Agenda - 05-04-2004-5l - Laserfiche WebLink

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Introduction 2. Public Education and Participation Page 5 of 11 \`~ The Public Education and Participation Program would be an important year one activity. This program would begin immediately upon implementation of the Utility. We believe that comprehensive and continuing public information and public participation activities would be critical to community acceptance of a utility-based stormwater management program and to the long-term effectiveness of such a program. This would require that we regularly disseminate clear and compelling information to the community concerning the importance of stormwater management as it affects both water quantity and water quality. We also anticipate a significant increase in the volume of citizen requests for assistance and questions related to the new stormwater fee, how it is calculated and applied, and how the revenue is used. We would need to have the means to efficiently and effectively respond to citizens' questions and requests for assistance. We anticipate that public information and public participation activities would include: o Respond to citizens' requests for assistance and questions by phone and email.. ® Develop and manage a website including interactive "question and answer" capability.. ® Coordinate Orange County Big Sweep and implement other local stream cleaning and monitoring activities. ® Establish and manage a stormwater Utility Service Line. ® Prepare and place multi-media advertisements. a Prepare and distribute brochures, posters, maps, and other materials to homeowners, businesses, schools, etc. ® Design and install stream and watershed information signs and maps. ® Develop and participate in school education and sttrdent involvement programs. o Develop and present relevant materials at public speaking engagements and presentations. ® Provide support and leadership in local and regional initiatives such as protection of Jordan Lake and the Cape Fear River Basin and the TJCOG clean water education partnership. ® Identify grant opportunities, write grant applications, and administer grant activities. To accomplish this work we would need a new, full-time staff position at an estimated annual salary and benefits cast of $50,000, plus approximately $26,000 ($0.50 per capita per year) for the cost of materials necessary to provide information and education services.. The work. of the new position would be coordinated through the Town Information Officer. 3. stormwater Management Services The Town's obligation to meet existing and new demands for stormwater management services must be addressed even if the utility is not established. Increasing and new demands for service resulting from Land Use Management Ordinance reguiations, NPDES-lI permit application requirements, Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan mandates, anticipated effects of the National Flood Insurance Program (NF1P) flood map revisions, and expected Total Maximum Daily Load ('TMDL) mandates for the Upper Arm of Jordan Lake already exceed the capacity of existing staff to respond promptly and effectively to demands and responsibilities. The following list identifies the primary stormwater management related activities and services provided by the Town Engineering Department: http.//townhall townofchapelhill.org/agendas/ca040426/7-Stormwater%20Utility%204-26-._ 4/26/2004