Funding Assistance to Stormwater Utility Fee Payers for Stormwater Solutions and Incentives Danny Bowden City of Raleigh Stormwater Utility
Raleigh stormwater utility s cost share programs Drainage repairs and improvements: flooding and severe erosion Stormwater quality improvements: cisterns, rain gardens, bioretention devices, green roofs, underground infiltration devices, and permeable pavements
Cost share program eligibility Property owner is paying the Stormwater Utility Fee residential properties commercial properties government properties Project is inside Raleigh s incorporated area Project is beyond requirements of stormwater regulations Owner agrees to maintain the project
Review process for cost share petitions Petitions reviewed by staff, scored, ranked Petitions reviewed by Stormwater Management Advisory Commission (SMAC) Drainage: semi-annually Water quality: quarterly SMAC recommends to City Council City Council decides
Publicity for the cost share programs Response to complaint calls City of Raleigh website Presentations at neighborhood meetings Volunteer program newsletters Upper Neuse Riverkeeper newsletter Word of mouth
Drainage complaints My street/yard/house is flooded Water from the street is damaging my property My yard/creek bank is eroding New development upstream is causing flooding My pipe/catch basin/creek is clogged There are sinkholes around my drain pipe My neighbor rerouted the drainage, and now
Public Safety Sink hole and severe erosion Street flooding Public Safety Structure flooding Severe erosion
Types of drainage projects that qualify Flooding of streets or structures Severe erosion (including stream bank erosion and sinkholes around drainage system) Clogged pipes Dredging of watercourses (draining >100 acres when an obstruction is causing or is likely to cause flooding of structures or compromise public safety; rarely used) Council-approved exceptions to the policy
Other criteria for drainage projects Property must be developed Owner is current in paying stormwater fee Owner agrees to maintain the improvement Owner acknowledges that the City is not adopting the drainageway or drainage system Owner agrees to hold the City harmless
Scoring criteria for drainage projects Drainage problems affecting public safety Flooding in finished floor areas Deterioration of drainage system affecting stability of a habitable structure Flooding crawl space or other part of a structure Severe erosion (sinkholes, pipe failure, bank erosion) Public nuisance
Drainage projects cost sharing arrangements Type of Problem Owner Cost Share City s Cost Share Flooding of street AND structure 0% 100% Flooding of street AND pipe clogged 0% 100% Flooding of structure 15% 85% Severe erosion 15% 85% Clogged pipe 50% 50% Dredging dispose of dredged material *Owner s cost is capped at $5,000 per owner per project. remainder of cost
Funding for drainage projects Individual projects usually < $100,000 Annual budget is $750,000 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) drainage complaints can become CIP projects projects involving street flooding
Drainage program accomplishments 1990-2011 225 drainage cost share projects completed 168 severe erosion projects 47 structure or street flooding projects 10 clogged pipe projects Total spent = $6,249,000 75-80% of total spent for severe erosion
Water quality cost share program Program based on success of the drainage cost share program City Council approved in 2009 Annual budget is $250,000 Provides assistance for property owners to install stormwater retrofits Commits owners to maintain the retrofits
Types of water quality projects that qualify Projects that improve stormwater quality and/or reduce stormwater runoff volume: cisterns rain gardens/bioretention devices permeable pavements green roofs buffer restoration grassed swales
Cistern Bioretention Permeable Pavement Green Roof
Projects that do not qualify for the water quality program Features that get credit for complying with stormwater regulations Properties with previously reduced stormwater utility fee (credit or adjustment) Projects that do not improve water quality or reduce stormwater runoff volume (e.g., for drainage)
Water quality program scoring criteria Priority watersheds TMDL 303(d) watershed Cost/benefit based on pollutant removal Cost per acre drained Pollutant removal efficiency Existence of downstream treatment devices Alternative BMPs
Water quality cost share arrangements Terms and conditions for maintenance are tailored for each project based on the type of stormwater BMP or other feature to be installed Maintenance Commitment Owner s Cost Share City s Cost Share 5 years 50% 50% 10 years 25% 75% *There is no upper limit for cost incurred by property owner
Water quality projects funded so far 8 projects approved in 2010-2011 $250,000 in total project cost $140,000 provided in City funding Projects with local government as owner: Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department Wake County Public Schools Commercial owner projects Residential owner projects
Types of water quality projects funded so far 3 cistern projects 2 additional in review 2 buffer restoration projects 1 green roof project 1 permeable pavement project 1 rain garden project 2 additional in review 1 grassed swale project in review
Example water quality project: Residential underground cistern 1,200 gallon underground cistern Collects the first 1 inch of rooftop runoff Approved in 2010, constructed in April 2011 Construction ~$6,000
Example water quality project: Residential rain garden 175 sf back yard rain garden Collects the first 1 inch of rooftop runoff Approved and constructed in 2011 Construction + design ~$8,000
Lessons learned about cost sharing Include a high construction contingency in the amount for approval Check on capabilities of owner s designer and constructor Owners sometimes want to move more quickly that the City s process allows Minimize investment of staff time until owner s cost contribution is in hand
Funding Assistance to Stormwater Utility Fee Payers for Stormwater Solutions and Incentives Contact: Danny Bowden or Amy Hathaway City of Raleigh Stormwater Utility (919) 996-3940 StormwaterUtilityHelpingU@raleighnc.gov