CC_Minutes_2016_0808 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Regular City Council Meeting Monday, August 8, 2016 Page 13 Councilmember McGehee, Councilmember Etten opined that the city may be cre- ating unintended circumstances in approving such an option to pay a fee. Howev- er, Councilmember Etten suggested the policy may work for commercial and/or infill situations. Councilmember Willmus asked staff what the driver was for this proposed policy. Mr. Freihammer responded that numerous examples had occurred, both a mix of commercial and residential areas, with one main commercial property actually driving consideration of such a policy and currently in the preliminary permit stage. Mr. Freihammer noted that property, as well as some others, found it diffi- cult to meet the city's stormwater requirements when there was no existing stormwater system in which to discharge. Also with residential properties, Mr. Freihammer advised this could provide an alternative for property owners as an easier way to accomplish their requirements and an easier way for the city to track BMP's and/or fees. Mr. Freihammer noted the city was just now getting started on recertifying BMP's that were installed some time ago; and finding some of those older rain gardens would be difficult to qualify for recertification without the property owner having to completely rebuild them. Councilmember Willmus asked if this tool was made available if and when no on- site land area was available to accommodate mitigation, would it allow the city to construct something off-site to mitigate water flowing into that area in the first place. Mr. Freihammer responded it would depend on the specific location, and if the city had a project in the immediate vicinity that could be expanded to accommo- date that mitigation. Mr. Freihammer advised there were some areas where it was difficult for the city to find a location nearby that might require stepping out fur- ther and not significantly impact stormwater management or benefit that immedi- ate neighborhood having the actual issue. Along that same line, Councilmember Laliberte noted even if the city banked the monies received in a particular case, any larger mitigation project may cost ten times the amount of the fee collected, causing the rest of the city's residents to foot the bill far what needed to be done to address additional stormwater runoff. Councilmember Laliberte stated she would find it helpful in the future for the Public Works, Environment and Transportation Commission (P)WETC meeting minutes to be provided for reference in these discussions, even if it only provided their hesitation or reasoning voiced during their discussions, if no formal recom- mendation came forward. Councilmember Laliberte stated that she valued that citizen advisory discussion, and having it included in agenda packet materials was helpful in her deliberations.