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<br />Feasibility Study 112316 <br />City of Lino Lakes, Minnesota <br />Executive Summary <br /> <br />As the City of Lino Lakes continues to develop and grow, the impact of urbanization on the City’s surface <br />water resources continues to increase. In an effort to maintain and improve the existing drainage system, <br />mitigate the impacts of past and future development and meet the anticipated needs of the National Pollutant <br />Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) storm water regulatory program, Lino Lakes realizes the need to <br />continue to develop and implement a comprehensive surface water management program to meet their goals. <br />The surface water management planning process typically involves four steps. <br />1. Assessment of the current situation; <br />2. Analysis of existing and proposed management strategies; <br />3. Development of program goals and policies, and <br />4. Identification and Implementation of Capital Improvements. <br />In order to finance this program the City has requested this study of a Storm Water Management Utility. The <br />purpose of this study is to identify how the city might utilize the utility to finance their Storm Water <br />Management Program. For this study, we have evaluated six (6) alternative methods of funding the Lino <br />Lakes Storm Water Management Program: <br />1. General Funds/ Ad Valorem Taxes <br />2. Special Assessments <br />3. Impact Fees <br />4. Grants <br />5. Special Tax Districts <br />6. Storm Water Utility <br />Program Implementation <br />Through an integrated, comprehensive planning approach, Lino Lakes can effectively manage existing and <br />new development without degrading the valuable water resources. Without proper funding, the program can <br />become vulnerable when competing against other general fund items or budget constraints. <br />The Financing Dilemma <br />The cost of constructing, operating, and maintaining storm water facilities continues to increase along with <br />other municipal costs. In fact, the storm drainage system is often the last and most expensive public utility <br />for cities to develop. <br />Baseline costs are the minimum costs to the City that occur annually regardless of property value, economy, <br />and size. These costs typically include personnel, education, maintenance, and reporting, which are mandated <br />through the NPDES MS4 program. There are also normal operating costs that fall under baseline costs. <br />Traditional methods of financing storm water improvements have become more complex in recent years. <br />Faced with increasing costs and continuous pressure to minimize property taxes, cities may lack the financial <br />resources to undertake a multi-year storm water management program. In Lino Lakes, general funds, special