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Frequently Asked Questions about the Proposed <br />Stormwater Utility <br />This list of questions relates to issues that have been raised in the Town's <br />Stormwater Management Committee meetings and policy papers as far back <br />as 1991, and the concerns expressed by the public in cities across the country <br />regarding municipal stormwater utilities. The Town Council is considering <br />implemenation of a local stormwater utility intended to provide a stable source <br />of revenue to support a comprehensive stormwater management program for <br />Chapel HiII, <br />• Why do we need to manage stormwater? <br />• Why do we need a "stormwater utility"? <br />• How would this utility benefit taxpayers, homeowners, etc? <br />• Would the utility be an entity separate from the Town (like OWASA), or a <br />department within the Town, or something else? <br />• Doesn't the Town already take care of drainage and stormwater <br />problems? <br />• How would the utility be funded? <br />• How would fees be calculated? <br />• How often would I get a bill? <br />• About how much would the annual utility fee be for a single family <br />property? <br />What is an "impervious surface"? <br />• Why are gravel roads and gravel parking lots considered to be <br />impervious? <br />Sei priniinc~ to "landscape" • How do you determine how much impervious surface is on my property? <br />for nest results. . If you calculate the wrong amount of impervious surface on my property, <br />r HTM~ t how could I get that corrected? <br />WJ.. q,py~ • How could I reduce my fees? <br />• What kind of public oversight or public involvement would this utility <br />have? <br />• When will the Town address the drainage problem going on in my yard <br />or neighborhood? <br />• Wouldn't it be easier and cheaper just to raise taxes to pay for the <br />stormwater management program? <br />• Would this require a large staff increase? <br />• My subdivision is new and has some amount of stormwater <br />management already built in Would we have to pay the same rate as <br />older neighborhoods with no stormwater management? <br />• I live on top of a hill, and I don't ever have any drainage problems. Why <br />would I have to pay for stormwater management services? <br />Why do we need to manage stormwater? <br />http://townhall.townofchapelhill.org/stormwater/utility_faq.html 5/24/2004 <br />Town of Chapel Hill Stonnwater Management -Stonnwater Utility FAQ Page 1 of 6 <br />