HomeMy WebLinkAboutAdmin Order 58-25-03-F -- SW User Fees (FY26 )Administrative Order - Page 1 of 2
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 58-25-03-F
of the
City Manager of the City of Eugene
SETTING STORMWATER USER FEES AND SUPERSEDING THE FEE
SCHEDULE ADOPTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 58-24-29-F.
The City Manager of the City of Eugene finds as follows:
A.Section 6.411 of the Eugene Code, 1971 (EC), authorizes the City Manager to
determine and set fees and charges to be imposed by the City for wastewater service, regional
wastewater service, and stormwater service. Pursuant to that authority, on October 1, 2024, I
issued Administrative Order No. 58-24-29-F amending the Stormwater User Fee Schedule.
B.On March 26, 2025, I issued Administrative Order No. 58-25-03 ordering that
notice be given of the opportunity to submit comments on my proposal to set new stormwater user
fees. The Notice specified that comments on the proposed rates for stormwater service could be
submitted orally at the public hearing which would be held remotely on April 10, 2025, at noon
using virtual meeting technology, and that written comments could otherwise be submitted to the
City’s Public Works Financial Services Manager until 5 p.m. on April 10, 2025. There was no
testimony at the public hearing; however, one written comment was submitted and this comment
is addressed in the City Manager's Findings attached as Exhibit B to this Order.
C.Based on my investigation of the revenue needs of the City in providing stormwater
service using the criteria in EC 6.411(2), and after considering the comments submitted, I find that
the stormwater user fees should be amended as proposed. (See Exhibit B.)
D.The unamended stormwater user fees adopted by Administrative Order No. 58-24-
2 9-F are incorporated into the Fee Schedule attached as Exhibit A to this Order.
On the basis of these findings, I order that:
1.A copy of this Order shall be promptly forwarded to the Mayor and City Councilors.
Unless reviewed by the Council pursuant to EC 6.411(1)(f), this Order shall become final on the
11th day after the date it is rendered.
2.Notwithstanding the effective date of this Order as set forth above, the Stormwater
User Fee Schedule attached as Exhibit A to this Order is the schedule of fees to be charged for the
described services effective for all bills issued on or after July 1, 2025.
Administrative Order - Page 2 of 2
3. The Fee Schedule attached to Administrative Order No. 58-23-19-F is superseded
by the Stormwater User Fee Schedule attached as Exhibit A to this Order effective for all bills
issued on or after July 1, 2025.
Dated this 05/29/2025 day of May, 2025.
Sarah Medary, City Manager
Unless reviewed by Council pursuant to EC 6.411(1)(f), this Order becomes final on
June 9 , 2025.
Matt Rodrigues (May 29, 2025 14:55 PDT)
Page 1 of 1
STORMWATER USER FEE SCHEDULE
(Effective for all bills issued on or after July 1, 2025)
Stormwater User Fees are the sum of charges for impervious surface, street-related run-off and an
administrative fee. The three categories of “residential” fees all refer to single-family dwellings,
and are described as follows:
1. Small Residential Customer. Building footprint is equal to or less than 1,000 square
feet.
2. Medium Residential Customer. Building footprint is greater than 1,000 square feet
and less than 3,000 square feet.
3. Large Residential Customer. Building footprint is 3,000 square feet or greater.
All users other than single family homes and duplexes are included as
Commercial/Industrial.
The fee for a duplex is calculated as follows: The administrative portion of the fee is based
on a single residential account; the street-related portion of the fee is twice the amount for a single
family dwelling; and the charge for impervious surface is the same as for a single-family dwelling
if the duplex has a vertical configuration and twice that rate if the duplex has a horizontal
configuration.
The term “per 1,000 sf” refers to square foot of impervious surface area.
Small
Residential
Medium
Residential
Large Residential
Commercial/Industrial
Impervious Surface:
$9.90
$15.95
$5.50 per 1,000 sf
$5.50 per 1,000 sf
Street-Related: $2.76 $2.76 $2.76 $1.96 per 1,000 sf
Administrative: $0.82 $0.82 $2.57 $2.57
Total Monthly Fee: $13.48 $19.53 Varies Varies
Application Fees: Fees
Reduction or Elimination of Discharge .............................................. $150.00
Reduction of Impervious Area:
Small or Medium Residential Customer ......................................... $50.00
General Customer ............................................................................ $100.00
Exhibit A to Administrative Order No. 58-25-03-F
Exhibit B
to Administrative Order 58-25-03-F
Page 1 of 6
CITY MANAGER’S FINDINGS
Proposed Stormwater Fee Schedule Amendments
Stormwater fees support services that protect clean water in Amazon Creek and the Willamette River,
enhance fish and wildlife habitat, and reduce the risk of flooding. An investigation was conducted to
determine stormwater revenue needs through FY26. The investigation included the following factors, as
outlined in Eugene Code 6.411.
There are many components to the stormwater program. When it rains in Eugene, water hits roofs,
lawns, sidewalks and streets, and picks up oil from cars, sediment, bacteria, grease, and other chemicals
associated with urban life. Instead of soaking into the ground, nature’s natural filter in non-urban areas,
these contaminants are carried along streets and through underground storm pipes, culverts and
roadside ditches, discharging directly into Amazon Creek or the Willamette River. Pipes and culverts
catch leaves, sediment and litter and must be cleaned regularly. Green infrastructure such as vegetated
swales and rain gardens have been installed to provide treatment for stormwater runoff in some areas
and must also be maintained. Street sweeping, leaf pick up, piped system cleaning, and vegetation
maintenance of rain gardens are just a few of the stormwater operations that the city provides to
maintain this system. In addition to protecting clean water and healthy habitat, a functioning
stormwater system also reduces the risk of flooding.
The City of Eugene is proposing to increase the stormwater user fee by 5%, effective July 1, 2025. The
FY26 rate increase provides the resources to invest in several solutions that address issues impacting the
stormwater service. Specifically, this funding will be used to contribute to the addition of 1.50 full time
equivalent (FTE) that focus on keeping the right-of-way (ROW) in the downtown core area clean of trash
and debris so that it does not make it ways to storm drains or the river. Additionally, this fee increase
will allow the stormwater service to partner in the addition of 0.30 of a FTE in the Engineering Division
for Capital Project Delivery, Housing and Development; 0.20 FTE in the Wastewater Division for
increased workload for operations and maintenance one-third of the cost of a security contract at
Roosevelt Yard. The fee increase will also keep pace with inflation that this service is expecting to see
over the forecast period.
Pursuant to Sections 6.411(1) and (2), the City Manager has conducted an investigation of the revenue
needs of the City in conducting stormwater operations and has examined the following criteria in
determining the proposed stormwater fees:
Exhibit B
to Administrative Order 58-25-03-F
Page 2 of 6
1) The amount charged for such service in the past.
Findings:
Small
Residential
Medium
Residential
Large Residential
Commercial/Industrial
Current Impervious Surface:
$9.43
$15.20
$5.24 per 1,000 sf
$5.24 per 1,000 sf
Proposed fees: $9.90 $15.95 $5.50 $5.50
Current Street-Related: $2.63 $2.63 $2.63 $1.87 per 1,000 sf
Proposed fees: $2.76 $2.76 $2.76 $1.96
Current Administrative: $0.78 $0.78 $2.45 $2.45
Proposed fees: $0.82 $0.82 $2.57 $2.57
Current Total Monthly Fee: $12.84 $18.61 Varies Varies
Proposed fees: $13.48 $19.53 Varies Varies
Application Fees: Fees Proposed
Reduction or Elimination of Discharge .............................................. $150.00 No change
to this fee
Reduction of Impervious Area:
Small or Medium Residential Customer ......................................... $ 50.00 No change
to this fee
General Customer ............................................................................ $100.00 No change
to this fee
2) Applicable federal or state regulations or conditions imposed as part of a federal or state grant or
financial assistance agreement.
Findings: N/A
Exhibit B
to Administrative Order 58-25-03-F
Page 3 of 6
3) The Amounts charged or proposed to be charged by the City of Springfield and other providers of
stormwater services for comparable services.
Findings: 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 those rates for Medford, 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 except
for Portland which, in many older areas of the city, operates a combined stormwater and
stormwater system, so the programs are not comparable in scope.
Residential Stormwater Rate Survey Results $49.71 $50.00
$45.00
$40.00
$35.00
$30.00
$25.00
$20.00
$21.64 $23.80
$17.28 $17.82 $19.48 $19.53
$15.00
$10.00
$5.00
$-
$9.15 $11.20
Exhibit B
to Administrative Order 58-25-03-F
Page 4 of 6
4) The revenue needed to pay for the direct and indirect expected costs of constructing, operating,
maintaining, and replacing local and regional stormwater facilities based on the adopted budgets of
the city of Eugene, the debt obligations of the city or other entities for construction of the facilities,
adopted capital improvement plans of the council, the expected need for financial reserves and
contingencies, and other sources of revenue.
Sources of Funds: FY26
Beginning Working Capital $5,720,938
Current Rate Revenue $24,848,000
Rate Increase Revenue $1,242,050
Other Revenue $846,000
Total Resources $32,656,988
Uses of Funds:*
Operations & Maintenance
$18,673,660
Capital Projects $2,465,000
Administration $2,799,877
Planning $1,506,999
Utility Right of Way Fee $1,424,500
Utility Administration $1,210,106
Education $533,492
Ending Working Capital $4,043,354
Total Requirements $32,656,988
Rate Increase - Proposed 5.0%
*The rate increase is included in the cost of the above programs.
5) For an individual stormwater service customer that discharges stormwater that requires
extraordinary expense to the city, special surcharge rates based on the type, concentration,
quantity, quality and frequency of the discharge.
Findings: The current fee structure is set up so the more stormwater a large residential or
industrial/commercial property discharges, the more they pay for the City to manage it once it gets
to the public system.
6) Other relevant adopted policies of the council.
Findings: City Council adopted Comprehensive Stormwater Management Plan (CSWMP, 1993) which
includes goals, policies and implementation actions that provide the framework for an integrated
multiple-objective approach to stormwater management.
7) The terms of any applicable intergovernmental agreement relating to stormwater services or
regional stormwater treatment service.
Findings: There are no additional new intergovernmental agreements between the City of Eugene
Exhibit B
to Administrative Order 58-25-03-F
Page 5 of 6
and other entities that will impact the proposed rates. Existing relevant intergovernmental
agreements (e.g. City of Eugene/Lane County Stormwater IGA, City of Eugene/Lane County
Maintenance IGA) are cost neutral and are updated periodically as needed to maintain parity in level
of effort and resources.
8) The obtaining of equity between different classes of customers so that one class of customers
does not pay more than its proportionate share of the expenses of providing sewer service.
Findings: The stormwater fee schedule is set up to charge customers whose residence or business
generates more stormwater runoff a higher fee. There are three classes of rates for residential
customers based upon impervious surface area: small, medium, and large. Small and medium
residential pay a flat rate. Large residential and commercial/industrial customers pay per square
footage of impervious surface area.
9) In addition to the forgoing considerations, in determining the amounts or rates to be charged for
stormwater service, the city manager shall consider the value of the use and occupancy of the
city’s right-of-way by the city stormwater system.
Findings: The City of Eugene stormwater program is paying a similar charge for the use and
occupancy of the City of Eugene’s right-of-way system, when compared to other utilities in the area.
RESPONSE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS
During the 15-day comment period, the City received one written comment regarding the proposed
amendments to the Stormwater Fee Schedule. A summary of the comment received, and findings
addressing the comment, are set out below:
The participant asked for more information about the basis for the increase in fees and suggested that
the City hire contractors to perform all park and open space maintenance instead of City employees.
Response: The City has a contract with the AFSCME Union that requires an evaluation process to
outsource union work. This evaluation process can be started as needed.
Exhibit B
to Administrative Order 58-25-03-F
Page 6 of 6
This participant also suggested that the City adopt lower rates for property owners that are 60 years of
age and over.
Response: While there are not any discounts offered on Stormwater user fees based on age or
ownership status, the City does contribute to EWEB’s low-income assistance program for eligible
customers. This program is also available to property owners that are 60 years of age and over who
meet eligibility requirements.
No changes will be made to the fee schedule as a result of this comment.