A group of residents lobbying council to modify its stormwater management fees and billing reacted to a public notice sent out by the town of Cobourg recently.
A group of residents fighting stormwater fees gave a mixed reaction to Cobourg council’s announcement regarding billing earlier this week.
Colline Bell, a spokesperson for the group, said property owners are generally optimistic about changes to lower fees for cemeteries and agricultural lands. She also approved of changes for residential properties.
“There is a more reasonable first-step approach for residential properties considering overall property size and attributes,” she said.
The town sent a public notice on July 29 announcing potential changes to stormwater management billing. Nothing is formally approved.
Stormwater is runoff water created when rain or snow melts. It can flow into the storm sewer system, or into retention ponds, or absorb into the soil. The amount of stormwater going into the municipal system depends on the hard surfaces, like asphalt and cement, on a property. The fees cover the costs of this infrastructure.
In 2022, council approved a direct billing approach to property owners, removing the costs from the town’s tax levy and making it a direct fee. More recently, residents, farmers, and other property owners have raised concerns about the fees, which have substantially increased for certain property owners.
In June, council decided to adopt changes to its stormwater management fees based on a report by Watson & Associates. It contained three options at the time. Politicians chose Option B, which introduces a flat fee for properties up to one acre or 0.4 hectares in size at its June 26 regular council meeting.
Commercial, institutional, and industrial lands larger than one acre will face additional charges of more than $2,000 per hectare or 2.5 acres.
One of the more controversial aspects of stormwater fees is past and current billing while issues are being resolved. Some property owners have not paid bills or want reimbursements for charges in 2023 or 2024.
Bell said the group is still waiting to hear from the town and Lakefront Utilities regarding the over and underpayments and interest charges on arrears.
In its public notice, the town said it is currently working with the consultants and the utility to “find solutions for rectifying 2023 and current 2024 bills.”
Bell said some of the outstanding issues include references to instituting charges for properties leased from the town, such as Northam Industrial Park, Lucas Point, and Memorial Arena.
“We look forward to seeing a newly written bylaw that more clearly spells out the new rate structure, how the new fee applies to typical properties, and the timing for its regular review in setting the fees in the future,” she said.
Council is expecting a staff report at its September meeting.