearing and final vote are scheduled for Feb. 20.

The stormwater utility fee, first adopted in 2017, provides dedicated funding for the city's stormwater management program to address impacts of stormwater pollution and flooding. A proposed fee increase was brought forward by the manager to accelerate storm sewer capacity capital improvement projects, spot improvements and system maintenance in response to severe flash flooding events on July 8, 2019; July 23, 2020 and Sept. 10, 2020. One major issue identified from the flash flooding events was that the city's 10-year storm design standard for the stormwater infrastructure was not sufficient for the rainfall produced by those three storms.

If approved by City Council, the stormwater utility fee would increase in two phases. In June 2021, the fee would be raised from the current $140 per billing unit to $210. In November 2021, it would be raised to $280, effectively doubling it from the current rate. The city manager estimated the fee increase would generate $14.8 million in the current calendar year.

"Immediate funding authorization would allow the City to start adding staff and resources now to urgently accelerate storm sewer capacity projects, spot improvements and system maintenance," City Manager Mark Jinks wrote in a memo to City Council. "Given the urgency of the situation it is recommended that Council act now, so staff recruitment and project planning does not lose six months waiting for the annual budget process decision making."

With the proposal, City Council is asked to provide guidance to the city manager to follow an accelerated approach for addressing flood mitigation in upcoming proposed budgets. This would impact the city manager's upcoming proposed fiscal year 2022 operating budget and 2022-2031 capital improvement program.

City Council will also consider the creation of an Ad Hoc Stormwater Utility and Flood Mitigation Advisory Group with the fee increase proposal. At a Jan. 12 City Council meeting, Councilman John Taylor Chapman proposed the advisory group to monitor the planning and implementation progress of major storm sewer capacity projects, spot improvements and increased system maintenance. The group would also advise on future stormwater utility fee rates after considering annual operating and capital budget proposals. The nine-member group is envisioned to have representation from civic associations in affected areas or with citywide interest, as well as individuals with experience and technical knowledge.

The proposed stormwater utility fee increase is the primary recommendation of the interdepartmental strike team flooding management task force created in September 2020 in response to recent flash flooding events. The task force also recommended developing programs for flood mitigation on private property to include a pilot grant program and ongoing technical assistance support. The third recommendation is enhancing the city's flood early warning systems by adding new stream and flow gauges; upgrading rainfall data collection capabilities and flood warning systems; upgrading alert capabilities; increasing flood-related watches, advisories, and warnings; exploring a real-time rain and stream gauge dashboard; and expanding flood warning road signage.

To date, the city's 10-year stormwater management plan has earmarked more funding for stormwater quality projects than capacity projects to address federal and state stormwater mandates. Under the new plan, there would be $170 million planned for capacity projects in the fiscal years 2022-2031 plan compared to the current $19 million in the 2021-2030 plan. That equates to 11 projects, eight more than the projects funded in the current plan. Quality projects have $51 million in the 2021-2030 plan and $17 million in the 2022-2031 plan. The plan would also increase funding for spot improvements and maintenance.