Flood Control - Santa Cruz LAFCO

Santa Cruz LAFCO: Countywide Service Review
Flood Protection and Stormwater Services
3) Financing Constraints and Opportunities
The City of Santa Cruz funds the operations and maintenance of the stormwater collection system through
the Wastewater Fund. The City appropriates some funding from the City’s General Fund each year for
capital improvements to the stormwater system.
The City has established a dedicated funding source for flood protection and stormwater management
through the Stormwater Utility Fee.
The City issued $6,665,000 in Storm Water Certificates in 1999 to finance the City’s share of the San
Lorenzo River Flood Control and Beautification Project and to repay the Wastewater Enterprise fund for
loans to rehabilitee and retrofit bridges that cross the river. The Certificates will mature in 2019; annual
payments range from $105,000 to $250,000.
4) Cost Avoidance Opportunities
The City of Santa Cruz is avoiding costs associated with water quality impacts by implementing a
program of routine street sweeping and regular cleaning of the storm drain pipe system.
5) Management Efficiencies
The City of Santa Cruz has developed a comprehensive Stormwater Management Plan in order to fulfill
the requirements of the City’s Phase II NPDES permit.
The City provides its flood protection and stormwater collection services through the Wastewater Mains
division of Public Works; this allows for efficient staff assignments and resource allocation.
6) Shared Facilities
Other city departments provide support services for the Department of Public Works; no additional
opportunities to share facilities were noted.
7) Rate Restructuring
The City of Santa Cruz charges a Stormwater Utility fee on every parcel within the city based on
estimated runoff by land use type. An additional Stormwater Utility Fee is imposed on parcels within the
100-year floodplain of the San Lorenzo River to pay for debt service on large capital costs associated with
the levee.
8) Government Structure Options
The City of Santa Cruz provides flood protection and stormwater management services through its Public
Works Department. No other government structure options were identified.
June 2005 – Public Review Draft Section 5 - 21