memorandum

to:                  Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager

from:            George Small, P.E., Director of Engineering

Sue Burke, P.E., Stormwater Management Engineer

subject:      Stormwater Management Utility Ordinance Amendment - Reduction in the Number of Stormwater Management Utility Advisory Board Members

date:            October 27, 2008

PURPOSE

The purpose of this ordinance amendment is to reduce the number of Stormwater Advisory Board members from eleven to nine, while still maintaining the residential representation majority.

BACKGROUND

The Town of Chapel Hill created the Stormwater Management Utility Advisory Board on June 14, 2004, when it adopted the Stormwater Management Utility Ordinance (Section 23-11).  The ordinance stated that the Stormwater Management Utility Advisory Board would be comprised of nine members - three members representing residential property owners, five members representing multi-family, business, commercial, or non-profit property owners, and one member representing the University of North Carolina Section 23-12).

At its December 6, 2004 meeting, the Council received a petition from a citizen asking the Council to consider making the majority of the Stormwater Advisory Board represent residential property owners.  The Council amended the Stormwater Management Utility Ordinance, increasing the Board membership to eleven, with six residential representatives, four business representatives, and one university representative.

DISCUSSION

At its August 26, 2008 meeting, the Stormwater Advisory Board discussed revising the number of members serving on the Board.  It was noted that it is sometimes difficult to find citizens willing to participate on a Town board or commission.  The Stormwater Advisory Board unanimously supported reducing the number of members from eleven to nine.

Currently, the Stormwater Advisory Board has three vacancies - two residential representatives and one business representative.  Adoption of this amendment would leave only one vacancy for a residential representative.

RECOMMENDATION

That the Council enact the attached ordinance to reduce the number of Stormwater Management Utility Advisory Board members from eleven to nine, with five residential representatives, three business representatives, and one university representative.

ATTACHMENTS

  1. June 14, 2004 Ordinance Establishing the Stormwater Management Utility Advisory Board [61 KB pdf] (p. 4).
  2. December 6, 2004 Ordinance Amendment Increasing the Size of the Stormwater Advisory Board [77 KB pdf] (p. 7).