Admin Order 58-22-14-F -- Final SW User Fees

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Exhibit B to Administrative Order 58-22-14-F Page 3 of 7 Residential Stormwater Rate $45.00 $38.95 $40.00 $35.00 $30.00 $25.00 $20.00 $15.00 $10.00 $5.00 $0.00 $20.19 $14.86 $16.01 $16.07 $18.92 $9.86 $11.91 What are the Federal and State regulations impacting FY23s proposed rate increase? The City of Eugene holds a permit under the federal Clean Water Act for the stormwater discharged from the public stormwater system into downstream waterways including Amazon Creek and the Willamette River. The permit, formally called the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit, requires that the City reduce the discharge of pollutants in stormwater runoff to the maximum extent practicable. The City also holds a permit under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act for stormwater discharged from the public stormwater system into groundwater via “underground injection controls (UICs),” or drywells. Both clean water permits, administered by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), require implementation of pollution‐reduction best management practices, water quality monitoring, and regular reporting. Both permits are drivers for the City’s growing inventory of green infrastructure stormwater facilities such as swales and rain gardens. Federal flood control regulations that impact the City’s stormwater program include the National Flood Insurance Program and the Flood Control Act. Federal and state regulations aimed at protecting and restoring healthy fish and wildlife habitat include the Clean Water Act wetlands protections and the Endangered Species Act. The FY23 proposed budget for the stormwater program will provide funding for the City to continue carrying out activities and services necessary to meet these federal and state regulations. How does the City of Eugene’s proposed rate compare to other similar service providers? All the cities included in the chart below are regulated under the MS4 permit program, with an important distinction. “MS4 Phase I permittees” tend to represent larger and more densely populated areas and must meet additional obligations compared to the smaller “MS4 Phase II permittees.” The table reflects this distinction in that rates for Corvallis, Springfield, and Albany, all MS4 Phase II permittees, are on the lower end of the range. All others in the table are MS4 Phase I permittees and their stormwater programs are more comparable to Eugene’s with the exception of Portland which, in many older areas of the city, operates a combined wastewater and stormwater system, so the programs are not comparable in scope.