HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 13 - Storm Drain Utility System MEMO TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BRUNO RUMBELOW, CITY MANAGER
MEETING DATE: SEPTEMBER 1, 2026
SUBJECT: STORM DRAIN UTILITY SYSTEM FEES
RECOMMENDATION: City Council consider approval of Storm Drain Utility System (SDUS) fees
and an ordinance adopting the fees.
FUNDING SOURCE: N/A
BACKGROUND: The City's Storm Drain Utility System (SDUS) was created in 1997 to
provide funding to maintain the City's drainage system and protect water
quality. The proposed fee structure was based on the impervious area on
every development which generates demand on the City's storm drainage
infrastructure (pipes, inlets, creeks, etc.) The program established a
monthly fee of $4.00 per detached single-family dwelling, which has not
changed since it's inception in 1997. The fee for all other residential and
commercial uses was based on a calculation called the single family living
unit equivalent (SFLUE). This equates the expected impervious area of a
residential lot and the impervious area of a commercial/multi-family
development. The SFLUE is currently 3.6 residential units per acre of
commercial/multi-family development.
The current funding levels are inadequate to fund current operations. As
such, staff is recommending two changes to the SDUS fee structure. The
first change is an increase in the residential fee from $4.00 to $8.00 per
month. The second is to modify the SFLUE from 3.4 to 4.5 residential
units per acre. This change is due to the decrease in the average lot size
since 1997. This change will reestablish the original cost allocation
between the single family and commercial/multi family.
This action is consistent with the information provided at the City Council
budget workshop on August 5th. This will maintain current staffing levels.
Staff intends to re-evaluate this fee structure and our operations in the FY
2032 budget cycle.
Staff recommends approval.
ORDINANCE NO. 2026-066
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GRAPEVINE, TEXAS, AMENDING SCHEDULE OF FEES
AND CHARGES FOR THE STORMWATER DRAINAGE
UTILITY SYSTEM; ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE
DATE; PROVIDING A PENALTY NOT TO EXCEED THE SUM
OF TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS ($2,000.00) AND A
SEPARATE OFFENSE SHALL BE DEEMED COMMITTED
UPON EACH DAY DURING OR ON WHICH A VIOLATION
OCCURS; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND
DECLARING AN EMERGENCY
WHEREAS, the City of Grapevine has identified a need to address
drainage improvements and the operation and maintenance of the City's
stormwater management program designed to assist in the protection of public
health and safety from loss of life and property caused by surface water overflows,
surface water stagnation, and pollution arising from water runoff within the
boundaries of the City; and
WHEREAS, Subchapter C of Chapter 402 of the Texas Local Government Code
authorizes the City of Grapevine to establish a Stormwater Drainage Utility System(SDUS)
and sets forth the requirements to approve and implement the SDUS; and
WHEREAS, the City of Grapevine has conducted a study to determine a
reasonable methodology to fairly and equitably charge for stormwater drainage
management services, including capital improvements; and
WHEREAS, based on that review the City of Grapevine City Council
concludes that the schedule of charges should be amended as provided for
herein; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Grapevine deems the passage
of this ordinance as necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the
public; and
WHEREAS, the City of Grapevine is authorized by law to adopt the
provisions contained herein; and
WHEREAS, all statutory and constitutional requirements for the passage
of this ordinance have been adhered to, including but not limited to the Open
Meetings Act.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE ITORDAINED BYTHE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS:
Section 1. That all matters stated in the preamble are found to be true and
correct and are incorporated herein as if copied in their entirety.
Section 2. The Schedule of Charges is hereby amended in its entirety and
replaced as follows: Schedule of Charges
A. The schedule of charges being considered is based on consulting
studies, staff review, and the projects and work program approved
by the City Council. Future revisions will be made only after a
separate hearing has been held with notices properly published.
B. The proposed Schedule of Charges is based on a methodology that
is nondiscriminatory, reasonable and equitable. The properties are
established as a class unless individual calculation is believed to
be necessary. The source of the land area data is the Tarrant
Appraisal District (TAD) and the stormwater runoff factors are
based on engineering quantifications. The fee for all properties is
computed using the same formula, which places all properties on
the basis of a single-family living unit equivalent (SFLUE).
A SFLUE is defined as a residential lot with a 0.50 impervious cover or
runoff factor (SDUS factor), with 4.5 residential units per acre.
Therefore, a computed SFLUE is 4,840 square feet of impervious
area or
43,560 feet per acre
Divided by4.5=9,680squarefeet Times a 0.50 SDUS factor
Equals 4,840 square feet of impervious area
The proposed monthly SDUS fee is $8.00 per SFLUE.
Applied to a one-acre commercial piece of property with a 0.85 SDUS
factor, the SDUS fee would be $61.20 computed as follows:
43,560 square feet
Times 0.85 SDUS factor = 37,026 square feet of
impervious area
Equals 37,026 square feet of impervious area
Divided by4,840 square feet of impervious area per SFLUE
Equals 7.65SFLUEs
Times$B.00perSFLUE
Equals $61.20 per month
The fee schedule is applied with the following results-
1. For single-family residential, condominiums and
townhome classifications:
$8.00 per month per utility customer
Ordinance No. 2026-066 2
2. For duplex, triplex and quadraplex properties:
The fee will be based on the water meter with the fee being
$8.00 per unit. A duplex, triplex or quadraplex that is billed
from one water meter will be billed $8.00 per month. If these
units are billed through separate water meters, the fee will be
$4.00 per month for each side of a duplex.
(On
e-half of single-family rate)
$2.66 per month for each unit of a triplex. (One-
third of a single-family rate)
$2.00 per month for each unit of a quadraplex. (One-
fourth of single-family rate)
3. Mobile Home Parks and Apartments:
The fee will be based on the land area of the property as
shown on the TAD records if the water service is provided
through master meters. In the case of multiple master
meters, the sum of the drainage charges for the entire
property may be placed on the same utility bill or can be
allocated to each metered account.
For individually metered trailer pads or apartments, the fee
shall be based on the individually metered accounts:
$2.00 per trailer pad or apartment unit per month.
(One-fourth of single-family rate)
4. Commercial and Industrial:
The fee will be based on the land area of the property as
shown on the TAD records if the water service is provided
through master meters. In the case of multiple master
meters, the sum of the drainage charges for the entire
property may be placed on the same utility bill.
The calculation of the monthly bill will also take into
consideration the drainage runoff potential based upon 1 he
use of the land, classified based upon reasonable categories,
unless individual calculations for the property are made by
the City.
5. Individually Calculated Properties:
For properties that have stormwater drainage management
facilities that have been imposed by City drainage standards
and/or for properties which the City staff believes the fee
Ordinance No. 2026-066 3
calculation methodology for the property classification does
not represent a reasonable charge, the City staff is
authorized to calculate the drainage charge based on sound
engineering data that has been produced by the City's staff
or the City's consulting engineer or the independent engineer
of a property's owner or occupant. The engineering data
must be acceptable to the City's Public Works Director.
Any request initiated by the property owner for an individually
calculated fee must be made in writing to the City's Public
Works Director and must contain the engineering justification
and complete technical explanation as part of the request.
Additional requirements for the request to be considered may
be determined by the City's Public Works Director.
Section 3. Effective Date
A. This ordinance shall become effective upon approval.
B. The City staff is directed to implement the study steps involved in
identifying the various properties to receive a drainage charge, to
make changes to the utility billing system to handle the billing
process, and to establish any rules, procedures or regulatory
guidelines to be used in the administration and operation of the
utility drainage system.
Section 4. Any person, firm, or corporation violating any of the provisions
of this ordinance or the Code of Ordinances as amended hereby, shall be guilty
of a misdemeanor and upon conviction in the Municipal Court of the City of
Grapevine, Texas, shall be subject to a fine not to exceed the sum of Two
Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) for each offense; and each and every day such
offense is continued shall constitute a new and separate offense.
Section 5. That should any word, phrase, paragraph, section or portion of
this ordinance or the Code of Ordinances, as amended hereby, be held to be
void or unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of the remaining
portions of said ordinance or the Code of Ordinances, as amended hereby,
which shall remain in full force and affect.
Section 6. The fact that the present ordinances and regulations of the City
of Grapevine, Texas, are inadequate to properly safeguard the health, safety,
morals, peace, and general welfare of the public creates an emergency which
requires that this ordinance become effective from and after the date of its
passage, and it is accordingly so ordained.
Ordinance No. 2026-066 4
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GRAPEVINE, TEXAS on this 1st day of September 2026.
APPROVED:
William D. Tate
Mayor
ATTEST:
Tara Brooks
City Secretary
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Matthew C.G. Boyle
City Attorney
Ordinance No. 2026-066 5