04/27/1992 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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- e e industries that meet a certain type of industry designation are expected to secure a separate discharge permit from the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), as well as a wetland permit if a development proposal creates wetland impacts. The discharge permit allows for the discharge of storm-water in the City's system. The State of Oregon has also recent groundwater protection legislation that influences the City's plan for managing storm-water. Mr. Lyle summarized his presentation saying that the plan addresses Federal regulation, local policy and local issues; and calls for a combined program that deals with water quality, flood protection, public education, operation and maintenance, and natural resource protection under an umbrella program that will be financed in part by the community. Reviewing the time line, Mr. Lyle said the department is just completing the first part of the process of meeting Part I of the new federal storm-water regulations, assimilating information about the City's current system. Part 2 of the process entails gathering samples of the storm-water during storm events to help analyze quality in detail. Mr. Lyle said the permit application for Part 2 is required to be submitted to the DEQ by May 1993. Responding to a comment from Mr. MacDonald, Mr. Lyle said the City is considering an increase in the storm-water user fee, which is now included as a composite rate for both sanitary and storm systems. The plan is to have a separate storm-water user fee reflected on Eugene Water & Electric Board's monthly billing. Mr. Lyle said the City currently uses water meter size as the basis for fees, but the plan will consider changing to impervious surface area as the basis. Mr. Lyle said that the Citizen Involvement Committee has approved the plan's public participation program. The program's first public information forum is scheduled for May 27. Other elements of the program include a newsletter; community outreach to specific groups, upon invitation by the group; as well as an ongoing education program. He said that the formal adoption process will require amendments to the MetroPlan and adoption by both the Planning Commission and the City Council. Mr. Lyle said costs for implementation of the plan include $300,000 for Part 1 and $600,000 for Part 2 of the EPA storm-water quality program. The City is actively pursuing Federal funding for the overall project. Responding to a question from Mayor Miller, Mr. Lyle said it was hard to predict what the City's cost would be. City Manager Mike Gleason agreed, saying standards were unknown at this time. Responding to a question from Ms. Bascom, Public Works Director Chris Andersen said regulatory agencies as well as the threat of lawsuits are motivating a timely response to the new regulations. Mr. MacDonald pointed out that passive methods such as the ecosystem approach are preferable because they can keep costs to a minimum. MINUTES--Eugene City Council 5:30 p.m. April 27, 1992 Page 2