Homeowners could be charged new monthly fee after Reno council advances stormwater utility - KRNV

Homeowners could be charged new monthly fee after Reno council advances stormwater utility | KRNV

RENO, Nev. (News 4 & Fox 11) — Reno home and business owners could be charged a new monthly fee to fund stormwater and flood projects after the city council moved forward with creating a new stormwater utility Wednesday.

Though they proposed significant changes to what staff presented, council members voted unanimously to take the first steps to create the stormwater fund.

Staff were directed to go back to the drawing board and come back with different options, including the precise fee amount, tiers for different size properties and inflation-related fee increases.

As currently proposed, the fee would be $9.80 per month per residential unit and is scheduled to start in January 2025. The fee for businesses, apartment complexes and commercial properties would be determined based on square footage.

The goal, staff said, is to create a new funding source to pay for at least 38 stormwater projects in Reno, many of which have been delayed as the existing funding source has been depleted.

As drafted, it would fund $470 million in capital improvement projects over the next 32 years, including storm drains, catch basins, culverts and other infrastructure to handle stormwater runoff.

City staff cited a study showing that every $1 spent on risk reduction saves $6 in disaster costs.

But council members pumped the brakes on a number of the specifics, with some expressing concerns about the flat rate fee, which would charge all property owners the same regardless of property size.

"I do support having a lower fee for a smaller footprint," councilwoman Naomi Duerr said. "You have a smaller home, less driveway, less patio, you're having less impact. We should give credit for that."

Though Reno's planned stormwater fee is less than Sparks' fee, when the city's sewer fee is included, the combined sewer and stormwater fees will be almost $10 higher than in Sparks.

Council asked staff to reconsider whether the fee should sunset after some time period, tiers based on property size, credit programs and whether increases related to the Consumer Price Index should be capped.

As currently proposed, the fee would increase along with inflation. The proposal, in its current form, also gives the Washoe County School District a 60% discount for the district agreeing to teach stormwater-related curriculum.

Still, WCSD board trustee Adam Mayberry told council members in public comment that money to pay the fee must come out of the district's general fund. WCSD cannot use WC-1 funds to pay such fees.

Lobbyists for resorts, the Reno-Tahoe International Airport and car dealerships told the council that the fees would impact their businesses' bottom line.

Councilwoman Jenny Brekhus was weary of the council delving into educational curriculum. Councilman Devon Reese proposed giving a similar discount to UNR, prompting Brekhus to wonder if TMCC should also have a discount.

Though members at times disagreed about the specifics, the general consensus was that Reno does need to begin catching up on many stormwater projects that have been deferred in recent years.

"Prior to building, the land absorbed the water. When you build, the water runs off. The key is that you can't impact others due to your development but many people have been impacting others with their stormwater runoff," Duerr said.
We see flooding in 1997. We see the flood in 2005, 2017. These continue to happen and the dollar cost is going up.

Currently, the city has drawn from the sewer fund in order to pay for stormwater projects.

Staff are expected to come back to the council with the various options in early 2025. The policy will need to be approved twice before taking effect in 2025.

WATCH Wednesday's meeting here:

Email reporter Ben Margiott at bjmargiott@sbgtv.com. Follow @BenMargiott on X and Ben Margiott KRNV on Facebook.