Title
Resolution to Increase the 2019 Drainage Fee for the Sand Creek Drainage Basin
Presenter:
Richard Mulledy, P.E., Stormwater Enterprise Manager, Stormwater Enterprise
Erin Powers, P.E., Senior Engineer, Stormwater Enterprise
Body
Summary:
The Colorado Springs/El Paso County Drainage Board at their December 6, 2018 meeting approved an increase of $28.08 per acre to the drainage fee for the Sand Creek Drainage Basin. The existing 2019 drainage fee for this basin is $12,645.00 per acre. The new drainage fee for this basin would be $12,673.00 per acre (rounded down from $12,673.08).
Background:
Action by the Drainage Board to increase the Sand Creek 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 Engineering and Surveying Inc., the developer for Forest Meadows Filing No. 9. More specifically, a 36” HDPE storm sewer pipeline was required of the developer and the associated cost was not identified in the Drainage Basin Planning Study for the Sand Creek Drainage Basin. The Drainage Board approved this cost as reimbursable and approved the fee increase to cover the additional reimbursable facility.
Previous Council Action:
On December 11, 2018, the City Council approved Resolution No. 159-18 establishing the 2019 Drainage Basin Fees, Bridge Fees, and Detention Pond Facility and Land Fees. This resolution set the drainage fee for the Sand Creek basin at $12,645.00 per acre.
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 increase in the drainage fee should help preserve the financial integrity of this drainage basin. 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:
The Colorado Springs/El Paso County Drainage Board at their December 6, 2018 meeting approved an increase of $28.08 per acre to the drainage fee for the Sand Creek Drainage Basin.
Stakeholder Process:
There was no public comment on the item presented at the Drainage Board meeting.
Alternatives:
Leave the drainage fee for the Sand Creek basin at its current amount. This could result in the fee being too low to cover all of the reimbursable drainage facility costs in the basin.
Recommended Action
Proposed Motion:
City staff is bringing forward the recommendation of the Drainage Board, which was to approve the resolution to increase the per acre drainage fee in the Sand Creek Drainage Basin by $28.00, from $12,645.00 per acre to $12,673.00 per acre.
Summary of Ordinance Language
N/A