Title
Recommendation to Approve Water Quality and Flood Protection Fee Report;
Adoption of Resolution Declaring Intention to Initiate a Proceeding to Obtain Approval of the City's 2019 Water Quality and Flood Protection Fee, a Property-Related Fee Conforming to Article XIII D, Section 6 of the State Constitution;
Adoption of Resolution Ballot Procedures for the City's 2019 Water Quality and Flood Protection Fee; and
Call for a Public Hearing Tentatively Scheduled for October 1, 2019. (Public Works 351)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
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 The City's risk in maintaining an out-of-date stormwater system is only compounded by climate change's rising seas and more frequent, intense storms.
The City's existing stormwater fee has remained flat at approximately $56 annually per single family home for nearly fifteen years. As a result, the stormwater fund is depleted and running a deficit. Without additional revenue, the City will be forced to eliminate and/or significantly cut its street sweeping and storm drain maintenance programs. Similarly, the adopted Fiscal Year (FY) 2019-21 budget included $0 in stormwater funds for new capital improvements because there is simply no money available in the fund for this work.
State law requires that any increase in the stormwater fee must be approved by a ballot and be supported by a fee study. A scientific survey (or poll) conducted in May/June 2019 shows that a ballot of property owners for a property-related fee is viable at between $36-$78 annually, given the vote is a simple majority vote and after accounting for the poll's margin of error. That survey also shows that a ballot of registered voters for a parcel tax in the same fee range is not viable, given it is a supermajority vote and after accounting for the s...
Click here for full text