The Fayetteville City Council is set to begin consideration of whether to let rain soak into the ground beneath paved parking lots.

The council might amend ordinances that would allow pervious pavers and provide for a credit for impervious surface calculations for contractors that use them.

Pervious pavers are those with openings that allow some portion of the stormwater to leach through them rather than having the entire volume of stormwater flow to catchment basins, as is the case with asphalt and concrete.

Council members March 20 heard the first reading of the two proposed ordinance changes. During a discussion, Mayor Ken Steele reiterated the suggestion of City Engineer Don Easterbrook that the city tread softly and give thorough consideration to the idea.

“It’s good to go conservatively since new pervious systems are coming on the market every year,” Steele said.

During his presentation, Easterbrook noted the Georgia Stormwater Management Manual recommendation that pervious paver systems be 65 percent pervious and 35 percent impervious. Easterbrook recommended that the city consider a surface calculation of 50 percent pervious.

“The reason is that maintenance of these systems is required to minimize plugging with silt,” Easterbrook said. “The more pervious pavers get silted in, the less pervious they become. Until we are satisfied that ongoing maintenance is provided with minimal city staff oversight, we do not recommend a higher credit value.”

Also at the meeting, council members offset the effects of a sluggish local economy by unanimously approving a budget amendment that corrected a $211,700 deficit.

Reviewing the amendment prior to the vote, Finance Director Lynn Robinson said the deficit existed in General Fund categories that included Licenses and Permits, Local Option Sales Taxes (SPLOST) and Fines and Forfeitures.

She said the budgets of each city department could be adjusted by 1.8 percent rather than using city reserves to offset the downturn.

“We can’t operate on a deficit budget,” said Steele. “We have to keep the budget balanced at all times.”

Robinson cited four additional measures designed to keep an eye on spending. Those included no more purchases of capital items in the General Fund, Capital Projects Fund and Water & Sewer Fund, a hiring freeze to remain in effect for all positions except those in the fire department in conjunction with the SAFER Grant and a required review and approval of training and travel by department directors.

Robinson said no out of state training, travel or conferences will be authorized.

She acknowledged that capital projects funded with SPLOST and impact fee funds can continue as planned provided they receive approval of the finance manager and city manager.

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