Item 3 - PH on MWMC Fac. Plan - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council meeting provide the following regarding the 2004 MWMC Facilities Plan: 1) a chart of the history of the plan with outreach and involvement activities; 2) a summary table of the regional wastewater program's relevant public awareness, education, and involvement efforts; and 3) a comprehensive memorandum with detailed explanations and representative samples of the history of the plan with outreach and involvement activities. The 2004 MWMC Facilities Plan and 20-Year Project List was adopted by the City of Springfield on May 17, 2004, after a public hearing. Lane County Commissioners had a work session on the 2004 MWMC Facilities Plan and 20-Year Project List on May 19, 2004; a public hearing will be on June 9 and action scheduled for June 16, 2004. Policy Issues The primary policy question before the council is: Does the council agree with the MWMC that the 2004 MWMC Facilities Plan and 20-Year Project List provide for the wastewater treatment needs of the community in a cost-effective and responsible manner? A related issue is the financial implications of the proposed 2004 MWMC Facilities Plan and associated 20-Year Project List. Funding of the improvements identified in the plan will come from user rates and systems development charges (SDCs). Approximately two-thirds of the system's users are located in Eugene. Adoption of the 20- Year Project List is required to establish a basis for the proposed SDC rates needed to fund growth's equitable share of capital improvements. Wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure are critical components in the support of community and environmental health and well-being. Periodic updates to wastewater facilities are necessary to ensure that the infrastructure remains adequate to handle the projected demands for wastewater collection and treatment without an interruption or deficiency in service that can lead to public health risks, damage to the environment, or economic restrictions due to sewer connection moratoriums. Previous plans, established policies, strategies, significant modeling, evaluation, and citizen involvement provide the foundation for the 2004 MWMC Facilities Plan and 20-Year Project List. The plan provides the most cost-effective set of capital improvements to meet capacity and performance needs while utilizing existing plant assets and building new plant expansions only where necessary. Existing commission policies and guidance, the wastewater discharge permit requirements, and state/federal regulations have provided the context for the 2004 MWMC Facilities Plan. No new policies were developed in connection with the proposed plan. The 2004 MWMC Facilities Plan is based on the least costly system-wide set of improvements needed, addressing both the peak flow and treatment requirements. Failure to implement the 2004 MWMC Facilities Plan in a timely manner would increase the probability of regulatory violations, pose risk to public and environmental health, result in shorter planning and construction timeframes for reacting to system shortfalls, and increase overall costs to sewer users and the community from less efficient planning and financial management processes. It might also result in restrictions to the community's ability to add new users to the system. Council Goals The 2004 MWMC Facilities Plan and 20-Year Project List is related to the council goals of: L:\CMO\2004 Council Agendas\M040614\S0406143.doc