Yelm City Council approves $120,000 stormwater planning agreement with Parametrix Inc.

Yelm City Council unanimously approved an agreement with Parametrix Inc. on Tuesday, Sept. 22, which authorized nearly $120,000 in grant-funded work to develop the city’s stormwater management program and help it comply with new state requirements.

The council approved the professional services agreement, presented by City of Yelm Engineer Reza Roukerd, to authorize Mayor Joe DePinto to execute a professional services agreement with Parametrix Inc. for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program development and an update to the city’s Stormwater Management Program Plan.

NPDES, a federal permitting program, was created in 1972 by the Clean Water Act and aims to regulate point sources that discharge pollutants into the water systems throughout the United States.

The agreement with Parametrix Inc. is valued at $119,935.87.

Roukerd told Yelm City Councilors that the work is fully funded through a $120,000 stormwater capacity grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology — which the city received in March. The grant funding expires March 31, 2027.

Yelm was recently designated as a Phase II municipal separate storm sewer system permittee under Washington Department of Ecology’s 2024-29 Western Washington Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit.

As a new permittee, the city is required to develop and implement the foundational elements of a stormwater management program to comply with the permit.

Parametrix Inc. will assist the city in developing an initial stormwater management program plan and evaluating the city’s existing stormwater system and programs. The work also will identify priority improvements and help establish projects for future years.

The scope includes project management and regulatory coordination; preparation of the initial program plan for submission to Washington Department of Ecology; development of procedures, forms, templates and inspection documents; and an update to the City of Yelm’s stormwater Capital Improvement Program framework.

The work will address requirements involving public education and involvement, stormwater system mapping, illicit discharge detection and elimination, construction stormwater management, source control, operations and maintenance, cost tracking, staff training and capital planning.

During the discussion, Yelm City Councilor Tracey Wood questioned what the city would receive for the nearly $120,000 expenditure.

“If I am understanding this correctly, we are spending nearly $120,000 on a plan? A program plan?” Wood said. “So we’re not actually getting anything tangible for this $120,000?”

Roukerd said the agreement includes more than preparation of a plan. He noted that Parametrix Inc. will evaluate the city’s current stormwater system and identify potential capital projects that could be pursued in future years.

Roukerd also said the consultant would conduct the evaluation and help the city establish the framework for future stormwater planning and budgeting.

The agreement will remain in effect until the work is completed, but no later than March 31, 2027, unless extended through a written agreement between the city and Parametrix.

The Yelm City Attorney reviewed and approved the agreement, and Yelm City Council voted unanimously to approve the agreement.