ATTACHMENT 2

Stormwater Policy Review Committee Summary Report to Council

February 13, 2004

The Stormwater Policy Review Committee was charged by the Town Council to discuss and reach consensus on draft policies, and to provide thoughtful input and recommendations on issues related to the Town’s Utility Based Stormwater Management Program.  Following is a summary of our activities and findings related to the charge.

During the course of committee work we discussed, requested changes to and came to consensus on the Mission Statement, Roles document, Program Priorities, Program elements, service levels, costs and the tiered rate plan as they are reflected in the report.  We believe that taken together these elements provide the required policy framework to implement a successful Utility Based Stormwater Management Program in Chapel Hill. 

In terms of providing thoughtful input and recommendations we have the following items for Council’s consideration:

· The Council should create a Stormwater Management Program Advisory Committee consisting of a broad cross section of the Utility’s stakeholders.  This committee should be charged with advising the Council on all aspects of the program.  The committee would interact extensively with, and be provided appropriate support by, designated Town staff.

· The Council should mandate the development of a master plan for long-range management of stormwater impacts and the ecological health of the Town’s watersheds.  Master planning should be the highest priority of the program.  Working with the Advisory Committee and with as much input as possible from the community, the Program should concentrate early efforts on master planning activities which encompass all aspects of the stormwater utility program including flood control, stream restoration, drainage assistance, hazard mitigation, infrastructure inventory, and others.  A comprehensive master plan is essential in sorting out program priorities, costs, benefits, and discretionary versus mandatory activities – and providing a systematic means of accomplishing these in a cost-effective service-oriented manner.  

· The committee recognizes that the University has developed a proactive stormwater program of its own and is accomplishing an impressive array of activities.   We also recognize the disagreement between the Town and the University about whether or not the University should pay fees to the Town’s stormwater utility.  The Committee noted a range of possible mechanisms for potential participation, such as direct fees (for which partial credits might be established) or through some other negotiated arrangement – perhaps similar to the University’s role in the Town’s transit system; but University representatives on the Committee did not agree that the University should be a source of funding for the Town’s utility.  The Committee, however, is in consensus that the University and the Town should engage in constructive discussions regarding potential cooperation. 

· There is complete consensus (minus one) that the Town should implement the Utility as expeditiously as possible.  We believe that a tiered fee structure is preferable to a single flat rate for single family residences because of its inherent fairness.  

Through proactive master planning and meaningful stakeholder participation, we believe that the program will be not only efficient and cost effective, but that it will also enhance the quality of our water resources and lives in Chapel Hill for years to come.