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MINUTES APPROVED: 3-2-93 LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC INFORMATIONAL MEETING SURFACE WATER MANAGEMENT UTILITY TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1993 Mayor John called the public informational meeting to order at 7:33 p.m. in the Council chambers. PRESENT: John, Mottaz, Conlin, Johnston, Johnson, City Engineer Bohrer and Administrator Kueffner. City Engineer Larry Bohrer presented the following summary for Surface Water Management Utility: The City of Lake Elmo has a surface water drainage system which consists of ponds, wetlands, ditches, culverts, dikes, weirs, storm sewers, catch basins and manholes. The City is responsible for the operation, maintenance, repair and improvement of this system. In the past, funding for this work has been provided by the general tax levy and has not been sufficient for anticipated expenditures. The City Council has sought a fairer way of funding this work based on amount of runoff rather than property value. Since all properties within the City are believed to generate runoff, all properties contribute to the need for this fund. Minnesota Law allows a City to operate its drainage system as a utility, much the same way it may operate a water or sewer system. A utility fee is charged based on usage. In a surface water utility, that usage is defined as the amount of runoff produced by that property. The fee calculation is based on the volume when comparing one land use type to another land use type. For example, the amount of runoff generated by one acre of commercial or industrial use is, on the average, three times the volume generated by the average residential lot because of the greater amount of impervious area. This ratio is defined as the Utility Factor. The revenue from the Surface Water Utility will be used for preparation of a Surface Water Management Plan, maintenance of existing ditches, culverts, ponds and storm sewers, capital improvements in developed areas, equipment, planning, inventories and water quality improvements, including weed control A draft ordinance establishing a Surface Water Management Utility had been prepared for review, along with a policy on the operation of the utility, and suggested fee schedule. Prior to adoption, the City Council is seeking public comment on the proposed ordinance.