Re:   City of Florence, Stormwater Management Plan: Stakeholder Survey Results

Introduction

This memorandum summarizes the results of two rounds of interviews with a sampling of community stakeholders in Florence. The interviews, conducted over the past month, represents qualitative research to help determine issues and concerns, and gather opinions and ideas about the development of a Stormwater Management Plan for the City of Florence.

In the first round, those interviewed included City officials, civic leaders and activists, and representatives of the local business and development sectors. In the second round, those interviewed are members appointed to a stakeholders advisory committee to be involved in the Stormwater Management Plant development.

The list of all who were interviewed is attached. The memorandum is organized in two sections, separately providing the findings from each round of interviews.

Those interviewed paint a picture of two key constituencies representing most Florence residents. They are: (1) long-time residents living in older sections of town, either seeking new economic development opportunities and family-wage jobs or retired and living on limited fixed incomes; and (2) recent emigrants to the community during the ‘90s, most of whom are retired, relatively affluent, and likely to be living in newer subdivisions ringing the central area of the city. These groups appear to have substantially differing views on how to address growth and the issues it raises.

Common themes that emerge from the two round(s) of interviews are:

• Stormwater management is a high priority for the City, for residential and business stakeholders experiencing periodic drainage problems, and for special interests concerned either about economic development or environmental issues. Community leaders believe public investment in stormwater management may be a lower priority for many in the community not confronted with significant drainage problems, or who are living on tight budgets.
• Public education will be important to raise awareness and understanding about the need for stormwater management, and the connections and differences between stormwater management and wastewater treatment. Construction of a new wastewater treatment facility over the next two years is a top public priority in the community, with major public investment involved.
• Primary community values associated with development of a stormwater master plan are maintaining a high quality of living, managing growth, protecting and sustaining natural resources and natural systems, delivering public investments cost-effectively, allowing for adequate development of jobs, housing and other economic development, and assuring an open, participatory process in public decision making.
• Key issue most likely to generate public discussion du(r)ing the plan development are:
• drainage problems
• the cost of solving those drainage and other stormwater-driven problems, and who pays
• the relationship of stormwater to the City's aquifer and long-term water supply issues
• growth management
• trust in public process
• The process for developing a stormwater management plan, as these stakeholders see it, should include:
• a clear statement of the need for and benefits of a stormwater solution
• a summary at the outset of what is known about the stormwater problem, what is not known, and what research will be conducted
• a set of options for solving the problem, with an evaluation of each option
• a recommended solution that is both cost-effective and comprehensive in its scope
• public information that helps the community understand the issues and keeps it aware of progress on the plan
• opportunities for the public to provide input at key decision making points during the plan's development

1. Findings: Round One of Interviews

A. The importance of stormwater management.

• The problem of stormwater drainage, or standing water as some perceive it, is a high priority issue for those who have experienced adverse impacts of flooding, or are knowledgeable about drainage issues in Florence.
• Other residents in the community may not attach a high priority to the stormwater problem, however, viewing it as seasonal or not directly affecting them, several observers believe. Some may feel it is a problem requiring solutions by individual property owners rather than the community at large, they say.
• There's some confusion in the community, evidenced by several of those interviewed, about the relationship of local efforts to treat wastewater and to address stormwater problems. Some believe that the City's planned new wastewater treatment facility will help reduce stormwater problems.

• Community values cited in this initial survey include:
• improving livability;
• good, long-term comprehensive planning to address such problems as standing water;
• protecting and sustaining natural resources and natural systems, including drainage;
• cost-effectiveness in making public investments;
• allowing for adequate development of jobs, housing, economic activity;
• assuring open, participatory process in public decision making.
• Some issues that have gathered around the development of a new wastewater treatment facility may attach to development of a stormwater management plan and solutions, it's felt. Key among those issues are concerns about growth in Florence and low public trust of the City in handling environmentally sensitive projects, several observers indicate.

• Growth Management
• Flooding Protection of the aquifer and wellhead system
• Cost and cost-effectiveness

• In addition to those already cited above, there are other specific expectations around development of a stormwater management plan that emerge from the interviews. They include:
• a plan that "lets everyone know how drainage will be handled over the next 20 years, and how much its implementation will cost"
• inclusion of a hydrology study that identifies where the aquifer is (several say that's not clear) and provides a better basis for recharging and assuring high water quality. A desired product is a map of the aquifer, its capacity; facts and figures.
• clear cost/benefit ratio that supports recommendations for implementing the plan.
• written guidelines in the plan or as an outcome that each developer will have to live with. Rules that stick, and are not subject to constant appeal efforts.

1. Profile of those interviewed
2. Community priorities
3. Community values
4. Issues related to stormwater management
a. Drainage
b. Cost, and who pays
c. Government credibility
d. The aquifer and long-term water supply
e. Growth management
5. Views on the forthcoming stormwater planning process
a. Scope of the process
b. Desired outcomes of the planning process
c. Advice about the Stakeholder Advisory Committee's process
d. General advice about the process