By Brian Kelly
Herald Writer
ARLINGTON — City officials are mulling the idea of creating a broad-based committee to help set rates for Arlington’s proposed storm-water utility.
The city council will vote on establishing the utility and the committee at its Tuesday meeting.
The idea of a storm-water utility, however, has been controversial. The new utility would pay for improvements to the town’s storm drainage system, as well as provide a money source for improving water quality and protecting waterways from pollution. Homeowners and businesses would pay monthly assessments.
At a public hearing in June, many business owners criticized the proposal, saying they had already installed expensive systems to treat storm-water runoff. Some threatened to sue if they were asked to pay more.
Now, Arlington plans to create the utility and talk about rates later.
"The vehicle has to be produced before you can go anywhere," said council member Craig Hedlund, chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Surface Water Management.
Arlington dumps untreated storm water directly into the Stillaguamish River, something the city will be prohibited from doing in the near future, Hedlund said.
"This is something that’s mandated. It has to be done," he said.
Council member Sally Lien said the city wasn’t changing its strategy in moving the proposal forward. The committee will include a wide range of representatives who will form fair rates and take into account storm-water efforts that have already been done, she said.
"It’s not our intent to shove anything down our citizens’ throats without their input," she said. "We have to give some credit to people who, on their own, have upgraded."
Under the earlier proposal, the city planned to charge homeowners $5 a month, with low-income seniors paying $3. Arlington said businesses would be charged based on the amount of impervious surface, such as roofs, parking lots and patios, on their properties.
Arlington isn’t the first city in the county to start a storm-water utility. Everett, Lake Stevens, Marysville and Stanwood already have utilities and rate structures. But Arlington officials weren’t surprised that some have strenuously opposed the new utility.
"The funding is always the tough part," Hedlund said.
The rate committee will be established later, he said, and it may be months before a new rate structure is proposed.
The 12-member committee will be appointed by the mayor and will include a mix of ratepayers, including residents, business owners, industrial interests, a council member and others.
"We’re just trying to be superfair and make sure everyone’s heard," Hedlund said.
You can call Herald Writer Brian Kelly at 425-339-3422 or send e-mail to kelly@heraldnet.com.
Arlington City Council meeting
7 p.m. Tuesday
Board meeting room, Roosevelt Building
315 N. French St.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
