FLOOD01805

• County: Statewide
• Community: State of Colorado
• Title: A Utility Approach to Comprehensive Storm Water Management
• Date: 7/28/1983
• Prepared For: Roger E. Krempel
• Prepared By: Marc Engomen
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Project

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1983 Intemational Symposium on Urban Hydrology, Hydraulics and S~diment Control
IUnlv~rsity of Kentucky, lexington. Kentucky - July 25.28, 19831

A UTILITY APPROACH TO COMPREHENSIVE
STORM WATER MANAGEMENT

by

Marc Engemoen, P~E.
Stann Drainage Engineer
City of Fort Collins, Colorado

and

R0ger E, Krempel, P.E.
01rector of Pub11c Works and Water Utilities
City of Fort Collins, Colorado

Planning stom drainage improvements using a basin-wide ap-
proach and considering the total drainage basin system beyond
individual subdivisions requires a basin-wide financing method
as well~ Individual neighborhoods and subdivision developments
can no longer be expected to be responsible for the costs of
improvements that benefit other properties~

The Ci ty has the power to rai se money in ways that cannot be
used by private organizations or individuals~ which offers it
greater fl exibil i ty in prav; di ng effective stonnwater manage-
ment~

In 1980, as part of its budget process, Fort Call i ns estab-
lished a starmwater utility by bringing together drainage
activities into a single program. These activities include:
routine operations. maintenance and administration of the
existing drainage system~ and the engineering and development
of a comprehensive capital improvements program~

To fund operations, maintenance, and administration. the City
began charging property owners a monthly utility fee in January
1981. This fee, based on a property's area and land use
characteristics, is approximately $I per month for single-
family residents.

In December 1981, the City Council approved charging additional
fees for stonn drainage capital improvements in three of nine
drainage basins. Residents of the Foothills, Fox Meadows, and
McClellands-Mail Creek basins; all in the southern part of the
c1ty,be9an paying the now fee on January 1, 1982. The fee
will average about $1 per household per month. New homes will
pay an additional one time fee of $200 to $300, depending on
the needs of the area and size of lot. These fees will provide
an economical, safe. and effective storm drainage system for
Fort Call i ns, and will fi nance that system ; n the most equi-
table and dependable manner. Capital improvement fees in the
six remaining basins became effective January I. 1983.

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