Financing Resiliency: The Opportunity for Stormwater Fees in New York City

As our climate continues to change, New York City is facing increasing pressure to adapt to the challenges posed by excessive stormwater runoff.  New infrastructure investments—including in green infrastructure such as parks, restored wetlands, green roofs, and rain gardens—can help the City respond to present and future climate impacts, including excess rainfall. Yet securing sustained (and sustainable) funding sources to fund these investments will be a challenge. In the stormwater context, the City has long depended on a sewer rate formula based on potable water consumption. However, a decades-long decline in water use potentially threatens the stability of this revenue source and raises ratepayer affordability concerns.  One possible solution for addressing the City’s needs is to institute a stormwater fee, a type of service fee employed by many major jurisdictions around the country.

At this panel event, speakers discuss how the City could develop and implement a stormwater fee as part of its broader response to climate adaptation challenges.

For more background on this topic, see: The Legal Case for Stormwater Fees in New York City.

SPEAKERS

Emily Gallagher, Assemblymember, New York State Assembly

Emily Gallagher represents the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Greenpoint and Williamsburg in the New York State Assembly. Since taking office in 2021, she has been an advocate and legislative sponsor for measures aimed at addressing economic inequality, access to affordable housing, and New York’s transition to renewable energy sources. In the Assembly, she is the primary sponsor of the Water Bill Fairness Act (Bill No. A4019), which would amend the state’s Public Authorities Law to authorize local water and sewer authorities to charge fees to recover the costs of managing stormwater runoff.

Jeffrey Seltzer, Deputy Director of Natural Resources Administration, Department of Energy and Environment, Washington DC

Jeff Seltzer is the Deputy Director at the District of Columbia’s Department of Energy and Environment, where he is responsible for programs that conserve, protect, and improve the water, soil, and living resources of the District of Columbia. Jeff is a Professional Civil Engineer with over thirty years of experience in environmental restoration and resource management in both the private and public sector.

Mike Dulong, Legal Program Director, Riverkeeper

Mike Dulong is the Legal Program Director at Riverkeeper, where he has been an attorney since 2012.  At Riverkeeper, his work focuses on protecting New York City’s urban waters by working with community and local organizations to reduce polluted sewage and stormwater discharges, clean up toxic sites, and ensure sustainable waterfronts. He also works to protect the upstate drinking water sources of 9.5 million New York City and Hudson Valley residents to ensure healthy drinking water, while minimizing the impact of water supply operations on upstate communities.

Nathaniel Mattison (moderator), Legal Fellow, Guarini Center on Environmental, Energy and Land Use Law

This event is made possible by the generous support of the Ida and Robert Gordon Family Foundation.