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Managing stormwater Stormwater runoff is generated when rain and snowmelt flows over land or impervious surfaces and does not percolate into the ground. Managing stormwater means: Safely/effectively directing storm flows Slowing and de-energizing water flow, reducing destructive potential Protecting lives, property and infrastructure Protecting water quality 3

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How does stormwater affect me? Road closures Costly repairs Business closures Insurance rates Utility rates Personal safety Road and bridge integrity 5

Current stormwater system - ASCE 2012 report card CapacityD- Operations & MaintenanceD+ ConditionF Drainage Basin PlanningF Program & Funding Public SafetyD- ResilienceD Overall D- 6

Funding needs (2013 dollars) Capital projects - El Paso County within Fountain Creek Watershed, does not include post-fire or flooding needs: Non-Capital - annual drainage operations and maintenance, permit (MS4), water quality, planning studies and corrugated metal pipe replacement needs: $13.9M/year 7 High priorityMedium priority Low priority TOTAL $ 186,955,000 $372,912,000 $ 63,565,000 $ 706,679,000

The price of procrastination (capital projects only) Current estimate of necessary capital improvements: $706 million If we started these projects 25 years ago, project cost would have been: What we’ll have to pay over the next 25 years because of delay Years from today $15.85 million per year for 25 years $47.66 million per year for 25 years - 8

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Stormwater Task Force Formed in 2012 by Co. Springs City Council, El Paso County Commissioners, Springs Utilities Comprised of engineers, citizens, business people Goal: assess the community’s stormwater needs and propose a solution Legal, economic, engineering analysis Public meetings and polling 14

Research: Economic impact of a solution Increase in jobs, income, economic output and sales taxes 350 new, well-paying local jobs per year $50 million increase in gross metropolitan product Lower insurance rates Improved roads and bridges Stable funding and well-maintained infrastructure to attract new businesses 15 Zwirlein and Crowley study

Community benefits Public safety Protection of public and private property, including roads and bridges Protection of water quality Enhanced neighborhoods Waterways as community amenities Economic development Higher property values Lower insurance rates 16

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Our proposal Regional stormwater authority Impervious surface fee to fund: List of stormwater projects (55%) Emergency needs and master planning (10%) Maintenance (35%) The average household would pay $7.75 per month 18

Our proposal Governed by a board of elected officials and advised by citizen and technical committees Administration capped at 1% to minimize overhead Work contracted to local vendors as much as possible to maximize economic benefit Capital portion expires automatically The fee is fixed and will NEVER go up 19

Common questions – does the solution: Address the problem? A dedicated funding source. Limit bureaucracy? 1% administrative costs limits spending and number of employees. Tell you where the money’s going? A priority project list. Ask if we are doing our job? Capital projects ends, just like PPRTA. Avoid duplication? A coordinated regional solution led by a master plan. Improve our economy? UCCS economist study says it will create hundreds of long-term jobs for local residents. Fair? All property owners will contribute. Your jurisdiction will receive what its taxpayers pay in. Charge reasonable rates? $7.70/month for the average homeowner. Let citizens have a voice? Dozens of public meetings and hundreds of phone calls in plan development, and you get final say on Nov

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