Stream Corridor Acquisition Memo

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MEMORANDUM Date: December 16, 2005 To: Stormwater Policy team From: Therese Walch, x8647 Re: January 2006 Council Worksession Related to Stream Corridor Acquisition The purpose of this memo is to provide some food for thought to the Policy team in advance of your December 20th meeting on stream corridor acquisition. At the October 10, 2005 Council worksession on the stormwater NPDES permit and other program developments, Council requested a follow up worksession on stream corridor acquisition. Some councilors are interested in reconsidering whether to fund an enhanced acquisition program. Background and history on the program is provided in this memo, as well as some questions to consider in preparing for the January worksession. History and Background of Stream Corridor Ac uisition The Stream Corridor Acquisition Study was initiated by staff at the urging of the Stormwater Department Advisory Committee in early 2000, in the context of their review of the stormwater basin planning work. In October 2001, City Council directed staff to proceed with an enhanced stream corridor acquisition program, based upon the draft May 2001 Stream Corridor Acquisition Study with some specific modifications (see the October 10, 2001 Stream Corridor Acquisition Study). The approved funding strategy included two elements: 1) use existing stormwater fund balance to acquire sites considered most at risk to development, and 2) increase stormwater user fees by $0.50 per month per [medium density residential] customer [and equivalent for other user fee categories] to fund the balance of the acquisition sites. It was estimated that, once the user fee increase was implemented, it would generate an additional $577,000 per year. Added to the $150,000 annually proposed in basin planning for acquisition, the total annual budget for stream corridor acquisition was estimated to be $727,000 once the user fee increase was implemented. This amount is reflected in the 04-09 CIP. Council directed that the rate increase would sunset after three years (from implementation) and funding would reduce back to an amount of $150,000. Stream Corridor Management Plans were completed in October 2002, which describe in some detail the management objectives of the acquisition corridors and refine the targeted acquisition areas based on more detailed information and site visits. The first annual report on progress and lessons learned was presented to City Council in November 2002. In November 2002 and March 2003 a staff group met to review stream corridor acquisition accomplishments and experience to date and to develop prioritization strategy for the remaining sites. Priority corridors to focus on next were identified by the group as Upper Braeburn Creek and Lower Videra Creek. A second report of progress was presented to the City Council in July 2003, in the context of the overall stormwater program review being conducted due to budget shortfall projections. In August 2003 _ _ _ _