Title
Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager to Execute a Second Amendment to the Agreement with SCI Consulting Group for a Comprehensive Stormwater Fee Study, Community Survey, and Balloting, Extending the Agreement for Seven Months in an Amount not to Exceed $94,009 for a Total Expenditure Under the Agreement, as Awarded, of $166,513. (Public Works 351)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Amy Wooldridge, Interim City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Alameda's (City) stormwater fund is failing to keep up with the significant operations, capital, and regulatory requirements of the stormwater system. The City's existing stormwater fee has remained flat at approximately $56 annually per single family home for more than a decade. As a result, the stormwater fund is running a deficit and may run out of money as early as Fiscal Year 2020-21. If this occurs, the City will be forced to eliminate and/or significantly cut its street sweeping and storm drain maintenance programs.
State law requires that any increase in the stormwater fee must be approved by a vote of Alamedans and be supported by a fee study. In response to a request for proposals for a comprehensive stormwater fee study, the City entered into a contract with SCI Consulting Group (SCI) in November 2018 to conduct preliminary financial analysis. Staff seeks the City Council's approval to amend the SCI contract to include the next phase of the scope of work that includes development of the fee study report, conducting a citywide community survey and public outreach, and mail-in balloting of nearly 21,000 property owners.
By approving this item, City Council is not authorizing balloting. The City Council will have the opportunity to authorize (or not) the stormwater fee ballot at City Council meetings on July 16 and October 1, 2019.
BACKGROUND
The City has had a stormwater fee since the early 1990s, prompted by the onset of federal stormwater regulations direct...
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