Credits or adjustments can be made to Class C properties’ service charges for qualified property owners performing activities that reduce the impact of stormwater runoff to the stormwater system, as follows:
(a) Education Credits.
(1) General Policies.
A. This program is available to all schools as defined in the zoning code, public or private that offer a compulsory education curriculum for grades pre-K through 12 or part thereof.
B. Credits will be issued on a building complex by building complex basis.
C. Where a site is jointly used by a school and another use (e.g. church) the stormwater fee will be prorated based on usage and the credit will be issued to the school portion of the fee.
D. In no case will the total credit amount be more than the cap identified in Section 939.18(f)
(2) Credits Available. Stormwater education credits of 50% of the stormwater bill may be granted for approved programs providing public awareness and education on stormwater issues as follows:
A. Stormwater Educational Curriculum (e.g. Project WET and Project Aquatic WILD) integrated into standard curriculum for 35% of the students in the school, or;
B. Stormwater Educational Activities (e.g. essay contest, poster contest) with participation of 35% of the students, or;
C. Public Service Activities (e.g. Adopt a Road, Adopt a Stream or inlet stenciling) involving 5% of the students or utilizing student recruited adults. Where adults are recruited, they shall be credited with 3 equivalent students per each adult participant, or;
D. In Kind Services (e.g. web site development, brochure development, public service announcements, videos or other program related work) as approved by the City Administrator or his designee, or;
E. A combination of the above items for an equivalent student participation of 35% or as approved by the City Administrator or his designee.
(3) Basic Procedures.
A. In order to receive educational credits, the school will need to submit an application including an education plan. The application will be due by October 1, of each year. The plan shall be reviewed and approved by the City Administrator or his designee. Once approved, the credit shall be placed on the appropriate stormwater bill.
B. Upon completion of the educational plan or no later than October 1 of each year, the school shall submit an annual report indicating compliance with the approved plan. The annual report shall be broken down by the types of activities and indicate the number of participants. If the school did not substantially comply with the plan, the report will include an explanation of the failure and any needed corrective action. Other reporting requirements may be required as part of the plan approval and shall be included in the annual report.
C. The annual report will be reviewed by the City Engineer. If upon review, the school did not substantially comply with the approved plan, the City may:
1. Require additional activities as a corrective action;
2. Reduce the education credit to a level comparable with the compliance;
3. Revoke the education credit and require repayment in accordance with Section 939.17;
4. Refuse approval of any new education plan.
(b) Retention/Detention Credit.
(1) General Policies.
A. This program is available to all Class C properties or part thereof.
B. Credits will be issued on a property by property basis for only the portion of the property tributary to the retention/detention facility.
C. When a facility is jointly used by several non-single family properties under a joint use agreement, including deed restriction, the credit shall be prorated among the properties as a percentage of the tributary area.
D. In no case will the total credit be more than the cap identified in Section 939.18(f).
(2) Credits Available. Retention/Detention credits may be granted for approved facilities that reduce the quantity of stormwater and/or improve the water quality of stormwater as follows:
A. A credit of up to 10 %, may be provided for facilities that exceed the storage required by City design requirements as specified in Section 935.07, subject to successful completion of a credit application process. Credits will be issued on a property by property basis for only the portion of the property tributary to the retention/detention facility.
B. An additional credit of up to 10% may be provided for facilities that provide additional detention/retention that benefits upstream or downstream properties without a joint use agreement. This additional credit will be calculated as one tenth of a percent for each one percent in detention/retention over the volume required by City Standards.
C. An additional 10% credit may be available for demonstration projects of Best Management Practices, determined and approved by the City Engineer and designed to meet specific site situations.
(3) Application Process. The retention/detention credit is available upon successful completion of the application process, including the submittal of all necessary engineering calculations, documentation, and proof of required information, signed and stamped by a professional engineer registered in the State of Ohio.
A. Retention/detention credit is available only for those eligible properties whose retention/detention facilities exceed City design, construction and maintenance standards.
B. For facilities constructed after the effective date of this regulation, the credit will be made effective to the later of either the date of submittal of a successful application, or the date stormwater billing for that property began (if all requirements and conditions of this rule and regulation are met).
C. Failure to operate or maintain the facility as designed shall be reason for forfeiture of the credit. The City shall notify the property owner/operator of the facility's deficiencies.
(c) Maintenance Credit.
(1) General Policies.
A. This program is available to all Class C properties who maintain public stormwater open channels and are eligible to receive a direct cost reduction (credit) in the property's stormwater service fee.
B. Credits will be issued on a property by property basis.
C. In no case will the total credit be more that the cap identified in Section 939.18(f).
(2) Credits Available. Maintenance credits may be granted to properties that maintain public stormwater open channels or to property owners who participate in an approved Adopt-A-Road/Stream/Park or other sanctioned City clean up program. Maintenance credits may be granted to reduce operation and maintenance costs to the City as follows:
A. A credit of up to 30% may be given for maintaining public stormwater open channels. The credit will be calculated as one half percent per lineal foot of channel maintained.
B. A credit of up to 20% may be given for participation in an approved Adopt-A-Road/stream/park program. The credit will be based on a signed contract to provide litter collection on a one-mile section of roadway, stream section or park area on a schedule to be approved by the City Administrator or his designee. The minimum term of the contract shall be three clean ups per year for a three year period.
C. A credit of up to 20% may be given for participation in a sanctioned City clean up program. The credit will be calculated as 2% for each 5 participants in the cleanup program. The credit shall be granted for a period of no more than one year from the sanctioned program.
(3) Basic Procedures.
A. In order to receive a Maintenance credit, the non-single family property owner will need to submit an application, right of entry easement, if applicable, a maintenance plan and any required engineering plans and calculation stamped by a registered professional engineer. If approved, the credit shall be placed on the appropriate stormwater bill.
1. For public stormwater open channels draining an area of 10 acres or larger, the property will receive a stormwater service fee credit of one dollar ($1.00) per year per lineal foot of public stormwater open channel maintained and meeting all applicable sections of this regulation.
2. For public stormwater open channels draining an area less than 10 acres, the property will receive a stormwater service fee credit of fifty cents ($0.50) per year per lineal foot of public stormwater open channel maintained and meeting all applicable sections of this regulation.
B. The City Engineer or his designee shall inspect the property to determine if the proposed maintenance will reduce operation and maintenance costs to the City. If the proposal is approved for maintenance credit, the City Engineer shall periodically inspect the property to insure compliance with the approved maintenance plan.
C. In order to receive credit for participation in an approved Adopt-A- Road Program, the property owner will need to submit an application and a request for roadway designation. Only roadways designated by the City Administrator or his designee, shall be approved for adoption and clean-up work must be completed in accordance with an approved schedule.
E. Failure to maintain the open channel to the minimum standards set forth in this regulation shall be reason for forfeiture of a portion or all of this credit. The City shall notify the property owner of this forfeiture and actions necessary to receive full credit.
(d) Credit applications will not be accepted from any property that has a delinquent utility account.
(e) Credits apply only to the Class C properties in which the activity applies. Credits may not be transferred to other properties.
(f) The total amount of all credits issued under this Section shall not exceed 60% of the stormwater bill for the property. (Ord. 12-022. Passed 5-29-12.)