HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-11-041 - SWM Rate Credit Policy Development 2011 Work Plan1
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REPORT T0: Community and Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING: May 30, 2011
SUBMITTED BY: Grant Murphy, Director of Engineering, 741-2410
PREPARED BY: Nick Gollan, Manager, Stormwater Utility, 741-2422
WARD(S) INVOLVED: All
DATE OF REPORT: May 20, 2011
REPORT NO.: INS 11-041
SUBJECT: STORMWATER RATE CREDIT POLICY DEVELOPMENT -
2011WORK PLAN
RECOMMENDATION:
That the proposed work plan and stakeholder engagement process for the Stormwater
Rate Credit Policy Development be received for information.
BACKGROUND:
In November 2004, Council directed staff to proceed with undertaking a Stormwater
Management Program and Funding Review Study collaboratively with the City of Waterloo as
part of the Shared Services Initiative. The results of the study were presented to Council in
October 2009 and recommended that a utility structure and user rate approach be implemented
in order to fully fund the City's annual stormwater management program. On June 14th, 2010
City of Kitchener Council approved the implementation of a stormwater rate structure which
provides for a fair and equitable approach allocating costs associated with stormwater
management to all property owners in the City of Kitchener.
Council also wishes to review options for the implementation of a stormwater credit policy for
residential and non-residential properties to be implemented in 2011. Property owners would
qualify for stormwater rate credits when they can demonstrate that their existing or proposed
stormwater facilities or applied best management practices are functioning as approved.
Generally, knowledge of the stormwater rate credit policy encourages the implementation of
measures on private property will help reduce total runoff volume and pollutant loading
discharge to the city's stormwater management system. The proposed policy would be
retroactive to January 1, 2011, the start of the stormwater rate billing to property owners.
REPORT:
Council directed staff to report back before December 31, 2011 with alternatives for a proposed
stormwater credit rate policy. Staff will continue to work collaboratively with the City of Waterloo
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KITCx~i~~R
Staff Report
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as part of the Shared Services Initiative to develop and implement a stormwater credit policy.
The evaluation of the various alternatives will include the following steps:
• Identification of a problem or opportunity
• Identification, assessment of impacts, and evaluation of alternative solutions
• Selection of a preferred solution
• Preparation of the policy
The detailed work plan identifies the significant activities that will need to be completed in order
to deliver a report to Council for their consideration in November 2011. The scope of this work
plan does not include implementation of potential changes to the utility billing system (CIS), and
would be determined based on the preferred alternative selected. A general task description
and associated timeline is provided in Table 1.
Table 1: General Description of Work Plan Tasks
Task # Description
1 Consultation and Communications
- Develop stakeholder list
- Update website
- Stakeholder meetings including 2 public information centres
2 Background Review
- Research other municipal credit policies
- Detailed review of relevant policies
- Follow up interviews with key staff from other municipalities
3 Data Collection
- Identify properties eligible for a credit or rebate
- Conduct a residential sector survey
- Identify where property credit information will be stored
4 Develop Credit Program Alternatives
- Alternatives related to eligible property types
- Alternatives related to eligible best management practices
- Alternatives related to application requirements
5 Impact Analysis of Alternatives
- Identify billing system modifications
- Identify resource requirements to administer alternatives
- Identify impact to stormwater revenue
6 Evaluation of Alternatives
- Develop evaluation criteria
- Evaluate alternatives
- Select preferred alternative
7 Refine Preferred Credit Program Details
- Communication plan and application requirements
- Billing system requirements
- Develop implementation work plan
- Develop policy and by-law requirements
8 Present Policy Recommendations to Council
- Report to Council for review and approval
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ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
Community Priority -Environment
"Continue to show leadership in the development of an environmentally sustainable community."
The City continues to ensure effective implementation of the stormwater management facilities
in a sustainable and optimized manner in order to protect the environment and source water.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
None. Staff time is accounted for in the approved 2011 operating and capital budgets.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
Public consultation will be integrated into this process and will include at least two (2) public
information centres at which the public will have opportunity to provide input and feedback.
Consultation will also take place with the Waterloo Region Home Builders Association, Greater
Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber of Commerce, and the City's Environmental Advisory Committee.
A partnership has been developed with the University of Waterloo Research centre to complete
a survey of residential property owners in order to assess their relative preferences of various
credit policy alternatives (similar to the Your Kitchener Environics study (2009)).
CONCLUSION:
In order to address Council's direction to implement a stormwater rate credit policy for 2012, a
detailed work plan has been presented and is currently underway. Various alternatives will be
evaluated and a proposed policy will be presented to Council for approval in November 2011.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Pauline Houston, Deputy CAO
Infrastructure Services Department
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