Questions for the 5. 21 Board Stormwater Workshop

1. When did Sarasota County establish the Stormwater Environmental Utility (SEU)? 

Answer: 1989

    Backup: The SEU assessments increased dramatically, typically doubling to tripling between 2021 and 2022 (see below):


2. Question: Is there a simple explanation as to why people’s annual stormwater assessments doubled or tripled between 2021 and 2022? What is it in terms of added level of service since 1989 that was presumably needed to justify the significant assessment increase in 2022? In other words, what is it that the County’s stormwater customers can expect to see or expect for the addition assessment expense.

Backup: It is my understanding that the SEU is an Enterprise Fund which means that the revenue it collects can only be used for managing stormwater. It is also my understanding that SEU funds are currently directed to two Departments under Public Works, namely Stormwater and Field Operations.


3. Question: Are my understandings correct? Do you know approximately what the split in funds between these two Departments is? Who if anyone is specifically designated as responsible for the management of the SEU Enterprise Fund?

Backup: Field Operations are responsible for the operation and maintenance of roads, bridges, primary stormwater storage and drainage conveyance systems, and signage/signalization. In addition to receiving a portion of funds from SEU, it is assumed that there are also other funding sources.

Rescue Teams working to get people out of flooded homes due to Hurricane Debby

4. Question: With respect to Fields Operations, what are the sources of revenue besides those from SEU and their approximate percentages? What elements within roadways that are incidental to and needed for the roadway itself (i.e. inlets, stormwater sewer, and roadside swales) are eligible for SEU funds for maintenance?

Backup: The attached document entitled Stormwater Fund 440 Balance Annual Reconciliation dated 04/01/25 indicated that $16,685,748 has been transferred to Fund 441 (Stormwater Capital Projects).


5. Question: Can you help me understand the $16,685,748 in transfers to Fund 441 on 04/01/25? What does SWWRP stand for? In the wake of the maintenance needs exposed by Tropical Storm Debby, has there been any thought to the reprioritization and allocation of these funds to address and mitigate the flooding that occurred?

Backup: Phillippi Creek experienced significant flooding from the rains of Tropical Storm Debby including residents along the Creek between Bee Ridge Road and Beneva Road. Decades of sediment accumulation in Phillippi Creek has been considered a contributor to this flooding.

6. Question: Relative to the accumulation of sediment in Phillippi Creek, what is the County’s plan to remove the sediment and restore its drainage capacity? 

7. Does management of erosion and sediment for drainage in Phillippi Creek (and other man-made waterways) fall under the responsibility of SEU? 

8. Once the sediment is removed and the drainage capacity is restored, does the County have plans to proactively manage sediment in Phillippi Creek to prevent a recurrence in the future?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Flooding in Sarasota County is the topic of SCAN's Oct. 24 Meeting

Image
The next SCAN meeting will be at Selby Library on October 24. Laurel Meadows after Debby, August 2024 Three serious storms in the past three months have people asking why flooding occurred in areas that should have had stormwater protection. Nearly 2000 residents have signed a Petition asking the County to study what went wrong when Hurricane Debby flooded inland communities. Join us on Thursday, Oct. 24 at 5:30 PM to hear a professional stormwater engineer talk about the recent experience of flooding in Sarasota.  Twenty five years ago, Steve Suau was head of the county's stormwater department and played a key role in developing the Celery Fields stormwater management facility. He went on to a successful career in the private sector. Hurricane Ian flooded North Port and the Myakka in 2022. Helene and Milton wreaked havoc with coastal storm surges. After Debby flooded several areas of Sarasota County including Laurel Meadows, Pinecraft, and homes along Phillippi Creek in August ...
Read more

DR HORTON at the PLANNING COMMISSION Nov. 21

Image
If you care about the Celery Fields as a healthy public amenity for humans and wildlife, tell the Sarasota County Planning Commission that you oppose Rezone Petition RZ 23-30 . The Petition would give DR Horton the opportunity to build 170 homes on the Smith Farm property, yards away from the Raymond Road Boardwalk and a critical nesting area: Smith Farm is the light green - steps away from the Raymond Rd. Bird Walk and Nesting Area. Virtually the entire Farm property is a floodplain. Below, the FEMA map indicates that a very large portion of the Farm, showing in blue, is AE - which means it's in the 100-year floodplain. The grey area is in the 500-year floodplain: Smith Property: FEMA Flood Map  According to the Comprehensive Plan, the county is not supposed to approve dense housing in a floodplain. The reasons might be obvious after this hurricane season: Smith Farm under feet of water the day after Debby THREE THINGS TO DO: 1. WRITE to the Planning Commission ( planner@scg...
Read more

Protect the Celery Fields: Write to the Sarasota County Commission

Image
Horton proposes 126 homes on The Smith Farm Dear Friend of the Celery Fields,   Your letters and emails to the Planning Commission made all the difference.  We won that hurdle in protecting the Celery Fields from the Smith Farm development.   Now we must repeat our efforts and send statements to the County Commissioners right away so the new letters and emails will go the the Commissioners as early as possible.  Please don't delay because we only have days to make sure our letters are included in the board packet.   Below is some text you can copy, add to, or  write your own comments, then sign it. Be sure to put  Deny  RZ 23-30  in the email subject line.  More here  and here.   Commissioner emails:   commissioners@scgov. net   with  copy to  planner@scgov.net   We at Sarasota Audubon thank you for your efforts and hope to see you at the public hearing on Feb. 12th!  Here is a basic brief opt...
Read more