SEBASTIAN — Those who own homes and businesses in Sebastian will pay 25 percent more next year so the city can raise $201,400 to get a better handle on stormwater management.
The Sebastian City Council approved the increase Wednesday. It will go into effect on Oct. 1.
The fee is based upon the Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) which is commonly used as a way of calculating rates for utility or other infrastructure services and fees. Each single-family residence, no matter the size, counts as one ERU. Businesses pay multiple ERUs depending upon square footage and other factors.
“Businesses will be impacted greater than residents because they pay multiple ERUs,” Minner said.
The rate per ERU will go up from $4 per month to $5 per month, or about a $12 increase per year. Combined, the city’s 12,000 homes will make up about 71 percent of the $201,400 in revenue to be raised from the increase.
City Manager Al Minner said the city’s “big box” stores would get hit the hardest. He named Wal-Mart at a $1,050 increase, Winn-Dixie at a $977 increase and Publix at a $763 increase specifically. The undeveloped subdivisions in the city will also pay an increased rate.
The average smaller store, restaurant or office would see an increase somewhere between $75 and $200 per year.
The ERU system, which is also used for water and sewer utilities, is far from perfect for stormwater, said Vice Mayor Don Wright.
“My concern is that I see the work we’re doing and where we are doing it and the business community does not realize the benefit that the residential community does,” Wright said.
Wright suggested the city find a more equitable solution going forward and Minner agreed that the city could issue businesses some credit, say, for on-side retention ponds which mitigate the stormwater problem.
Minner agreed and added that the subdivisions are also paying a large portion, but said that “they don’t have outfall onto our system.”
“At the end of the day, we do need to work on a couple of things,” Minner said.
The money, Minner said, would be spent, to be more aggressive about capturing stormwater, especially in the riverfront district.
Local business owner and resident Damien Gilliams complained after the vote that the council did not provide an opportunity for public comment during what was listed on the agenda as a “public hearing” of the resolution.
Gilliams attempted to comment anyway and was graveled down by Mayor Jim Hill. A police officer present also spoke to Gilliams when he attempted to interrupt the proceedings.
