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JONES Eric R <br /> ~ From: COREY Kurt A <br /> i <br /> Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2003 5:24 PM <br /> j To: *Eugene Public Works <br /> j Cc: *Eugene Exec Managers and Assistants <br /> ~ Subject: Update on stormwater Program Review <br /> i <br /> As reported to you in correspondence about a month ago, the Eugene City Council has undertaken a comprehensive <br /> review of the City's stormwater program -this is to provide you with an update of that effort. Last night, the Council directed <br /> staff to prepare the FY05 budget for stormwater services without increasing the monthly stormwater user fees paid by <br /> j Eugene businesses and residents. Council also voted last night to hot implement the 50-cent-per-month stormwater fee <br /> increase earmarked for acquiring stream corridors. As a result of these actions, the Public Works Department wiN need to <br /> j reduce stormwater program expenditures by about $2 million beginning July 1, 2004, and scale back the stream corridor <br /> acquisition program. The budget reduction is necessary because user fees no longer generate enough revenue to operate <br /> <br /> j the program at its current level. For the past several years, reserves have been used to make up the difference. <br /> However, reserves are essentially exhausted, and without additional revenue the only option is to reduce costs. <br /> In preparation for this eventuality, the department went through an extensive process of prioritizing stormwater services. . <br /> Many of you were involved in that process, which consisted of evaluating the many stormwater services we provide to the <br /> community, considering the impact of various levels of service reductions, and identifying core services directly related to <br /> j our NPDES permit. The prioritized list will serve as a starting place for the Public Works division managers to prepare the <br /> FY05 budget. In order to be consistent with the information provided to the City Council as part of this review, I would <br /> expect the program reductions to generally follow the list. Please bear in mind, however, that some changes could result <br /> based upon a number of factors, including those which may arise from our negotiations with the Department of <br /> Environmental Quality for renewal of the City's NPDES permit. <br /> i <br /> I recognize that reducing our stormwater program expenditures is a difficult task, particularly given the uncertainties in <br /> other funds. It affects many of us personally because of how our positions are funded. And it also challenges our <br /> professional commitments to public safety and environmental stewardship. The Council considered several scenarios and <br /> .determined that this is the course of action that best serves the community at this time. It's our job to do the best we can <br /> within the fiscal parameters we've been given. There's no question that some of our stormwater services will be cut back <br /> or even eliminated, but I believe we can meet the minimal requirements of our NPDES permit with our remaining. <br /> <br /> ~ resources. <br /> Over the next several months as the picture becomes clearer I will keep you informed. In the meantime, I encourage you <br /> to talk to~your division manager if you have questions or suggestions about our stormwater program. If you'd like to know <br /> more, about the scenarios the Council considered, you can view them on the Internet at <br /> www.ci.eugene.or.us/Council/Agenda/S030716A.pdf. The list of stormwater program activities and associated costs can <br /> be viewed at http://ceonline/pw/StormwaterProgramreview.pdf. <br /> i <br /> Kurt Corey. P.E. <br /> Director of Public Works <br /> <br />