Radcliff Kentucky Radcliff Kentucky Stormwater UtilityStormwater Utility

April 21, 2010April 21, 2010KAMM / KSA KAMM / KSA

City of RadcliffCity of RadcliffStormwater DepartmentStormwater Department

Startup SuccessStartup Success

City of RadcliffCity of Radcliff

Radcliff incorporated in 1956Radcliff incorporated in 1956 2nd Class City2nd Class City Population over 22,000Population over 22,000 Named after Major William RadcliffeNamed after Major William Radcliffe Located in Hardin County, central Located in Hardin County, central

KentuckyKentucky Borders Fort Knox Military Borders Fort Knox Military

ReservationReservation Designated a Metropolitan Area with Designated a Metropolitan Area with

Elizabethtown and surrounding areas Elizabethtown and surrounding areas due to population densitydue to population density

Kentucky Pollutant Discharge Elimination Kentucky Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (KPDES) System (KPDES)

Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)(Phase II)System (MS4)(Phase II)

Hired two consultants to help meet Phase II Hired two consultants to help meet Phase II requirementsrequirements

Established SWAC and held monthly meetingsEstablished SWAC and held monthly meetings

Developed a Storm Water Management PlanDeveloped a Storm Water Management Plan

Application for general permitApplication for general permit March 10, 2003March 10, 2003

Full implementation of SWMP in 5 yearsFull implementation of SWMP in 5 years

Radcliff - Complicating Radcliff - Complicating FactorsFactors

Karst: Sinkholes and Dry Karst: Sinkholes and Dry WellsWells 86 in the City86 in the City

EPA has made visitsEPA has made visits

High MaintenanceHigh Maintenance Leaf removalLeaf removal Weed controlWeed control Inlet repair and Inlet repair and

clearingclearing ReinstallReinstall

DynamicDynamic ClogClog CollapseCollapse Grow largerGrow larger ““Connection” may collapseConnection” may collapse

Complicating Factors - Complicating Factors - KarstKarst

Radcliff’s Stormwater UtilityRadcliff’s Stormwater Utility March 2002 – Stormwater Advisory March 2002 – Stormwater Advisory

Committee ( SWAC )Committee ( SWAC ) February 2003 – Recommendation February 2003 – Recommendation

made to Councilmade to Council June 2003 – Utility User Fee rate June 2003 – Utility User Fee rate

$4.50/mo/ERU$4.50/mo/ERU September 2003 – First billsSeptember 2003 – First bills Hardin Co Water Dist #1 billsHardin Co Water Dist #1 bills

Radcliff’s Stormwater UtilityRadcliff’s Stormwater Utility

January 2005 – User fee reduced to January 2005 – User fee reduced to $4.00/mo/ERU$4.00/mo/ERU

September 2008 – User fee September 2008 – User fee increased to $4.50/mo/ERUincreased to $4.50/mo/ERU

September 2008 – User fee September 2008 – User fee adjusted byadjusted by

cost-of- living each yearcost-of- living each year

Radcliff’s Stormwater UtilityRadcliff’s Stormwater Utility

User fee generates $770,000 per yearUser fee generates $770,000 per year Bills are sent monthly by the Hardin Bills are sent monthly by the Hardin

County Water District #1County Water District #1 SW Utility has small staff ;pays for two SW Utility has small staff ;pays for two

employees (drainage construction), employees (drainage construction), GIS technician and ½ of City Engineer GIS technician and ½ of City Engineer salarysalary

Billing elements handled Finance Dept Billing elements handled Finance Dept and Public Works Dirand Public Works Dir

User fee setup as an impervious area User fee setup as an impervious area rate structurerate structure

User fee is a single rate for single User fee is a single rate for single family residences (SFR) including family residences (SFR) including duplexesduplexes

Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) was Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) was calculated from a random samplingcalculated from a random sampling

ERU is set at 2800 sq ftERU is set at 2800 sq ft Non-SFR property were calculated Non-SFR property were calculated

individually dividing impervious area by individually dividing impervious area by ERUERU

Rate StructureRate Structure

Aerial photography, GIS and AutoCAD Aerial photography, GIS and AutoCAD systems utilized in impervious systems utilized in impervious calculationscalculations

All ERU unit calculations performed All ERU unit calculations performed by in-house personnelby in-house personnel

SFR accounts are billed to occupantsSFR accounts are billed to occupants Non-SFR accounts are billed to Non-SFR accounts are billed to

property ownersproperty owners All SW accounts were identified and All SW accounts were identified and

established by in-house personnelestablished by in-house personnel

Rate DevelopmentRate Development Established costs associated by Phase II Established costs associated by Phase II

SW quality requirementsSW quality requirements Identified and prioritized Capital Identified and prioritized Capital

Drainage Improvement ProjectsDrainage Improvement Projects Established costs for Capital ProjectsEstablished costs for Capital Projects Added Phase II costs plus approximately Added Phase II costs plus approximately

30% for Capital Projects, admin, 30% for Capital Projects, admin, collection costs and delinquents collection costs and delinquents

Divided total cost by number of ERU Divided total cost by number of ERU unitsunits

Storm Water CreditsStorm Water Credits

SW Credit system was established for SW Credit system was established for non-SFR customers who went above non-SFR customers who went above normal city requirements for normal city requirements for property drainage and stormwater property drainage and stormwater quality measures, up to 25%quality measures, up to 25%

SW Credits were also available for SW Credits were also available for SW education up to 25%SW education up to 25%

Maximum credits available is 40%Maximum credits available is 40%

Program ImplementationProgram Implementation

Choose billing method carefullyChoose billing method carefully Billings should be fair, equitable, and Billings should be fair, equitable, and

defendabledefendable K I S SK I S S Decide how to handle church Decide how to handle church

propertiesproperties Notified top 100 non-SFR customers Notified top 100 non-SFR customers

with expected bill amountswith expected bill amounts Educate property owners and citizens Educate property owners and citizens

prior to billingsprior to billings

Educate, Educate, EducateEducate, Educate, Educate

Educate yourself and City administrationEducate yourself and City administration Educate Mayor and City CouncilEducate Mayor and City Council Educate Storm Water Advisory Educate Storm Water Advisory

CommitteeCommittee Educate local media (very important)Educate local media (very important) Educate business organizations, church Educate business organizations, church

groups, school admin and civil groupsgroups, school admin and civil groups Educate citizens and property ownersEducate citizens and property owners

School systems and church School systems and church organizations should be addressed organizations should be addressed individuallyindividually

Prepare staff to answer SW questions Prepare staff to answer SW questions and concernsand concerns

Have electronic means to access SW Have electronic means to access SW accounts and estimate non-SFR accounts and estimate non-SFR impervious areasimpervious areas

Establish procedures for SW additions Establish procedures for SW additions and correctionsand corrections

Regularly monitor SW billings and Regularly monitor SW billings and delinquentsdelinquents

Lessons learned…Lessons learned… Attention in the Neighborhoods Attention in the Neighborhoods

Personal Value Personal Value Immediate SuccessImmediate Success

Key Words are CriticalKey Words are Critical ““Drainage vs. Stormwater”Drainage vs. Stormwater” Fee-use TaxFee-use Tax

Staff Growing with CostsStaff Growing with Costs Consistency with Contractors is KeyConsistency with Contractors is Key Constant Comparison to NeighborsConstant Comparison to Neighbors Good Housekeeping (Salt, Fleet, etc.)Good Housekeeping (Salt, Fleet, etc.) Continue educate citizens on where the SW fees are being Continue educate citizens on where the SW fees are being

usedused

Storm Water ProjectsStorm Water Projects

Storm Water ProjectsStorm Water Projects

Storm Water ProjectsStorm Water Projects

Storm Water QualityStorm Water Quality

Storm Water QualityStorm Water Quality

Storm Water QualityStorm Water Quality

SummarySummary Educate yourself, admin, council, Educate yourself, admin, council,

citizens, property owners, and mediascitizens, property owners, and medias Develop SW plan of actionDevelop SW plan of action Develop realistic cost estimates for Develop realistic cost estimates for

SW quality plansSW quality plans Get costs estimates and prioritize Get costs estimates and prioritize

Capital Improvement Drainage Capital Improvement Drainage ProjectsProjects

Research methods to pay for Research methods to pay for Stormwater plans and Capital ProjectsStormwater plans and Capital Projects

Establish ‘SW fee’ billing methodEstablish ‘SW fee’ billing method Any billing method and procedure Any billing method and procedure

should be “fair and equitable” to all should be “fair and equitable” to all property owners. Much easier to property owners. Much easier to defend.defend.

Timing is very importantTiming is very important Meet with large use or possible Meet with large use or possible

difficult groups individuallydifficult groups individually Show benefits to citizens as soon as Show benefits to citizens as soon as

possible and often. Explain where SW possible and often. Explain where SW fees are usedfees are used