Drafter
Clerk 06/02/2008
Title
AN ORDINANCE approving the Northshore Utility District Water System Comprehensive Plan and Wastewater Comprehensive Plan, with findings.
Body
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
1. King County adopted K.C.C. chapter 13.24, which requires approval of comprehensive plans for water and sewer utilities that distribute or obtain water, or provide sewer collection or treatment, in unincorporated King County as a prerequisite for operating in unincorporated King County, receiving approval for annexation proposals, being granted right-of-way franchises and being given approval for right-of-way construction permits. K.C.C. 13.24.060 prescribes the requirements for approval of such plans, including consistency with state and local planning requirements.
2. RCW 43.20.260 requires that water system plans for any new industrial, commercial or residential use are to be consistent with the requirements of any comprehensive plans or development regulations adopted under chapter 36.70A RCW or any other applicable comprehensive plan, land use plan or development regulation adopted by a city, town or county for the service area. King County has adopted a Comprehensive Plan that includes water supply and wastewater policies in its provisions for Facilities and Services (Policies F-225 through F-244) that, inter alia, call for consistency with other adopted plans, support for regional water supply planning, pursuit of reclaimed water and water conservation and protection of water resources.
3. King County last approved the Northshore utility district's ("the district") Water System Comprehensive Plan and Wastewater Comprehensive Plan in September 2001. Both Washington state Department of Health and King County regulations require water system plans to be updated every six years and wastewater plan updates are required when improvements, extensions or changes to future operation and maintenance are proposed.
4. The district operates large water supply and wastewater collection systems in the north central part of King County. The district provides service to over sixty-nine thousand people in its retail service area for water and has twenty thousand two hundred fifty-eight connections to the sewer system. The annual average day demand, which is water consumed, by water system customers is approximately 5.7 million gallons per day ("mgd") and the peak day consumption, generally during the hottest summer and fall periods, is approximately twice average day demand. Average wastewater production is 4.91 mgd. The district is a partner in the regional wastewater system and provides its wastewater to King County for treatment and discharge.
5. The district participates with the Seattle Public Utilities ("SPU") and other wholesale water purveyors in programs for conservation and efficient use of water. The current SPU regional effort for efficiency of water use is called the 1 Percent Conservation Program and it expires in 2011. The program has a target of one percent reduction in demand across the regional system each year, is a regional program and is not an individual utility goal or mandate. SPU and its operating board, which is a subset of its wholesale customers that includes the district, agreed in concept to a target of 15 mgd in water conservation between 2011 and 2029. The specific measures that will make up the 15 mgd water savings have not yet been agreed to. The operating board recognizes that the new, proposed conservation measures will not be cost-effective, in that it is predicting that existing supplies are sufficient well into the future. However, the operating board has concluded that from a public policy perspective, they remain committed to a conservation ethic that warrants the continued investment.
6. The plans describe a current capital water budget for 2007-2012 of approximately $13 million or $2.17 million per year. The district states that capital improvement projects will be funded by rates, general facility charges, system development charges, and or outside funding sources. Total water sales in 2005 were $9,750,310, of which forty-seven percent was paid to Seattle for wholesale water. For wastewater, the district spent approximately $11 million on its capital improvement program during the last planning cycle between 2000 -2006. This plan provides a ten-year capital improvement program with an expected cost of $28.9 million; the six-year cost is estimated at $19.7 million. Five different funding sources are identified to pay for the capital improvements including revenue bonds, Public Works Trust Fund loans, developer financing, connection charges and local improvement districts. Total sewer revenue in 2005 was approximately $12.73 million, of which sixty-nine percent was paid to King County for wastewater treatment. As a combined utility, the district reports a net positive operating income for each year from 2003 to 2005.
7. K.C.C. 13.24.060 requires review of water system plans by the utilities technical review committee ("the UTRC"), and a recommendation to the executive and council on the plans and the requirements under K.C.C. 13.24.060 and consistency with the King County Comprehensive Plan. The planning data and utility operations have been reviewed by the UTRC and consistency is found for:
a. The population and employment forecasts developed by the Puget Sound Regional Council for service areas are appropriately used;
b. The plans appropriately used the King County land use classifications;
c. Capital facility plans are adequate to meet anticipated facility needs;
d. The plans are consistent with applicable state water quality, and waste management standards, reclaimed water use was evaluated; and
e. The plans are consistent with other pertinent county adopted plans and policies.
8. The Washington state Department of Health has not yet approved the district's water plan. The Washington state Department of Ecology approved the district's wastewater plan by letter dated June 7, 2007.
9. The district completed a checklist and issued a Determination of Nonsignificance on December 14, 2006, for the water portion of the plan. The district completed a checklist and issued a Determination of Nonsignificance on December 29, 2006, for the wastewater portion of the plan.
10. The district's operations and facilities meet multiple existing statutory, administrative and planning standards for both the water and wastewater utilities. The district's operations, facilities and planning substantially meet the requirements of the King County Code and are consistent with the King County Comprehensive Plan. A detailed evaluation documenting these findings has been provided by the executive in his transmittal of the proposed ordinance approving the plans.
11. The UTRC recommends approval of the plans.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. The Northshore Utility District's Water System Comprehensive Plan and the Wastewater Comprehensive Plan, 2006, Attachment A to this ordinance, is
hereby approved as a comprehensive water system plan, and comprehensive wastewater plan.