2008-01-10 - Laserfiche WebLink

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NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE HELD ON Thursday, January 10, 2008 AT 5:00 p.m. IN THE Basement Conference Room. THE PROPOSED AGENDA IS AS FOLLOWS: Work Session: Stormwater BY ORDER OF THE MAYOR BY Jeanne Cox BASEMENT CONFERENCE ROOM – January 10, 2008 Council met in special session on this date with the following members present: Dr. Brown, Ms. Edwards, Mr. Huja, Mr. Norris, Mr. Taliaferro. Ms. Judy Mueller, Director of Public Works said the three goals for the meeting are: 1) to obtain approval and direction from Council to commit resources to pursue the implementation plan proposed with a January 2009 program launch date; 2) to obtain approval of the Advisory Committee; and 3) to determine the use of the $750,000 FY08 funds for WRPP support. Ms. Kristel Riddervold, Environmental Administrator, said that the City has 30 miles of open streams and 13 miles in pipes. She said the average impervious cover in the City is 37%, or approximately four square miles. Mr. Ridge Schuyler, Director of the Nature Conservancy, described a Corps of Engineers stream restoration project along Meadow Creek at a cost of approximately $3.2 million. Ms. Riddervold said that over eight miles of the piping is in need of rehabilitation at an estimated cost of $5 million. She said an additional five miles is expected to deteriorate in the next ten years. She said there are currently 45 Citywide drainage projects on the list that are within the City right of way, with a total estimated cost of $7 million, and ten neighborhood projects, with an estimated cost of $161,300. Ms. Francesca Fornari, Assistant City Attorney, discussed the legal framework for implementing a storm water utility. She said the City has the discretion to individualize fees between residential and non-residential properties, but cannot grant waivers based on tax –exempt status or income level. She said waivers can be granted based on a reduction in storm water flow and pollutant loading. Mr. Norris said he had hoped to be able to exempt the Housing Authority and Schools, but the City cannot legally do so. Dr. Brown said the City could try to get State Legislative changes that would allow exemptions. Responding to a question from Mr. Norris, Ms. Fornari said the City can spend funds to improve the system, but cannot issue refunds. Ms. Riddervold gave an overview of services to be provided at Option 3 which was supported by Council at its October 2007 work session. She reviewed the options for the $750,000 of FY 08 funds: initiate infrastructure rehabilitation program ($250,000); install a series of demonstration stormwater retrofits with education component ($150,000); construction of one to three drainage projects or as an alternative, adding a senior stormwater engineer, junior engineer, and program coordinator ($200,000) program implementation support including facilitation of the Advisory Committee ($100,000); and public education/outreach campaign and materials for pollution prevention and water quality awareness ($50,000). Ms. Riddervold said that the funds for stream and watershed improvement could be used as matching funds for grants.