Johnston Council Hosts Public Meeting on Proposed Storm Water Utility Fee

Johnston residents with questions and concerns about the proposed stormwater utility fee have a chance to speak up on Monday.

The hosts a public input meeting on the proposed fee at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

The , which received  at a December public hearing, would create a monthly fee for each property owner in Johnston, much like the current sewer fee, said David Wilwerding, community development director.

The utility is configured using an average equivalent residential unit, or ERU. One ERU would be equivalent to 4,000 square feet of solid surface area, including driveways, auxiliary sheds and other structures on a property.

Initially, the proposed fee was compiled so each ERU would generate $4.90 on a monthly bill.

However on Feb. 6, after some council and public discussion, Wilwerding detailed several options in which the initial ERU rate fluctuated depending on a 5 percent automatic yearly increase and a 10 percent maintenance funding.

The council ultimately decided to present a proposal of $4.90 per ERU, with no annual increase, and no maintenance funding. The idea is to present the $4.90 with a possibility of lowering the ERU depending on how the ordinance will cap ERUs for commercial businesses. 

The council also discussed changes to caps for commercial property, as well, as doing away with an exemption to government agencies, such as the school district properties.

Under the original plan, residential property would have a cap of 4 ERUs, while commercial property will have a cap of 40 ERUs.

Councilman Matt Brown said he wasn't in favor of the commercial ERU cap.
"I think we have some latitude to deal with that. It unfairly distributes ERUs to residential properties."

Wilwerding said he would present information on caps at 40, 80 and no ERUs at the public input meeting.

The fee is designed to take effect on July 1.

Wilderding said there will be a bit of a time crutch to get the fee under way.

"We need about three months from the first adoption to get this rolled out for a one- or two-month notice on residents' water bills," he said. "If we don't get a July 1 start we'll have to increase the rate or push back projects."