Residents, council weigh stormwater utility as a revenue option

Public comment and council discussion on Sept. 30 included repeated references to a possible stormwater utility as a recurring revenue stream to address drainage and infrastructure needs. AJ Honorary (S4) urged the council to study a stormwater assessment and estimated a conservative revenue yield of about $5 million.

Councilmembers asked whether such a fee requires voter approval; staff and council responses said a properly posted agenda item and study are the next steps and that a stormwater assessment is not automatically a voter-subject item. Members stressed the need for more study, public notice and clarity on how revenues would be used. No council motion to adopt a stormwater utility was made at the meeting; councilmembers agreed staff could return with a formal agenda item and analysis for future consideration.