The storm drainage fee to fund the Ross Valley Flood Protection and Watershed Program is a good idea to help mitigate the damage caused by flooding to the low lying areas in Flood Zone 9. However, it is not appropriate to ask that the fee would be paid by all homeowners in the area.

Many homes in Flood Zone 9 are on hillsides and are not impacted by flooding. The homes covering the hillsides are more likely to be impacted by landslides than they would be to flooding. The storm drainage fee would do little, if anything, to benefit homeowners living on the hillsides.
The benefits of the program would inure to those living in the flood zone. If the residents and businesses located in the flood zone are interested in reducing the impact of future floods, they should look to raise funds among themselves to implement a flood control program.

To suggest a program that only benefits those living in the flood zone is an inequitable proposal. It would be like having the homeowners and businesses located on the hillsides suggesting that everyone contribute to a program for hillside drainage and retention walls to prevent landslides.

The Ross Valley Flood Protection and Watershed Program is a good idea, but another way needs to be found to pay for it.