Drafter
Clerk 10/15/2009
Title
AN ORDINANCE approving King County Water District 19 2007 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 utilities that distribute or obtain water 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 57.16. 010 requires that general comprehensive plans developed by water districts be submitted to, and approved by, the legislative authority within whose boundaries all or a portion of the districts lie.
3. King County water district 19's last water system plan was prepared in 2000. Both Washington state Department of Health ("DOH") and King County regulations require water system plans to be updated every six years.
4. King County water district 19 ("the district") is in King County and has adopted a 2007 comprehensive water system plan ("the plan"). The district has had a moratorium on new connections in place since February 1996. The district's existing water sources are insufficient to meet the district's service criteria for maximum day usage to allow any new connections.
5. The district's plan identifies an area-wide water service deficiency.
6. King County has adopted a comprehensive plan that includes water policies in its provisions for facilities and services (policies F-213 through F-245) that call for consistency with other adopted plans, support for regional water supply planning, pursuit of reclaimed water, water conservation and protection of water resources. King County comprehensive plan policy F-217 provides, in part, that if an area-wide water service deficiency is identified, King County and the applicable service provider shall remedy the deficiency through a joint planning process addressing capital improvement programs ("CIP") and long-term funding strategies.
7. 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 UTRC has reviewed the planning data and district operations and hereby finds:
a. The plan is consistent with population and employment forecasts developed by the Puget Sound Regional Council for the district's service area, and with growth management act adopted population targets;
b. The plan appropriately uses King County land use classifications;
c. The capital facility plan is not 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.
8. A joint planning process over a two year period lead by King County and the district addressing the CIP, water source enhancement, an enhanced technical ground water study, an assessment of the efficacy of the conservation program, and exploration of offering customers efficiency of use opportunities may negate the continued need for a moratorium on new connections.
9. The Washington state Department of Health approval of the district's plan is pending King County council action.
10. The district completed a state Environmental Policy Act checklist for the plan and, as lead agency, issued a determination of nonsignificance for the issuance of the plan on November 9, 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 conditioned upon a joint planning process.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. King County Water District 19 2007 Water System Plan, Attachment A to this ordinance, is hereby approved as a comprehensive water system plan conditioned upon the district initiating and completing within two years a joint planning process with King County addressing the CIP, water source enhancement, an enhanced technical ground water study, an assessment of the efficacy of the conservation program, and exploration of the district offering customers efficiency of use opportunities
to address the continued need for a moratorium on new connections. The results of the joint planning process shall be reflected in the next plan update.
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