It’s not news that Alexandria needs to address its serious flooding issues as soon as possible. After Saturday’s city council meeting, the City is, theoretically, taking another step toward this goal.
Flooding issues in Alexandria are gaining mentions on national news — recently, National Public Radio mentioned Alexandria in a lengthy story about communities experiencing severe flooding. In response to recent complaints from residents with destroyed cars and basements, the city is already working on cleaning out the Hooff's Run Culvert and is undertaking many other spot improvements to improve sewer capacity.
In the current budget year (FY 2021, which ends in June), the City's Capital Improvement Program allocated $19 million towards storm sewer capacity improvements. The City Council currently is now considering the budget for FY 2022 with $170 million towards storm sewer capacity improvements.
The proposal to double the stormwater utility fee, first collected in 2018, from $140 to $280 a year for single-family homes (less for condos and townhomes), has caused some controversy among residents. Many of them questioned why the $20 million raised by the city since 2018 was not entirely used to mitigate known infrastructure problems that have exacerbated flooding. Instead, a significant amount was used for compliance with the Clean Water Act.
Public speakers at Saturday's city council meeting said they are not opposed to the increased fee, they only want to be certain the fee will go to immediate stormwater improvements. Many of the speakers reside on Hume Avenue in Del Ray, and they detailed the extreme impacts of recent flooding events, including destroyed cars and flooded basements. They called for urgent action on the part of the City.
“I ask that you please keep in mind for the immediate future possible small improvements and spot projects the City can make now that will provide some immediate relief to flooded residents,” said Jessica Cummings.
Sheriff Dana Lawhorne, speaking as a homeowner in the City took it a step further: “If you want to double the fee, amend Sec. 5-6-236 and it will specifically say it can go to fix flooding problems and it eliminates the confusion.”
City representatives argued that the current language in that section of the ordinance allows the fee to be used to address street flooding but cannot be changed as requested because the language comes directly from the Virginia code. However, City staff will bring back language for an amendment to Sec. 5-6-231 — a different section — to clarify that the fee’s purpose includes street flooding mitigation.
Earlier this year, the City allowed residents to have a greater say in how the money is spent by forming an Ad Hoc Flood Mitigation Advisory Group.
The new fee will be calculated based on a property’s impervious area and will appear on resident’s real estate tax bills this spring. In October, the fee will increase again. These fees will generate a total of approximately $14.8 million in 2021 alone.
FEMA Flood Map Updates Coming
In other flood news, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is updating the Alexandria flood maps, which determine flood insurance rates. Maps (FIRMs) that show floodplain boundaries.
As of 2011, approximately 20% of the City is mapped by FEMA in a floodplain, but that may increase. City officials are planning a community meeting this Monday, March 1 at 7 p.m. to discuss FEMA's flood map revisions. Register for the meeting here: zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TudTgRfLR_-3eQTcok4rOA
Learn more about the flood map revisions here: alexandriava.gov/FloodMap.
Not everyone in Alexandria has seen flooding in the past is eligible for flood insurance, but most residents can get pay for water damage insurance through their homeowner's insurance company. Water damage insurance can cover some water damage, such as hydrostatic water damage and some sewer backups, that are not covered by flood insurance. Check with your homeowner's insurance company for more information.
