Establishment of Stormwater Enterprise Utility

Stormwater Task Force Update

The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners appointed 15 members to the Douglas County Stormwater Utility Task Force during its special meeting on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. The members of the task force are listed below. To learn more about each member, click their name to view application.

Todd Whear
Cameron McKay
Joseph Ortiz
Lawrence Werner
Steve Walker
Donna Tanner
Tod Carlini
Virginia Starrett
Karin Peternel
Chad Cox
Chris Garrison
George Phillips
Johnathan Lang
Patrick Garrahan
Sheila Arnaud

View Proposed Framework for Stormwater Task Force

Stormwater Task Force

 

The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners will consider the appointment of members to the Douglas County Stormwater Utility Task Force during its special meeting on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at 10 a.m.

 

Meeting Information

Tuesday, August 4, 2026

10 a.m.

Historic Courthouse

1616 Eighth Street

Minden, NV 89423

 

Click here to view the meeting agenda, and click here to watch the meeting on YouTube.

 

The Board is expected to appoint approximately 13 members representing the North, East, South, West, and Central regions of Douglas County, along with a broad range of stakeholder interests. Members will serve for the duration of the Task Force's work in evaluating the County's long-term stormwater infrastructure and funding needs and developing recommendations for the Board of County Commissioners.

Notifications for Stormwater Updates

To receive notifications on Stormwater updates you can scan the QR code below or send a request to [email protected]:

QR Code for Stormwater Notifications

You can also sign up for the distribution list directly using the Stormwater Distribution List link.

May 27, 2026 Update

Douglas County staff is recommending that the Board of County Commissioners take no action at this time on the proposed Stormwater Utility ordinance and rate structure currently scheduled for May 28, 2026, in order to allow additional time for public collaboration, technical review, and refinement of the proposal. 

View the memo from staff with the updated recommendations.

The recommendation follows significant community feedback regarding affordability, rate structure, implementation timing, governance, and long-term accountability. Staff is also proposing the creation of a Stormwater Utility Task Force made up of community stakeholders, residential property owners, business representatives, agricultural interests, and technical experts to assist in evaluating options and developing future recommendations. 

Read the full press release for additional details regarding the recommendation, fiscal considerations, and next steps in the public review process.

Douglas County Stormwater Utility Rate

***UPDATED May 27, 2026

Given the level of public concern and the importance of maintaining trust in any long-term utility structure, on May 27, 2026 staff recommended in a memo to the Board that the Board of County Commissioners take no action at this time on the following items related to the Stormwater Utility:

  • 5.) Discussion regarding the County’s regional roads
  • 6.1) 2026 5-Year Capital Improvement Project (CIP) Plan Update
  • 6.2) Amendment to Appendix B of the Stormwater Master Plan
  • 6.3) Adoption of the Critical Lands Conservation, Acquisition, and Management Plan
  • 6.4) Amendment to the contract with Financial Consulting Solutions Group, Inc.
  • 6.5) Adoption of Ordinance 2026-1670 establishing the Stormwater Utility
  • 6.6) Adoption of Resolution 2026R-033 establishing stormwater utility rates

Staff recommended agenda items 5-6.4 be pulled from the agenda and referred back to the staff for future discussion and possible action. Items 6.5 and 6.6 will be read into the record, and public comment will be taken so that the Board and staff may collect additional feedback on the current proposal to help guide the process moving forward. 

Staff further recommended the establishment of a Stormwater Utility Task Force. 

Click here to review the May 27, 2026 staff memo to the Board. 

***UPDATED May 24, 2026

Following significant public feedback regarding the proposed Stormwater Utility rates, County staff will present an additional option for consideration by the Board of County Commissioners at the May 28th meeting aimed at improving fairness, predictability, and public confidence in the program.

The proposed adjustment would eliminate the highest residential rate tier currently included in the draft rate structure and instead cap single-family residential properties at the existing “Large” tier, representing a maximum of 15,000 square feet of impervious surface area for billing purposes. If adopted, rates for a single-family residential ratepayer would be capped at $22.30 per month for all three components of the rate (base, local, and capital surcharge) combined. Click here to view the memo from staff outlining the proposed rate option.

Stormwater Rate Study

Douglas County is working to improve how stormwater is managed across the community. As part of this effort, the County is developing a Stormwater Utility Rate Study to establish a new revenue source that will fund stormwater maintenance and infrastructure improvements identified in the Stormwater Master Plan.

Key goals of the program include adopting and implementing the Stormwater Master Plan, identifying strategies to reduce pollutants from residential, commercial, and industrial development before they enter local surface waters, and partnering with the agricultural community to explore opportunities for open-space conservation and flood mitigation projects.

The Board of County Commissioners received initial rate study recommendations during its April 16, 2026 meeting, which was held at the Historic Courthouse in Minden. Residents, property owners, and stakeholders had the opportunity to review preliminary recommendations and provide input during the public meeting.

For more information, read our recent news story about the project and workshop.

Board of County Commissioners Meeting

📅 Thursday, May 28, 2026
🕙 10 a.m.
📍CVIC Hall
1602 Esmeralda Ave, Minden, NV

Historical Actions

The following meetings (as well as a community workshop) have already taken place in regards to establishing a Stormwater Utility. For any meeting 

  • May 7, 2026: BOCC meeting - Business Impact Hearing [Agenda and Video] [Supplemental Material]
  • May 5, 2026: BOCC meeting - Introduction of Ordinance establishing a countywide Stormwater Utility. Review of revised rates based on feedback received. [Agenda and Video] [Supplemental Material]
  • April 16, 2026: Community Workshop at the Douglas County Community and Senior Center to review draft rates and receive rate structure feedback. [Agenda and Video] [Supplemental Material]
  • April 16, 2026: BOCC meeting to review draft rates and receive rate structure feedback from members of the BOCC as well as members of the public.
  • March 4, 2026: Agricultural Community Working Group Meeting.
  • December 4, 2025: BOCC meeting regarding Stormwater Utility Enterprise Fund [Agenda & Video] [Supplemental Material]
  • November 13, 2025: Flood Awareness Event at Community Center.
  • November 3, 2025: Gardnerville Ranchos Community.
  • November 3, 2025: Town of Genoa, North County Community.
  • October 21, 2025: Johnson Lane Community.
  • October 16, 2025: Douglas County BOCC meeting in Lake Tahoe [Agenda and Video] [Supplemental Material]
  • October 15, 2025: Carson Water Subconservancy District Board Meeting.
  • October 13, 2025: Topaz Ranch Estates General Improvement District.
  • October 7, 2025: Town of Gardnerville Meeting 39.
  • October 1, 2025: Town of Minden Board Meeting.
  • September 17, 2025: Douglas County Board of County Commissioner (BOCC) Special Meeting [Agenda and Video] [Supplemental Material]
📬 April 9, 2026

Business Impact Notification

The Board of County Commissioners is considering establishing a stormwater utility that would impose fees on property owners based on the property's impervious square footage. The collected utility service charges will be used to fund operating costs of the Stormwater Utility (including dedicated staff and heavy equipment operation), replace equipment, preserve critical lands, and construct regional capital improvements.

A Business Impact Notification was sent to the Carson Valley Chamber, the Business Council of Douglas County, and the Tahoe Chamber. Copies were also mailed to business property owners that may be subject to the utility services charges.

Business Impact Notification & Draft Business Impact Statement

Business Impact Statement Completed Comment Forms

Establishment of Stormwater Enterprise Fund and Utility Rate Study Contract

At its December 4, 2025 meeting, the Board of County Commissioners unanimously adopted Resolution 2025R-102, officially establishing a Stormwater Enterprise Fund and moving forward with the creation of a county-wide stormwater utility.

Next Steps

We remain committed to continued community engagement throughout the process of developing the rate structure—stay tuned for updates as we schedule public feedback sessions and opportunities for input in the coming months.