Stormwater runoff fee
From:
Jim Hartmann
Date:
2007 Jul 31 01:07 UTC
Short link
I just got off the phone talking with a representative of the Minneapolis
Stormwater runoff utility. This is the agency behind the "Stormwater Fee" you
see on your monthly water bill. In my case, $12.21 per month. I like to call
it the "rain fee".
The fee is based upon measurements of the impervious surface area of your
Minneapolis property, measurements made on aerial photograph of your property.
I have a problem with my fee because a large portion of the impervious surfaces
on my property lie below street level. There's no way for any runoff from that
part of my property to reach the stormwater system - no way except a flood of
Noahic proportions.
My discussion with the representative bore no fruit and I was left feeling as
frustrated as before. He says that the ordinance is not "ideal" in a "perfect
world". And it does not really matter whether runoff from my impervious
surfaces reaches the storm sewers. It's a "more fair" system than the old one,
where we paid for storm sewers in proportion to how much city water we used.
I found it strange that it didn't matter that my surfaces didn't runoff into
the storm sewers... That arguement seems to contradict the city's policy of
allowing credits for "improving the quality" or reducing the amount of runnoff
and it's in direct conflict with paragraph g. of the ordinance. The words
"runoff from their property that enters the system" stand out. How can I
improve the quality of runoff that doesn't exist?
I've complained about the fee to my city council person Betsy Hodges. I got
sympathy and promises to check into it.
I wonder how many other people feel like they are being cheated by this fee?
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/stormwater/fee/Stormwater_FAQ.asp
Paragraph G of the Stormwater Utility Ordinance:
g. Analyze the appropriateness of providing credits against the stormwater
charge for owners of property who employ structural or non-structural best
management practices or other stormwater management practices on-site that
significantly reduce the quantity or improve the quality of stormwater runoff
from their property that enters the system and make recommendations to the
city council regarding the provision of these credits.
.