View Presentation from Stormwater Utility Public Information Workshops/Meetings
What is This Stormwater Issue all about?
The City of Palm Bay has identified an ongoing need to fund Stormwater Management activities. In order to address this need, in August 2009 the City Council of Palm Bay directed staff to move forward with a Stormwater Utility Rate Study in order to provide the information necessary to establish a detailed and equitable rate structure for a Stormwater Utility. The City solicited consultants experienced in such studies and chose the consultant that most closely met the criteria set forth in the request for proposals. Staff began working with the chosen consultant, Creech Engineers, Inc, earlier this year. This web site will be used to report information regarding the activities and progress of the Rate Study, answer questions that you may have as a resident of Palm Bay, and provide educational material about Stormwater Management.
What is a Stormwater Utility?
A Stormwater Utility is a special entity set up to provide funding that is used specifically for stormwater management. It is a dedicated service unit within the City government which provides revenues through fees for service (or user fees).
With a Stormwater Utility, users of the stormwater system pay for stormwater management in direct relation to the demand placed on the stormwater system by their parcel of land, not the taxable value of the parcel. The stormwater that flows off your property places a demand on a vast system of infrastructure which is costly for the City to operate and maintain. Stormwater must be channeled through a system of pipes, ditches, canals, ponds and other devices before it can be safely discharged into local rivers, lakes, and streams. User fees provided by the utility are placed into an enterprise fund, similar to a water or sewer utility, and are dedicated for use in the various aspects of stormwater management.
Dewar Park in Palm Bay
The City of Palm Bay is committed to protecting the community and its waterways through sound planning, construction, repair, and improvement of drainage and flood control systems. A Stormwater Utility makes this goal a reality, as well as allows the City to meet state and federally-mandated regulations for discharging stormwater. Currently, details regarding user fees and other aspects of the Stormwater Utility are being developed. As progress is made, we will keep you updated.
In the meantime, if you have any comments, questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us. Also be sure to check the Upcoming Events below for meetings that may be of interest to you. If you would like to become a member of the Stormwater Utility e-news email list, please click the "register for e-news" button up on the right to join. If you do not want to receive emails, you can still visit the e-news site and search through the archives of past announcements.
We thank you for your continued support of the City of Palm Bay!
