A. Purpose And Establishment: A municipal storm sewer drainage system utility for the city is hereby established. The municipal storm sewer system shall be operated pursuant to Minnesota statutes section 444.075. Revenues derived from the municipal storm sewer system shall be dedicated to the construction, maintenance, operation, establishment and repair of the existing municipal storm sewer drainage system and additions thereto.
B. Stormwater Drainage Fees:
1. To calculate the stormwater utility drainage fee, the residential equivalent factor (REF) for each parcel's stormwater use classification shall be multiplied by that parcel's size, and then multiplied by the stormwater drainage rate (fee = REF x acreage x rate).
2. The city shall determine the REF for each parcel of property within the city based upon the amount of impervious area on the property and other factors reasonably affecting the amount of stormwater drainage from each parcel of property. The REF classifications used by the city shall be as follows:
Class | Stormwater Land Use Classification | REF |
1 | Vacant, parks and cemeteries | 0.0 |
2 | One- and two-family residential | 1.0 |
3 | Light density (up to 1/3 impervious) | 1.0 |
4 | Medium density (1/3 to 2/3 impervious) | 2.0 |
5 | Heavy density (over 2/3 impervious) | 3.0 |
3. For the purpose of calculating stormwater drainage fees, actual acreage shall be used, except for those parcels used for one- and two-family dwellings. All parcels used for one- and two- family dwellings shall be calculated using one-third (1/3) of an acre, regardless of their actual size.
4. The city shall notify each landowner of the initial stormwater land use classification and REF by mailed notice to the address used for real property taxes. As part of the process of approving a stormwater management plan, the city shall determine the stormwater land use classification and REF for new construction.
5. The city shall reduce the fee charged if the landowner shows that some or all of the stormwater runoff generated by the parcel does not enter the stormwater drainage system maintained by the city. The fee shall be reduced by the percentage of water diverted into other drainage systems, detention facilities or retention facilities, but in no case shall be reduced below the fee charged for a light density parcel of equal size.
6. Each parcel less than one-third (1/3) of an acre in size shall be charged a minimum fee. The minimum fee shall be equal to the fee charged to parcels used for one- and two-family dwellings. (Ord. 84, 6th Series, eff. 3-21-2016)