Storm Water Mgm Fund CommitteeJanuary 15, 2003
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
City of Dubuque
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, IA 52001-4864
Subject:Storm Water Management Funding
Citizens Advisory Committee Recommendation
Honorable Mayor and City Council Members:
Over the Course of the past eight months the Storm Water Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) has
met eight times to discuss the City's Storm Water Management Program and how it should be funded.
The objectives of the CAC were to:
· Define the City's Storm Water Management Program
· Examine funding options
· Evaluate the user fee concept, and
· Make recommendations to the Council.
The CAC met on January 14, 2003 and considered a number of financial alternatives including Mr. Van
Milligen's January 9, 2003 letter to you on Storm Water Management Funding. Based on Mr. Van
Milligen's letter, the CAC makes the following recommendations to the Mayor and Council members:
1. The CAC recommends that the storm water management program be funded tkrough
current revenue options by reprioritization of the City's Capital and Operating budgets.
It is the opinion of the CAC that it is the responsibility of the Council to review its
priorities and make the decision on whether the storm water management program can
be funded through existing revenue sources. (unanimous recommendation of the CAC).
2. If the Council deterrnines its Capital and Operating budgets cannot be reprioritized to
meet the required storm water management program needs, a user tee shall be
implemented as the alternative funding mechanism to meet these needs. (17 votes for a
Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
January 15, 2003
Page 2
user fee and 3 votes for an increase in property taxes as the alternahve source of
revenue). Credits shall be given to those properties that provide storm water
management actions that reduce the City's cost of storm water management.
(unanimous recommendation of the CAC).
Implementation of the user fee will include a subsidy as recommended in Mr. Van
Milligen's letter. (17 votes in favor of the subsidy as per the 1/9/03 letter and 2 votes
against).
The CAC makes these recommendations in an advisory capacity to the Council. The CAC agreed that
there is a pressing need for storm water managemcmt in the City and it must be given a high priority.
We recognize that the Council must make the decision on the most appropriate way to implement the
storm water management program. The CAC offers its inPut to the Council in making this decision.
We appreciate the opportunity to assist the Council in resolving a major issue that affects all of us in
the City of Dubuque.
Very truly yours,
· Michael Portzen
Chairman
Storm Water Citizens Advisory Committee
cc: CAC Members CDM
Gus Psihoyos, City Eng/neering