Key Facts and Information About the
Proposed Stormwater Management Utility Fee

Frequently Asked Questions | Timeline | Get Involved | Send Us Your Comments | More Information

• 32 miles of streams
• 99 miles of storm drain pipes
• 5,767 inlets
• 103 public SWM facilities, including 51 ponds
• Inspection of 393 privately-owned SWM facilities

Rapid development funded much of Rockville’s stormwater management (SWM) over the past two decades with fees imposed on builders.  Now that development is slowing, Rockville has to find a way to pay for stormwater management, environmental projects and unfunded mandates.

The Stormwater Advisory Group (SAG), consisting of members from Rockville’s business and residential community, recommended that in order to be fair and equitable, the fee should be charged to all developed properties in Rockville.

If Rockville continues to fund stormwater management needs with property taxes, residential properties will eventually be responsible for about 2/3 of the bill, even though they only account for about 1/3 of the stormwater runoff.

If the fee is charged to all developed property owners, residential property owners would fund about 1/3 of the city’s stormwater management needs, which is more proportional to the amount of stormwater runoff they produce.

As proposed, all property owners would have to pay the fee including:

• Businesses
• Homeowners
• Churches
• Government (county, state and federal)
• Schools

Revenue from a utility fee would fund:

• Unfunded state and federal mandates for stormwater management
• Rockville’s environmental initiatives
• Rockville’s move toward sustainability
• Existing infrastructure maintenance, ensuring it remains in good working order
• Future infrastructure needs
• Projects and programs designed to do our part to save the Chesapeake Bay

• Send in your comments using the online Stormwater Utility Comment Form
     
• Speak at a citizens' forum during a Mayor and Council meeting - sign up by calling the City Clerk’s office at 240-314-8280 
   
• Come to City Hall for a “drop in” appointment with the Mayor or a member of City Council by calling the City Clerk’s office at 240-314-8280 
    
• Send an email to the Mayor and Council at mayorcouncil@rockvillemd.gov 
    
• Write a letter to the Mayor and Council at 111 Maryland Ave., Rockville, MD 20850  
   
• Write, call, or email City staff members working on this project:

Lise Soukup, Project Manager
111 Maryland Ave. 
Rockville, MD  20850
240-314-8515
lsoukup@rockvillemd.gov

Marylou Berg, Assistant to the City Manager
111 Maryland Ave. 
Rockville, MD  20850
240-314-8105
mberg@rockvillemd.gov

Jennifer Kimball, Neighborhood Resources
111 Maryland Ave. 
Rockville, MD  20850
240-314-8104
jkimball@rockvillemd.gov 

For more information

• Check out Stormwater Utility - Frequently Asked Questions 
  
• View a presentation about Stormwater Management Utility Implementation
  
• View maps: Rockville Aerial View | Rockville Stormwater Management Infrastructure
   
• Read Rockville Reports' three-parts series about the Proposed Stormwater Management Utility
        - Rockville to Improve Stormwater Management (April 2007)
        - Stormwater Management Utility Funding Options Considered (May 2007)
        - Stormwater Management Utility Fee Rates and Billing Options (June 2007)
   
• Download the brochure, "Water, Water, Everywhere..."
   
• Read the information prepared for the Mayor and Council meeting on November 27, 2006
   
• Ask to have a presentation on SWM at your neighborhood association meeting by calling Jennifer Kimball at 240-314-8104 
   
• Ask to have a presentation on SWM for your business group by calling Lise Soukup at 240-314-8515 
   
• Check Rockville Reports and the City Web site for project updates and public meeting dates 
   
• Watch Rockville Channel 11 for updates or to watch Mayor and Council meetings