Authorizing the Council Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities to hold hearings on the extent of damage resulting from the summer rain storms, and to evaluate the City's current storm water management infrastructure, the adequacy and enforcement of storm water management controls on new development, and the need for coordinated storm water management across county lines.

WHEREAS, The recent rain storms in August and September resulted in tremendous damage throughout the City from excessive and uncontrolled storm water runoff; and

WHEREAS, The Fairmount Park System suffered millions of dollars of damage, the integrity of major City streets was undermined, and many homeowners and businesses throughout the City experienced costly flood damage; and

WHEREAS, Improperly managed storm water degrades the environment in a wide variety of ways and results in costly clean-ups; and

WHEREAS, As detailed in the City's own Storm Water Management Act, improperly managed storm water can have a significant impact on the public's health, safety and welfare. It is a major source of pollution to our streams and rivers, it increases soil erosion and sedimentation, and it may increase the severity of flooding further endangering property and human life; and

WHEREAS, Storm water management systems need to address current problems as well as control the impact of future development and, therefore, should be an integral part of land use planning; and

WHEREAS, Pennsylvania adopted the Storm Water Management Act in 1978 to address storm water flooding and provide for appropriate planning within watersheds; and

WHEREAS, Philadelphia adopted Storm Water Management Controls in 1995, and Environmental Controls for the Wissahickon Watershed have been in place since 1975; and

WHEREAS, While the current rainfall has been extreme and unusual, the damage resulting from these storms requires that the City's current storm water management system be reviewed, that the monitoring and enforcement of storm water management controls on new development be evaluated, and the need for coordinated storm water management across county lines be explored; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby authorize the Council Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities to hold hearings on the extent of damage resulting from the summer rain storms and to evaluate the City's current storm water management infrastructure, the adequacy and enforcement of storm water management controls on new development, and the need for coordinated storm water management across county lines.

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