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AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 10 OF THE COMMERCE CITY REVISED MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADD ARTICLE IV ESTABLISHING A STORMWATER MANAGEMENT UTILITY AND AUTHORIZING THE COLLECTION OF A FEE THEREFOR
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Summary and Background Information:
The purpose of this ordinance is to create the storm water utility. The ordinance does not include setting a fee and does not, by itself, have any financial impact. It requires two readings by the City Council. This proposed ordinance is only to create a storm water utility and lay the legal groundwork for how the utility will operate. It includes definitions of activities that can be funded with the fee, including storm water management capital projects, NPDES Permit compliance, and the operation, maintenance, and the administrative activities related to storm water management. The ordinance also defines a standard single-family detached residential (SFDR) parcel as a quarter acre in size or less and that they will be assessed a flat fee. All other non-SFDR parcels will be assessed based on per square foot of impervious surface. Finally, the ordinance creates a fee appeal process and sets most billing of parcels to be done through Adams County property owners' tax bill, while also allowing the city's finance department to arrange special invoice/payment terms for parcels/owners with special circumstances. At the direction of City Council, staff will continue to provide information on options for the amount of the fee for consideration.
A fee resolution will be presented to Council in late August, with fee options presented to Council in a study session prior to the resolution. While options are still being studied, they will include options with initial fees lower than $6/month for SFDR, and possible phasing options. In order to implement a fee by January 1st, 2013, a fee resolution must be passed no later than August 20th, 2012.
The storm water utility fee being proposed would fund various storm water and water qua...
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