Title
A Resolution to Amend Resolution No. 208-23 Increasing the 2024 Mesa Drainage Basin Fee
Presenter:
Richard Mulledy, P.E., Deputy Public Works Director, Enterprises;
Erin Powers, P.E., Stormwater Compliance Program Manager
Body
Summary:
At the April 9, 2024 meeting, the Colorado Springs/El Paso County Drainage Board approved an increase of $16,966 per acre for the Mesa Drainage Basin drainage fee. The existing 2024 drainage fee is $14,479 per acre and the new drainage fee for this basin would be $31,445 per acre.
Background:
Action by the Drainage Board to increase the Mesa basin fee to cover additional drainage basin costs represents a common practice used by the Drainage Board to cover unanticipated additional drainage facility costs in new subdivision development. Unanticipated costs can be described as costs not shown in the Drainage Basin Planning Study for the drainage basin and/or costs that were not included in the original fee calculation for the basin.
The Drainage Board’s action to increase the drainage fee originated with a request by Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., the engineer for Pikeview Apartments Filing No. 1, and Pikeview Propco, LLC., the developer for Pikeview Apartments Filing No. 1. Improvements are proposed to be constructed for the East Fork channel of Mesa Basin as identified in the Drainage Basin Planning Study for the Mesa Basin. The estimated cost of the improvements in the Mesa Drainage Basin Planning Study was $255,363.42 (adjusted for inflation). The engineer’s cost estimate of $2,414,450.00 exceeds the estimated cost by $2,159,086.58. This fee increase is intended to cover the excess cost for the reimbursable improvements.
Previous Council Action:
On December 12, 2023, the City Council approved Resolution No. 208-23 (Exhibit B) establishing the 2024 Drainage Basin Fees, Bridge Fees, and Detention Pond Facility and Land Fees.
Financial Implications:
Drainage fees are paid by developers and are used to reimburse other developers who construct drainage improvements. These basin fees are not utilized by the City of Colorado Springs for drainage infrastructure, maintenance, or improvements. Instead, the fees are used to help offset the costs that developers incur to build public infrastructure that is beyond their obligation. The increases to the drainage, bridge and detention pond facility fees should help preserve the financial integrity of the drainage fee program. The revenue and expenditures for drainage fees are tracked in a separate fund. There is no impact to the General Fund.
City Council Appointed Board/Commission/Committee Recommendation:
At the April 9, 2024 meeting, the Colorado Springs/El Paso County Drainage Board approved an increase of $16,966 per acre for the Mesa Drainage Basin drainage fee. The existing 2024 drainage fee is $14,479 per acre and the new drainage fee for this basin would be $31,445 per acre.
Stakeholder Process:
There was no public comment on the item presented at the Drainage Board Meeting.
Alternatives:
Leave the drainage fee for the Mesa Basin at its current amount. This would result in the fee being too low to cover all of the reimbursable drainage facility costs in the basin.
Action
Proposed Motion:
Move to approve the resolution amending resolution 208-23 increasing the Mesa Drainage Basin fee.
Summary of Ordinance Language
N/A