Interoffice Memorandum
DATE: April 15, 2026
TO: Mayor Jerry L. Demings and County Commissioners
THROUGH: N/A
FROM: Joseph C. Kunkel, P.E., Director, Public Works Department
CONTACT: Brett Blackadar, P.E., Deputy Director
PHONE: (407) 836-7805
DIVISION: N/A
ACTION REQUESTED:
title
Stormwater Utility Update.
body
PROJECT: N/A
PURPOSE:
Orange County adopted a Stormwater Utility Ordinance in 1996; however, the decision at that time was to set the fee at $0, and it has remained at that level to the present day. The Mayor’s 2018 Transition Team Report identified a long-term action plan of utilizing the Stormwater Utility fee as a funding source to address stormwater and water quality projects.
The Board conducted two work sessions regarding stormwater management, and, at the close of the May 23, 2023 work session, tasks were identified to move Orange County to a more resilient community. One of the tasks was to complete the Phase 1 Stormwater Utility Feasibility Study. The Phase I Study was completed and presented to the board on May 6, 2025. During that meeting, the Board decided to move forward with Phase 2 tasks with the ultimate goal of funding a level of service “B” capital project program, which will allow staff to deliver the projects identified within 25 years, as well as using a tiered method of impervious square footage in the rate model. The tasks in Phase 2 are nearing completion with the exception of community outreach which is pending the outcome of this discussion.
The May 5, 2026 discussion will cover progress to date. At the conclusion of the presentation, we will seek guidance from the Board on whether to move forward with the community outreach tasks in Phase 2 and to bring the results of the outreach and Phase 2 study back to the Board in June 2026.
BUDGET: N/A