Okay, here's the short version of my report-back on my conversation with John McLean about the stormwater cleanup fee: I talked with John McLean, the Sewer Unit/Storm Water point man, this morning at length. McLean is obviously a smart, knowledgeable and courteous man. He speaks knowledgeably about the fee, the methodology, and the choices that were involved in the fee deliberations. The conversation was informative to me. I know many new things about city property, including that there now are approx. 75,000 single family residences in Minneapolis, that the average impermeable area of a residential property, based on a survey of 200+ randomly selected properties, is 1530 sq. ft., and that the max. rate for this new stormwater fee is assessed on properties believed to have 1578 sq. ft. of impermeable surface area regardless of the size of the property, and that the City hurried to adopt this strategy for raising $30M in order to avoid a lawsuit. All this is good and factual, but in my opinion, it altogether lacks a Fairness Factor. It's not too hard to figure out that this broad-brush fee assessment places the greatest proportional burden on "average" properties. There is no progressivity beyond the 1578 sq. ft. measure. Thus, 11,000 sq. ft. multimillion dollar "Gold Coast" residences with 75+% of their available area paved or covered with structures - and across the street from the Mississippi River for runoff purposes - pays the same $10.60 fee that I do for my R1A lot with no driveway or garage 8 blocks from Lake Harriet. Gimme a break, folks. It doesn't take a degree in hydrology to figure out which property has more runoff - or who's in a better position to help pay for cleaning things up. It's ironic that if the City had chosen to resolve the dispute by being sued - and then lost - the $30M would be paid more equitably through the property tax structure which is at least a bit more progressive than the Stormwater model. Yes, we can appeal our rate assignments, but that does nothing to change the fact that all supersize residential properties benefit at the expense of all properties that are average or less. Almost makes me sorry that I asked. Ann Berget Kingfield 8-6 REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list.
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