The coming storm:Managing Roanoke’sStormwater Infrastructure Challenges

Solutions for Roanoke’s future

City of Roanoke – Engineering Division

Stormwater Utility Fee

• What is a stormwater utility fee?

• Why is it needed?

• How will I be affected?

City of Roanoke – Engineering Division

Stormwater Fee

• A stormwater fee (or utility) is similar to electric, telephone or cable TV charges. Fees are collected for specific services provided.

• Roanoke City Council authorized staff to develop a stormwater fee framework on July 20, 2009

• City Council will consider the program in late fall 2009

• Two public Hearings will be held – November-December

• Planned adoption in early 2010

City of Roanoke – Engineering Division

Dedicated Special Revenue

Dedicated to Operation and Maintenance of public stormwater systems

• Real Property for capital improvements

• Engineering design

• Construction costs

• Monitoring of control devices

• Regulatory compliance and enforcement

• Pollution control and abatement

• Maintenance of stormwater facilities

• Program Administration

City of Roanoke – Engineering Division

Stormwater Fee

• All developed properties contribute runoff and

pollutants

• Fees are assessed in proportion to a property’s

contribution to runoff

• Runoff is proportional to Impervious Surface

• Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) is

regulated for water quality

• Service area is the City of Roanoke

City of Roanoke – Engineering Division

Stormwater Fee - Background

• Roanoke has 13 major rivers and streams

• 9 of these are listed as impaired for water quality by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)

• The amount of runoff is related to the amount of impervious surface, that is, roofs, driveways, parking areas

• Runoff carries pollutants to our rivers and streams

City of Roanoke – Engineering Division

Stormwater Fee

• Roanoke’s storm drain system is aging and has numerous improvement needs

• No major storm drain improvement projects have been undertaken in more than a generation

• Nearly 200 projects have been identified

• Current management approach may not allow Roanoke to meet minimum water quality standards

• There is an urgent and compelling need to upgrade Roanoke’s stormwater system immediately

City of Roanoke – Engineering Division

Stormwater Fee

• Current budget provides funding for only most urgent issues

• Proposed stormwater fee provides necessary financial resources to protect the city’s water quality now and in the future

• Water quality improvement is a community responsibility. We all contribute to the problem, and we all need to work together on the solution

City of Roanoke – Engineering Division

Roanoke’s Identified Stormwater Needs

• Capital Improvements

$60+ million, approximately 200 projects

• Maintenance and repair of aging infrastructure

• Stormwater quality regulatory requirements for MS4– VPDES Permit

– TMDL

– Impaired waterways

City of Roanoke – Engineering Division

Typical Drainage Issues

Delaware Avenue

City of Roanoke – Engineering Division

Typical Drainage Issues

Fresno Street

City of Roanoke – Engineering Division

Typical Drainage Issues

Cove Road

Beverly Boulevard

City of Roanoke – Engineering Division

Typical Drainage Problems

Old Mountain Road

Melrose Avenue

City of Roanoke – Engineering Division

Proposed Stormwater Utility

• Cash funded program based on collected revenue

• Capacity to implement $3.0 million in new projects annually

• Build a maintenance reserve (5%)

• Offer incentives and /or credits for those willing to go beyond regulatory requirements or retrofit existing facilities

City of Roanoke – Engineering Division

Proposed Projects

• Projects have been identified for the first three years of the program– Neighborhood Projects

– Average project value $105,000

• An incremental approach to correcting our stormwater problems

City of Roanoke – Engineering Division

2012 39 Projects $2.7M2010 20 Projects $2.7M

City of Roanoke – Engineering Division

2011 29 Projects $2.9M

City of Roanoke – Engineering Division

2012 39 Projects $2.7M

City of Roanoke – Engineering Division

Shovel Ready Projects

• Camille Avenue-Moomaw Avenue

• Westside Boulevard

• Andrews Road

• King Street and Belle Avenue

City of Roanoke – Engineering Division

Program Outline

• $3.00 per month per Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) for residential properties

• Non-residential properties will be assessed on the measured impervious surface– $3.00 per month per 1,920 square feet of impervious

surface

• Estimated annual revenue $3.6 million

• 1/3 residential, 2/3 non-residential

City of Roanoke – Engineering Division

Current Stormwater Utilities in Virginia

Locality NPDES Phase I /Phase II

Single-Family Residential Stormwater Fee(per month)

Non-residential Stormwater Fee(per month)

Total Annual Revenue Generated

City ofNorfolk, VA

Phase I $8.08 Non-Residential - $8.08/2000 ft2 of impervious area/day

$10.6 million

City of Virginia Beach, VA

Phase I $6.05 $6.05 per 2,269 sq. ft. of impervious area

$15.0 million

City of Portsmouth, VA

Phase I $6.00 $6.00 per 1,877 sq. ft. of impervious area

$4.6 million

City of Newport News, VA

Phase I $5.10 $5.10 per 1,777 sq. ft. of impervious area

$8.5 million

City of Hampton, VA

Phase I $4.60 $4.60 per 2,429 sq. ft. of impervious area

$4.8 million

City of Chesapeake, VA

Phase I $6.83 $6.83 per 2,112 sq. ft. of impervious area

$6.2 million

HRPDC/City of Suffolk

Phase II $5.24 $5.24 per 3,200 sq. ft. of impervious area

$3.5 million

City of Roanoke – Engineering Division

Proposed Stormwater Utility

• All developed properties pay the fee

• Exemptions

– Follow the state code for required exemptions, generally public streets and City property

– Vacant unimproved properties

– “Self contained” drainage systems

City of Roanoke – Engineering Division

Proposed Stormwater Utility

• Credits and Incentives– Development

– Existing Properties

• Stormwater management facilities that exceed minimum requirements

• Credits must be proportional to the permanent reduction in runoff and pollutant loading

City of Roanoke – Engineering Division

Schedule Milestones

• Authorize formal development July 20, 2009

• Verify utility rates and revenues July - Oct 2009

• Develop Credits and Incentives July – Oct 2009

• Public Education/Information Sept – Nov 2009

• Interim Progress Briefing Nov 2, 2009

Authorize public hearings

• Hold Public Hearings Dec 2009

• Adopt Ordinance Jan 4, 2010

• Begin Project Construction 1st Quarter 2010