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$100 monthly fee for refusing a FDD

Posted by Judy Hanway on 6 Feb, 2014
Category: Category 1 - SSWWEP Questions and Presentations

I am curious about the $100 monthly fee for residents who decline to participate in the FDD program. The monthly sewer service charge (not including the usage charge) on our water bills is approximately $10 -$11. That is a lot less than $100 per month. What is the relationship between the $100 per month footing drain fee and the cost of processing footing drain water? How was this figure calculated?

Comments

Mark Wagner on 6 Feb, 2014:

Judy,

The Grad Rapids web site has a breakdown of the their justification for the $100.  I think Grand Rapds claimed it prevented the city from haiving to expand the waste treatment plant in the future.

Mark

Judy Hanway on 6 Feb, 2014:

Mark,

Do you have a link to their website?

Judy

Lori Byron on 6 Feb, 2014:

Judy, 

I believe this is the breakdown Mark mentioned: http://grcity.us/enterprise-services/Environment-Services/FDD/Pages/Opt-Out-Charges.aspx

~Lori

Peter Houk on 7 Feb, 2014:

Lori--please note that Judy's original note is not about Grand Rapids.  It appears to be about Ann Arbor.  (Grand Rapids might be a comparison worth investigating, though.)

Also--this is a GREAT question.  This is definitely something that the CAC and staff should be focusing on.  

Judy--thanks for bringing this one up!

Jim Osborn on 7 Feb, 2014:

Judy asked, "What is the relationship between the $100 per month footing drain fee and the cost of processing footing drain water"

This FDD is not about the cost of processing the water, or the extra water produced by a connected footing. Rather, it is about the lack of capacity during rain storms that caused the system to overflow. The system can be either he sewage plant of a neighborhood's sewer pipe.. That might be why the fine so so high.

Judy Hanway on 7 Feb, 2014:

I appreciate everyone's comments but would still like a follow up on this from the City of Ann Arbor.  How did Ann Arbor come up with this figure? And what were the factors considered?

Michelle Lovasz on 8 Feb, 2014:

I am curious as well. That is interesting, that Grand Rapids chose $100.
But why did Ann Arbor? What is based on? From the response, all I can
gather is “Grand Rapids did that so Ann Arbor will too.” That cannot
possibly be the case so I am still wondering about “how was this figure
calculated?”

Michelle Lovasz on 8 Feb, 2014:

Also important to my understanding is “Was this $100 fee applied to all
homes in Ann Arbor? Or just in these targeted areas of homes complaining
of basement backups? Can a City apply these … let’s call them fees for
now… to just a PORTION of the City’s homes? Or is that a neighborhood
association fee?

On Fri, Feb 7, 2014 at 7:07 PM, Michelle Lovasz <michellecacth@gmail.com>wrote:

> I am curious as well. That is interesting, that Grand Rapids chose $100.
> But why did Ann Arbor? What is based on? From the response, all I can
> gather is “Grand Rapids did that so Ann Arbor will too.” That cannot
> possibly be the case so I am still wondering about “how was this figure
> calculated?”
>
>
> On Thu, Feb 6, 2014 at 11:22 AM, Judy Hanway <

Judy Hanway on 8 Feb, 2014:

The City staff should respond to Michelle, but I know from living in a Target Area that the $100 fee/fine is only applied to those homeowners in one of the 5 Target Areas who have received the packet from the City (known as the 90 day letter) and who have decided not to have their Footing Drains disconnected. A homeowner may or may not have had any kind of basement backups when receiving the Packet. You can see the Homeowner Packet (aka 90 day letter) at www.a22fdd.com. Thus, to many, this system seems inherently unfair in that some of the citizens are fined for not participating (and risking damage to their homes) while other citizens are not required to participate at all. It seems that the $100 is punitive.

Kathy Boris on 8 Feb, 2014:

Thank you, Judy.

Your e-mail is the most informative so far regarding what was sent to
residents of the 5 Target Areas. Unfortunately, the link will not open
for me. But I am very interested to see “the 90 day letter” and any other
mailings that were sent to residents of the 5 Target Areas.

kb

Judy Hanway on 8 Feb, 2014:

oops--Sorry Kathy, the link is: www.a2fdd.com. I put in too many 2's.

Peter Houk on 8 Feb, 2014:

I think Judy's point about fairness and why some people have to do it and some don't is addressed in FAQ #3. 

A resident brought up a related point during the Feb. 6 public meeting.  He participated in FDD because the city said that he had to and that everyone would have to eventually.  But now it may not actually be required for everyone.  

I understand why he's upset.  

Link to FAQs: http://www.a2fdd.com/faq.htm

Text of FAQ #3:
3.         Why do I need to have this done and not my neighbors?
All buildings that have connected footing drains are scheduled for FDD work over the coming years. The schedule was established on a priority basis to disconnect the homes identified as needing protection from future basement backups and to accommodate a cost efficient installation process within a neighborhood.

Kathy Boris on 8 Feb, 2014:

Thank you, Judy.

I looked at the “Packet.” That document is dated 8/8/2013, which seems
like it would be after the FDD program was put on hold. Is the packet
substantially the same as the one you received as a target area homeowner?

kb

Judy Hanway on 9 Feb, 2014:

I'll dig out my packet (received in Spring of 2012) and take a look. 

Lori Byron on 27 Feb, 2014:

Re-posting questions from earlier in this thread with [CITY] responses:

Q.) How was this figure calculated?

A.) The charge is based on the operational costs at the WWTP, combined with the cost of additional conveyance capacity and conveyance O&M that would be required to handle flow generated by connected footing drains

Q.) Was this $100 fee applied to all homes in Ann Arbor? Or just in these targeted areas of homes complaining of basement backups? 

A.) The fee is only applicable to the targeted FDD Program homes that did not complete the work within the stated timeframe.

Q.) Can a City apply these … let’s call them fees for now… to just a PORTION of the City’s homes?  Or is that a neighborhood association fee?

A. ) The City can only charge to properties that it applies to; those that have received the 90 day notification to disconnect footing drains and opted not to do so.
 
Q.) And how is the homeowner charged?  Is this "fee" or "fine" found on their tax bill?  Or their water bill?  Or does it come altogether separately?

A.) The amount is charged monthly, and is billed quarterly on the homeowner’s city utility bill.