Fair Fees for Stormwater Petition
Environment Hamilton has been strongly advocating for the City of Hamilton to adopt a fair stormwater fee system - to learn more about this proposal click here, and sign the petition to City Council below!
PETITION FOR HAMILTON CITY COUNCIL:
Dear Mayor Horwath and City Council,
I am calling on you to address the rising costs and risk of stormwater management in the City of Hamilton as a result of the recognized climate emergency by implementing a new stormwater management fee system to address the increasing risks and rising costs of stormwater management in Hamilton. As it stands now, households pay for rising stormwater management costs primarily through water bills. Many property owners who contribute the most to stormwater runoff which strains our system, pollutes our environment, and degrades our infrastructure pay little or none of the costs of dealing with the problem by comparison because of the status quo. This approach to stormwater fees has resulted in an underfunded and inequitable system. Residents don’t see how much we are paying and why.
Not only have experts such as the former Environmental Commissioner of Ontario made recommendations for new fee structures for stormwater to address the problems above, but other Ontario municipalities such as Mississauga, Kitchener, and many more have already successfully implemented new structures which Hamilton can learn from.
I urge the City of Hamilton to adopt a new fee structure for stormwater that enables:
- Transparency - see what we’re paying for
- Equity - everyone pays their fair share
- Sustainability - city can reliably fund and prepare for the future
- Incentives - encourage people to do better, reward those who implement changes such as rain barrels and depaving
- Stewardship - protecting environment and water quality
I urge you to support Environment Hamilton's call for the City of Hamilton to develop and implement a fair stormwater fee system that addresses the five core principles outlined above.
