The Moscow City Council approved an ordinance Monday that will establish a monthly stormwater utility fee to carry out the requirements of a federally mandated permit over the next several years.
The fees, equal to the cost of providing the services, will be collected from residents and business owners within the entire city who receive the stormwater services beginning Oct. 1. According to the meeting’s agenda, the stormwater control system exists to provide drainage services to properties.
“The ordinance allows property owners to seek fee adjustments, or possibly the elimination of fees, through an application and appeal process,” Environmental Services Manager Kyle Steele said. “It also prohibits the city from using the stormwater user fee revenue to pay for non-stormwater costs.”
The ordinance was proposed in response to a federal permit requiring Moscow to implement a more comprehensive stormwater management program, although the city has few revenue sources to do so. Expenses for stormwater related activities are currently financed by general fund revenues and due to increasing costs, maintenance and tracking requirements of the new permit, securing additional funding became necessary.
“It’s not a permit that you go and get,” City Councilor Brandy Sullivan said. “It’s not a permit you can opt out of.”
In other business, the council renewed an agreement for E-911 and complete dispatch services with Whitcom, the agency serving the City of Pullman, Whitman County, Nez Perce Tribe and Asotin County for emergency services.
While the current agreement expired Dec. 31, Moscow first contracted with Whitcom in 2004. The new agreement, set to expire in two years, contains a fee structure for the city that’s roughly 21% of Whitcom’s budget.
“Most entities stick with the dispatch center they have,” City Supervisor Gary Reidner said. “We have a really good relationship with Whitcom, so I don’t suspect there’s going to be any changes in the near future.”
Angela Palermo can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @apalermotweets