§ 20.1102. Watershed protection and restoration fund.

(a)

Dedicated Fund. In accordance with Title 4, Subtitle 2 of the Environment Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, the County's Watershed Protection and Restoration Fund is hereby established as a dedicated, non-lapsing, Enterprise Fund.

(b)

Revenue. The following revenue shall be deposited into the fund:

(1)

Monetary contributions to meet the provisions of title 18, subtitle 9 of this Code regarding stormwater management alternatives;

(2)

All monetary fines, penalties, and costs associated with violations of title 18, subtitle 3 and subtitle 9 of this Code;

(3)

All money collected from the imposition of the fee;

(4)

All interest or other income earned on the investment of money in the fund; and

(5)

Any additional money made available from any sources for the purposes for which the fund has been established.

(c)

Expenses. In accordance with Title 2, Subtitle 4 of the Environment Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland and subject to subsection (d) of this section, the fund shall only be used for the following expenses:

(1)

Capital improvements for stormwater management including stream and wetland restoration projects;

(2)

Operation and maintenance of stormwater management systems and facilities;

(3)

Public education and outreach relating to stormwater management or stream and wetland restoration;

(4)

Stormwater management planning, including:

(i)

Mapping and assessment of impervious surfaces; and

(ii)

Monitoring, inspection, and enforcement activities to carry out the purposes of the fund;

(5)

To the extent that fees imposed under Section 4-204 of the Environment Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland are deposited into the fund, review of stormwater management plans and permit applications for new development;

(6)

Grants to nonprofit organizations for up to 100 percent of a project's costs for watershed restoration and rehabilitation projects relating to:

(i)

Planning, design, and construction of stormwater management practices;

(ii)

Stream and wetland restoration; and

(iii)

Public education and outreach related to stormwater management or stream and wetland restoration; and

(7)

Reasonable costs necessary to administer the fund.

(d)

Expenditure Priority. Subject to the County Executive's budget authority under the Charter, the first priority for expenditure of revenue from the watershed protection and restoration fee collected under this subtitle shall be to pay the debt service on bonds, notes, and other obligations issued to finance or refinance capital improvements or related expenses in connection with stormwater management systems and facilities.

(C.B. 8, 2013, § 2)