(1) Many of the difficulties found in the management of surface and stormwater problems are contributed to by the general lack of public knowledge about the relationship between human actions and surface and stormwater management. In order to achieve a comprehensive approach to surface and stormwater management the City should provide general information to the public about land use and human activities which impact surface and stormwater management. School districts can provide significant benefits to the City regarding surface and stormwater management through educational programs and community activities related to protection and enhancement of the surface and stormwater management system. These programs and activities can provide students with an understanding of human activities and land use practices that create surface and stormwater problems and involve students by learning from first hand exposure, the difficulties of resolving surface and stormwater management problems after they occur.

(2) It is the finding of the City that developed parcels contribute to an increase in surface and stormwater runoff to the surface and stormwater management system. This increase in surface and stormwater runoff results in the need to establish rates and charges to finance the City’s activities in surface and stormwater management. Developed parcels shall be subject to the rates and charges of the surface water management program based on their contribution to increased runoff. The factors to be used to determine the degree of increased surface and stormwater runoff to the surface and stormwater management system from a particular parcel shall be the percentage of impervious surface coverage on the parcel and the total acreage of the parcel.

(3) It is the finding of the City of Covington that undeveloped parcels do not contribute as much as developed parcels to an increase in surface and stormwater runoff into the surface and stormwater management system. Undeveloped properties shall be exempt from the rates and charges of the surface water management program.

(4) It is the finding of the City that maintained drainage facilities mitigates the increased runoff contribution of developed parcels by providing on-site drainage control. Parcels served by retention/detention facilities which were required for development of the parcel or can be demonstrated as required by the property owner to provide detention/retention of surface and stormwater to the standards in Chapter 13.25 CMC shall receive a discount as provided in the rates and charges of the surface water management program, if the facility is maintained at the parcel owner’s expense to the standard established by the Department. That portion of the rates or charges allocated for payment of debt service on revenue or general obligation bonds issued to finance stormwater control facilities will not be discounted for retention/detention facilities.

(5) Open space properties provide a benefit to the surface and stormwater management system by the retention of property in an undeveloped state. Open space properties shall receive a discount from the rates and charges to encourage the retention of property as open space.

(6) The majority of the parcels in the service area are residential. The variance between residential parcels in impervious surface coverage is relatively minor and reflect only minor differences in increased runoff contributions. The administrative cost of calculating the service charge individually for each residential parcel and maintaining accurate information would be very high. A flat charge for residential parcels is less costly to administer than calculating a separate charge for each parcel and is equitable because of the similarities in impervious surface coverage between residential parcels. Therefore, residential parcels shall be charged a flat charge based upon an average amount of impervious surface.

(7) Very lightly developed nonresidential parcels which have an impervious surface coverage of 10 percent or less of the total parcel acreage are characterized by a very low intensity of development and generally encompass a large number of acres. A greater number of acres of undeveloped land associated with an impervious surface results in significantly less impact to the surface and stormwater management system. These parcels shall be charged a flat rate, which will encourage the retention of large areas of very lightly developed land.

(8) Lightly to very heavily developed nonresidential parcels which have an impervious surface coverage of more than 10 percent have a substantial impact on the surface and stormwater management system. The impact of these parcels on the surface and stormwater management system increases with the size of the parcels. Therefore, lightly to very heavily developed properties shall be charged a rate determined by the percent of impervious surface coverage multiplied by the parcel acreage.

(9) The City roads and State highway programs provide substantial annual programs for the construction and maintenance of drainage facilities, and the roads systems and their associated drainage facilities serve as an integral part of the surface and stormwater management system. City and State road drainage systems unlike the drainage systems on other properties are continually being upgraded to increase both conveyance capacity and control. It is envisioned that the roads program will work cooperatively with the surface water management program to improve regional surface and stormwater management services, as new information is available from basin plans and other sources. City roads and State highways shall not be charged a rate in recognition of the benefit to the stormwater management services provided by the drainage facilities associated with the City roads and State highway programs; provided, that those drainage facilities are constructed, operated, and maintained in accordance with this chapter.

(10) Comprehensive management of surface and stormwater runoff must include anticipation of future growth and development in the design and improvement of the surface and stormwater management system. Service charge revenue needs shall be based upon the present and future requirements of the surface and stormwater management system, and these needs shall be considered when determining the rates and charges of the program.

(11) Basin plans are essential to establishing a comprehensive approach to a capital improvement program, maintenance of facilities and regulation of new developments. A plan should analyze the measures needed to control surface and stormwater runoff, which results from existing and anticipated development within the basin. A plan also should recommend the quantity and water quality runoff control measures required to further the purposes set forth in this chapter, and community goals. The institutional requirements and regulations, including but not limited to land use management, funding needs, and incentives for preserving the natural surface water drainage system should be identified in the plan. The proposed ordinances and regulations necessary to implement the plan shall be transmitted to the City Council simultaneously with the plan.

(12) Areas with development related surface and stormwater problems require comprehensive management of surface and stormwater.

(13) Additional surface and stormwater runoff problems may be caused by new land use development if not properly mitigated both through protection of natural systems and through constructed improvements. The stormwater manuals and this chapter have been adopted by the City of Covington to mitigate the impact of land use development. Further mitigation of these impacts is based on expertise, which continues to evolve as new information on our natural systems is obtained and new techniques are discovered. The surface water management program, through reconnaissance studies, basin plans, and other special studies, will continuously provide valuable information on the existing problems and areas of the natural drainage system that need special protection. The City has researched through its comprehensive plan development process methods to protect the natural drainage system through zoning, buffering and setbacks to alleviate existing problems. Setback and buffering measures allow natural preservation of wetlands and stream corridors to occur, alleviate erosion and water pollution and provide a safe environment for the small mammals and fish, which inhabit sensitive areas. Based upon the findings in this subsection, and as information and methods become available, the Director, as appropriate, will draft and submit to the Council regulations and development standards to allow protection of the surface and stormwater management system including natural drainage systems.

(14) The program will maintain long-term fiscal viability and fund solvency for all of its related funds. The program’s approach to financial reporting and disclosure will be comprehensive, open, and accessible.

(15) The program shall prepare an annual, multi-year capital improvement program which encompasses all of the program’s activities related to the acquisition, construction, replacement, or renovation of capital facilities or equipment. The program’s capital facilities will be planned and financed to ensure that the benefits of the facilities and the costs for them are balanced over time.

(16) Long-term debt will not be used to support operating expenses. (Ord. 13-09 § 13; Ord. 37-02 § 2 (9.08.060))