Volume II Recommendations January 2006 City of Madison Comprehensive Plan

Transcription

1 10 UTILITIES THE PLAN: GOALS, OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND IMPLEMENTATION RECOMMENDATIONS Volume II Recommendations January 2006

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Utilities Overview Summary of Utilities Issues Regional Wastewater Service and Treatment Storm Water Drainage Water Supply On Site Wastewater Treatment Technology Solid Waste Disposal Telecommunications Facilities Power Plants/Transmission Lines Sustainability Utilities Goals, Objectives, and Policies Sanitary Sewer Service Storm Water Management Water Supply On Site Wastewater Treatment Technology Solid Waste Disposal Recycling Facilities Telecommunications Facilities Electric Power Utilities Implementation Recommendations Volume II Recommendations January 2006

3 UTILITIES OVERVIEW This chapter of the was prepared pursuant to Section (2)(d) of the Wisconsin Statutes and includes goals, objectives, policies and implementation recommendations for water supply, sanitary sewer service and treatment, storm water management, solid waste disposal, recycling facilities, telecommunications facilities, and power plants/transmission lines. The Utilities Existing Conditions chapter (Volume I, Chapter 10) includes a description of existing and future public utility facilities, and assesses the future needs for government services related to such utilities. In many cases, the content of the Utilities goals, objectives, policies and implementation recommendations will overlap with the content in other Comprehensive Plan chapters, such as Land Use and Transportation. The overlapping chapters will be integrated and made consistent with each other as required by Wisconsin s Smart Growth Law. Flushing water distribution system pipes. The City will implement the Utilities chapter goals, objectives, policies and implementation recommendations through careful and strategic use of various planning tools such as the Madison General Ordinances, official map, annexation policy, and capital improvements program. This will require a sustained effort by the public and private sectors to use the section as an essential guide for making utilities related decisions over the next 20 year period. Volume II Recommendations 10 1 January 2006

4 SUMMARY OF UTILITIES ISSUES The utilities issues addressed in the are summarized below. The key issues are intended to provide the basis for the goals, objectives and policies that will guide the utilities in their daily operation and long term planning. REGIONAL WASTEWATER SERVICE AND TREATMENT The Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) manages the regional wastewater service and treatment for the Madison area. The condition and capacity of MMSD s collection system and treatment plant facilities are reviewed by MMSD on an ongoing basis. Repair and maintenance projects are undertaken annually to keep the facilities in proper working order. Major expansions and capital improvements are guided by MMSD Facilities Plan studies. Individual projects are incorporated into MMSD s annual capital budgeting process. Madison Sewer Utility manages the local wastewater services for the Madison area. Key issues with regard to the local wastewater system have been identified by operations and design staff, through the preparation of neighborhood development plans and communication with customers of the Madison Sewer Utility. STORM WATER DRAINAGE The Madison Storm Water Utility manages storm water drainage for the Madison area. Key issues have been identified by operations and design staff, through the preparation of neighborhood development plans, and through regulations and cooperation with other governmental agencies. The City of Madison goal for storm water management is to meet or exceed the requirements of existing laws and regulations. Specifically, the City needs to comply with NR 151 and NR 216 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code, as well as the Dane County Water Quality Plan (adopted in 1979 with certain sections updated periodically) and the more restrictive requirements of Dane County Ordinances. WATER SUPPLY The Madison Water Utility works closely with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) to ensure that the system meets all current regulations and is positioned to comply with future regulations that become law. Volume II Recommendations 10 2 January 2006

5 ON SITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT TECHNOLOGY There are approximately 200 parcels of land served by on site wastewater treatment facilities in the City. These parcels have been annexed to the City and are often farmhouses or suburban homes on larger parcels of land. The Dane County Department of Public Health inspects these facilities every three years. If the on site treatment facility needs to be replaced, the Dane County Health Department contacts the City to determine if sewer is available. Each year a number of these parcels are connected to the public sewerage system. (Madison General Ordinances provides that structures are to connect to the public sewerage system when a sewer main is within 100 feet of the parcel.) With the annexation of existing parcels and the connection of parcels of land to the public sewerage system, the number of on site wastewater treatment facilities remains at about 200. SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL The City of Madison Streets Division manages the collection of household refuse and yard waste for the Madison area. The City s goal is to maintain an efficient, convenient, and costeffective solid waste collection service. The City strives to reduce the amount of yard and household refuse through its efforts at recycling and waste reduction. The City currently diverts 51 percent or about 50,000 tons of its waste stream from the landfill through recycling and composting. In September 2005, the City began a new automated single stream recycling program where all households received a bin where they can place a broader range of materials for recycling. A key component of Madison s solid waste diversion program is home composting. The Streets Division has sold over 12,000 compost bins to City residents since Because home composting is the most cost effective way to divert organic material from the landfill, the Comprehensive Plan recommends that well managed home composting be allowed in all subdivisions and condominium developments. TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES Private and public telecommunications companies must coordinate with the communities they serve to evaluate the need for modifications or expansion to their current network. As the City expands and develops, extensions of the telecommunication lines are required. Private land owners/developers are required to coordinate the extension of the new lines to serve their development. Volume II Recommendations 10 3 January 2006

6 POWER PLANTS/TRANSMISSION LINES The Madison Gas & Electric Company and the Alliant Energy Company provide power to the City. In addition, the American Transmission Company was recently created to manage the electrical transmission lines. SUSTAINABILITY The City seeks to provide all needed services and utilities to City residents and businesses in a sustainable manner, by protecting resources for long term use, promoting efficient use of these resources and finding methods to reduce demand by encouraging conservation and reuse techniques. Producing their own food at Quann Community Gardens, gardeners are doing their part to live in a more sustainable way. The Madison Area Community Land Trust is constructing co housing that utilizes green building principles at the Troy Gardens site on the Northside. The Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District provides wastewater treatment to villages, towns, and cities surrounding the Madison area lakes. The District s MetroGro Program recycles the resulting biosolids to agricultural land as a fertilizer and soil conditioner. Volume II Recommendations 10 4 January 2006

7 UTILITIES GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND POLICIES The following goals, objectives and policies provide the basic framework for all utilities decisions. A goal is a statement that describes in general terms a desired future condition. An objective is a statement that describes a specific future condition to be attained. A policy is a course of action or rule of conduct to achieve the goals and objectives of the Plan. The goals, objectives and policies reflect previously adopted plans and policy documents, as well as the ideas, comments, and concerns expressed by numerous groups and individuals at community open houses, small group meetings and through a community survey. Goal: The City will provide and maintain a high quality, cost effective, energy and resource efficient public water supply, public wastewater service and treatment, storm water management, and household refuse and recyclables collection for the community; and serve as a warden for the installation of telecommunication facilities and power transmission lines. Objectives and Policies for Sanitary Sewer Service Objective 1: Protect the public health and environment by providing exceptional wastewater collection, treatment, and related services to metropolitan Madison and surrounding areas in a well planned and cost effective manner. Policy 1: Provide and maintain regional wastewater collection and treatment services for the Madison metropolitan area. Note: The Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) is a municipal corporation created to carry out the provisions of Sections to of the State Statutes. Objective 2: Maintain the wastewater systems at acceptable and legally required service levels providing comparable service to all citizens; expand the public facilities necessary to accommodate the growth of the City minimizing the cost to current City residents; and, accomplish this objective safely and with an efficient use of resources. Policy 1: Continue to direct the planning, design, construction and repair of public sanitary sewer facilities. Policy 2: Continue to assume ownership and responsibility for maintenance of sanitary sewers upon acceptance of the improvements by the City s Common Council. Volume II Recommendations 10 5 January 2006

8 Objectives and Policies for Storm Water Management Objective 3: Maintain the storm water drainage systems to meet or exceed legally required service levels providing comparable service to all citizens; expand the public facilities necessary to accommodate the growth of the City minimizing the cost to current residents; and, accomplish this mission safely and with an efficient use of resources. Policy 1: Provide and maintain a public storm water system capable of conveying storm water from public lands and rights of way and discharging it in a manner that protects the public health, safety and welfare. Policy 2: Provide City residents with access to professional review of drainage problems that occur on or adjacent to their property, and act as a mediator for multiple party problems and provide possible solutions. Note: The City of Madison Engineering Division enforces ordinances that control and prevent soil erosion and minimize increases in peak storm water runoff in order to preserve the natural resources, control floods, prevent impairment of dams and reservoirs, and protect public waters and wildlife. Policy 3: Work with State and County regulatory agencies and neighboring communities to develop Best Management Practices that make measurable improvements to water quality in the City s lakes and streams. Policy 4: Develop a benchmark system for Madison lakes that measures lake water quality and determines the types of improvements that should be made to improve lake water quality. Policy 5: Encourage reduction of storm water runoff and low impact development techniques for storm water management wherever such practices are feasible. Rain Garden Pervious Paving Terraced Landscaping Examples of storm water management techniques that help reduce runoff. Volume II Recommendations 10 6 January 2006

9 Policy 6: Meet or exceed the requirements of Wisconsin Administrative Code statutes NR151 and NR216. Note: All new developments have stringent requirements for peak runoff, the infiltration of storm water into the ground, and an 80 percent reduction in sediment. New developments provide opportunities for storm water detention and treatment. In existing areas, the City needs to have a 20 percent reduction of the suspended solids of runoff by 2008, and a 40 percent reduction of suspended solids by Objectives and Policies for Water Supply Objective 4: Provide and maintain an adequate supply of safe water for drinking and fire protection, with quality service at a reasonable price. Policy 1: Extend new water service connections only to areas that have been annexed by the City, unless consistent with an adopted intergovernmental agreement. Policy 2: Meet all of the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act as administered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Note: The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) regulates the Madison Water Utility. In addition to monitoring water quality and sampling, WDNR also reviews construction plans, location of new wells, wellhead protection plans, engineering reports, and any proposed improvements to the system. Policy 3: Encourage all water users to practice water conservation techniques to reduce demand for water wherever such practices are feasible. Policy 4: Provide sufficient water system redundancy to assure adequate service under stressed conditions (such as drought, well contamination, etc.). Madison Water Utility Office and fountain completed in Fountain design and photo by Gail Simpson Volume II Recommendations 10 7 January 2006

10 Objectives and Policies for On site Wastewater Treatment Technology Objective 5: Prevent premature development in unincorporated areas identified as potential locations for long term urban development and City of Madison expansion, and maintain the land in agricultural and other open space uses until it is needed for planned City development. Policy 1: Prohibit unincorporated development on the City s periphery that would block future City growth options or make orderly and efficient City expansion and extension of urban services more difficult. Policy 2: Seek agreements with adjacent municipalities, the County and regional planning bodies that would help to preserve long term options for planned, orderly City expansion. Policy 3: Use the City s extraterritorial plat approval jurisdiction to implement land use and development staging recommendations contained in adopted City plans. Policy 4: The City of Madison should reject all land divisions without public sewerage service (subdivision plats and certified survey maps) within its extraterritorial plat approval jurisdiction if such land divisions will in any way impair the ability of the City to expand its physical boundaries as recommended in the City of Madison s Comprehensive Plan and in City adopted neighborhood development plans and other special area plans. The exception to this policy is where intergovernmental agreements between the City of Madison and its neighboring municipalities may allow such development. Utility pipe replacement along State Street. Sanitary sewer pipe maintenance. Policy 5: Parcels with on site treatment facilities shall be connected to the public sewerage system in accordance with the Madison General Ordinances when sewerage facilities are made available. Volume II Recommendations 10 8 January 2006

11 Objectives and Policies for Solid Waste Disposal Objective 6: Maintain household refuse and yard waste collection to meet or exceed legally required service levels providing comparable service to all citizens. Policy 1: Continue household refuse and yard waste collection at currently acceptable and legally required levels. Policy 2: Require that well managed home composting be allowed and encouraged in subdivisions and condominium plats. Objective 7: Expand the collection network to accommodate the growth of the City, minimizing the cost to current citizens, and accomplishing this mission safely and with an efficient use of resources. Policy 1: Expand the City s recycling program as the markets for the material develop. Policy 2: Commence the search for a successor landfill in Objectives and Policies for Recycling Facilities Objective 8: Collect household recyclables to meet and exceed legally required service levels, providing comparable service to all citizens; expand the collection network to accommodate the growth of the City, minimizing the cost to current citizens; and, accomplish this mission safely and with an efficient use of resources. Policy 1: Implement the Single Stream Recycling Program for household recyclables collection. Policy 2: Identify sites for the storage of salvaged building materials. Single stream recycling truck. Volume II Recommendations 10 9 January 2006

12 Objectives and Policies for Telecommunications Facilities Objective 9: Ensure that telecommunications services are provided throughout the City in rights of way and other appropriate locations. Policy 1: Ensure equitable access for all service providers that use the distribution network in reaching their customers. Policy 2: Ensure universal access to telecommunications service for citizens, businesses and institutions within the City of Madison. Policy 3: Ensure that telecommunications lines are extended as the City grows and require that underground installation of telecommunications lines be explored. Policy 4: Maintain uninterrupted telecommunications service by developing an assertive and funded program to explore the feasibility of installing underground telecommunications lines in established neighborhoods (at the time of exploring installation of underground electric lines; see Objective 10, Policy 5 on Page 10 10). Objectives and Policies for Electric Power Objective 10: Ensure that all City residents receive energy services with facilities located in City rights of ways. Policy 1: Support reliability improvements to the electrical transmission system and balance the needs of citizens who reside adjacent to those facilities. Policy 2: Support the addition of renewable energy to the current energy portfolio, the continued purchase of renewable energy, and the sustainable design of City structures. Volume II Recommendations January 2006

13 Policy 3: Encourage conservation techniques for power use to reduce energy demands, wherever such practices are feasible. Policy 4: Strive for no net increase in City contributions to greenhouse gas emissions in meeting the City s demand for electric power by relying first on energy efficiency, second on renewable resources, and when fossil fuel use is necessary, taking actions that offset the release of greenhouse gases such as planting trees or using alternative fuel vehicles. Policy 5: Encourage electric power providers to develop an assertive and funded program to bury wires in established neighborhoods to help prevent power loss during storms and other events. The City sponsored EnAct program has helped volunteers in the Vilas neighborhood (above) and other groups learn how to take actions in their daily lives to reduce their impact on the environment. Note: The City Attorney has advised that the City cannot require that power providers bury wires in established neighborhoods. Further, such a project could prove very disrupting to established neighborhoods with mature landscaping and outbuildings. Solar Parking Canopy Generates clean energy from the sun Produces enough energy to power 1.2 homes Protects the environment Offsets 9 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year Saves nonrenewable energy resources Avoids burning 12,850 pounds of coal per year The solar parking canopy in the City of Madison Municipal Building parking lot is pictured above. The corresponding informational sign located in the front of the canopy is shown to the right. Brought to our community by: your energy company Volume II Recommendations January 2006

14 UTILITIES IMPLEMENTATION RECOMMENDATIONS This section describes the major actions involved in implementing the Utilities Element. Table 1 is intended to guide City staff and the Common Council in setting priorities for capital budgeting and staff allocation. It is expected that this table will be reviewed annually and revised, as necessary, to establish new priorities. Priority 1 actions should be implemented immediately; Priority 2 are those actions that are mid term and should be implemented within five years of adoption of the Comprehensive Plan; and Priority 3 actions will be implemented over a longer period of time 10 years and beyond. As conditions change over time, these actions may be reprioritized to better meet the community s needs. Table 1 Utilities Implementation Actions Priority Action 1 Use the City s extraterritorial plat approval jurisdiction to implement land use and development staging recommendations contained in adopted City plans. 1 Extend new water service connections only to areas that have been annexed by the City, unless consistent with an adopted intergovernmental agreement. Lead & Coordinating Agencies Planning Unit Water Utility Manager City Attorney Water Board Common Council 1 Develop and implement programs that protect the area water supply for long term use, promoting efficient use of water and finding methods to reduce water demand by encouraging city residents, businesses, and institutions to reduce (per capita) water usage. Water Utility Manager Water Board Commission on the Environment Volume II Recommendations January 2006

15 Table 1 Utilities Implementation Actions Priority Action 1 Provide sufficient water system redundancy to assure adequate service under stressed conditions (such as drought, well contamination, etc.) Lead & Coordinating Agencies Water Utility Manager Water Board Common Council 2 Provide and maintain regional wastewater collection and treatment services for the Madison metropolitan area. Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District Planning Unit 1 Continue to direct the planning, design, construction and repair of public sanitary sewer facilities. 1 Provide and maintain a public storm water system capable of conveying storm water from public lands and rights of way and discharging it in a manner that protects the public health, safety and welfare. 2 Work with state and county regulatory agencies and neighboring communities to develop Best Management Practices that make measurable improvements to water quality in the City s lakes and streams. 2 Encourage reduction of storm water runoff and lowimpact development techniques for storm water management wherever such practices are feasible. Board of Public Works Board of Public Works Board of Public Works Commission on Environment Board of Public Works Plan Commission Volume II Recommendations January 2006

16 Table 1 Utilities Implementation Actions Priority Action 1 Meet or exceed the requirements of Wisconsin Administrative Code statutes NR151 and NR216. Lead & Coordinating Agencies Board of Public Works 2 Require that well managed home composting be allowed and encouraged in subdivisions and condominium plats. Street Division Solid Waste Advisory Board Board of Public Works 1 Commence the search for a successor landfill in Street Division Solid Waste Advisory Board Board of Public Works 2 Ensure universal access to telecommunications service for citizens, businesses and institutions within the City of Madison. Telecommunication providers Public Service Commission Information Services City Attorney Volume II Recommendations January 2006

17 Table 1 Utilities Implementation Actions Priority Action 2 Maintain uninterrupted telecommunications service by developing an assertive, and funded, program to explore the feasibility of installing underground telecommunications lines in established neighborhoods (at the time of exploring installation of underground electric lines. Lead & Coordinating Agencies Telecommunication Providers City Attorney 2 Support reliability improvements to the electrical transmission system and balance the needs of citizens who reside adjacent to those facilities. Electrical Providers Public Service Commission City Attorney Sustainable Design and Energy Committee 2 Strive for no net increase in City contributions to greenhouse gas emissions in meeting the City s demand for electric power by relying first on energy efficiency, second on renewable resources, and when fossil fuel use is necessary, taking actions that offset the release of greenhouse gases such as planting trees or using alternative fuel vehicles. Engineering Division Department of Planning and Development Sustainable Design and Energy Committee Volume II Recommendations January 2006