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HomeMy WebLinkAbout042021-05.6 ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF REPORT 5.6 TO: Mayor and Town Council April 20, 2021 SUBJECT: Resolution No. 16-2021, authorizing the Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District to adopt the Fiscal Year 2021/22 fee for the Town of Danville Stormwater Utility Area BACKGROUND Since 1993, and pursuant to the federally mandated National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), Danville has operated a Stormwater Pollution Control Program (SPCP). In addition to meeting local program requirements, all 19 Contra Costa County cities, the County, and the Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District jointly operate a countywide program referred to as the Contra Costa Clean Water Program (CCCWP). The San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board (SFRWQCB) issues permits on a five-year cycle for this program. In October 2009, a Municipal Regional Permit (MRP) for the entire Bay Area was adopted that included many new provisions and unfunded mandates. Then in November 2015, the MRP was renewed (MRP 2.0) and took effect on January 1, 2016. Currently, the CCCWP is in negotiations with the SFRWQCB for MRP 3.0. It is anticipated that it will be approved in time to be implemented by FY 2022/23. DISCUSSION Regional, Countywide and Local Efforts In recent years, the Program requirements included in the MRP have become increasingly stringent and costly for Danville and other co-permittees. To control costs, agencies within the nine Bay Area counties now share in the implementation of these regulations on a regional basis. The regional efforts include water quality monitoring and the development of new programs and special studies regarding pollutants of concern. Through the CCCWP, regional cost-sharing arrangements have been established to fund these efforts to meet the MRP mandates. In addition, the CCCWP secured a grant to develop a countywide Stormwater Resource Plan. Danville participates in the CCCWP to complete many other MRP mandates utilizing cost-sharing on a countywide basis for new development guidelines, public information campaigns, monitoring, and program training. At the local level, Danville’s Clean FY 2021/22 Stormwater 2 April 20, 2021 Utility Area Assessment Fee Water Program focuses on land development design and plan checking, construction inspection programs, public education, and maintenance activities. In addition, significant efforts in trash reduction, business inspections, and illicit discharge prevention and detection are being implemented by Town staff. Stormwater Assessment Annually, the Town Council authorizes the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors to collect stormwater utility area assessments for the upcoming fiscal year. Since 2008, the annual assessment has been set at $30 per Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) for properties within Danville. No increase in the assessment is proposed for the Fiscal Year 2021/22. Danville’s Clean Water Program includes efforts and activities needed to address ongoing compliance with the current MRP 2.0. For 2021/22, approximately 22% of Danville’s total Clean Water Program revenues were allocated to fund the Town’s share of the CCCWP, while the remaining 78% of revenues were devoted to local efforts and activities occurring within the Town. By FY 2022/23, the CCCWP estimates that the countywide program will have depleted most of its available reserves, and the countywide program will need to identify how to address the additional unfunded costs resulting from MRP 3.0, which is expected to be renewed in 2023. Danville has sufficient revenues and reserves to continue to operate under the current MRP 2.0. However, the new requirements of MRP 3.0 will cause the Town to spend more money locally in the upcoming years. In addition, the new MRP 3.0 requirements are expected to increase the Town’s share of the countywide program costs by FY 2022/23. Those cost increases should be known prior to the adoption of the Town’s budget for that fiscal year. While Danville continues to strenuously oppose new federal or state mandates that require local government compliance without a dedicated funding source, the potential cost and fines associated with non-compliance are significant. For this reason, the Town has kept program costs at the lowest possible level while still meeting program requirements. PUBLIC CONTACT Posting of the meeting agenda serves as notice to the general public for this item. FY 2021/22 Stormwater 3 April 20, 2021 Utility Area Assessment Fee FISCAL IMPACT The current Stormwater Utility Assessment of $30 per ERU for all properties within Danville will remain unchanged for the upcoming fiscal year, and sufficient revenues are available to fund 2021/22 program costs. RECOMMENDATION Adopt Resolution No. 16-2020, authorizing the Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District to adopt the Fiscal Year 2021/22 fee for the Town of Danville Stormwater Utility Area. Prepared by: Bob Russell, PLA Clean Water Program Coordinator Reviewed by: Tai J. Williams Assistant Town Manager Attachment: Resolution No. 16-2021 ATTACHMENT A