Goal to encourage implementation of ‘best practices to improve water quality and stormwater’
On Jan. 1, Sarasota County Government staff began offering a Stormwater Environmental Incentive Rebate Program, which “encourages homeowners to implement best practices to improve water quality and stormwater,” as noted in a county news release.
“Enhanced water quality supports local plants, wildlife, recreational areas and other economic drivers,” the release points out.
The program, the county website says, is known as RainCheck. The website explains, “The RainCheck ideology’ is a nationwide movement to help communities take action to increase stormwater infiltration into the ground. The more the rain can soak in, the more we can improve water quality in creeks, rivers and ultimately the oceans.”
Online research that The Sarasota News Leader conducted this week found that the City of Buffalo received an award in 2020 from the American Planning Association for a RainCheck initiative. The evolveEA (environment and architecture) firm, which was one of the partners in that undertaking, noted on its website, “The award honors efforts to create more sustainable and greener communities that reduce the impact of development on the natural environment and improve environmental quality. The planning process was led by evolveEA in partnership with Arcadis, University of Buffalo Regional Institute (UBRI), and PUSH Buffalo for Buffalo Sewer Authority in 2018-2019, with implementation and outreach work continuing [in 2020]. The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo funded a significant amount of the work.”
“Among eligible practices” for the Sarasota County initiative, the county news release notes, are the creation of rain gardens, “treatment swales, modified downspouts, downspout planters” and the replacement of impervious driveways and sidewalks with pervious surfaces.
Administered by the Neighborhood Environmental Stewardship Team (NEST), the program has been planned to promote “neighborhood involvement in environmental projects that protect and restore local water resources,” the release points out. “The NEST program operates at the neighborhood level to improve Sarasota County’s watershed resources,” as the release also puts it.
Homeowners meeting eligibility requirements may receive rebates as follows:
“The incentive rebate program will help improve water quality and stormwater infiltration for homeowners throughout Sarasota County,” said Public Works Director Spencer Anderson in the release. “This is a great opportunity to collaborate with our community, especially to prepare for storms and heavy rainfall.”
“Homeowners can receive rebates for up to two projects per property,” the release points out. Additionally, a reduction in impervious areas may reduce a property’s annual stormwater assessment, it notes. “Applications will be accepted annually from Oct. 1 through June 1 to allow work to be completed” — and reimbursements made — within the county’s fiscal year, which runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, the release explains.
Eligibility criteria
These are the criteria for earning rebates, the release notes:
- The property must be within the Sarasota County Stormwater Environmental Utility Service area, including unincorporated Sarasota County and the City of Sarasota. A map of the service area is available on the county website.
- The applicant must be the property owner on record with the Sarasota County Property Appraiser’s Office.
- Projects cannot be undertaken within the right of way, and they cannot interfere with existing easements or negatively affect drainage to or from neighboring properties.
- Homeowner’s association (HOA) approval is required if applicable.
- “Projects must not be required by regulatory order, judgment or other compliance action,” the release points out.
Application process
Persons may submit an online application by visiting scgov.net/raincheck, the release says. Then they should schedule a pre-application meeting with the NEST program coordinator. “If a site is considered suitable for the desired practice,” the release continues, the property owner must complete a Rebate and Maintenance Commitment form that includes an itemized budget or quote(s) with all costs associated with installation, the release adds.
“If the total project cost equals a maximum rebate of $5,000,” the release notes, “the applicant must obtain three quotes for similar goods and services.”
Items purchased, or work completed before an application has been approved, and the execution of a Rebate and Maintenance Commitment form has taken place, “will not be eligible for reimbursement,” the release points out.
If an application is approved, the NEST program coordinator will issue a preliminary Project Approval Notice detailing the approved rebate amount, the release explains.
To qualify for a rebate, a request related to a completed project must be submitted by Sept. 1 of the qualifying year, the release says. (Sarasota County staff “will verify project completion through site visits and photographs,” the release notes.) Dated receipts, “paid invoices, copies of canceled checks, or financial statements documenting amounts spent on the project” may be provided to county staff, the release adds.
The form for requesting a rebate form can be downloaded here, under downloadable files, the release says.
For additional information, call 311 or 941-861-5000 or visit scgov.net/raincheck.