A. 
The Common Council of the City of Onalaska hereby finds that the management of stormwater and other surface water discharges within and beyond La Crosse River, Mississippi River, Black River, Half Way Creek, and other bodies of water within the City is a matter that affects the health, safety and welfare of the City, its citizens and businesses and others in the surrounding area. All real property in the City, including property owned by public and tax-exempt entities, contributes runoff and either uses or benefits from the stormwater system.
B. 
Failure to effectively manage stormwater affects the sanitary sewer utility operations of the City by, among other things, increasing the likelihood of infiltration and inflow into the sanitary sewer system. Surface water runoff may cause nonpoint source pollution, erosion of lands, threaten residences and businesses with water damage, and create environmental damage to the rivers, streams and other bodies of water within and adjacent to the City. A system for the collection and disposal of stormwater provides services to all properties within the City of Onalaska and surrounding areas, including those properties not currently served by the system. The cost of operating and maintaining the City stormwater management system and financing necessary repairs, replacements, improvements and extensions thereof should, to the extent practicable, be allocated in relationship to the services received from the system. In order to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public, the Common Council hereby exercises its authority to establish a Stormwater Utility and establish the rates for stormwater management services.
C. 
In promulgating the regulations contained in this section, the City is acting pursuant to authority granted by Chs. 62 and 66, including, but not limited to, § 62.04, 62.11, 62.16, 62.18, 66.0101, 66.0621, 66.0801, 66.0811, 66.0813, 66.0703, and 66.0627, Wis. Stats.
A. 
There is hereby created and established a Stormwater Utility within the City of Onalaska, effective January 1, 2010. The entire operation, charge and management of the Stormwater Utility is vested in the City Engineer; subject, however, to the general control and supervision of the Common Council, pursuant to applicable state law.
A. 
The City, acting through the Stormwater Utility, may, without limitation due to enumeration, acquire by gift, purchase, eminent domain, condemnation or otherwise, construct, lease, own, operate, maintain, improve, update, modify, extend, expand, replace, clean, dredge, repair, conduct, manage, finance, borrow monies, assess and/or levy fees for such facilities, operations, maintenance and activities as are deemed, from time to time, by the City to be proper and reasonably necessary for a system of storm and surface water management. These facilities may include, without limitation due to enumeration, surface and underground drainage facilities, inlets, manholes, sewers, channels, ditches, retention and detention basins, infiltration facilities, retaining walls, streets, roads, natural drainageways, and such other facilities as will support a stormwater management system.