ATTACHMENT 1
Stormwater Program Goals
1. Develop and implement a comprehensive Stormwater Program Master Plan that supports all of the stormwater program priorities.
Stormwater Master Plan will be developed based on the Mission and Program Priorities for the stormwater management program. It will set out the activities to be undertaken in line with the priorities and a time schedule and resources needed to accomplish the various elements of the stormwater management program. The Stormwater Master Plan will help guide the implementation of the stormwater management program over the long-term.
2. Address stormwater quantity (flooding) as an integral component within the program.
The stormwater management program will be enhanced to include comprehensive long-range management efforts to minimize flood risks and the many effects of flooding. These efforts include prioritizing and addressing stormwater infrastructure needs such as maintenance, repair, replacement, upgrades and capital improvements.
3. Address stormwater quality as an integral function within the program.
The stormwater management program will continue to address stormwater quality. This applies to water quality regulatory demands, as well as to erosion and sediment controls and to stream and aquatic system health. The stormwater management program will recognize and move toward the goals of the Town’s Year 2000 Comprehensive Plan.
4. Protect and restore natural stream corridors.
The health of the aquatic ecosystem is dependent on both quality and quantity management. The Town’s stormwater management program will address both infrastructure concerns and aquatic habitat health.
5. Develop a formal public education and involvement program.
Stormwater education efforts will identify key stakeholders, including institutions, development and business communities, and the general public. Education efforts will focus on both causes and solutions for stormwater problems, including possible regulatory remedies. The goal will be to establish a clear understanding that stormwater and surface water systems are a public resource to be protected and managed in the public interest.
6. Define the level of service and performance standards for the Town’s Stormwater Program.
The stormwater management program will plan, prioritize, design and construct system improvements at a pre-determined level-of-service that is considered to be appropriate for public and private drainage systems. Defining the level and extent of service and performance for the Town’s drainage system provides valuable guidance about how and where stormwater management is to be delivered and enforced.
7. Ensure compliance with Federal and State regulatory mandates.
The stormwater management program will implement reasonable regulatory programs that comply with stormwater quality mandates from Federal and State, agencies, and will address floodplain management requirements.
8. Establish clear stormwater program leadership that the public recognizes.
The stormwater management program will clearly identify point(s) of contact responsible for system planning, regulatory compliance and enforcement, system design, construction and maintenance, and addressing stormwater concerns from the public.
9. Integrate programs to utilize resources efficiently.
The stormwater management program will minimize duplication and inefficiencies in the management and implementation of the various stormwater elements in order to improve the overall cost-effectiveness of the program and to optimize the use of already scarce resources. It will promote integrated programs and inter-jurisdictional cooperation aimed at ensuring a positive public reception to the program.
10. Establish an understanding of the stormwater system as a “utility.”
The stormwater management program will be funded, at least in part, by the creation of a utility, providing a stable, dedicated funding source like those already in place for other services (e.g., water, sewer, gas, electricity).
Source: Policy paper, dated September 9, 2003, that summarized the priorities developed by the Town’s Stormwater Utility Development and Implementation Study Committee in the spring and summer of 2001 and reflected work of earlier Stormwater Advisory committees and discussions with Town staff. It was presented as recommendations finalized and prioritized by the Policy Review Committee of 2003. These priorities will be the foundation for the development of the utility-based stormwater management program services