CENTRAL POINT — Storm drain fees for new development would increase 132 percent under a proposal by the city designed to raise enough money to replace four box culverts that likely would fail during a major flood and damage nearby homes.
The four county-owned bridges cross Horn, Jackson and Griffin creeks along Taylor Road and Griffin Creek along Pine Street.
If you go
What: Central Point City Council meeting to discuss increases in storm drain fees for new development
When: 7 p.m. today at City Hall, 140 S. Third St.
For more details: see www.mailtribune.com/cpfees
Built 60 or more years ago, the box culverts would fail to mitigate floodwaters in the result of a "100-year flood," resulting in damage to hundreds of homes, said Matt Samitore, interim community development director.
Realizing the county is facing budget woes because of the eventual loss of federal timber payments, the city hopes to begin saving toward replacement of the four culverts now.
"They all need to be replaced and each one adds up to about a million dollars," Samitore said.
"They're county-owned, but inside city limits. We're faced with, if they don't get replaced, the next time we have a big flood there's a high likelihood that a number of homes in Central Point would be significantly damaged."
The City Council will consider the fee increases at 7 tonight at City Hall, 140 S. Third St. For more details, see www.mailtribune.com/cpfees. The increases would put the city in line with surrounding cities, Samitore said.
A single-family dwelling would see a $752 increase in storm drain fees, from $570 to $1,322.
Commercial developments of 3,000 square feet would see a similar rate, with the fees increasing according to the size of development. A project with 9,000 square feet of impervious surface, for example, would incur three times the $1,322 rate, or $3,966.
Total SDC charges for construction of a single-family dwelling would increase from $9,020 to $9,824.
"For total cumulative numbers, we'll be fourth or fifth highest in the valley, behind Medford, Ashland and Eagle Point," Samitore said.
"I don't know where we'll rank for storm drain fees specifically, but we're unique in the Rogue Valley as we have seven creeks that run through our city."
John Vial, Jackson County director of roads and parks, said he was unaware culverts needed to be replaced inside Central Point but acknowledged funding challenges faced by the county.
"The county is not funded currently to take on projects like that, which would be brand new," Vial said.
"But we're interested in working with the city to see how we can help address this long-term issue and work together to solve it."
Samitore said the city felt strongly it should "start saving now," adding the city tried to be "very conscientious" in considering new fees.
"We want to be open to business and open to new growth in town so we're very careful in raising any rates," he said.
"We had no idea county revenues would have such a downturn because of timber payments, and no idea, until new floodplain maps came out, what kind of impact these culverts would have on existing homes."
He added, "The '97 flood was a 20-year event and it had a significant impact on the city. Try to imagine the '97 flood, five times worse than what it was."
Samitore said the city would review finalized maps in coming months, prioritize the culverts in terms of most in need of replacement, and gather feedback from the City Council and citizens.
Buffy Pollock is a freelance writer living in Medford. E-mail her at buffypollock@juno.com.
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