City of Fairfax, Virginia – Stormwater Utility Implementation: Successes & Lessons Learned
In 2022, the City of Fairfax began implementation of a new stormwater utility (SWU), an enterprise fund dedicated to providing stormwater services, including both operations and capital program development and execution. With the SWU ordinance in place, the first SWU fee bill was issued in November 2022, included on the City’s Real Estate tax bill as a separate line item. Once billing began, much of the City’s preparation for the rollout of the SWU would quickly be tested. This presentation will discuss the City’s rollout preparations, with special emphasis on the lead-up to the issuance of the initial SWU bill, highlighting the measures employed and assessing their value to the City in the months leading up to the first bill.
The presentation will then turn to the challenges encountered – both expected and unexpected – and how the City addressed them to encourage successful interactions with the rate-paying public; keep the program administratively manageable, and move the City’s broader stormwater management program forward.
Author Bio
Annie de la Torre is the Utilities Coordinator for the City of Fairfax Department of Public Works with a decade of experience working in local government. As the Utilities Coordinator, Mrs. de la Torre specializes in providing guidance and direction to the rate-paying public about the stormwater and wastewater programs adopted by the City Council.
Mrs. de la Torre was responsible for managing the implementation of the city’s stormwater utility, and continues to administer the annual Stormwater Utility billing, the associated credit program, and appeals process. Mrs. de la Torre prides herself in providing top-notch service to the rate-paying public and strives to continue to raise awareness and promote positive stormwater practices.
Doug Moseley is the Director of Water Resources Policy and Planning for GKY & Associates, Inc. in Richmond, Virginia. Mr. Moseley’s twenty-seven years of professional experience encompass a broad array of water resources programming for municipal, state, and federal clients across the United States. Mr. Moseley specializes in stormwater program development and implementation for both water quality and quantity concerns, including regulatory planning and compliance, funding and financing strategies, and program development and implementation.
Mr. Moseley holds a BA in American Government and a Master’s degree in Urban and Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia.
