Surface Water Management Fee

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency administers the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit program, which works to reduce the amount of sediment and pollution that enters surface and ground water from storm sewer systems.  Stormwater discharges associated with MS4s are subject to regulation under the Federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System program.  The City has a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP) to meet these MS4 permit requirements.  The 2024 quarterly Surface Water Management Infrastructure fee is $11.00 per Residential Equivalent Unit (REU) to support related program activities.

In 2023, the City is beginning to transition to a new REU based rate for commercial properties.  The REU for each commercial property is calculated based on the property’s size and the impervious surface coverage (areas that do not allow rain to infiltrate the ground) on the property.  For 2024, commercial entities with an actual REU of 1-7 will pay $10.00 multiplied by their actual REU each quarter.  Commercial entities with an actual REU of greater than 7 will be limited to $10.00 multiplied by 7.  The City intends to increase the REU limit each year to allow entities with higher REU values to gradually get to their actual quarterly charge over an extended time frame.