Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 03/02/2015

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Updated Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP) City of Ramsey, Minnesota interpreted as a function of the percent of the total lot area that is impervious and shall be applied as determined in City of Ramsey Code S cti n 1.80. The City Storm Sewer Utility fee is intended to finance infrastructure maintenance, upgrading, reconstruction and new construction serving previously developed areas. It is not typically used to fmance retrofitting the existing system to accommodate new developments. Most cities require the developer to finance the entire new storm sewer system associated with the development. Then, once the new system is accepted and turned over to the City, the municipal maintenance funds (typically storm sewer utility funds) are used to maintain the new system. 3. Increasing the General Levy If the City has not yet reached its levy limits, financing could come from increases in the general tax levy across Ramsey. This option is generally not favored because it may duplicate costs for property owners who have either directly or indirectly already fmanced their own developments. Unless tax expenditures for storm water needs can be uniformly spread to all properties, political opposition should be expected from entities that have already invested in storm water facilities. 4. Creating a Storm Sewer Assessment District or Storm Water Tax District If a watershed is well defined and the greater majority of the property owners have a share in the benefit of the proposed storm sewer improvement, the City could form a storm water assessment district. When improvements or repairs are needed within the district, an advertisement hearing process is required similar to that used for assessments in Minnesota Statute 429. Many cities are not choosing this fmancing option because it can be cumbersome. Cities also find it difficult, on occasion, to legally prove the level of benefit associated with the assessment. C. Recommended Local Financing 1. The cost of existing system retrofitting and maintenance projects should be borne by the Storm Sewer Utility fund as this is the primary focus of these funds. 2. The cost of new improvements in undeveloped land should be borne by the developer. 3. The cost of retrofitting the downstream system to accommodate new developments should be borne by newly established New Development Charges or Trunk Fees. 4. Increasing the general levy for storm sewer related costs is not recommended. 5. Creating a storm sewer assessment district is not recommended. Section VII February 20, 2015March 6, 2015 Page 56