Loading...
Resolution No. 2025-32 Stormwater Management System Initial Assessment - May 6, 2025CITY OF AVENTURA RESOLUTION NO. 2025-32 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF AVENTURA, FLORIDA, RELATING TO THE PROVISION OF A STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WITHIN THE CITY; DECLARING THE IMPOSITION OF A STORMWATER UTILITY FEE; ESTABLISHING THE METHOD BY WHICH THE PROPOSED STORMWATER UTILITY FEE SHALL BE CALCULATED; DESIGNATING THE LANDS UPON WHICH THE STORMWATER UTILITY FEE SHALL BE LEVIED; STATING THE ESTIMATED COST OF PROVIDING AND MAINTAINING THE STORMWATER UTILITY, THE INITIAL RATE AND THE MAXIMUM RATE FOR THE PROVISION OF THE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM; DIRECTING THE PREPARATION OF A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT ROLL; ESTABLISHING A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER IMPOSITION OF THE PROPOSED STORMWATER UTILITY FEE AND THE RATES TO BE IMPOSED AND THE METHOD OF THEIR COLLECTION AND DIRECTING THE PROVISION OF NOTICE THEREOF; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the City ofAventura, Florida (the "City") is a municipality located along Biscayne Bay in Miami -Dade County, Florida; and WHEREAS, on August 5, 1997, the City adopted Ordinance No. 97-18, establishing the City's stormwater management system, which is codified in Chapter 30, Article III, Division 2 of the City's Code of Ordinances (the "Stormwater Code"); and WHEREAS, on November 7, 2023, the City enacted Ordinance No. 23-18, which amended the Stormwater Code to provide for collection of the Stormwater Utility Fee, as defined in the Stormwater Code, pursuant to Section 197.3632, Florida Statutes (the "Uniform Method of Collection Act"); and WHEREAS, on October 3, 2023, the City adopted Resolution No. 2023-51, authorizing the use of and pursuant to the Uniform Method of Collection Act, with respect to the Stormwater Utility Fee commencing with the November 2024 tax bill and continuing each fiscal year until the City decides otherwise; and WHEREAS, in accordance with the Stormwater Code, as amended, this resolution is the Resolution establishing the stormwater utility rate and providing for a public hearing as required by Section 197.3632(4)(a), (b), and (c) of the Uniform Method of Collection Act, in order to collect the Stormwater Utility Fee on the tax roll; and WHEREAS, the City has determined under the Stormwater Code to assess a Stormwater Utility Fee against each Developed Property within the City for services and facilities provided by the Stormwater Management System using an Equivalent City of Aventura Resolution No. 2025-32 Residential Unit basis ("ERU") and has assigned each Developed Property within the City a classification of Single-family Dwelling Unit, Multi -family Dwelling Unit or Nonresidential Developed Property; and WHEREAS, the City has assigned each Developed Property an ERU as determined in accordance with the Stormwater Code; and WHEREAS, on April 8, 2025, the City adopted Resolution No. 2025-28, providing for an increase in the Stormwater Utility Fee to $6.175 per month to be effective on October 1, 2025; and WHEREAS, the Stormwater Code provides that the rate per ERU to be used in calculating the Stormwater Utility Fees, which is consistent with the Uniform Method of Collection Act, shall be set by Resolution of the City after a Public Hearing; and WHEREAS, in order to provide for anticipated increases in the cost of providing Stormwater Utility Management over the years, including providing for additional Stormwater Infrastructure (as defined in the Stormwater Code), a Maximum Rate shall be determined herein. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF AVENTURA, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. RECITALS INCORPORATED. That each of the above -stated recitals is hereby adopted and confirmed. SECTION 2. AUTHORITY. This Resolution is adopted pursuant to the provisions of the Stormwater Code, Sections 166.021 and 166.041, Florida Statutes, Section 197.3632, Florida Statutes, (the "Uniform Method of Collection Act"), the Stormwater Code and other applicable provisions of law. SECTION 3. PURPOSE AND DEFINITIONS. This Resolution is an initial Rate Resolution to preliminarily adopt a Stormwater Utility Fee, to set a Public Hearing, and provide notice of such Public Hearing as required by the Uniform Method of Collection Act, at which it shall be determined by Resolution the final Stormwater Utility Fees. All capitalized words and terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Stormwater Code, or if not defined therein, as set forth in the Uniform Method of Collection Act. SECTION 4. FINDINGS. The above recitals are hereby determined to be true and correct and incorporated herein by reference. It has been ascertained and determined by the City Commission in the Stormwater Code such legislative determinations, as set forth therein is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Specifically, it has been determined that: (A) The collection of and disposal of stormwater and regulation of groundwater are of benefit to all property within the City including property not currently served by the Page 2 of 6 City of Aventura Resolution No. 2025-32 System. (B) The cost of operating and maintaining the System should, to the extent practicable, be allocated in relationship to the contributions to the System. SECTION 5. DETERMINATION OF STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM COST; ESTABLISHMENT OF STORMWATER UTILITY FEE AND ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MAXIMUM RATES. 5.1 The annual cost shall be determined as the amount necessary to fund the cost of the Stormwater Management System allocable to Developed Properties during a Fiscal Year and shall include, but not be limited to: (A) any annual debt service payment, which includes, principal, interest, reasonable reserves and cost of issuance of the bond or note in connection with the financing of Stormwater Infrastructure, if any; (B) all costs associated with the operation of the Stormwater Management System, including repair and maintenance of Stormwater Infrastructure; and (C) all costs associated with the collection and enforcement of the Stormwater Utility Fee using the Uniform Method on the tax bill, including any service charges of the Miami -Dade County Tax Collector or Property Appraiser, and the discount for early payment of taxes (collectively, the "Annual Stormwater Management System Cost"); and 5.2 For each Fiscal Year in which Stormwater Utility Fees are imposed, the Annual Stormwater Management System Cost shall be allocated to each Developed Property as provided in Section 4 of the Stormwater Code. 5.3 For the purposes of Fiscal Year 2025-2026, the Annual Stormwater Management System Cost is estimated to be $4,511,000.00. 5.4 Based upon the estimated costs as set forth in sections 5.3 above, together with existing fund balances and the calculations of estimated number of ERU's associated with the Developed Property the City Commission has determined the following: (A) the annual rate to be charged for the Stormwater Utility Fee for each ERU for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 shall be seventy-four dollars and ten cents ($74.10), which is $6.175 per month. (B) In order to provide for any escalation in Annual Stormwater Management System Costs for any subsequent Fiscal Year, an annual Maximum Rate for each ERU which includes the cost of collection, is hereby established not to exceed Ninety dollars and no cents ($90.00), which equates to $7.50 per month. (C) If the City is collecting the Stormwater Utility Fee as provided in the Uniform Method of Collections Act, such annual Maximum Rates may only be exceeded upon adoption of a Resolution after providing for a public hearing as required by the Uniform Method of Collections Act. Page 3 of 6 City of Aventura Resolution No. 2025-32 SECTION 6. PRELIMINARY NON -AD VALOREM ASSESSMENT ROLL. 6.1 The City Manager has prepared, a Stormwater Utility Fee non -ad valorem assessment roll for the Fiscal Year 2025-2026, in the manner provided in the Stormwater Code and Uniform Method of Collection Act (the "Preliminary Assessment Roll"). Such Preliminary Assessment Roll shall contain the following information, which is set forth in Exhibit A, hereto: (1) a summary description of each Developed Property within the City conforming to the description contained on the most recent Miami -Dade County Tax Roll, or Folio Number, (2) the name and address of the owner of record of Developed Property as shown on the most recent Miami -Dade County Tax Roll, (3) the amount of the total Annual Stormwater Utility Cost to be assessed against all the Developed Properties, (4) the unit of measurement to be applied to determine the Stormwater Utility Fee for each Developed Property and the total units in the City (5) the Stormwater Utility Fee for such Developed Property and (6) the Maximum Rate for each Developed Property that may be imposed during any Fiscal Year. The Preliminary Assessment Roll shall be open to public inspection. The foregoing shall not be construed to require that the Preliminary Assessment Roll be in printed form if the amount of the annual Stormwater Utility Fee for each Developed Property can be determined by use of a computer terminal available to the public. 6.2 It is hereby ascertained, determined, and declared that the foregoing method of determining the Stormwater Utility Fees for the Stormwater Management System is a fair and reasonable method of apportioning the Annual Stormwater Utility Cost among parcels of Developed Property, and the use of the Uniform Method of Collection Act for collection is an efficient mechanism to address payment delinquencies and recover Stormwater Utility Fees which are allocable to specific parcels of Developed Property. SECTION 7. AUTHORIZATION OF PUBLIC HEARING; NOTICE. The City Commission hereby finds and determines that a public hearing is to be held by the City Commission at City Hall located at 19200 W Country Club Drive, Aventura, FL 33180 6.00 p.m. on July 1, 2025, or as soon as practicable thereafter, to be set forth in the notice of meeting, to consider: (A) the purpose of the Stormwater Utility Fee, (B) the estimated annual Stormwater Management System Costs for Fiscal Year 2025-2026, (C) imposition and apportionment methodology of the Stormwater Management System Costs to the Developed Property, and (D) collection of the Stormwater Utility Fee pursuant to the Uniform Method of Collection Act commencing with the tax bill to be mailed in November 2025. SECTION 8. NOTICE BY MAIL. 8.1 The City Manager shall, at the time and in the manner specified in Section 197.3632(4)(b), Florida Statutes, direct the provision of first class United States mailed notice of the public hearing authorized by Section 7 hereof by the City Clerk to each property owner of the Developed Properties, or with respect to the Multi -family Dwelling Units, to each owner of a Dwelling Unit at the address indicated on the Tax Roll. Such notice shall contain the information required for mailed notice set forth in Section 197.3632(4)(b), Florida Statutes, a form of which is attached as Exhibit "B". Page 4 of 6 City of Aventura Resolution No. 2025-32 8.2 Proof of such mailings shall be made by affidavit of the City Clerk and be kept on file with the City Clerk. SECTION 9. NOTICE BY PUBLICATION. The City Manager shall direct the City Clerk to publish a notice of the public hearing authorized by Section 7 hereof in the manner and the time provided in Section 197.3632(4)(b), Florida Statutes. Such notice shall contain the information required by Section 197.3632(4)(b), Florida Statutes, for published notice, a form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit "C". SECTION 10. REVISIONS TO ASSESSMENTS. If any Stormwater Utility Fee made under the provisions of this Resolution is either in whole or in part annulled, vacated, or set aside by the judgment of any court, or if the City Commission is satisfied that any such Stormwater Utility Fee is so irregular or defective that the same cannot be enforced or collected, or if the City Commission has failed to include or omitted any Developed Property or Multi -family Dwelling Unit on the Preliminary Assessment Roll which property should have been so included, the City Commission may take all necessary steps to impose a new Stormwater Utility Fee against any such property using the Stormwater Management System following as nearly as may be practicable, the provisions of the Stormwater Code and the Uniform Method of Collection Act and in case such second Stormwater Utility Fee is annulled, vacated, or set aside, the City Commission may obtain and impose other Stormwater Utility Fees until a valid Stormwater Utility Fee is imposed. SECTION 11. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its passage and adoption. The foregoing Resolution was offered by Commissioner Kruss, who moved its adoption. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Bloom, and upon being put to a vote, the vote was as follows: Commissioner Clifford B. Ain Yes Commissioner Gustavo Blachman Yes Commissioner Amit Bloom Yes Commissioner Rachel S. Friedland Yes Commissioner Paul A. Kruss Yes Vice Mayor Cindy Orlinsky Yes Mayor Howard S. Weinberg Yes Page 5 of 6 City of Aventura Resolution No. 2025-32 PASSED AND ADOPTED this 6t" day of May, 2025. ATTEST: ELLISA L. HORVATH, MMC CITY CLERK APPROVED AS TO LEGAL SUFFICIENCY: ROBERT MEYERS CITY ATTORNEY Page 6 of 6 City of Aventura Resolution No. 2025-32 EXHIBIT A DEVELOPED PROPERTY INFORMATION FOR PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT ROLL Due to the size, the exhibit is on file with the City Clerk A-1 City of Aventura Resolution No. 2025-32 EXHIBIT B FORM OF MAILED NOTICE ***** NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER ***** City of Aventura, Florida 19200 W Country Club Drive Aventura, Florida 33180 [insert name of property owner] [insert address from tax roll l Dear Property Owner: CITY OF AVENTURA, FLORIDA NOTICE TO IMPOSE AND PROVIDE FOR COLLECTION OF NON -AD VALOREM ASSESSMENT NOTICE DATE: _,2025 Tax Parcel No.: Legal Description: As required by Section 197.3632, Florida Statutes, notice is given by the City of Aventura, Florida (the "City"), that annual fees for the Stormwater will be collected using the tax bill collection method, may be levied on your property for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025 - September 30, 2026. The stormwater utility fee assessed against each developed property within the City is in accordance with the Code of Ordinances, Chapter 30 — ENVIRONMENT, Article III — Stormwater, Division 2 — Stormwater Utility System Sec.30-94 stormwater utility fee. All single-family dwelling units are assigned one Equivalent Residential Unit ("ERU"), Multifamily dwellings are assigned one ERU per dwelling unit, and Nonresidential developed properties are assigned one ERU per 1,548 square feet of impervious area. The fee is calculated by multiplying the annual rate of $74.10 per one ERU, by the number of ERUs assessed to each developed property as adopted by Resolution No. 25-28 on April 8, 2025. The revenue to be collected within the City from the stormwater utility fee is estimated to be $2,470,049, (including the cost of collection), for Fiscal Year commencing October 1, 2025. • The above parcel is subject to the stormwater utility fee. • The total number of ERUs on the above parcel is • The maximum annual stormwater fee for Fiscal Year 2025-26 and thereafter is $90.00 per ERU. A public hearing will be held by the City Commission at City Hall located at 19200 W Country Club Drive, Aventura, FL 33180 at 6:00 p.m. on July 1, 2025, or as soon as practicable thereafter, for the purpose of receiving public comment on the proposed stormwater utility fees. All property owners within the City were mailed individual notices similar to this one. Subsequently, only owners of reclassified property which results in an increased in the stormwater utility fee, or owners of property not included on the prior year's assessment roll will receive updated mailed notice in addition to the annual published notice. You and all other affected property owners have a right to appear at the hearing and to file written objections with the City Commission within 20 calendar days of the date of this notice. Persons wishing to appeal any decision made by the City Commission with respect to any matter considered at such hearing(s) will need a record of the proceedings and for such purpose may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based (F.S. 286.0105). In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), persons needing special accommodations to participate in these proceedings should contact the City Clerk's Office for assistance at (305) 234-4262, no later than four (4) business days prior to such proceeding. Unless proper steps are initiated in a court of competent jurisdiction to secure relief within 20 days from the date of City Commission action at the above hearing (including the method of apportionment, the fee rate and the imposition of the fee), such action shall be the final adjudication of the issues presented. The City Commission may continue or defer the hearing(s) to a new date and time certain without further notice provided the date and time of the continuance or deferral is announced at the hearing(s). The Resolution and the preliminary assessment roll in their entirety may be inspected at the Office of the City Clerk during regular business hours. The Stormwater Utility Fee will be collected on the ad valorem tax bill to be mailed in November 2025, as authorized by Section 197.3632, Florida Statutes. Failure to pay the stormwater utility fee will cause a tax certificate to be issued against the real property which may result in a loss of title. If there is a mistake on this notice, it will be corrected. If you have any questions regarding your stormwater utility fee, please contact the City Finance Department at (305) 466-8920, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. *****THIS IS NOT A BILL***** City of Aventura Resolution No. 2025-32 EXHIBIT C FORM OF PUBLISHED NOTICE C-1 PUBLISHED NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO IMPOSE AND PROVIDE FOR COLLECTION OF STORMWATER UTILITY FEE IN THE CITY OF AVENTURA As required by Section 197.3632, Florida Statutes, notice is hereby given by the City of Aventura, Florida (the "City") will conduct a public hearing to consider imposing an annual stormwater utility fee the purpose of funding the City's Stormwater Utility to be collected using the tax bill collection method. The public hearing will be held by City Commission at City Hall located at 19200 W Country Club Drive, Aventura, FL 33180 at 6:00 p.m. on July 1, 2025, or as soon as practicable thereafter, for the purpose of receiving public comment on the proposed stormwater utility fee. All affected property owners have a right to appear at the hearing and to file written objections with the City Commission within 20 days of this notice. The revenue to be collected within the City from the stormwater utility fee is estimated to be $2,470,049 (including the cost of collection), for Fiscal Year commencing October 1, 2025. The stormwater utility fee assessed against each developed property within the City is in accordance with the Code of Ordinances, Chapter 30 — ENVIRONMENT, Article III — Stormwater, Division 2 — Stormwater Utility System, Sec.33-94 stormwater utility fee. All single-family dwelling units are assigned one Equivalent Residential Unit ("ERU"), Multifamily dwellings are assigned one ERU per dwelling unit, and Nonresidential developed properties are assigned one ERU per 1,548 square feet of impervious area. The fee is calculated by multiplying the annual rate of $74.10 per one ERU, by the number of ERUs assessed to each developed property adopted by Resolution No. 25-28 on April 8, 2025 (the "Assessment Resolution"). The maximum fee is calculated by multiplying the annual rate of $90.00 per one ERU, by the number of ERUs assessed to each developed property adopted by the Assessment Resolution. If you decide to appeal any decision made by the City Commission with respect to any matter considered at the public hearing, you will need a record of the proceedings and may need to ensure that a verbatim record is made, including the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be made. The City Commission may continue or defer the hearing(s) to a new date and time certain without further notice provided the date and time of the continuance or deferral is announced at the hearing(s). The Resolution and the preliminary assessment roll in their entirety may be inspected at the Office of the City Clerk during regular business hours. The Stormwater Utility Fee will be collected on the ad valorem tax bill to be mailed in November 2025, as authorized by Section 197.3632, Florida Statutes. Failure to pay the stormwater utility fee will cause a tax certificate to be issued against the real property which may result in a loss of title. Persons wishing to appeal any decision made by the City Commission with respect to any matter considered at such hearing(s) will need a record of the proceedings and for such purpose may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based (F.S. 286.0105). In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), persons needing special accommodations to participate in these proceedings should contact the City Clerk's Office for assistance at (305) 466-8919, no later than four (4) business days prior to such proceeding. Ellisa L. Horvath, MMC City Clerk CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF AVENTURA, FLORIDA