Staff recommends the City Council approve the second and final reading of the ordinance amending Billings, Montana City Code (BMCC), Article 22-800, Storm Sewers.

At its meeting on March 11, 2024, the City Council conducted a public hearing and approved the first reading of an ordinance amending Article 22-800 of the Billings Montana City Code, including the following:

• Make the changes necessary to change from billing storm fees as an assessment on the annual property tax statement to billing the fee on the monthly utility bill;
• Revise the title of the Article from "Storm Sewer" to "Storm Sewer System Rates and Charges;"
• Revise the storm rate methodology from using zoning and parcel square footage to be set by Council resolution and in accord with MCA 7-13-4304;
• Revise the collection procedures for delinquent storm fee bills; and
• Delete obsolete language and make minor updates to the verbiage.

One additional change was made by City Council at the meeting and is incorporated in this amended ordinance.  This change was to add "pursuant to policies adopted by the city council" at the end of the first sentence in Section 22-802.

City Council may:

• Approve the amendment to BMCC, Article 22-800 Storm Sewers; or,
• Not approve the amendment.  If not approved, storm fees will continue to be assessed on the annual property tax statement.

The City is in the process of converting both its tax/assessment software and its utility billing software.  Thus, a software conversion will be required regardless of how the storm fee is billed and there is no additional fiscal effect as a result of this amendment to city code.