Stormwater fee could increase in Valley

Spokane Valley residents could see their annual stormwater fees jump from $10 a year to $24 in 2005.

Depending on the size of their properties, business owners could face an even bigger leap.

The City Council is considering the fee increase to cover the cost of managing the stormwater system, cleaning the streets and paying for the upkeep of drywells and swales, among other needs.

Stormwater systems help prevent flooding and protect the water quality of rivers, streams and the aquifer.

The city contracts with Spokane County for stormwater management, but that arrangement will expire Dec. 31, and the county told the city it won’t have the staff next year to fulfill another contract.

Spokane Valley decided to provide stormwater service in-house, but it needs to increase the fee to cover the cost.

Residents in unincorporated areas also will see a rate increase. The county’s fee will jump to $17 from $10 for most residents and then will increase to $20 and $21 in 2006 and 2007.

Two Spokane Valley businessmen told the council Tuesday that the fee is unfair. Homeowners would be charged a flat rate of $24 for their property, regardless of the size of their lots. Businesses, however, would pay $24 for every 3,160 square feet of impervious, or hard, land they own. Asphalt parking lots are an example of impervious land.

And businesses are prohibited from dumping stormwater into the city’s system anyway. They must contain all runoff on their own property.

“This is an unfair fee on businesses because they pay the majority of it,” businessman Dick Behm said.

Behm also argued that it’s illegal to use stormwater funds to sweep streets clean, but council members have said it’s a valid use for the money because debris and sand put down during the winter contribute to stormwater problems.

The higher fee will raise $1.8 million for the city’s stormwater needs, finance director Ken Thompson said.

Spokane charges a monthly $3.19 stormwater fee.

The Spokane Valley council likely will set the stormwater fee at its Nov. 9 meeting.