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1. What is a stormwater utility fee?

A stormwater utility fee is similar to a water or sewer fee. In essence, customers pay a fee to convey stormwater from their properties. The utility is the result of unfunded United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) mandates that force cities like St. Clair Shores to manage stormwater within their jurisdiction. The fee is used to finance annual compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting standards. The NPDES is the compliance system for the Clean Water Act (CWA) and requires that all stormwater discharges that enter waters of the United States must meet minimum federal water quality requirements.

2. Why is stormwater run-off a problem?

Stormwater begins as rain or snowmelt that flows over land rather than seeping into the ground. It flows over hard surfaces (impervious surfaces) such as roofs, driveways, and walkways, as well as pervious surfaces such as grass, gardens, and woodlands into the city’s combined sewer system. The more hard surface (impervious surface) on your property, the more stormwater runoff is contributed to the sewer system.

This drainage either flows into the same underground pipes as sewage and must be treated at the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) wastewater treatment plant before it can be released back into the environment or into Lake St. Clair through a separate storm water sewage system.

The City of St. Clair Shores is billed by the SESMD for the conveyance and treatment of combined sewage at GLWA.

3. Why did the City stop charging a stormwater fee and but now is charging a new fee?

Since 1993, the City has had a stormwater utility ordinance that requires property owners to pay a user fee related to the operation and maintenance of the City’s stormwater system. The current stormwater utility ordinance was developed on the basis of a 1992 Stormwater Utility Implementation Report prepared by McNamee, Porter & Seeley, Inc. This 1992 report is now 30 years old and has not been updated based on recent court rulings. The Michigan Supreme Court has since ruled on stormwater service charges, in particular as related to violating the “Bolt Criteria.”  The Michigan Supreme Court ruled that the stormwater service charge imposed by Lansing was unconstitutional and void on the basis that it was a tax for which voter approval was required and not a valid use fee. The Court established three criteria for distinguishing between a fee and a tax:
1) a user fee must serve a regulatory purpose rather than a revenue-raising purpose
2) a user fee must be proportionate to the necessary costs of the service; and
3) a user fee must be voluntary--property owners must be able to refuse or limit their use of the commodity or service

The outcome of this study recommends the City adopt an updated methodology as a basis of billing for stormwater charges that meets the three aspects of the “Bolt Criteria”. This study has determined a methodology to assign all properties within the City their proportional share of the cost of service to capture, convey, and treat the stormwater that runs off each property and to meet the needs of the City’s stormwater regulatory obligations. The study recommends using the direct impervious vs. pervious surface area and total property area to determine the property’s
direct runoff potential. This entails an individual review of each residential lot, by size/zoning classification, and every non-residential property to calculate square feet of imperviousness for each parcel. Once PRP is initially determined, there are no zoning classifications or groups of properties. All calculations are based solely on impervious vs. pervious area and the particular benefit each property receives due to the stormwater system. Other general items that were
looked at which affect stormwater were topography, soils, property maintenance and access to stormwater facilities.

4. Who is responsible for protecting my property from high water damage?

According
to Ordinance 35-013 14, the owner of riparian (waterfront) property is the one
required to provide an adequate barrier, dike, or other embankments (including
sandbags) to protect against the rising water, the overflow of water and/or
flooding.

The City can assist the property owner by providing locations to pick up sandbags and sand for residents to build a sandbag barrier on their property.  The Army Corps of Engineers will provide recommendations regarding the construction and location of sandbag, crib, or berm placement on your property. To schedule an Army Corp consultation, please contact Ken Blankenship in the City’s Community Development Department (CDI) at 586-447-3362. No evaluation or opinion on
seawall construction, placements, or height will be provided.

5. Do I have to sandbag my property?

First, look at the Lake St. Clair Lake Level at Current Lake St. Clair Lake Level
Second, measure the clearance from the water to the connected high ground on your property.
Now keep in mind the Army Corps of Engineers forecast indicates the lake could go as high as 578.1 ft.

The Army Corps of Engineers recommends property owners on the canals provide adequate protection 18 inches above the current lake level. If your property is on the lake subject to wave action, then the recommendation is to provide 36 inches above the current lake level. 
If the lake level rises to 578.1, determine the high ground on your property that should be connected to achieve the recommended barrier.

If the rising waters and waves are going to potentially breach your seawall, berm, or any other waterfront barrier, "yes," you must sandbag your property. If not, then "no," you do not have to sandbag your property.

The City strongly advises residents to take into account the forecast levels and build an adequate sandbag barrier before high water occurs. It is much easier to install the barrier on dry ground.

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6. What does this "Action Level exceedance and Public Advisory mean?

The City of St. Clair Shores has 25,303 water customers. The City estimates that there are approximately 650 homes with lead service lines. In St. Clair Shores lead service lines are most commonly found in homes built between 1920 and 1950.

32 of those customers with known lead service lines were tested during September 2019. 4 of the 32 locations tested exceeded the 15 parts-per-billion (ppb) “Action Level” threshold, triggering the current Public Advisory. The city’s 90th percentile value for lead concentrations among sites tested was 21 ppb. The testing results shown that the “Action Level” exceedances were from samples taken from the lead water service lines.

Per the Lead and Copper Rule of the Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act, the city is required to periodically sample a number of water taps throughout its system for lead concentration levels. In 2018, the sampling protocol for this routine sampling changed to require multiple samples at each sample location and to exclusively target locations served by lead water service lines. The intention of this change was to better detect lead.

According to the rule, if approximately 10% of sites sampled (90^th percentile) indicate lead concentrations of 15 ppb or greater, the city is required to:

• advise water customers of the results

• provide tips on how to reduce lead exposure

• increase community-wide sampling

7. How does lead get into drinking water?

Lead can enter drinking water when plumbing materials that contain lead corrode, especially where the water has high acidity or low mineral content that corrodes pipes and fixtures. The most common sources of lead in drinking water are lead pipes, faucets, and fixtures. In homes with lead pipes that connect the home to the water main, also known as lead services lines, these pipes are typically the most significant source of lead in the water. Among homes without lead service lines, the most common problem is with brass or chrome-plated brass faucets and plumbing with lead solder.

Source: EPA Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water

8. Is there a simple way to see if I have lead service line in my home?

National Public Radio (NPR) has developed a website that allows you to determine whether your drinking water is at risk in a few simple steps.

We are asking residents to use the tool and report the results to the City of St. Clair Shores Water Department.

Click here to get started. [Click here to get started.]

9. What do I need to bring in to process a passport?

https://www.scsmi.net/195/Passport-Services

10. Where can I put my RV or other recreational vehicle when I am not using it?

Residents may store their own recreation vehicles and recreation equipment on their own property for an indefinite period of time, provided the vehicles are in operable condition and can meet all other provisions of the city’s codes and ordinances. In short, Recreational Vehicles must be parked on a paved surface and meet setback requirements. Recreational vehicles shall be set back at least four (4) feet from any side lot line if the vehicles are located closer than six (6) feet to the main building on the site. If the vehicles are located more than six (6) feet from the main building, then the recreational vehicles shall be set back at least two (2) feet, six (6) inches from any side or rear lot line. For residents whose recreational vehicles cannot meet the setback and/or lot coverage requirements, their recreational vehicle may be stored up to forty-eight (48) hours prior to a planned trip, for loading purposes, and forty-eight (48) hours upon return from the same trip, for the purpose of unloading the recreational vehicle. In no event shall such recreational vehicles or equipment be stored more than ninety-six (96) hours in a seven (7) day period. A recreational vehicle or equipment parked or stored on a lot within the city shall not be connected to water, sanitary facilities, or electrical service, and shall not be occupied.