Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 05-01-07 workshop minutes — reading text

263 MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING OF THE CITY OF FOf{Y\ NALTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 1, 2007 INTRODUCTION A Council Workshop Meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was held on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 at 5: 30 p. m. wth the following members present: Mayor Mike Anderson Councilmen: Mike Holmes, Virgil Miller, Dennis Reeves, Bill Garvie, Dr. Wayne Pullen, Jim Hartwell, and Mike Minich Also Present: Joyce Shanahan, City Manager; Helen Spencer, City Clerk; Lisa Absher, Finance Director; Toni Craig, City Attomey; and Department Directors CALL TO ORDER The Mayor called the meeting to order. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Mayor led in the Pledge of Allegiance. STORMWATER UTILITY PLAN Presentation and discussion regarding the development of a Stormwater Utility Plan. John Hofstad, Utilities Director, gave a PowerPoint presentation that addressed the stormwater issues facing the City. The presentation included information on the existing stormwater infrastructure that has evolved since the City was chartered in 1937 and networks through 29 individual drainage basins that cover over 4, 789 acres in the City and includes 34 miles of underground stormwater pipe, 61 outfalls where stormwater meets an open body of water, 11 stormwater retention ponds, 3 miles of ditches and streams, and over 1300 curb and surface inlets. The presentation also included information on the symbiotic relationship of stormwater and water quality; water quality data; the negative impacts on the ecosystem from poor water quality; the positive impacts resulting from good water quality; background on the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System ( NPDES) program, regulated by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), that is intended to control water pollution by regulating point and non- point discharge sources and is part of a federal mandate that requires all local governments to accept responsibility for stormwater generated within their respective jurisdictions; the obligations of the City, under an NPDES Phase II MS4 permit issued by FDEP in September 2003, to implement a multitude of Best Management Practices ( BMPs) over the course of the five year permit; an overview of the NPDES compliance that includes public education and outreach, public involvement and participation, illicit discharge detection and elimination, construction site stormwater runoff control, post-construction stormwater management, and pollution prevention and good housekeeping; the NPDES components outstanding; and the impact of storm frequency to stormwater quantity. The presentation also included mention of stormwater drainage concerns at locations such as Powell Drive, W. E. Combs, Jonquil and Sullivan, Linstew Drive, and Ewing I"""" Court, with a more detailed description of the drainage concerns, system analysis and cost analysis at 606 Powell Drive and the drainage concerns and solutions at W. E. Combs in the Greater Sylvania Heights area; proposed future projects and associated costs; major issues affecting stormwater; solutions to the growing needs of stormwater; potential funding mechanisms; the CIP 5220 Stormwater Utility Study; what can be expected from the stormwater utility study; and reasons to pursue a Stormwater Utility.  Council Workshop 5- 1- 07 264 STORMWATER UTILITY PLAN cont. The Finance Director gave a PowerPoint presentation that covered how a Utility is established as a separate Enterprise Fund, like water and sewer, that the Utility Fee rate schedule is determined by the rate study and added to the monthly utility bill like garbage and sanitation fees; how the Utility rate is calculated taking into consideration the permeable vs. impervious surface area, residential vs. commercial, old vs. new construction, in establishing the base unit and qualifying fee exemptions; how to implement a Stormwater Utility by developing a CIP Program, developing a rate structure, public outreach, passing enabling ordinance, and a Master Database/ Utility Billing implementation; a timeline for the feasibility, develop data, and implementation stages with a February 2008 target date to start with revenue collection; and the bid rankings on the RFP issued in January 2007 for Engineerin~ and Consulting Services for a Stormwater Utility Study will be brought to City Council on May 8 with a request from staff for direction from Council on whether or not to proceed in the development of a Stormwater Utility. Discussion included questions on additional costs to implement the stormwater utility. The City Manager stated, if approved by Council, staff will begin accounting for the costs. In response to the question on obtaining federal or state grants to fund the cost of needed projects, Mr. Hofstad replied the City has taken every opportunity to apply for and secure grants but those dollars will only go so far. Additional discussion was held on how the rate is calculated on the impervious areas vs. permeable areas. Eric Lang, 606 Powell Drive, thanks staff for their work, stated it is an infrastructure issue and expressed his expectation for some kind of action fairly soon to alleviate the flooding problem on his property. Barry Gray, 217 Burnette, commended City staff for their efforts on behalf of the W. E. Combs neighborhood. The City Manager stated Council will have the RFP on the May 8th agenda. She encouraged Council to talk to the Finance Director or Mr. Hofstad if there are any specific questions between now and next Tuesday when it will be brought to Council for a decision and if the decision is no, then staff will have to do the projects as grant funds are available. ADJOURNMENT Being no further business, the meeting adjoumed at 7: 30 p. m. A~ Jj4~ C~ CITY CLERK ddm