PROPERTY OWNERS MEETING SEWER SERVICE RATES Crystal Springs County Sanitation District (District) Highlands Elementary School 2320 Newport Street San Mateo Highlands April 25, 2012 7:00 P.M. County of San Mateo Department of Public Works
MEETING PURPOSE What s Taken Place Since Last Public Meeting in May 2010 Capital Improvement Projects (In District and Downstream Agencies) Recommended Rate and Rate Setting Process Composition of Rate Rate Setting Process
DISTRICT OVERVIEW Hillsborough San Mateo District Boundary
WHAT S TAKEN PLACE SINCE MAY 2010 Cease and Desist Order (CDO) Compliance Review of CDO Sewer overflow reduction Required reporting District Capital Improvement Projects identified by 1999 Master Plan Sewer System Condition Assessment and Repair, Rehabilitation and Replacement Plan No Sewer Service Rate Increase for FY 2011-12
CEASE AND DESIST ORDER (CDO) COMPLIANCE: Review of CDO Effective March 11, 2009 the District, City of San Mateo, and Hillsborough were issued an Administrative Civil Liabilities (ACL) and Cease and Desist Order (CDO) by the Regional Water Quality Control Board to reduce sewer system overflows District ACL fines of $23,375 were based on sewer system overflows between December 1, 2004 through May 31, 2008 Non-compliance with the CDO can result in additional fines Other agencies with similar CDOs City of Pacifica, City of San Bruno
CEASE AND DESIST ORDER (CDO) COMPLIANCE: Reduction of Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSO) 2009 6 SSOs 2010 4 SSOs 2011 0 SSOs Causes: Paper Towels, Roots, Grease, and Pipe Failure
CEASE AND DESIST ORDER (CDO) COMPLIANCE: Pollution Prevention and Public Awareness Program Brochures available on website at: http://www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/sewers
CEASE AND DESIST ORDER (CDO) COMPLIANCE Required annual reports: 1. Sewer System Cleaning and Root Control Annual Report (Routine pipe maintenance) 2. Infrastructure Renewal Annual Report (Repairs completed) Sewer System Flow Monitoring and Hydraulic Modeling Report (District, Town & City) Findings of Inspections and Condition Assessment
CEASE AND DESIST ORDER (CDO) COMPLIANCE District capital improvement projects 8 capital improvement projects identified in the 1999 Master Plan completed 100% design of the 8 capital improvement projects Capital improvement projects identified through required condition assessments Completed the CCTV inspection of the entire District collection system Sewer Repair, Rehabilitation, and Replacement (RR&R) Plan
CEASE AND DESIST ORDER (CDO) COMPLIANCE UPCOMING CDO REQUIREMENTS AND DUE DATES: Order Requirements 1. Annual Reports: Sewer System Cleaning and Root Control Program Infrastructure Renewal Progress of Short and Long Term Improvements 2. Complete Environmental Study for the 8 Capital Improvement Projects 3. Award Contract for the 8 Capital Improvement Projects Due Date May 15, 2012 August 2012 August 2012
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS REQUIRED BY CEASE AND DESIST ORDER: In District Capital Improvement Projects 8 remaining Capital Improvement Projects from Sewer Master Plan - $2.5 Million [cost per ERU $103/year if financed by State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan] Completed initial archaeological and biological investigations of project sites to meet SRF requirements for California Environmental Quality Act compliance
LOCATIONS OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT IDENTIFIED IN CONDITION ASSESSMENT AND RR&R PLAN:
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT IDENTIFIED IN CONDITION ASSESSMENT AND RR&R PLAN: Capital Improvement Project Mains (#) Mains* (LF) Manholes (#) Cost ($) Fiscal Year Urgent Point Repairs 42 NA NA $ 130,000 2012-13 Easement between Parrott and Randall 13 2,380 16 $ 450,000 2013-14 Easement along Billy Goat Hill 23 2,940 24 $ 615,000 2014-15 Easement from Roxbury to Polhemus 4 690 5 $ 80,000 2015-16 Easement from Bel Aire to Rainbow 14 1,790 16 $ 150,000 2016-17 Ticonderoga 12 2,470 13 $ 210,000 2017-18 Lexington-Yorktown East 11 1,550 12 $ 300,000 2018-19 Easement from Ascension to Polhemus 9 1,180 10 $ 255,000 2019-20 Lexington-Yorktown West 10 2,040 13 $ 300,000 2020-21 Easement between Lexington and PG&E 7 1,670 8 $ 315,000 2021-22 *Footage is rounded to the nearest 10 linear feet (LF). Total 145 16,710 117 $ 2,805,000
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND BIOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION FINDINGS: No evidence of archaeological resources was found on project sites No effect on endangered or threatened plant species Implementation of avoidance and minimization measures to prevent construction impact to: San Francisco Garter Snake Federally listed Endangered species California Red-Legged Frog Federally listed Threatened species Migratory bird and San Francisco dusky-footed woodrat nests
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AVOIDANCE AND MINIMIZATION MEASURES TO PREVENT BIOLOGICAL IMPACT: Pre-construction species training Pre-construction San Francisco Dusky-footed Woodrat nest surveys (10-foot buffer if found) Pre-construction nesting bird survey for work between February and August (50-foot exclusion zone if found, 200-foot zone for raptors) On-site monitoring of construction activities by a qualified biologist Flow by-pass and erosion control and containment (pumps, sandbags, silt fencing, wattles, street sweeping)
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS REQUIRED BY CEASE AND DESIST ORDER: Downstream Agency Capital Improvement Projects CDO deadline to complete projects is Sept. 2015
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS REQUIRED BY CEASE AND DESIST ORDER: Downstream Agency Capital Improvement Projects District will be required to pay a proportionate share of trunk line projects downstream of the District (City and Town): Town of Hillsborough ($258/ERU for FY 12-13) Crystal Springs-El Cerrito Trunk, Ph II or Detention - $9.8 Mil. (2012 Town estimate, up from $8.6 Mil, District share is 37%) City of San Mateo ($319/ERU for FY 12-13) El Cerrito Relief Sewer Line - $15 Mil. (District share is 37%) Force Main - Dale Ave to WWTP - $18 Mil. (District share is 3%) Other future projects (Beyond 2013) WWTP Expansion, Ph III - $10 Mil. (District share is 3%) WWTP Hydraulic Improvements - $10 Mil. (District share is 3%) Other WWTP Projects - $60 Mil. (District share is 3%) Total Estimated Cost = $122.8 Million Estimated District share = $ 12.1 Million
NEW DISTRICT FLOW METER: Meter replaced on April 6, 2011 Total cost $17,646 New meter flow data for the period of May 2011 thru March 2012 showed that the old meter was reading on average 52% higher than new meter when compared to flow data from May 2010 thru March 2011 Continue to work with partner agencies to resolve disputed past treatment costs
COMMUNICATIONS WITH CITY OF SAN MATEO & HILLSBOROUGH District reduced treatment plant O&M and capital cost payments by 30%, based on re-calculated percentages effective with FY2007-08 payments and ending with FY2010-11. Future payments will be based on actual flow measurements from new District meter (operational since April 2011). Future capital improvement project cost shares based on wet weather flow determined by 2010 Flow Monitoring and Hydraulic Modeling Report
RECOMMENDED RATE & RATE SETTING PROCESS DISTRICT IS AN INDEPENDENT ENTITY WITH ITS OWN SEPARATE BUDGET: District receives sewer service charges and limited property taxes within the District boundaries to fund sewer service The sewer service charges are a fee for service, not a tax District collects sewer service charges on the tax bill because it is the least costly way to collect the fee
RECOMMENDED RATE FOR FY2012-13: $1,350 per year per equivalent residential unit (Current Rate - $1,200 per year) Proposed increase of $12.50 per month One year rate proposed Supports the 8 remaining District capital improvement projects identified by 1999 Master Plan through State Revolving Fund Loan Program. Minimum rate required to obtain loan is $1,325, based on FY2010-11 revenues and expenses. Supports anticipated downstream capital improvement projects required by CDO if initial costs are financed by bonds (City) or SRF loan (Town), as previously anticipated. District will not qualify for another SRF loan for downstream projects with the proposed rate.
COMPOSITION OF PROPOSED RATE PER ERU ($1,350 PER YEAR): 2012-13 Revenue Sewer Service Charges $ 1,350 Property Tax $ 32 Interest $ 5 Sub-total $ 1,387 Expenditure Operation & Maintenance $ 245 Treatment $ 293 Out of District CIP $ 577 District CIP (SRF) $ 103 Regulations $ 23 CDO Compliance $ 189 Sub-total $ 1,430 Difference $ (43) Approx. $577 of your annual charges (43%) allocated for mandated improvements of facilities that transport sewage from the District to City of San Mateo
FY 2012-13 SEWER RATE COMPARISON WITH NEIGHBORING JURISDITIONS Agency / District FY 2011-12 Rate Town of Hillsborough $1,658 Burlingame Hills SMD $1,595 Crystal Springs CSD $1,350 * City of Burlingame $873 City of Foster City $569 City of San Carlos $562 City of San Mateo $560 * Denotes proposed annual rate
RATE SETTING PROCESS Key Dates April 5 April 12 April 24 May 2 June 5 June 8 July 24 Actions Sent all property owners information about proposed rates and timing of meetings with property owners. Meetings with property owners of each district to discuss the proposed rates, factors involved in establishing rates, and seek property owner input. Introduce Ordinance with proposed sewer service rates and set Public Hearing for July 24. Send Prop 218 notice (45 days prior to public hearing) to property owners with proposed rates. Hold public hearing, adopt Ordinance setting rate, and adopt FY 2012-13 Sewer Service Charges Report based on the adopted rate.
Emergency Response 24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week Mainline (Blockage) Customer Sewer Laterals Call (650) 363-4100 to Report Sewer Overflows
CONTACT INFORMATION Please e-mail your comments and questions to: sewers@smcgov.org Information is available on our website at: http://www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/sewers
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