FELLSMERE — In an attempt to better leverage grant funding to address stormwater needs in the city, the Fellsmere City Council is considering establishing a new utility service, charging residents what city officials are calling a “nominal” fee.
That fee, which has yet to be determined, could be in the neighborhood of $4 a month, City Manager Jason Nunemaker has told the council. The council has not yet discussed the proposed utility or its potential fee.
Instead, the council preliminarily approved an ordinance that would establish the entire city as the service area for the utility. A second reading of the ordinance and a public hearing is scheduled for July 5. The public’s input is encouraged.
Nunemaker told the Fellsmere City Council last week that having a stormwater master plan and a utility to support that plan would affect the city’s ability to develop in the future as well as allow for strategic growth.
He reminded the council that developers need to provide for stormwater detention on their properties, which eats up a fair amount of developable space.
Instead of providing retention on site, developers could – through the stormwater utility – pipe the runoff water offsite, to a city-owned stormwater retention site, for treatment.
To that end, Nunemaker said those involved in Fellsmere Joint Venture have become engaged and have expressed interest in partnering with the city on stormwater issues.
The stormwater utility fund – which residents would pay into – would serve two purposes, according to Nunemaker. One, showing government agencies the city has a dedicated revenue stream to address stormwater issues would score the city more points on grant applications. And two, the accumulated money could be used to acquire properties set aside for stormwater retention or possibly assist would-be developers to finance their own stormwater needs.
Councilman Joel Tyson questioned how the city would get the word out to residents about the stormwater utility. Nunemaker suggested notices go out through the city’s water utility bill.
He also said residents would need to be educated about the new utility, as well as reminded that the city’s water department is not tasked with stormwater management.
Approving the ordinance, which could happen after the second ordinance reading and public hearing on July 5, is the first step for the city to craft its stormwater master plan. The city has gotten preliminary approval on a grant that would help fund the plan.
Anyone interested in addressing the Fellsmere City Council on the stormwater utility issue is encouraged to attend the July 5 council meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. The meeting is held in the Council Chambers, located in the blue building at the corner of County Road 512 and S. Cypress Street.
For more information, call Fellsmere City Hall at (772) 571-1616.
