Stormwater utility fee
Stormwater utility fee billed through the power company (agreement on the November 18, 2021 agenda); in 2022 the council considered bonding for stormwater projects.
- Where it stands
- Approved
- Type
- Public project
Every hearing and vote
May 14, 2020 · City Council work session
Holladay@20 presentation and recommendation
Discussed
About 36% of roads are rated poor or very poor, and bridge, road and sidewalk needs total about $4.5 million; stormwater drains and canals also need repair. The group studied three scenarios, all with a $6.50 monthly stormwater fee with annual increases; the property tax bill on a $500,000 home would rise 2% to 9% depending on the option, below an initial estimate of about 20%. The group unanimously recommended the option with the greatest impact. Council Member Matt Durham asked about a third survey, Council Member Drew Quinn asked for help with messaging, Council Members Sabrina Petersen and Paul Fotheringham preferred public education over a third survey, and Council Member Dan Gibbons questioned a flat fee versus one based on lot size. The mayor suggested approving the current budget while listing an infrastructure revenue increase as a future item.
May 28, 2020 · City Council
Work meeting: tentative budgets and tax increase
Discussed
Gibbons supported more revenue but was ambivalent on timing and favored a stormwater fee or a later process with a third survey. Petersen supported delay if action is committed for January; Fotheringham favored moving forward now. The city manager and assistant city manager cautioned that proceeding now could cause pushback and reduce future options. The mayor agreed the most aggressive recommendation is needed but chose to delay for now, with a public statement planned for August or September. A 2% staff cost-of-living raise would cost about $35,000 and was supported by the five council members, excluding the mayor and council. No formal vote.
July 16, 2020 · City Council
Work session: Holladay@20 options
Discussed
The assistant city manager presented three options: education and revisiting the advisory group work this fall with a decision by April 2021; town halls in the fall; or starting the stormwater fee this fall, in place by January 2021, with property tax handled in spring 2021. Gibbons favored the first option, citing a projected 10% sales tax decrease; Fotheringham favored separating the restricted stormwater fee from property tax. A neighboring city adopted a $9.81 per equivalent residential unit fee. The consensus was to begin the stormwater fee process and consider property tax after the first of the year.
August 6, 2020 · City Council
Work meeting: stormwater fee timeline
Discussed
The assistant city manager presented a timeline with data review on August 27 and fee collection beginning in about one year. Public education was stressed.
August 27, 2020 · City Council
Work meeting: stormwater utility financial plan
Discussed
A consultant presented the stormwater utility financial plan; operations and maintenance costs are rising along with capital spending. The council must choose among options at a future meeting, and staff will bring a draft ordinance in October.
September 3, 2020 · City Council
Work meeting: stormwater fee
Discussed
The assistant city manager asked for direction on the equivalent residential unit methodology and funding scenarios. The council agreed on the methodology and reached consensus to approve Scenario 4, which the advisory group recommended and which places Holladay in the middle of regional fees. Staff will draft an ordinance.
September 17, 2020 · City Council
Work meeting: stormwater ordinance
Discussed
The assistant city manager outlined a fee restructure for residential and non-residential properties with an appeal process. Staff will present on October 1 and a public hearing is set for October 15.
October 1, 2020 · City Council
Work meeting: sidewalk policy and stormwater ordinance
Discussed
Staff presented three sidewalk categories (repair and maintenance, new development, gap fill-ins); the council supported continued city snow and ice removal and suggested a grant fund for property owner repairs. For the stormwater ordinance, edits replaced "storm sewer" references and a public hearing opens October 15.
October 15, 2020 · City Council
Public hearing: stormwater utility fee ordinance
Continued
The city manager said about $18 million is needed for stormwater projects and legally required compliance work, and that the Holladay@20 citizen committee proposed the ordinance. The hearing stayed open. In the work meeting members discussed fee scenarios, website transparency on projects and costs, and a request to compare Options 3 and 4; the fee will likely be an enterprise fund.
November 5, 2020 · City Council
Continued public hearing: stormwater utility fee ordinance
Continued
No one commented. The hearing remained open and a vote was expected November 19.
November 5, 2020 · City Council
Work meeting: stormwater policy manual and Crossroads zone timeline
Discussed
The manual covers three fee classes (Residential Area A, Residential Area B, Non-Residential), the calculation formula and appeals; one equivalent residential unit equals 5,200 square feet of impervious area, and the power utility that will handle billing cannot process decimal units. A vote is possible December 3. For the Crossroads zone, notices went to properties within 500 feet, an online open house was set for November 12 and a hearing for December 3.
November 19, 2020 · City Council
Continued public hearing: stormwater utility fee ordinance
Pending
Listed on the agenda.
December 3, 2020 · City Council
Stormwater utility fee ordinance and policy manual (Ordinance 2020-17, Resolution 2020-33)
Pending
The agenda lists a continued hearing, adoption of a stormwater utility fee and adoption of a policy manual. No fee amounts are given.
February 18, 2021 · City Council
Ordinance 2021-03: Stormwater utility fee (Title 17, Chapter 40)
Approved · 6-0
The ordinance was approved again because the previous one was codified in the wrong chapter; the substance is unchanged.
March 25, 2021 · City Council work session
Review of 2020-21 goals
Discussed
Items noted: the Cotton Bottom sale and reopening completed; the stormwater utility fee approved after a public process; short-term rental penalties strengthened; council chambers upgraded; pickleball courts being resurfaced; skate park under design-build contract; canal trails study complete.
November 18, 2021 · City Council
Resolution 2021-36: Agreement with Rocky Mountain Power for collection of the stormwater fee
Pending
No amount is given on the agenda.
February 17, 2022 · City Council work session
Capital improvement and financial model update
Discussed
The model considered pay-as-you-go versus debt for the capital and stormwater funds, with a prior assumption of $5 million in storm drain debt in 2022, a $6.50 initial rate and 9.5% annual increases, and 4% inflation. Council Members Fotheringham, Gibbons, Brewer and Durham favored bonding sooner. The next step is a parameters resolution to set the bond limit.
May 5, 2022 · City Council
Resolution 2022-11: Tentative 2022-23 budgets; hearing set for June 2
Approved · 6-0
Assistant City Manager Holly Smith presented a proposed General Fund of $22,730,669.66 and $1.8 million in one-time federal funding. The property tax increase took effect in November 2021 and stormwater fees in January 2022, funding a bond for road and stormwater work.
May 5, 2022 · City Council
Work meeting: community renewable energy ordinance and stormwater program
Discussed
Council Member Quinn presented the community renewable energy program under HB 411; the city was assessed $18,000 and paid half in February 2022. Public Services Director Jared Bunch said a state environmental quality audit in October 2021 found 33 deficiencies and reviewed redlines to the stormwater ordinance and program. No action was taken.
June 2, 2022 · City Council
Ordinance 2022-10: Stormwater management (Chapter 17)
Approved · 4-0
Adopts the revised stormwater management ordinance.
June 2, 2022 · City Council
Resolution 2022-16: Amend the stormwater management program
Approved · 4-0
Amends the city stormwater management program.
June 16, 2022 · City Council
Ordinance 2022-11: Amend the 2021-22 budget
Approved · 5-0
Adds $10 million in stormwater bond proceeds not in the original budget, plus $66,000 from an Unified Fire Authority board item.
September 5, 2024 · City Council
Work meeting: stormwater projects
Discussed
Pipe liner rehabilitation is a $2.5 million project. Discussion covered whether the stormwater fee needs an update.
March 6, 2025 · City Council
Ordinance 2025-02: stormwater regulations (Titles 17.08.020 and 17.32.025)
Approved · 6-0
Staff said the change promotes consistent enforcement across municipalities.
March 20, 2025 · City Council
Resolution 2025-03: stormwater management plan
Approved · 5-0
Amends provisions of the city's stormwater management plan.
May 8, 2025 · City Council work session
Stormwater fee review
Discussed
Adviser Fred Philpot of LRB Public Finance said the $6.50 per-unit rate has not changed and revenue falls short of coverage targets. Scenario 2 is a 30% increase to $8.50 per unit; scenario 3 is 5% a year from $6.83 in 2026 to $8.40 in 2030. Salt Lake County's average is $8.00. Mayor Dahle suggested first reviewing whether all properties pay. No vote.
May 15, 2025 · City Council
Tentative 2025-26 budgets: Administration, Community Development, Unified Fire Authority and Unified Police
Discussed
The city is in line for $3.6 million for Highland Drive. It applied for a $220,000 Community Development Block Grant for housing rehabilitation. Holladay's fire fee rises 1.2%. Unified Police has 30.95 allocations for Holladay and a 6.44% increase against 4.36% organization-wide. Staff recommended a 30% stormwater fee increase over five years.
April 23, 2026 · City Council
Revenue overview
Discussed
Property tax is projected at $8.5 million for fiscal 2027. The consensus was no property tax increase in the tentative budget and a stormwater increase; the mayor supported $1 per equivalent unit.
May 21, 2026 · City Council
Work meeting: budget and public services
Discussed
Items discussed included a $311,000 county public works contract increase, a possible $1 per unit stormwater increase (about 15%, roughly $181,000) not in the budget, and a $50,000 public works feasibility study. The Highland Drive bridge is expected to finish in early July; asbestos found at City Hall caused some delay.
June 4, 2026 · City Council
Public hearing: consolidated fee schedule amendments
No action
Business license fees remain until Jan. 1, 2027. The stormwater unit fee rises from $6.50 to $7.50 on Jan. 1, 2027, with a correction to a class multiplier before the next vote. No further comment; no vote.
June 11, 2026 · City Council
Resolution 2026-16: amend the consolidated fee schedule
Pending
Amends fees for certain city services.
September 3, 2026 · City Council
Ordinance 2026-14: stormwater regulations
Pending
Amends portions of the city stormwater regulations.