Drafter
Clerk 01/29/2009
Title
AN ORDINANCE approving the Fall City Water District 2006 Water System Plan.
Body
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
1. King County has 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 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 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 Fall City Water District Water System Plan ("the plan") in 2001. Both Washington state Department of Health ("DOH") and King County regulations require water system plans to be updated every six years; the district has been pursuing an update of the plan for the past few years.
4. The Fall City water district ("the district") operates in an unincorporated part of the Snoqualmie river valley in the central part of King County located between the cities of Carnation and Snoqualmie. The district provides service to a population of 2,846, or 1,190 total Equivalent Residential Units, in its retail service area for water. The annual average day demand, which is water consumed, is approximately 0.28 million gallons per day, with peak day consumption, which is generally during the hottest summer/fall period, approximately twice the average day demand.
5. The district's water system plan describes its intention to assure that water service is provided throughout its retail service area and, to the extent possible, the overall service area assigned to the district as part of the 1990 East King County Coordinated Water System Plan ("CWSP"), including much of unincorporated King County. The purpose of the CWSP, which includes individual water system plans, is to identify present and future water service needs, and to set forth the means for meeting those needs. While the plan does not directly discuss the district's duty to provide service within its "retail service area," it provides sufficient information to conclude that it has both the intention and capacity to do so by various means, direct service through the existing water system being the preferred method. Where the district has determined it is not feasible to provide service, it has relinquished or taken steps to relinquish those areas and notified the East King County Regional Water Association and adjacent water systems of its actions.
6. The district's plan identifies a set of measures that it has implemented to pursue water conservation within its boundaries, pursuant to DOH 1994 planning guidance. Although the plan does not describe certain aspects of the conservation program with specificity, DOH has approved the conservation program. In addition, while not currently subject to the Water Use Efficiency Rule adopted by DOH, the district already complies with most of its requirements and is implementing plans to fully comply with the rule.
7. Pursuant to King County Comprehensive Plan policies F-208, F-211, and F-212, water and sewer districts that provide service in unincorporated King County must have financing strategies to show the ability to meet projected needs for facilities and services in accordance with the Growth Management Act and the King County Comprehensive Plan. The district's plan describes a six-year capital improvement program ("CIP") costing approximately $1,497,000. The district states that CIP projects will be funded by water revenues, connection charges, Public Works Trust Fund loans, revenue bonds, and/or outside funding sources. Much, if not most, of the CIP funding will come from developer extensions when they create additional single-family and multifamily residential units and from utility local improvement districts. Total water sales for the district in 2005 were $196,591.
8. K.C.C. chapter 13.24 requires review of water system plans by the utilities technical review committee ("UTRC"), and a recommendation made to the King County executive and council on the plan and the requirements under K.C.C. chapter 13.24 and consistency with the King County Comprehensive Plan. The planning data and district operations have been reviewed by the UTRC, and the plan is found to be consistent with:
a. The population and employment forecasts developed by the Puget Sound Regional Council for service areas, with a customized forecast appropriately used;
b. The plan appropriately uses King County land use classifications;
c. The capital facility plan is adequate to meet anticipated facility and service needs;
d. The plan is consistent with applicable state water quality laws, including the evaluation of reclaimed water use; and
e. The plan is consistent with other pertinent county adopted plans and policies.
9. The DOH has not yet approved the district's water plan, pending approval by King County. Approval from DOH is expected after the King County council acts.
10. The district completed a State Environmental Policy Act checklist and issued a determination of nonsignificance for the issuance of the plan on February 23, 2007.
11. The district's operations and facilities meet multiple existing statutory, administrative, and planning standards. As the district's operations, facilities, and planning meet the requirements of the King County Code and are consistent with the King County Comprehensive Plan, the UTRC recommends approval of the plan.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. The Fall City Water District's 2006 Water System Plan, Attachment A to this ordinance, is hereby approved as a comprehensive water system plan.