Peoria’s new group formed to reduce storm-water runoff looked at several priorities Wednesday. The OneWater Committee includes contractors, planners, business owners and members from school and park groups.
The committee ranked the importance of various issues, including new equipment purchases, planning for storm drain systems and stream restoration.
But the next question is how to pay for any upgrades.
Andrea Klopfenshtein is a city project manager. She says one solution is having residents pay a stormwater utility fee:
“Everybody that contributes runoff pays for it. So it’s a little but more equitable, and you pay based on the amount you contribute.”
Part of the fee could also pay for looming unfunded combined sewer overflow mandates from the EPA.
Klopfenshtein says residents could reduce their fee by making property upgrades that reduce water runoff.
But nothing’s been decided about what funding options the group should recommend to the city council later this year.
Klopfenshtein says the OneWater committee will gauge support for possible funding options at its meeting next month.