ALBANY — The Albany City Commission tentatively approved Phase III of a sweeping stormwater management plan Tuesday morning, the final step before citywide fees are set for a federally mandated compliance program that will separate storm runoff and solid wastewater in the city.
All city entities — residential, commercial and nonprofits — will be required to pay their share of the 85,000 equivalent residential units (ERUs) designated by city staff. But, as Public Works Director Bob Roberson pointed out during a presentation to the commission at its work session, credits of up to 50 percent of cost per ERU (expected to be around $5.89 per unit) can be realized by the owner of each unit.
“We’re projecting around $6 million (annually) in revenue for the stormwater program, but we’re assuming as much as 20 percent of that will be taken up through credits,” Roberson said. “We’re happy to offer credits to businesses and residents. We want to partner with them. Because as we’ve seen, particularly over the last three months, every gallon of water we keep out of our sewer system has an impact.”
Roberson said the city faces up to $50,000 in daily fines under the federal Clean Water Act if it doesn’t comply with the storm/wastewater mandate.
“Our approach is to avoid punitive fines by staying ahead of the curve,” Roberson said.
via Albany Herald | City’s nonbinding vote OKs stormwater plan.
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