The stormwater rate covers the City's costs to provide stormwater services to customers. Each developed parcel in the City is subject to the stormwater utility charge. Drainage from most properties enters or impacts the City stormwater system in some manner. Vehicles traveling to those parcels impact stormwater on the City streets. Stormwater facilities, which include pipes and catch basins in City streets and treatment and flow control facilities require continual maintenance and improvement.
The stormwater utility supports capital improvement projects for flood control, erosion, conveyance improvements, and regional water quality or detention facilities. The utility also monitors and improves the health of local streams, constructs habitat improvement projects, and responds to State and Federal regulatory and permitting requirements. The cost to finance these services is recovered through user fees and rates.