Sewer System User Investigation Results - New Rate Study

Transcription

1 Sewer System User Investigation Results - New Rate Study Townhall Meeting January 31, 2018

2 1 2 3 Treat everyone with respect. Be patient when listening to others speak and do not interrupt them. Be respectful of other people s ideas or situations when they talk. Do not judge them or point fingers. Ground Rules

3 Sewer System User Investigation What was done What was discovered Townhall Meeting Topics Sewer Connections What are EDUs (Equivalent Dwelling Units)? How EDUs are identified and why do they matter Niland Sanitary District Map Discussion How to find your property What to do if you don t agree Next Steps

4 The County of Imperial hired an independent firm to conduct the system user investigation The Holt Group, Inc. is a local Planning and Engineering Firm that is familiar with the NSD sewer system The investigation by the Holt Group involved the following actions: District Map developed based on LAFCO approved boundaries Parcel numbers were plotted per existing County assessor records A field survey (site visit) was conducted to determine the number of units on each parcel and the type of use of each unit Compared field survey results with prior data collected by RCAC for previous rate study and by NSD for current billing structure Inconsistent findings with those of prior records were documented via site photos and field confirmed a second time How the Connection Investigation was Conducted

5 Preliminary Findings for Niland Residents The System has an estimated 550 Users within the District Boundary 16 properties/parcels were missing from billing roster 8 commercial properties have more than one use 31 parcels have more units/ users than previously noted 28 parcels, previously undeveloped, have units/users 39 undeveloped parcels listed have incorrect size What the Investigation Found

6 Institution Commercial Residential SCHOOL Types of Service

7 A B C D Examples of Different Sewer Service on Residential Property Parcels

8 An Equivalent Dwelling Unit EDU is a term used to describe the amount of sewer demand created by the occupants of a property. Sewer rates are calculated by the number of EDUs identified for each property. Usually, a single-family residence is assigned one (1) EDU. The more EDUs a property has, the higher the sewer bill will be for service. Example: 2 EDUs = 2 times the (Final EDU Rate) = monthly billing rate. What is an EDU?

9 A B C D Number of EDU s per Property Parcel A = 1 EDU B = 2 EDUs C = 2 EDUs D = 38 EDUs Apartment has 37 Units + One Management Office

10 EDU 1. Single Family Residence Apartments, per individual living unit Condominiums, per unit Mobile Homes (free standing), per unit Mobile Home Parks, per space/lot permitted 1.0 Residential Type EDUs

11 Strength of discharge is considered and reflected in the EPA Chart. Examples of different types of commercial users: Low strength offices, retail stores, and similar uses Medium strength grocery stores, laundry facilities, bakeries and similar uses High strength restaurants, and similar uses In instances where there are multiple commercial uses in one parcel, the EDU for each use shall be calculated and added together to determine the total EDUs for the parcel. Commercial Users

12 Each non-residential, commercial, or institutional user shall have a separate, individual sewer lateral that connects to the sewer district s system. In instances where there are multiple uses in one parcel, the EDU for each use shall be calculated and added together to determine the total EDUs for the parcel. Example: The Chamber of Commerce has multiple uses which add up to 15 EDUs. SCHOOL Institutional Users

13 EDU 1. Laundromats 0.35 per machine on site 2. School Elementary per pupil 3. Gas (fuel) Station 1.25 per fuel pump 4. Restaurant (not 24 hours).088 per seat SCHOOL Institution / Commercial Type EDU s

14 Example A Connections: 1 EDU:.038 EDU/ student x 400 students = 15.2 EDUs A B C Institution SCHOOL Commercial- Fuel Station Commercial Restaurant open 12 hrs/ day 25 seats Example B Connections: 1 EDU: 1.25/ per pump x 3 pumps = 3.75 EDUs Example C Connections: 1 EDU:.088EDU / seat x 25 seats = 2.2 EDUs

15 EDUs are important since they help establish the sewer rate that will be charged for each type of user within Niland. Generally speaking the more EDUs there are in the sewer district the less each individual residential user will be charged. The overall cost of running the sewer district is divided by the total number of EDUs. This amount sets the rate for each EDU. For Example: Example 1 Example 2 Total EDUs in Niland = 100 Total EDUs in Niland = 200 Total Cost to run the sewer system = $ 1000 Total Cost to run the sewer system = $ 1000 Cost per each EDU = $10 Cost per each EDU = $5 Why are EDUs Important

16 Q: Unincorporated Users (Parcels outside the Niland District Boundary) will they pay twice the rate per EDU? Q: Vacant Structures with a Sewer Lateral Connection on Developed Parcels Shall vacant structures be charged for the most recent use in accordance with the proposed EDU chart? If a parcel owner wishes to not be charged, the sewer connections will need to be capped and verified by the Successor Agency. Costs for capping and inspection shall be paid for by the parcel owner. Q: Undeveloped Lots within District Boundary Will all undeveloped parcels, where sewer lines are adjacent to the parcels, be charged a sewer stand by fee (similar to the current rate)? Small Parcels (up to 4,250 square feet) Medium Parcels (4,251 to 8,500 square feet) Large Parcels (8,501 to 15,000 square feet) $75.00 $ $ Extra Large Parcels (more than 15,000 square feet) $ Parcel Charges - Undeveloped Parcels can generate up to $20,000 of income a year. If these parcels are not billed and do not contribute in the overall revenue available for system operations it can result as much as $40 more a year per EDU assignment for connected users. Policy Decisions

17 Niland District Boundary

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19 1. Visit NilandSewer.com 2. Under PROP 218 select Sewer Impact Assessment 3. Download Niland Sanitary District Assessment Map Niland Sanitary District User Classification NilandSewer.com How many EDUs were assigned to my property?

20 A. Contact John Gay at (442) B. Fill out a Parcel Assessment Dispute Form. (You can find the form on the NilandSewer.com website.) NilandSewer.com What to do if you don t agree with your parcel assessment

21 2 nd Meeting January 31, 2018 Inform Residents about the results of the sewer connection study and proposed policies and EDUs 3 rd Meeting February 2018 Inform Residents about the new sewer rates March 2018 Successor entity formed and Proposition 218 Vote of Niland property owners completed Next Steps

22 Questions