Title
Stormwater Rate Structure Project Update
Recommended Action:
UAC Deliverable: No action; briefing only.
Report
Issue:
Receive a briefing on the Stormwater Utility's efforts to update the impervious surfaces associated with its current commercial stormwater accounts; the Utility's proposed new rate structure, and the Utility's proposed approach to communication and outreach of the proposed new Stormwater rate structure.
Staff Contact:
Susan Clark, Engineering and Planning Supervisor, Public Works Water Resources, 360.753.8321
Presenter:
Susan Clark
Background and Analysis:
Commercial Property Impervious Surfaces Update
Since the Stormwater Utility was created in 1990, commercial accounts (including multi-family, industrial and government properties) have been charged stormwater fees based on a property's quantity of impervious surfaces (e.g. roof tops, driveways, concrete paving, parking areas).
In 2016, the Stormwater Utility hired a consultant to map impervious surfaces throughout the City based on Light Detection and Ranging (Lidar) data. The purpose of this work effort was to evaluate land coverage by drainage basin and verify impervious surfaces for stormwater billing purposes.
When Utility staff compared the consultant's impervious surfaces data to the impervious surface's quantities billed to commercial customers, discrepancies in the amount of actual impervious surfaces located on individuals parcels versus quantities used for billing purposes were found. Such discrepancies resulted in instances of both overbilling and underbilling of commercial accounts. Further analysis found billing errors occurred for the following reasons:
* Parcel boundaries and impervious surfaces are now mapped electronically. In the 1990s, when stormwater accounts were established, parcel boundaries and impervious surfaces were estimated. At the time, an appeal rates process was established in the municipal code.
* Initial Utility billing setup is done ...
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