[Mpls] This Week in The Minneapolis Observer

[Chris Johnson]

Craig Cox wrote:
> T H E  M I N N E A P O L I S  O B S E R V E R
> A Weekly Digest of All Things Minneapolitan
> www.mplsobserver.com
> Vol. 4, No. 13
> November 1, 2004


> CITY CONSIDERING NEW FEE FOR STORMWATER RUNOFF
> City officials next year may begin charging city residents for the 
> amount of storm water that runs off their property into the city's 
> drainage system.

Sounds like a good idea on the surface.

But implementation seems problematic.  How can the fees be fairly calculated? 
  The article talks about hard and impervious surface area, rain gardens and 
so forth.

Does this mean that corner property owners get double-taxed, just because the 
city owns sidewalks on 2 sides of their property?

What constitutes an impervious surface?  I've got lots of brick pavers and 
turf stone in my yard.  It's a hard surface, but the water mostly drains 
through it to the sand underneath.  I've also got a rain garden, but how does 
the city qualify what constitutes a rain garden and what does not?  I've made 
a great deal of effort and investment over the past 4 years to reduce the 
run-off from my yard, but will that be recognized in my storm water fee?

Doesn't this mean someone will have to come measure each and every property 
and the size of various surfaces and structures?  How is that practical or 
cost effective?

If they can solve those kinds of questions and problems in a fair and 
equitable manner, that would be great.  I doubt that will be the case.


Chris Johnson - Fulton