LAKEWOOD —Lakewood is gathering community input around the idea of accelerating plans for adequate flood protection in at-risk neighborhoods that could cost up to $155 million.
The citywide stormwater improvement proposal would help protect property and potentially save lives, said Jay Hutchison, the city’s public works director.
“We know when it floods there can be devastating consequences,” Hutchison said. “Secondly, there has been no funding increases since 2000; 15 years later, inflation continues to chip away at our purchasing power.”
The city has 18 major drainages in need of 110 improvements, and another 70 improvements needed in localized neighborhoods. Flooded streets, swollen creeks, property damage, erosion and high costs for insurance, maintenance and repairs have all been ongoing issues.
Property owners may be asked to help with the costs and could see their yearly stormwater utility service charge increase from the $23.76 it has been since the fee was instituted in 2000. City Council has made no decision but members have been provided three options that could take the charge up to $81.60.
and is doing community outreach to hear how people feel about making stormwater infrastructure investments, which at current funding levels could take a century to complete.
The stormwater service charge brings in $2.5 million annually, and the city also receives $500,000 from the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District, Lakewood residents pay less on average for stormwater fees than people in neighboring cities. For example, single-family homeowners in Longmont pay $156 annually.
“The stormwater utility is accomplishing what it’s supposed to be doing — it’s maintaining, inspecting, cleaning up, repairing and making improvements,” said Lakewood public information officer Stacie Oulton. “But there’s a lot of need, and the current pace means it could take a long time to accomplish everything.”
All told, , and another 286 property owners feel threatened enough to purchase flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program administered by FEMA, paying a total of $445,903 per year.
Allyson Kissell purchased her home close to McIntyre Gulch in April 2013. Even though her house is on a small hill, it’s in a floodplain, which forced her to pay $2,500 per year through for flood insurance.
sent water over the banks of the debris-clogged creek into her property. The yard filled with tree trunks, mud, trash and a large metal shed. She paid more than $1,000 to have the debris removed.
She faulted the city for not clearing the blockages in the creek, which the city did after the storm. The creek did not flood Kissell’s yard during the September 2013 record flood.
Regardless, her flood insurance rates through FEMA increased to $4,000 a year.
“Absolutely without a doubt I’m in favor to mitigate,” Kissell said. “No one in this area has ever had their house damaged by a flood, yet we’re all placed in a floodplain and paying thousands in insurance.”
Austin Briggs: 303-954-1729, abriggs@denverpost.com or twitter.com/abriggs
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For more information or to comment on flood issues and fee charges in Lakewood, visit or call 303-987-7941.
