Informational Public Meeting

Transcription

1 Lake Whatcom Stormwater Utility Informational Public Meeting Whatcom County Public Works April 18, 2018

2 Agenda for Today s Meeting Background Current Costs & Funding Sources Lake Whatcom Stormwater Utility Fee Development Process Utility Rate Study Timeline Citizen Advisory Committee Questions Page 2

3 Background

4 Lake Whatcom Key Facts Large, glacially formed lake with 3 basins Provides drinking water for approximately 100,000 city and county residents Popular for recreation: boating, swimming, fishing, etc. Development primarily residential Watershed population about 17,500 Page 4

5 Water Quality Water quality decline over last fifty years 1998 Washington State Dept. Ecology study found did not meet water quality standards Low dissolved oxygen in the lake High fecal coliform bacteria in tributaries Focus on meeting dissolved oxygen (DO) standards Excess phosphorus excess algae growth algae decay = depleted DO Most phosphorus in runoff from developed land than native forest Page 5

6 Dissolved Oxygen (mg/l) Water Quality Page 6

7 Common Sources of Excess Phosphorus Exposed soil & erosion Lawn and garden products such as fertilizers Lawns, leaves, grass clippings, compost Pet waste Phosphorus-based soaps and detergents Page 7

8 Lake Whatcom Management Program (LWMP) Started in 1992 via Joint Resolution Partnership to protect and manage the Lake Whatcom watershed Formalized in 1998 via interlocal agreement Partners include City of Bellingham Whatcom County Lake Whatcom Water & Sewer District Purpose - improve water quality by jointly implementing programs affecting the Lake Whatcom watershed Phosphorus reduction & more Page 8

9 LWMP Programs & Objectives 1. Land Preservation 2. Stormwater 3. Land Use 4. Monitoring & Data 5. Hazardous Materials 6. Recreation 7. Aquatic Invasive Species 8. Utilities & Transportation 9. Education & Engagement 10. Administration Page 9

10 LWMP Work Plan Five year plan approved by all member agencies Whatcom County Council Bellingham City Council Lake Whatcom Water & Sewer District Commission Guided by original goals formally adopted in 1998 Annual progress reports published Accomplishments highlighted Recommended next steps Update: Reduced annual phosphorus load by an estimated 439 pounds from Page 10

11 LWMP Programs & Objectives 1. Land Preservation 2. Stormwater Capital projects Homeowners Incentive Program 3. Land Use 4. Monitoring & Data 5. Hazardous Materials 6. Recreation 7. Aquatic Invasive Species 8. Utilities & Transportation 9. Education & Engagement 10. Administration Page 11

12 Increased Regulatory Requirements Phosphorus reduction needed to meet water quality standards State: Department of Ecology (DOE) Federal: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) DOE & EPA finalized Lake Whatcom Target per TMDL study in April 2016 Cleanup effort required in 50 years Ultimate goal to reduce phosphorus entering lake from developed areas by 87% compared to current Equates to approximately $950,000/yr in capital cost to County City of Bellingham and Whatcom County are permittees National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for Western Washington Page 12

13 Current Costs & Funding Sources

14 Current Funding Sources Flood Control Zone District Tax County-wide tax Used to fund flood and water resources needs throughout County Provides base funding to LWMP Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) Unincorporated county-wide tax Main source of funding for capital program County Road Tax Unincorporated county-wide tax Base funding for NPDES program Can only be used to fund stormwater issues within the road right-of-way Grants Supplements capital program funding Diminishing over time Can t be used for capital maintenance Page 14

15 Current Program Costs $3,500,000 Program Areas Administration Monitoring and Data Management Capital Construction/Maintenance Homeowners Incentive Program Aquatic Invasive Species NPDES Implementation $3,000,000 $2,500,000 $2,000,000 $1,500,000 HIP AIS Monitoring/Data NPDES Admin/Staff $1,000,000 $500,000 Capital $0 Costs Page 15

16 Anticipated New Program Costs Capital Maintenance Reduced Grant Revenue for Capital Projects HIP/Residential Retrofit Funding Shortfall Enhanced Outreach Page 16

17 Current Costs vs. Revenues $3,500,000 $3,000,000 Anticipated $2,500,000 HIP AIS Monitoring/Data $2,000,000 NPDES $1,500,000 Admin/Staff $1,000,000 $500,000 Capital $0 Costs Page 17

18 Funding Need FCZD tax already provides over $1,400,000/yr (FCZD tax only generates about $340,000/yr in unincorporated watershed) Additional future funding needs No other source of revenue for these expenses Whatcom County model is for FCZD tax to provide program base funding, and have local funding meet needs above that base funding Page 18

19 Lake Whatcom Stormwater Utility

20 Stormwater Utility Stormwater utility selected as mechanism under RCW Boundaries established in December 2017 Supplemental to existing funding sources; Not a replacement. Determine fees in 2018 Fee implementation in 2019 Page 20

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22 Citizen Advisory Committee Council has established a Citizen Advisory Committee Applications to be accepted through April 25 th ; Council selects Open to any resident of the utility service area Anticipate first meeting in May Page 22

23 Fee Development Process

24 Capital Needs Lake Whatcom Comprehensive Stormwater Plan (2008) Stormwater Capital Program Update to Plan (2017) Water quality treatment projects identified and prioritized Treatment goals largely driven by phosphorus reduction Many projects effective at reducing fecal coliform bacteria as well Projects identified in 2017 Update total $8.3 million Project list continuing to be updated and adjusted by County staff More capital costs likely to be identified Page 24

25 Project Locations

26 Operating Needs Staff: Engineering, planning, administration, operations & maintenance, etc. Billing system and collection Materials and supplies Tools and equipment Education and outreach Inspections and monitoring Programmatic and small works (from Comprehensive plan) Basin studies Expand protection of creek riparian areas Ditch retrofits to improve stormwater conveyance Page 26

27 Utility Rate Study

28 Introduction to Utility Rate Making Utility rates are set to recover the cost of providing service Utilities incur two primary types of costs Operating costs (regular / ongoing) Employee salaries and benefits Routine inspections Asset repair and maintenance Capital costs (irregular / periodic) Infrastructure replacement Facility expansions and upgrades Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Operating Capital Page 28

29 Purpose of Utility Rates Generate sufficient revenues to sustain the utility system Recover costs equitably Achieve watershed objectives Other Factors and Assumptions Fiscal policies & reserves Customer growth System reinvestment Use of debt? Rate implementation strategies Page 29

30 Rate Study Process Page 30

31 Rate Study Tasks Citizen advisory committee Issue papers Fiscal Policies; Rate Structure Alternatives; Rate Credits; Capital Facilities Charges; Implementation Forecast operating and capital costs Create funding plan Develop rate structure to execute funding plan Evaluate appropriate level of rate credits and exemptions Capital facilities charges (new development) Implementation strategy Outreach meetings Public education and involvement Report and documentation Page 31

32 Anticipated Project Timeline April 2018 Public Kickoff Meeting Fall 2018 Public Wrap-up Meeting Public Hearing/Comment Period Council Consideration Council Adoption Establish Fee Rolls Fee Collection May to September 2018 Advisory Committee Meetings Page 32

33 How to get Involved? Citizen Advisory Committee Apply to serve Attend public meetings see flier with instructions to sign up for notifications Submit comments & questions Comments forwarded to Advisory Committee Meeting documents and new information posted throughout process Page 33

34 Questions?