With only three members present, the Clark County Council on Tuesday unanimously approved increases to annual clean-water fees — the first increase since 2015.
Within the urban growth area boundary, the new fees range from $61.55 for a single-family home on more than 20 acres to $85.59 for a single-family home on a small lot, and $85.59 per unit for nonresidential properties.
Outside the urban growth area boundary, the rates range from $39.70 for a single-family home on 20 acres to $63.74 for a home on a small lot and $63.74 per unit for nonresidential properties.
Currently, the annual clean-water fee is $47 inside the urban growth area and $35 outside it.
“I just want to remind folks that these fees are an annual fee,” Councilor Sue Marshall said during the meeting.
The new fee schedule is the result of a nine-month rate study completed by Public Works’ clean-water division. The division is responsible for protecting and restoring water quality in the county’s streams, rivers and lakes, which is primarily accomplished through managing stormwater runoff.
The study was done to ensure the county has enough revenue to meet new state and federal mandates, said Devan Rostorfer, manager for the clean-water division. The mandates went into effect Aug. 1 with the county’s Phase I municipal stormwater permit.
“This legacy decision by county council will generate multiple long-lasting benefits and outcomes for current and future generations of people, fish and wildlife in Clark County,” Rostorfer said Thursday.
The new rates mark the second increase since the inception of the county’s stormwater rates in 2000.
The council first reviewed the proposed fees during an Oct. 1 public hearing at which the council directed staff to look at reducing rates for multifamily housing. Rates for multifamily housing are charged the rate times the number of units. For example, an apartment building with four units inside the urban growth boundary would pay $61.55 times four, or $246.20, under the new schedule.
“To achieve this reduction in multifamily rates, our team had the choice to reduce the number of public services we will provide over the next five years, or to subsidize the lowering of multifamily residential rates by implementing slightly higher rates for single-family residential and nonresidential lots,” Rostorfer said.
By slightly increasing the single-family and nonresidential rates, the multifamily rates were lowered by 28 percent within the urban growth area and 38 percent outside it from the single family home small lot rate.
The rates were also adjusted to replace $2.9 million in grant funding the county was ineligible to receive because it is not in compliance with the state’s Growth Management Act.
The fee is charged only to properties in unincorporated parts of Clark County. The cities of Vancouver, Ridgefield, Battle Ground, La Center, Camas and Washougal assess and collect stormwater fees for their jurisdictions. Additionally, rates for residential and nonresidential properties are calculated differently.
Rostorfer said the council’s approval of the new rate schedule represents a paradigm shift for clean-water programs in the county.
“Without the county council’s support and willingness to invest in our clean-water future, the future would remain uncertain. Today, the future for clean water is more clear, confident and optimistic that we will have the necessary resources to keep water clean for people, fish and wildlife,” Rostorfer said.
Staff began working on the rate study in January, meeting with county departments receiving funding from the clean-water division to better understand needs and funding gaps. A series of listening sessions was held in September so residents could learn more about the rate study and the proposed changes and provide feedback.
Throughout the process, Rostorfer said, the direction from the council was clear: to focus on the clean-water services needed to remain in compliance with the Phase 1 Municipal Stormwater Permit. She said the department is also focused on addressing aging infrastructure and protecting and restoring watershed health and salmon recovery.
“Through this effort, our team identified 62 new, enhanced or improved clean-water services that we are recommending for 2025 to 2029 to be funded through the stormwater (fees),” Rostorfer said.
The final estimated cost for these 62 services is approximately $36.4 million over five years.
Marshall commended Rostorfer and the clean-water department for keeping the council informed throughout the year about the work being done and the proposed rates.
“One thing I’ve mentioned throughout the years is all the development that is occurring. I’ve seen in some instances where it has impacted streams,” Marshall said. “I believe this will improve our ability to address those issues and better inform the development community.”
