Jacksonville Stormwater Management Utility Code: Establishment of Utility, Rates, and Enforcement

This rule establishes a Stormwater Management Utility Code which contains the following: (1)To provide for effective management and financing of a stormwater system within the City by establishing a Stormwater Management Utility pursuant to Fla. Stat. 403.0893; and(2)To provide that the Stormwater Management Utility Code shall be effective in the General Services District of the Consolidated City of Jacksonville, as set forth in the Charter of the City of Jacksonville excluding Urban Services Districts 2, 3, 4 and 5 being the Cities of Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, and the Town of Baldwin.(3)To provide a mechanism for mitigating the damaging effects of uncontrolled and unplanned stormwater runoff; and(4)To improve the public health, safety and welfare by providing for the safe and efficient capture and conveyance of stormwater runoff and the correction of stormwater problems; and(5)To ensure compliance with the City’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Stormwater permit and to authorize the establishment and implementation of a plan for storm management including planning, design, coordination, construction, management, regulation, operation, maintenance, inspection, surveying and enforcement; and(6)To establish a program of user charges for stormwater management service to be charged to all developed property within the City that generates stormwater runoff and to use the funds to provide stormwater management services within the area and for the programs designated herein; and(7)To encourage and facilitate urban water resources best management techniques, including but not limited to the retention/detention of stormwater runoff, minimization of the need to construct storm sewers, compliance with Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) requirements mandated by the State or Federal Government, and the enhancement of the environment.(b)In order to accomplish these purposes, a stormwater service charge shall be made on each developed parcel in the City.(c)The City’s stormwater service charges shall be fair and reasonable, and bear a substantial relationship to the cost of providing service and facilities, in that similar properties shall pay similar stormwater service charges. Rate studies shall be conducted periodically to ensure the equity of the service charges.(d)The City shall establish an Adjustment and Credit Manual to address the equity of the service charges.