City Council Meeting

Jennifer Rosepublic commentutility fees continue an unsustainable trend, on property owners and businesses alike. In fact, the stormwater utility will have increased 19% since its 2022 introduction if the proposed rate is approved. As for the impact on economic development, these tax and fee increases send a negative message to potential businesses and undermine efforts to retain existing ones. They conflict with the city's stated priority of fostering economic development and improving its reputation as a business-friendly community. all doom and gloom from the chamber, we are supportive of several items that were included in the proposed budget, including funds allocated for transportation improvements, merit increases

Stacey Hardy-Chandlerthat benefit the City of Fairfax. Agenda Item 7D, Introduction of an Ordinance Amending Chapter 102, Article 2, Section 102-31 of the Code of the City of Fairfax, Virginia, to increase the wastewater utility rate by 6% for FY26. agenda item number 7e introduction of an ordinance amending chapter 102 article 5 section 102-203 of the code of the city of fairfax virginia to set the rate for stormwater utility service furnished by the city at six percent billing unit bu agenda item number 7f introduction of an ordinance amending chapter 90 taxation article 6 tax on meals section 90-2 6-2 of the code of the city of fairfax pertaining to the levy and amount of tax on meals I move to approve the consent agenda items number 7a through

ShinneberryclerkCouncil Member McQuillan? No. Motion passed 4-2. Okay, we'll go to 7E, which is the introduction of an ordinance amending Chapter 102, Article 5, Section 102-203B of the Code of the City of Fairfax, Virginia. Set the rate for the stormwater utility service furnished by the city at $34.30 per BU billing unit at 6% increase. I'll recognize J.C. Martinez, Chief Financial Officer.

JC Martinezstaffgood evening again mayor council the city stormwater utility funds initial rate was at 28.80 per billable unit also known as bu and it was set at a time when the stormwater utility was created on december 14th 2021 this action is to set the rate at 34.30 per bu or a six percent increase for calendar year beginning January 1, 2025. User fees are expected to generate the stormwater utility revenue of approximately $3.2 million, an increase of about $184,000. Happy to answer any questions.

Stacey Hardy-Chandleri move to introduce an ordinance amending chapter 102 article 5 section 102-203b of the code of the city of fairfax virginia increasing the rate for billing unit used in calculating the stormwater utility fee for the calendar year beginning january 1 2025 to 34.30 cents i further move that move to waive the first reading and set the public hearing for april 22nd 2025

JC MartinezstaffSure. so the rationale is a couple of fold so the majority of the increase would go to offset increase investment within the stormwater utility requirements within the city the majority of these requirements are also federal requirements whether it's tdml and or other DEQ requirements regarding stormwater runoff. There has been many years of deferment with investment within our infrastructure in the stormwater fund or utility that we are now trying to catch up as well that is listed in the CIP and we're trying to maintain and catch up on that programming and investment in our community for the stormwater aspect.

Speaker 9yeah the um most of these uh programs you're talking about i believe are somewhat grant funded i know the uh the stormwater resiliency i believe is 50 funded in our stormwater utility so um That one I believe that as far as we know the grant is still viable but these projects they if they were funded in 25 they have started as far as the grant being lost for the climate resiliency yeah that's something that will probably we'll have to figure out what we're going to do. I'm not sure if you're looking for cutting these programs. I'm not sure how much money we have spent yet, and I could follow up on that.

Speaker 38That was in the original proposed that was submitted in November. After changes and looking at what we could afford on stormwater utility, that was removed in the proposed budget, full budget.