Ontario Construction News staff writer
The City of Barrie is holding a public meeting to discuss a potential stormwater climate action fund that officials say would help mitigate flooding and protect Lake Simcoe and groundwater sources.
Virtual meeting advance registration: Oct. 14 from 6 to 8 p.m.
If approved, the new funding model would shift costs from property taxes onto a more equitable user fee.
At this virtual meeting, staff will provide more details on the funding model and outline incentive programs to encourage property owners to manage their stormwater more sustainably.
The meeting will be held on Zoom on Oct. 14 from 6 to 8 p.m. Advance registration is required.
Stormwater management includes manholes, catch basins, storm sewers, stormwater management ponds, creeks and other waterways. The system requires maintenance and upgrading, which is costly.
“Climate change will increase rainfall intensities that can lead to costly flooding, increased erosion and negative impacts on natural waterbodies,” the city explains on its website. “More water through our stormwater system means more maintenance and upgrades—which is why a new funding model is being explored.”
Currently Barrie’s stormwater program is funded through municipal taxes. The current proposal is to move stormwater funding from the taxes to a new funding model based on average impervious area for a given residential property type (detached homes vs. condominiums) and measured impervious areas for non-residential properties.
The meeting will be recorded and a copy of the presentation along with a survey will be available at buildingbarrie.ca/stormwater-climate-action-fund. The survey will be open until Oct. 28. A staff report will be presented to General Committee on Nov. 15.
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