STAFF REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
DATE: Special Meeting of March 12, 2024
TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Dante Hall, City Manager
SUBMITTED BY: Michael Roberts, Public Works Director/City Engineer SUBJECT: Resolution Approving the Continuance of an Annual Parcel Assessment to be Adopted by the County Flood Control District for the Contra Costa Clean Water Program for FY 24-25 RECOMMENDED ACTION:
City Council adopt a resolution approving the continuance of the parcel assessment rate of $35.00 per Equivalent Runoff Unit (ERU) for FY 2024-2025 and requesting the Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District adopt this annual parcel assessment for drainage maintenance and the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program.
BACKGROUND:
The Contra Costa Clean Water Program was established in the early 1990s and provides stormwater permit coverage for the 20 member agencies under the NPDES Program administered by the San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB).
The Clean Water Program is governed by a Management Committee, which consists of a representative from each of the 20 public agency members, including Hercules. All revenue generated in the Hercules’ Stormwater Utility Area (SUA) is required to be expended in that district except for the contribution to the regional program, which is very cost effective due to economies of scale.
ANALYSIS:
Regional activities performed by the Flood Control District include negotiating the discharge permit with the RWQCB, providing training to member agencies, developing stormwater design standards, public education and outreach, and coordinating the activities of the member agencies. Hercules uses the local funding component for stormwater activities within the City including street sweeping, catch basin cleaning, and creek cleaning. The funding also pays for staff time spent administering these programs.
In order for the Flood Control District to adopt the assessments, each member agency is required to submit a certified resolution approving the assessment rate for the coming fiscal year.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The parcel assessment rate of $35.00 per Equivalent Runoff Unit (ERU), which is the rate charged to a single-family home, has been in effect in Hercules since the 1990s and will generate approximately $322,300 in revenues. A total of $91,655 of this revenue is retained by the County Flood Control District and constitutes Hercules’ pro rata (by population) contribution for the County to administer the regional Clean Water Program activities on behalf of the 20 member agencies. The remaining $230,645 is returned to Hercules, deposited into the Stormwater Fund, and is used for the local clean water activities mentioned above. This revenue will be included in the FY 24-25 Budget.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attach 1 – Resolution
Attach 2 – County Request for Assessment Resolution
Attach 3 – Clean Water Program Cost Allocation by City