AGENDA #6b

MEMORANDUM

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

SUBJECT:            Stormwater Utility Development and Implementation Committee

Progress Report Summary #1

DATE:             February 12, 2001

In January 1999, the Stormwater Utility Technical Review Committee, established by Chapel Hill Town Council, submitted it’s final report to Town Council.  Subsequently the Council established a committee to further investigate the establishment of a stormwater utility to serve Chapel Hill and possibly the surrounding areas.  (Please see the August 23, 1999 resolution, attached.)

This implementation study committee has been meeting since August 1999 and expects to develop interim progress reports to present periodically to the Town Council for review and feedback, with the goal of providing substantive recommendations for implementation.  The attached progress report summary describes the committee’s efforts thus far regarding the implementation of a stormwater utility to serve Chapel Hill and possibly surrounding areas.

The committee is requesting that the original charge be expanded to include an analysis of the stormwater management issues on a watershed-wide basis with the goal of achieving multi-jurisdictional consensus and cooperation to the extent practicable.  This expanded effort would assist the committee in defining potential areas of inter-jurisdictional cooperation intended to meet external mandates and local needs.

When the areas of inter-jurisdictional cooperation are defined, the committee would make recommendations regarding the implementation and operation of a stormwater utility to serve Chapel Hill and possibly the surrounding areas.  This is the basis of expanded charge request.

MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION

That the Council adopt the attached resolution expanding the charge of the Stormwater Utility Development and Implementation Committee to include analysis of inter-jurisdictional stormwater management issues on a watershed-wide basis with the goal of achieving regional consensus and cooperation where practicable.  We believe that this expansion of the charge would make further inter-jurisdictional cooperation more likely.  However, we would recommend that such an expansion not be allowed to obstruct the development of Chapel Hill’s capacity to meet the Phase 2 deadlines of the National Pollutant Discharge & Elimination System.

A resolution expanding the charge oF the STormwater Utility Development and Implementation sTudy Committee to ANALYZE inter-jurisdictional stormwater management issues ON A WATERSHED-WIDE BASIS with the goal of achieving regional consensus and cooperation where practicable (2001-02-12/R-8))

Whereas, the Council desires to further investigate the establishment of a stormwater utility to serve Chapel Hill and possibly the surrounding areas; and

Whereas, the Council further agrees that the study of such a utility must include input and cooperation from a variety of jurisdictions and interested parties.

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Stormwater Utility Development and Implementation Study Committee charge be expanded to include analysis of inter-jurisdictional stormwater management issues on a watershed-wide basis with the goal of achieving regional consensus and cooperation where practicable.

Be it further resolved that, if necessary, the Town of Chapel Hill will begin to develop a local stormwater management program designed minimally to meet the individual permit requirements of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, Phase 2 (NPDES Phase 2) by September 30, 2001.

This is the 12^th day of February, 2001.