02/14/1983 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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- e e Peter De Fazio, 7395 Fourth Street, Springfield, said that he had also testified at the Springfield City Council's hearing on the proposed rate increases. He opposed the flat fee, since he felt it was a disincentive to conservation of water. He said that he had conducted an informal survey of flow rates among his acquaintances and had found that most of them used water amounts below the supposed average on which the flat rate was based. He urged the council to support institution of a flow-based rate. There being no further testimony, the public hearing was closed. Mr. Smith responded to issues raised during testimony. He said that $7 million in Federal funds was available for construction of sewers in River Road-Santa Clara and that this money might not be available after Federal Fiscal Year 1984. He said that all sewer users would pay the $.20 construction fee and that River Road-Santa Clara residents would pay this rate plus development charges when they were connected to the sewer system. Mr. Gleason emphasized that the pro- posal was just to construct a trunk system in River Road-Santa Clara and that people in the area would not have to pay for sewers until they were hooked into the system. He noted that the State groundwater permit system required develop- ment of a workable plan for this area or an order to cease and desist from development would be issued. Mr. Smith said that if owners of apartment buildings that are on a single meter request it, they can be switched over to the commercial rate. He said that the administrative mechanisms of the Eugene Water and Electirc Board (EWEB), the Springfield Utility Board (SUB) and the Rainbow Water District currently did not allow for implementation of flow-based rates but that institution of this rate was being considered. Mr. Smith said that the new treatment plant must be used as soon as possible due to the requirements of area discharge permits. He said that the $2.00 per month user charge for plant operation could be covered by property taxes rather than user fees but that this would not provide any real savings to the homeowner. Mr. Gleason said that since the the State requires that the utility account be audited annually it would be clear from that audit whether the proposed rates are higher than necessary. He said if this were the case the accumulated amount would be used to offset rates in future years. He said the jurisidictions were required to operate the existing Eugene, Springfield, and Airport plants simultaneously with the new plant for at least 30 days so that the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) can analyze discharge and determine whether the new plant is meeting required standards. Councilor Smith, speaking as the council IS representative on the MWMC, said that group had considered flow-based rates and was concerned that such rates be instituted as soon as possible. She said that she and Councilor Schue were serving on a task force working with the utilities toward implementation of such rates as soon as operationally possible. Responding to a question from Councilor Lindberg regarding the delay in moving to a flow-based rate, Mr. Smith introduced Kees Corssmit of CH2M-Hill to discuss the sewer rate study that firm had conducted for the City. Mr. Corssmit MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 14, 1983 Page 3