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I' <br /> Summary Record of Open Questions and Answers at Public Hearing <br /> Tuesday, May 9, 3:00 p.m. <br /> McNutt Room, Eugene City Hall, 777 Pearl St. <br /> On the matter of receiving comment on proposed adjustments for stormwater <br /> and wastewater services for bills issued on and after July 1, 2006 <br /> Charles Biggs <br /> <br /> I <br /> • What is the driver behind these rate increases? <br /> o Staff Response: On the Wastewater side, the primary driver from the local <br /> program is bringing up to an adequate level the capital rehabilitation budget <br /> to upgrade and repair our aging local wastewater collection system. The rate <br /> increases for the regional wastewater program are driven mainly by <br /> increased expenses for capital projects. <br /> On the stormwater side, the three primary service additions this year were <br /> <br /> ~ $326, 000 for new staff to address permit-related requirements around new <br /> <br /> ~ development standards, a $300, 000 addition to the stream corridor capital <br /> <br /> ~ acquisition program, and a $655, 000 shift in funding from Road Fund to the <br /> stormwater Fund for street tree/median maintenance activities. All three <br /> additions were in response to direct council action. <br /> • When will the MWMC capital program be completed? <br /> o Staff response: Projects in the Master Plan are scoped over a 20 year period, <br /> but practically, the majority of <br /> projects will be substantially completed within <br /> the next 10 years. <br /> <br /> ' • Do these stream corridor acquisitions duplicate protections under current planning <br /> standard or those required by Goa15? If they are already protected, why would we <br /> use public funds to buy them? <br /> o Staff Response: In some cases, the targeted acquisitions may overlap with <br /> existing land use regulations, but current stormwater regulations do not <br /> <br /> ~ specifically provide water quality protections, so the protection standards and <br /> goals under the acquisition program would be higher. We may, for example, <br /> need a wider buffer for water quality protection than required under existing <br /> land use provisions. We may also need ownership rights for purposes of <br /> carrying out maintenance activities. <br /> • What is the rationale for only having one commercial user category in the stormwater <br /> fees? <br /> o Staff Response: Small and medium residential are charged a flat rate by <br /> category based on an assumed building footprint (less than 1, 000 sgft. and <br /> 1, 000 - 3, 000 sq. ft.). Larger residential residences (greater than 3, 000 sq. <br /> ft.) and Commercial/Industrial are billed based on actual, verified square <br /> footage. <br /> <br />