In 2022 KEITH, a Florida-based engineering firm, and CDM Smith, a global privately-owned engineering and construction firm, conducted a thorough independent assessment of stormwater management within the City of Parkland (City).  The study included an analysis of the City’s stormwater management, stormwater operations, and stormwater maintenance.  It also included consideration of future improvement to levels of service and the associated costs associated with those.  The study found, among other things, that: 

• Stormwater services in the City are complex as they are the responsibility of multiple parties including the North Springs Improvement District, the Pine Tree Water Control District, private property owners, homeowners’ associations, and the City.  The delineation of these service providers was a critical component of the assessment in ensuring accuracy of any future billing to property owners.    
• Limited resources have impacted the City’s ability to implement the necessary capital improvement projects.
• Resources allocated for the implementation of mandated regulatory programs have enabled the City to achieve only minimum regulatory compliance.
• Limited resources have prevented the City from pursuing a proactive maintenance and repair program to improve the condition and effectiveness of stormwater infrastructure.  This underserves the system as maintenance is performed on an as-needed or emergency basis.  

Considering the items above, the study concluded that the City’s grade for its stormwater management ranges from a C- to a D+.  This grade is indicative of a program that is generally reactive and has only minimal capacity to implement needed improvements.  

This has resulted in the City implementing a Stormwater Utility Fee. This is a non-ad valorem, fee-based stormwater funding program that first appeared as an assessment on residents’ tax bill in November 2023. The assessments are based on the estimated amount of stormwater runoff generated by impervious surfaces on each property. The City has six Stormwater Service Areas, with differing assessment rates, to account for the varying level of services provided. The assessment rates are subject to change every year in accordance with the annual budget process. More information can be found in the City's Annual Budget.