The approved city budget for Fiscal Year 2023 includes a Stormwater Compliance Fee. The purpose of the fee is to pay for stormwater related activities, which are part of State and Federal environmental protection requirements. These unfunded mandates require municipalities to implement best management practices to reduce stormwater pollution to the maximum extent practicable. To remain in compliance with these mandates, the Stormwater Compliance Fee will fund pollution prevention measures, community education, drainage system operations and maintenance, and other activities to control the quality of water discharged to the City’s storm drains and waterways.
The drainage system provides drainage for all real property located within the City's established drainage service area. This ordinance declares the drainage system a public utility under the Municipal Drainage Systems Act and establishes a Stormwater Compliance Fee to support the drainage system.
The Stormwater Compliance Fee will provide a sustainable, dedicated revenue source for operating the City's Stormwater Management Program, including the cost for compliance with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permit. The Stormwater Compliance Fee will be charged to each benefit property located within the drainage service area and will be calculated by the measured amount of impervious cover.
The provisions of the ordinance, including the Stormwater Compliance Fee, will be effective on January 1, 2023.
A public hearing and first reading of Ordinance No. 2283 were held during the December 6, 2022, City Council Meeting
The Environmental and Neighborhood Services Department recommends that the City Council approve the second reading of Ordinance No. 2283, establishing a municipal drainage utility system; a stormwater compliance fee, exemptions, and credits; providing for an effective date; and setting forth other related provisions.