1

Stormwater in the Fountain Creek watershed

2

3

Current stormwater system - ASCE 2012 report cardCapacity D-

Operations & MaintenanceD+

Condition F

Drainage Basin Planning FProgram & Funding

Public Safety D-

Resilience D

Overall D-

4

The price of deferral (capital only)Current estimate of necessary capital improvements:

$706.679 Million

An equivalent annuity over 25 years at 4.5 %

An equivalent annuity over 25 years at 4.5 %

-25 -20 -15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25Years from today

$15.85 million per year for 25 years

$47.66 million per year for 25 years

Zwirlein & Crowley, 2014

5

Funding needs (2013 dollars)

Capital - El Paso County within Fountain Creek Watershed, does not include post-fire or flooding needs:

Non-Capital - annual drainage operations and maintenance, permit (MS4), water quality, planning studies and corrugated metal pipe replacement needs:

$13.9M/year

High Medium Low TOTAL

$186,955,000 $372,912,000 $63,565,000 $623,432,000

CH2MHill, 2014

6

How we got hereDecades of neglect2009: Stormwater

Enterprise dissolved2011-2012: Summit

Economics study2012 – present:

Pikes Peak Regional Stormwater Task Force

7

Stormwater Task ForceFormed in 2012 by Co.

Springs City Council, El Paso County Commissioners, Springs Utilities

Comprised of engineers, business people, citizens

Goal: assess the community’s stormwater needs and propose a solution

Methodical approachProfessional engineering

firm study of project listStatistically-valid, scientific

public opinion polls

8

Research results: Economic impact of a solutionIncrease in jobs, income, GMP, output and

sales taxes360 new, well-paying local jobs per year$50 million increase in gross metropolitan

productLower insurance rates Improved critical community

infrastructureStable funding and

well-maintained infrastructure to attract new businessesZwirlein & Crowley, 2014

9

Research results: best practicesColorado Springs is the only major Front

Range city without a stormwater management program

Most communities use an authority structure that charges a fee based on impervious surfaceFee for average residence ranges from $2-14

per monthMany programs in place for decades

Two highly-successful regional collaborations studied:Denver Urban DrainageSoutheast Metropolitan Stormwater Authority

Zwirlein & Crowley, 2014

10

Community benefitsPublic safetyProtection of public and

private propertyProtection of water

qualityEnhanced

neighborhoodsWaterways as

community amenitiesEconomic developmentHigher property valuesLower insurance rates

Zwirlein & Crowley, 2014

11

Draft proposalStructure: Regional authority Governed by a board of elected representatives

from each participantColorado Springs majoritySuper-majority vote required for budget decisions

Intergovernmental agreements will form the authority and guide its operations

Funds to be spent within area collected based on a 5-year rolling averageExceptions: Regional projects and emergency

allocations

12

Draft proposalFunding:Fee based on impervious surface

Taxable and non-taxable organizations includedCommercial, nonprofit and government caps

Funds dedicated to stormwater capital, O&M, emergency, planning and administration

Funds collected on county property tax billContinue authority members’ current stormwater fundingCH2M Hill rate study to be completed end of June

City’s Stormwater Enterprise rate schedule serves as estimate

Governments a new rate categoryFee for average single-family residence: less than $10/month

13

Draft proposalScope: Fountain Creek Watershed within El Paso CountyProject list will include high-priority projects;

criteria for determining future projectsMaster planning processMinimal staff and overhead; admin capped at 1%Use private, local contractors to maximize

economic impactsHybrid governance structure (see graphic)

Board

Administrator • Billing• Administration (1%)• Planning/studies• Contract services

Funding

Co. SpringsEl Paso CountyManitou SpringsFountainGreen Mtn. FallsMonument Palmer Lake

V o t e r s

Technical committeeCitizens

committee

Planning Capital projects

Admin(1%)

Emergency

O&M

City County

COS

EPC Manitou

Monument

Grn Mtn Falls

Ftn P.Lake

15

Next stepsNegotiate

intergovernmental agreement

Ballot language Project listContinue to engage

publicFormalize business

community supportMeasure on

November ballot

16

Questions and commentsPikesPeakStormwater.orgPikesPeakStormwater@gmail.com