Code of Ordinance Amendment - Title 13 Public Utilities - Stormwater Copyrig hted
March 24, 2021
City of Dubuque
Special Meeting Action Items #4.
ITEM TITLE: Code of Ordinance Amendment- Title 13 Public Utilities - Stormwater
Management Utility Fee Rate Change
SUMMARY: ORDINANCE Amending Cityof Dubuque Code of Ordinances Section
13-4-5 (D) SFU Rate, Charges; Utility Revenues
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Motion B; MotionA
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Staff Memo Staff Memo
Ordinance Ordinance
Suggested Motion Wording Supporting Documentation
Dubuque
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TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
SUBJECT: Stormwater Management Utility Fee Rate Change
DATE: March 17, 2021
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memo is to outline a recommendation to modify Section 13-4-5 (D)
of the Code of Ordinances, thereby adjusting the stormwater utility fee rate as proposed
with the Fiscal Year 2022 budget.
BACKGROUND
In February of 2003, Ordinance 7-03 was passed establishing a Stormwater
Management Utility and associated fee. At that time, the Stormwater Management
Utility Fee helped fund the administration of the Stormwater Utility, NPDES Compliance
Program, Storm Sewer Improvements/Extensions, Stream-bank Stabilization
Assistance Program, Detention Basin Maintenance, and Stormwater Ditch Maintenance
& Remediation.
When the Stormwater Management Utility User Fee Fund was created in Fiscal Year
2004, stormwater management activities were funded from a number of sources: 15%
from the stormwater utility fee, 22% from property taxes, 5% from sales tax, and 58%
from DRA distribution funds. With the adoption of the FY2009 budget, the Stormwater
Management Utility became for the first time a self-supporting enterprise fund; all
stormwater management activities are now funded exclusively by the stormwater
management utility and permit fees.
In March of 2014, the City Council adopted Ordinance 16-14 establishing the
Stormwater Management Utility Rates for FY2015 and beyond.
In June of 2020, in response to the economic uncertainty associated with the COVID-19
pandemic, the City Council adopted Ordinance 21-20 establishing that the rate would
not increase in FY21. Instead, it would remain at the FY20 going forward.
DISCUSSION
The City has been able to provide stormwater management services within the rate
structure established by Ordinance 16-14, adopted in March of 2014 with the FY2015
budget. Per the Ordinance 16-14, the billing rate for the average homeowner was to
increase in FY21 by 6.76%, from $8.29 per month to $8.85 per month. However, due to
the uncertain economic impacts of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the rate structure
was reconsidered for Fiscal Year 2021. It was determined that with some minor
adjustments to planned Capital Improvement Program projects, reducing some budgets
and delaying a few others, that the City could delay the 6.76% increased planned for
FY21. With the adoption of Ordinance 21-20, the rate for the average homeowner was
remained at $8.29 for FY21. The recommendation for FY22 is to implement the rate
increase previously planned for FY21. The rate would increase from $8.29 per month to
$8.85 per month, a 6.76% increase. Table 1 compares the rates adopted in 2012, 2014,
and 2020 to the rate proposed with the FY 2022 budget.
Table 1. Proposed FY22 Stormwater Management Utility Fee rate versus the rate adopted with
the FY2015 bud et.
FY 17 FY 18 FY 19 FY 20 FY 21 FY 22 FY 23
Adopted 2012 $9.00 $9.00 $9.00 $9.00 $9.00 I $9.00 I $9.00
Adopted 2014� $6.81 $7.27 $7.76 $8.29 $8.85 I $9.00 I $9.00
Adopted 20202 $8•29 I $8.29 I $8.29
Proposed I $8.85 I $9.00
RECOMMENDATION
I recommend amending the City Code of Ordinances to establish the Stormwater Utility
Fee rate for FY22 at $8.85.
BUDGETIMPACT
The proposed rate change will support the proposed FY22 stormwater management
budget.
ACTION TO BE TAKEN
I respectfully request passing the attached ordinance amending Section 13-4-5 (D) of
the City Code of Ordinances to establish the stormwater management utility fee rates at
$8.85 for Fiscal Year 2022.
Attach.
Prepared by Deron Muehring
cc: Jenny Larson, Director of Finance and Budget
Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Deron Muehring, Civil Engineer
Prepared by Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer, 50 W. 13th St., Dubuque, IA 52001, (563) 589-4276
Return to Adrienne N. Breitfelder, City Clerk, 50 W. 13th St., Dubuque, IA 52001, (563) 589-4100
ORDINANCE NO. 10-21
AMENDING CITY OF DUBUQUE CODE OF ORDINANCES SECTION 13-4-5 (D)
SFU RATE, CHARGES; UTILITY REVENUES
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA:
That City of Dubuque Code of Ordinances Section 13-4-5 is amended to
read as follows:
(D) The SFU rate to be applied to residential and nonresidential properties
shall be $8.85 per SFU.
Passed, approved and adopted this 24th day of March, 2 21.
oy D. Boul, Mayor
Attest:
Adrienne Breitfelder, CityClerk
STATE OF IOWA SS:
DUBUQUE COUNTY
CERTIFICATE OF PUBLICATION
I, Kathy Goetzinger, a Billing Clerk for Woodward
Communications, Inc., an Iowa corporation, publisher
of the Telegraph Herald, a newspaper of general
circulation published in the City of Dubuque, County
of Dubuque and State of Iowa; hereby certify that the
attached notice was published in said newspaper on the
following dates:
03/31/2021
and for which the charge is 9.80
Subscribed to b1le me, a Notary Pub is/in and for
Dubuque County, Iowa,
this 31 st day of March, 2021
Notary Public in and for Dubuque County, Iowa.
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C;010p1��X�1.1',9&iiaM 149m b W 977408
tr VY �/RI1IYI�Mx E.xp . NOV 10, 2023
Ad text : OFFICIAL
PUBLICATION
ORDINANCE NO. 10-21
AMENDING CITY OF DUBUQUE CODE OF ORDINANCES SECTION 13-4-5
(D) SFU RATE, CHARGES; UTILITY REVENUES
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA:
That City of Dubuque Code of Ordinances Section 13-4-5 is
amended to read as follows:
(D)" The SFU rate to be applied to residential and
nonresidential properties shall be $8.85 per SFU.
Passed, approved and adopted this 24th day of March, 2021.
/s/Roy D. Buol, Mayor
Attest: /s/Adrienne N. Breitfelder, City Clerk
Published officially in the Telegraph Herald newspaper on
the 31 st day of March 2021.
/s/Adrienne N. Breitfelder, City Clerk
It 3/31