NCS000542_Henderson MS4 Self Assessment Ltr_20181221

City of Henderson
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Engineering Department
Post Office Box 1434 •900 S. Beckford Drive
Jk CA Henderson, NC 27536-1434
Phone: [phone] / Fax: [phone]
Friday, December 21, 2018
Ms. Jeanette Powell, CPSWQ, CPESC
MS4 Program Coordinator
NCDEQ — DMLR
512 N. Salisbury Street, 9th Floor
1612 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 276699-1612
Re: Henderson's MS4 Stormwater Self -Assessment
Dear Ms. Powell:
I was in attendance at the APWA's stormwater conference this October and attended your very
informative presentation on state's direction towards meeting MS4 permit compliance. We understand
that the NCDEQ and the USEPA will be verifying compliance with MS4 stormwater regulations for
communities across the state. Thank you for the follow-up correspondence in November regarding the
audit schedule and permit requirements. I am writing to provide you a brief context and an update on
City's actions towards compliance with the MS4 permit.
Historically, the City has funded the stormwater program out of our General Fund. The General Fund has
significant financial demands placed on it from the Public Safety Component (Police and Fire) coupled
with a population trend that has flat -lined over the last couple of decade due to NAFTA. In the lack of
funds dedicated for operation of a robust stormwater program, City officials and staff recognized the need
to develop a storm utility to fund our stormwater program. Staff has discussed the need for this enterprise
fund at the last three City Council Strategic Retreats as well as multiple Council workshops and Public
Works Committee meetings.
A consultant is actively working to help the City develop a stormwater utility and by the end of I" quarter
2019 we hope to have the Stakeholders and City Council prepared to approve the implementation of an
enterprise fund. This funding vehicle will provide the resources to develop a Capital Improvement Plan
for infrastructure needs as well as addressing the six minimum measures under the MS4 program.
Henderson City Council also recognizes that we need to improve our policies, procedures and accounting
of our MS4 program to meet the criteria set forth by NCDEQ and USEPA. On Monday December 17,
2018 Henderson's City Council further approved an engineering contract with AECOM to perform a
Stormwater Self -Assessment, update our Stormwater Management Plan, and develop applicable policies,
procedures and processes to bring Henderson's Stormwater Program up to the new MS4 standards in the
upcoming permit cycle.

As part of this process, the City wishes to collaborate with the State to develop a robust program. The
collaboration will keep you abreast of our progress and we hope to gain valuable insight from your
department on key aspects of our program development.
Sincerely,
V;Z- &-'D
Clark L. Thomas, PE
City Engineer
CC: Frank Frazier, City Manager
Corey Williams, Development Services Director
Sujit Ekka, PE, AECOM
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