HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 2G: Resolution Authorizing EWEB Bonds for Roosevelt and Downtown Projects
ECC
UGENE ITY OUNCIL
AIS
GENDA TEM UMMARY
Adoption of Resolution 4871 Authorizing the Issuance and Sale of Electric Utility
System Revenue Bonds in the Aggregate Principal Amount of Not to Exceed Eight
Million Dollars ($8,000,000) for the Purposes of Financing Capital Improvements to the
Electric Utility System and Providing for Related Matters
Meeting Date: May 8, 2006 Agenda Item Number: 2G
Department: Central Services Staff Contact: Sue Cutsogeorge
www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-5589
ISSUE STATEMENT
The Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) is requesting authority to proceed with the issuance of
Electric Utility System Revenue Bonds in the amount of $8,000,000, for design and development work
associated with relocation of certain EWEB operating functions to a new site in west Eugene, design
work for remodel of the existing downtown EWEB headquarters building, and preliminary planning
work related to EWEB property located at the downtown riverfront site. This is the second of two
resolutions that are being brought back to the council in accordance with direction given at the April 10
meeting to split the bond issuance authority into two parts.
BACKGROUND
A new authorization for $8,000,000 of Electric System Revenue Bonds is being requested under the
provisions of the Uniform Revenue Bond Act (URBA). The bonds issued pursuant to this authorization
will provide funds for design and development work associated with relocation of certain EWEB
operating functions to a new site in west Eugene, design work for remodel of the existing downtown
EWEB headquarters building, and preliminary planning work related to EWEB property located at the
downtown riverfront site (the “2006 New Project”). The bonds will also provide funding for necessary
reserves and the costs of bond issuance.
At the April 10 meeting, the council requested additional background information on the projects that
would be funded with these bonds. In response to that request, the following information is included as
attachments to this Agenda Item Summary:
?Eugene Water & Electric Board Revenue Bond Authorization Request, which sets out summary
information on the way the bond proceeds will be used for the west Eugene project and planning
work for the downtown site (Attachment B)
?Riverfront Site Planning Project, which provides summary information about the planning effort
for this site (Attachment C)
?Site map for the Roosevelt site (Attachment D)
?Questions and Answers, which provides answers to some questions asked about the project by
councilors (Attachment E)
L:\CMO\2006 Council Agendas\M060508\S0605082G.doc
This item is the second piece being brought back to the council based on direction at the April 10
meeting to split the bond issuance authority into two parts. The first piece was the refunding and
electric system improvement authorization that was brought back to the council as a separate item on
this same date.
RELATED CITY POLICIES
There are no City policies related to this item.
COUNCIL OPTIONS
The council can approve or not approve this resolution. If the council does not approve the resolution,
EWEB would not be able to proceed with the URBA process to allow for the issuance of the bonds to
finance the design of the proposed operation facility in West Eugene and, as a result, will not be able to
proceed with design and planning associated relocation of operations functions to the new west Eugene
site under the current timeline.
CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION
The City Manager recommends approval of the resolution.
SUGGESTED MOTION
Move to adopt Resolution 4871 authorizing the issuance and sale of Electric Utility System Revenue
Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of not to exceed eight million dollars ($8,000,000) for the
purposes of financing capital improvements to the Electric Utility System and providing for related
matters.
ATTACHMENTS
A. Proposed Resolution
B. Eugene Water & Electric Board Revenue Bond Authorization Request
C. Riverfront Site Planning Project
D. Roosevelt Site Map
E. Questions and Answers
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Staff Contact: Sue Cutsogeorge
Telephone: 682-5589
Staff E-Mail: Sue.L.Cutsogeorge@ci.eugene.or.us
EWEB Contact: Jim Origliosso
Telephone: 484-3753
E-Mail: Jim.Origliosso@eweb.eugene.or.us
L:\CMO\2006 Council Agendas\M060508\S0605082G.doc
ATTACHMENT A
RESOLUTION NO. ____
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF ELECTRIC
UTILITY SYSTEM REVENUE BONDS IN THE AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT
OF NOT TO EXCEED E IGHT MILLION DOLLARS ($8,000,000) FOR THE PURPOSES
OF FINANCING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ELECTRIC UTILITY
SYSTEM AND PROVIDING FOR RELATED MATTERS
The City Council of the City of Eugene finds that:
A.
ORS §288.805 to §288.945, commonly known as the Uniform Revenue Bond Act,
authorizes the City to issue bonds payable solely from revenues generated by facilities,
projects, utilities or systems owned or operated by the City. The City, acting by and through
the Eugene Water & Electric Board (“EWEB”), owns and operates an electric utility and
related facilities and systems.
B.
On June 16, 1986 EWEB adopted a resolution authorizing and providing for the issuance,
from time to time, of City of Eugene, Oregon Electric System Revenue Bonds to be equally
and ratably secured by the pledge of revenues, funds and accounts thereunder (as amended
and supplemented, the “Bond Resolution”).
C.
The Bond Resolution provides in part that the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on
the bonds issued thereunder shall not be payable from any funds of the City nor constitute a
general obligation of the City or create a charge upon the tax revenues or any other property
or revenues of the City.
D.
It is in the best interest of the City, acting by and through EWEB, to provide funds for the
principal purposes of design and development work associated with relocation of certain
EWEB operating functions to a new site in West Eugene, design work for remodel of the
existing downtown EWEB headquarters building and preliminary planning work related to
EWEB property located at the downtown riverfront site (the “2006 New Project”).
E.
The cost of the 2006 New Project, including bond issuance costs and debt service reserves,
is estimated not to exceed $8,000,000.
F.
EWEB has requested by resolution that the City Council adopt this Resolution in part to set
the terms for the issuance of not to exceed $8,000,000 principal amount of Bonds (as
defined herein), which Bonds will not be general obligations of the City, nor a charge upon
its tax revenues, but will be payable solely from revenues of the Electric Utility System
which EWEB pledges to the payment of such bonds pursuant to ORS 288.825(1) and the
resolutions to be adopted by EWEB pursuant to this Resolution.
G.
ORS §288.815 provides, in part, that in connection with the City’s issuance of bonds
payable solely from revenues of the Electric Utility System under the Uniform Revenue
Bond Act, if the City receives petitions containing valid signatures of the City’s qualified
electors totaling not less than five percent of the City’s qualified electors, the question of
issuing such bonds shall be placed on the ballot at the next legally available election date.
Section 2.981 of the City of Eugene Code further provides that an election on a matter
referred by the voters shall be held at an election that is not sooner than the 90th day after
certification and acceptance of the referendum, unless the City Council calls an earlier
election which can be held as early as 66 days after certification and acceptance of the
petition.
H.
EWEB has by resolution undertaken to cause to be prepared a plan showing that EWEB’s
estimated Electric Utility System revenues are sufficient to pay the estimated debt service on
the Bonds authorized by this Resolution.
I.
The City, including EWEB, anticipates incurring expenditures (“Expenditures”) to finance
the costs of the 2006 New Project and wishes to declare official intent to reimburse itself for
the expenditures made on the 2006 New Project from the proceeds of the Bonds. To the
extent that the expenditures and the use of proceeds of the Bonds may qualify under federal
tax law and regulations, the City, including EWEB, intends for the interest on such Bonds to
be excludable from gross income for federal income tax purposes under §103 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
J.
EWEB has requested by resolution that the City Council adopt this Resolution in part to
authorize the publication of the Notice of Revenue Bond Authorization relating to the Bonds,
such notice being in substantially the form attached to this Resolution as Exhibit “A” (the
“Notice”). The Notice shall specify the last date on which petitions may be submitted, and
the City, acting by and through EWEB, shall cause the Notice to be published in The
Register-Guard, a newspaper of general circulation within the boundaries of the City, in the
same manner as are other public notices of the City.
NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EUGENE, a
municipal corporation of the State of Oregon, as follows:
Section 1.
Authorization of Bonds and Publication of Notice; Purpose of Issue. Based
on the above findings (subject to the prior publication of the Notice and the expiration of the 60-
day period following the publication of the Notice without the receipt of a petition for an election
questioning the issuance of the Bonds, which facts and circumstances shall be determined
conclusively and for all purposes by any individual designated by EWEB), the Council hereby
authorizes EWEB, on behalf of the City, to issue and sell “City of Eugene, Oregon Electric
Utility System Revenue Bonds” (the “Bonds”), in one or more series, in the aggregate principal
amount of not to exceed $8,000,000, for the purpose of financing the costs of the design,
construction, installation, acquisition and equipping of the 2006 New Project, and to fund any
required reserves and costs of issuance, and to publish the Notice as aforesaid. If petitions for an
election, containing the valid signatures of not less than 5 percent of the City’s qualified electors,
are received within the time indicated in the Notice, the question of issuing the Bonds shall be
placed on the ballot at the next legally available election date that is at least 66 days after
certification and acceptance of the petition. If such petitions are received no Bonds may be sold
until the question of whether to issue the Bonds is approved by a majority of electors living
within the boundaries of the City who vote on that question. Any such petitions will be subject
to ORS 288.815 and Sections 2.970-2.992 of The Eugene Code, 1971.
Section 2.
Conditions of Issuance and Sale. The City Council hereby prescribes that:
(a) The Bonds of each series shall: (i) mature not later than thirty (30) years
from the date of issuance of the series; (ii) be sold pursuant to public competitive bid pursuant to
ORS §288.835 at par or with a net original issue discount or premium that does not exceed seven
percent (7%) of the aggregate principal amount thereof; and (iii) have an effective interest rate of
not to exceed seven percent (7%) per annum; and
(b) The proceeds of the Bonds shall be used to finance the 2006 New Project,
to pay related costs of issuance and to fund a reserve fund for the payment of Bonds.
Section 3.
Delegation of Authority for Terms of Bonds; Provisions for Issuance.
Pursuant to ORS §288.825(4)(a), ORS §288.520(4), ORS §288.540 and ORS §288.545, EWEB,
or any individual designated by EWEB, is hereby authorized and directed to determine, with
respect to the Bonds, the form of bond and series designation, the manner of disbursement of
proceeds of the bonds, the maturity dates, principal amounts, redemption provisions, interest
rates or the method for determining a variable or adjustable interest rate, denominations, form
and authorized signatory and other terms and conditions of the Bonds because the same cannot
be determined by the Council at this time. Prior to the issuance of any Bonds, EWEB shall: (i)
prepare a plan showing that the estimated Electric Utility System revenues are sufficient to pay
the estimated debt service on the Bonds; (ii) adopt a bond resolution and provide a copy of such
resolution to the City; and (iii) provide to the City a resolution determining that any and all acts,
conditions and things required to exist, to happen and to be performed precedent to and in the
issuance of the Bonds, exist, have happened and have been performed in due time, form and
manner as required by the Constitution and statutes of the State of Oregon, the Charter of the
City of Eugene and any other applicable resolutions of the Eugene City Council.
Section 4.
Declaring Intent To Reimburse. The City reasonably anticipates that the City
and EWEB may incur preliminary, cost of issuance and other project expenditures that qualify as
“Original Expenditures” under Treasury Regulation §1.150-2 prior to the date of issuance of the
Bonds, and hereby declares its official intent to reimburse itself, including EWEB, with proceeds
of the sale of the Bonds to be issued in an amount not to exceed $8,000,000.
Section 5.
Statement on Form of Bond. All Bonds shall include a statement on their face
to the effect:
(a) That they do not in any manner constitute a general obligation of EWEB
or of the City, or create a charge upon the tax revenues of the City, or upon any other revenues or
property of the City, or property of EWEB, but are charges upon and are payable solely from the
revenues of the Electric Utility System operated by EWEB, or any portion thereof, pledged to the
payment thereof; and
(b) That the holders thereof may look for repayment only to the revenues of
the Electric Utility System which are pledged for the payment thereof, and may not directly or
indirectly be paid or compensated through the property of the City, or EWEB, or by or through
the taxing power of the City.
Section 6.
Bonds Payable Solely from Revenues. The Bonds shall not be general
obligations of the City, nor a charge upon its tax revenues, but shall be payable solely from the
revenues and funds of the Electric Utility System which EWEB pledges to the payment thereof
pursuant to ORS §288.825 and in accordance with this Resolution.
Section 7.
Bonds Reporting. EWEB shall submit to the City by May 1 of each year the
following annual reports commencing after the first sale of any Bonds or other evidences of
indebtedness hereunder and each year thereafter until the Bonds have been paid and retired:
(a) A report on the funds for each series of Bonds describing the funds
established, the amounts in each fund, expenditure from each fund, the manner in which the
monies in each fund have been invested, the income from such investments and the application
of such income; and
(b) A report on Bond payments describing amounts paid and amounts
scheduled to be paid and the source of such payments.
If the contents of the reports required by subsections (a) and (b) above are
included in the yearly audit report of EWEB, then EWEB may comply with this section 7 by
transmitting a copy of its yearly audit report to the City.
Section 8.
Appointment of Professionals. EWEB is authorized to appoint bond counsel,
disclosure counsel, financial advisors, a registrar and paying agent and any other professional
assistance that EWEB determines is necessary or convenient to accomplish the issuance and sale
of any or all of the Bonds.
Section 9.
Official Statement; Sale Documents. EWEB or any party designated by
EWEB is authorized to prepare and distribute or direct the preparation and distribution of one or
more preliminary official statement(s) or other disclosure document(s) for any of the Bonds or in
connection with a preliminary official statement or other disclosure document for any other
bonds, as determined to be necessary by EWEB, to obtain bond insurance or other credit
enhancement or commitments therefor, if required, to obtain a rating on any or all of the Bonds
from Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., Standard & Poor’s and/or Fitch Ratings, if required, and
to issue and publish such notices of sale of the Bonds as may be necessary or required to
accomplish the public competitive sale of the Bonds in accordance with this Resolution.
Section 10.
Effective Date of Resolution. This Resolution shall become effective
immediately upon its adoption.
The foregoing Resolution adopted on this ___ day of ____, 2006.
________________________________________
City Recorder
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF NOTICE OF REVENUE BOND AUTHORIZATION
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN
that the City Council of the City of Eugene, Oregon (the
**
“City”) has adopted Resolution No. ____ on __________, 2006, authorizing the issuance of the
City’s revenue bonds acting by and through the Eugene Water & Electric Board (“EWEB”). The
bonds will be issued in one or more series to provide funds for the financing of capital
improvements to the Electric Utility System operated by EWEB, consisting primarily of design
and development work associated with relocation of certain EWEB operating functions to a new
site in West Eugene, design work for remodel of the existing downtown EWEB headquarters
building and preliminary planning work related to EWEB property located at the downtown
riverfront site (the “2006 New Project”) and to fund any necessary reserves and costs of issuance.
Subject to certain parameters, EWEB may establish all terms, conditions and covenants
regarding the bonds and the revenues which are necessary or desirable to effect the sale of the
bonds.
The bonds will be issued in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $8,000,000.
Bond principal and interest will be paid from EWEB’s Electric Utility System revenues. The
bonds will not be general obligations of the City, nor a charge upon its tax revenues, but will be
payable solely from the revenues of the Electric Utility System which EWEB pledges to the
payment of the bonds.
If written petitions, signed by not less than 5 percent of the City’s qualified electors, are
**st
filed at the Office of the City Recorder on or before ___________, 2006 (the 61 day after the
date of publication of this notice), the question of issuing $8,000,000 of the revenue bonds shall
be placed on the ballot at the next legally available election date that is at least 66 days after
certification and acceptance of the petition. Any such petition shall be subject to ORS 288.815
and Sections 2.970-2.992 of The Eugene Code, 1971.
The Office of the City Recorder is located at 777 Pearl Street, Room 105, Eugene,
Oregon 97401. Information on procedures for filing petitions may also be obtained at such
address or by telephone at (541) 682-5042.
The resolution authorizing the bonds is available for inspection at the Office of the City
Recorder.
The bonds will be issued and sold under the Uniform Revenue Bond Act (ORS 288.805
to 288.945); this notice is published pursuant to ORS 288.815(7).
*
Information must be included prior to publication of the notice.
ATTACHMENT B
Eugene Water & Electric Board
Revenue Bond Authorization Request
Issue Statement. The Eugene Water & Electric Board requests City Council approval to issue, under provisions of
the Uniform Revenue Bond Act (URBA), $8,000,000 in electric system revenue bonds to pay for design and
development costs related to relocation of EWEB operations facilities to west Eugene.
Purpose of Proposed Bond Authorization. The $8 million is for design for relocation of EWEB operations
functions to a new site on Roosevelt Boulevard in West Eugene, design for remodel of the existing EWEB
headquarters building in downtown Eugene, and preliminary planning for the downtown site. This funding
proposal is described more specifically as follows (all amounts are estimated):
?
$4.9 million for final design work;
?
$340,000 for EWEB staff work during the design process;
?
$770,000 for wetlands permitting work related to the new West Eugene site;
?
$110,000 for site planning work associated with the downtown site;
?
$650,000 in debt issuance costs including funding of necessary reserves; and
?
$1.2 million in contingency funds.
Money not spent on design can be used for related construction of the new facilities.
The Roosevelt Site. The Roosevelt site, located at the southeast corner of Beltline and Roosevelt, is 46 acres in size
and zoned for industrial use. The site has been used as farmland and also for lumber mill operations. Half of the
site is comprised of wetlands, which EWEB plans to retain as a natural feature. Planned buildings include an
operations building (set to house electric and water operations and engineering functions), warehouse, fleet
operations and storage center, and fuel and wash building. Also planned is a material storage yard and employee
parking. The site plan includes space for a future Administration Building.
EWEB’s plans for the existing downtown site. Some remodeling is planned at EWEB’s existing HQ building to
upgrade systems and accommodate rearrangement of remaining administrative and customer functions. The
$110,000 for preliminary planning for the downtown site includes identifying possible lot line adjustments and
easement locations, identifying applicable Metro Plan land use designations, determining possible zoning, and
determining how best to meet City planning requirements. This planning work will comply with guidelines set forth
in the adopted Eugene Downtown Plan.
Use of URBA Process for Financing Authorization. In referring a request to the community to issue revenue
bonds, the EWEB Board can have the question placed on the ballot or they can publish a “Notice of Revenue Bond
Authorization” (“URBA process”) stating intent to issue debt, describing the amount, purpose, and process whereby
if written petitions signed by at least 5% of city’s qualified electors are filed within 60 days after date of publication
of the Notice, the question of issuing the debt will be placed on the ballot at the next available election date.
After careful consideration, the Board decided to use the URBA process for several reasons:
?
Use of URBA will save EWEB customers an estimated $30,000 - $50,000 cost to place measure on ballot;
?
Requested amount is a relatively small part of the overall estimated cost for new facility (current estimate is
$80 - $85 million) and similar in size to previous bond authorizations EWEB has obtained with URBA;
?
EWEB has successfully used the URBA process in the past; and
?
The Board believes customers will be supportive of the authorization request.
Potential rate impact of the $8 million funding request. An $8 million bond issue would result in approximately
$600,000/year in debt service (principal and interest), which equates to between 0.3% and 0.4% impact on electric
rates (annual). The Board would factor that amount into 2007 budget planning and determine if other utility costs
could be adjusted or if that amount would be included in a future rate action.
Development Schedule for Roosevelt Project and Headquarters Building Remodel.
?
Design Funding Authorization: July 2006
?
Final Design: July 2006 – September 2007
?
Construction Financing Authorization: Fall 2007
?
Construction: April 2008 – April 2010
Revised: April 25, 2006
ATTACHMENT C
Eugene Water & Electric Board
Riverfront Site Planning Project
Issue Statement.On February 21, 2006 the EWEB Board of Commissioners directed staff to pursue final
design of the Roosevelt site to accommodate the operations portion of the riverfront headquarters functions.
This raised the question of how to plan for the functions that would remain on the site, as well as the land
that EWEB would no longer need. A project team was formed to develop a project scope, which will lead
to a Board Approved Master Plan that meets City planning requirements. The cost estimate for this
preliminary planning work is $110,000, which is included in the $8,000,000 electric system revenue bond
request that EWEB is seeking through the URBA process.
Purpose of EWEB’s planning for the Riverfront Site. The Project Team has developed a Scope
Document that will help guide creation of a master plan for the Riverfront site. This Scope acknowledges
both EWEB’s goals and objectives as well as those expressed by the City of Eugene in the Downtown Plan.
EWEB Vision: In April 2000, the EWEB Commissioners conducted a visioning process for the
riverfront site. The following goals were adopted as part of that process and continue to guide the
planning work for the riverfront site (“Eugene Water & Electric Board Headquarter’s Visioning”,
April 18, 2000, page 1):
1.
Protect the Riparian Edge,
2.
Maximize Operational Efficiencies, and
3.
Minimize Rate Impacts to our Ratepayers.
Eugene Downtown Plan: In April 2004, the Eugene City Council approved the “Eugene Downtown
Plan,” as “a framework” for Downtown Eugene. The plan calls for the City to “Partner with EWEB
to develop a master plan for the EWEB site.” The principles to be applied to the riverfront site
include creating a “people place” that is accessible and multi-use; provide appropriate setbacks;
incorporate appropriate building and site design and incorporate educational aspects into the site.
EWEB’s role in site planning.EWEB staff is working with legal counsel to clarify EWEB’s authority
and role in performing master planning type work for EWEB property. EWEB has a fiduciary
responsibility to ratepayers to maximize the value of the utility’s assets, including property. This includes
the responsibility and authority to engage in limited land use planning processes that facilitate exercising
other EWEB charter obligations related to operation of the utility and provision of essential services.
Schedule for Preliminary Planning work on the EWEB Riverfront Site.
?
Initial EWEB Site PlanningWork will begin after bond authorization has been obtained for the
Roosevelt Final Design. This will involve preliminary planning for the EWEB riverfront site,
which includes identifying possible lot line adjustments and easement locations, identifying
applicable Metro Plan land use designations, determining possible zoning for identified parcels,
and determining how best to meet City planning requirements (July 2006 – September 2007).
?
Second phase EWEB Site Planning will begin after bond authorization for the construction of the
Roosevelt Site has been obtained. EWEB would begin work on a Metro Plan Amendment, Zone
Change, re-aligning tax lot lines, and related land-use changes needed to maximize the value of
the land for possible sale (begin fall 2007).
A Declaration of Surplus land is not part of this Preliminary Planning project and would not occur until
construction of the new utility facilities have been completed on the Roosevelt site and EWEB operations
have been moved off the Riverfront Site (2009 or 2010).
Revised: April 25, 2006
ATTACHMENT E
EUGENE WATER & ELECTRIC BOARD
RELOCATION PROJECT
REVENUE BOND AUTHORIZATION REQUEST
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Eugene City Councilors raised several questions in their consideration of the April 10,
2006 Eugene Water & Electric Board request to issue $26.3 million in electric system
1
revenue bonds. Answers to these questions are provided below.
1. Why is EWEB using the URBA process to obtain approval of the $8 million
funding request?
The EWEB Board of Commissioners heard extensive public testimony from
citizens and other interested parties concerning possible relocation of EWEB and
future disposition of any unneeded parcels of the EWEB riverfront property. After
many months of reflection and discussion, the EWEB Board is in unanimous
agreement that the financing for design for moving the industrial operations off
the riverfront to the newly purchased Roosevelt property could best be
accomplished through use of the URBA process.
After careful consideration of the alternatives, the Board decided to use the
URBA process for funding the design portion of the new EWEB facility
development for several reasons:
?
Using the URBA process is expected to save EWEB customers the
estimated $30,000 - $50,000 cost to place a measure on the ballot;
?
The requested amount ($8 million) is a relatively small part of the overall
estimated cost for the new facility (current estimate is $80 - $85 million);
?
This amount is similar in size to previous bond authorization requests
EWEB has obtained with URBA;
?
EWEB has successfully used the URBA process in the past; and
?
The Board believes that customers will be supportive of the authorization
request.
A summary of EWEB’s use of the URBA process for electric and water revenue bond
authorizations follows:
1
Some of this material is also provided in summary form in the one page summary that is attached herein
and titled “Revenue Bond Authorization Request”.
1
ATTACHMENT E
Eugene Water & Electric BoardApril 25, 2006
URBA Process - Bond Authorization Summary
1997 - 2005
Electric Utility
URBAAuthorizedRemaining
DateAmountAuthorizationPurpose
1997$15,000,000 -Telecommunications
2001$50,000,000$2,930,000Electric System Improvements
2001$60,000,000$30,000,000Power Supply Contingency
2001$60,000,000$30,000,000Pension Bonds
2005$15,000,000$1,925,000Carmen Smith, Building Project
Water Utility
URBAAuthorizedRemaining
DateAmountAuthorizationPurpose
1999$36,000,000$14,595,000Water Supply Plan
2002$11,000,000$1,000,000Ground Water Wells
2. Please provide additional information on the purpose of the $8 million funding
request.
The proposed bond resolution requests City authorization to allow EWEB to issue
up to $8 million in electric system revenue bonds to pay for design and
development work for relocation of certain EWEB operating functions to the new
Roosevelt site in west Eugene, design work for remodel of the existing
headquarters building located at the current EWEB site in downtown Eugene, and
preliminary planning work associated with the downtown site.
The $8 million amount is comprised of the following estimated amounts:
?
$4.9 million for final design work;
?
$340,000 for EWEB staff support during the design process;
?
$770,000 for wetlands related permitting work related to the new West
Eugene site;
?
$110,000 for site planning work associated with the downtown site (see #4
below);
?
$650,000 in debt issuance costs including funding of necessary reserves;
and
?
$1.2 million in contingency funds.
Any money not spent in the design phase can be used for construction of the
facilities and other related costs.
2
ATTACHMENT E
It is important to note that the EWEB Board has not approved the design estimate
or the overall construction estimate. It is expected the design estimate will be
approved by the Board when they authorize staff to execute the project design
agreement (currently scheduled in June). It is expected a final estimate for the
total construction cost will be approved by the Board when they approve the bond
authorization request for the construction financing (currently scheduled for late
summer of 2007).
3. What is the potential rate impact of the $8 million request?
An $8 million bond issue would result in approximately $600,000 per year in debt
service (principal and interest), which equates to somewhat less than a 0.4 percent
impact on electric rates on an annual basis.
A rate increase may not be necessary to cover these additional costs. Prior to any
decision to adjust rates to cover these costs, the Board will factor this amount into
planning for the 2007 budget and determine if other utility costs would be
adjusted or if this debt service amount would be included in a future rate action.
4. Please provide more information on EWEB’s plan for the existing downtown site.
The conceptual design for relocation assumes some remodeling at EWEB’s
existing headquarters building to upgrade certain building systems and to
accommodate rearrangement of administrative and customer functions remaining
downtown.
For the remainder of the EWEB downtown site, EWEB will initiate in 2006 a
planning project (the “Riverfront Site Planning Project”) (estimated cost:
$110,000) to comply with guidelines set forth in the adopted Eugene Downtown
Plan. Steps in this work will include clarifying boundaries of the Downtown
Renewal District, identifying possible lot line adjustments and easement
locations, identifying applicable Metro Plan land use designations, determining
possible zoning, and determining how best to meet all City planning
requirements. This plan will be reviewed with and ultimately approved by the
EWEB Board.
This process will also rely on EWEB Board goals (adopted in 2000) for
redevelopment of the riverfront site; those goals include (1) protecting the riparian
edge, (2) maximizing operational efficiencies, and (3) minimizing rate impacts for
EWEB customers.
Completion of the plan is scheduled for November 2007.
3
ATTACHMENT E
5. Why was the word “surplus” deleted from the resolution?
The EWEB Board requested that the term “surplus” be removed from the
resolution prior to their approval. The Board agreed that no EWEB property
would be “surplus” until the various electric and water operations functions had
been relocated to the Roosevelt site and sufficient planning and assessment work
had been completed to identify which specific parts of the remaining property
might not be needed for utility functions. Several essential utility functions will
remain on the riverfront site.
This change was highlighted for the council because the council information
packets had already been sent out by the time the revised resolution was
forwarded from EWEB.
6. What is the estimated cost if EWEB were to remain at their present downtown
location?
Although various high level estimates of this cost have been developed in the
past, there has not been any careful study or cost estimate completed in the past
several years.
The EWEB Board recognized at least two years ago that EWEB’s current
downtown site was not adequate for the long term cost-effective siting of water
and electric utility operations and related equipment and material storage. In
early 2005, the Board commissioned a detailed evaluation of the requirements and
cost to move all EWEB functions (customer service, administration, water and
electric operations, material storage, etc.) to a new site in west Eugene. As that
analysis progressed, the Board asked that an additional analysis (the “split
alternative”) also be prepared where administrative and customer service
functions would remain downtown in the existing headquarters building and the
electric and water operations functions would be relocated to west Eugene. The
Board decided in February 2006 to proceed with this “split alternative”.
7. Some Councilors questioned EWEB’s use of the term “Master Plan”. Does
EWEB intend to "Master Plan" the Riverfront site?
EWEB fully intends to comply with requirements of the City's Downtown Plan
and other regulations relative to the EWEB Riverfront site.
EWEB staff is currently working with City staff to understand the roles,
responsibilities and requirements relative to the planning effort. The EWEB
Board will begin discussions about this work early next month. Initially, the
discussions will focus on a staff developed scope of work that includes ratification
of the objectives adopted by the Board in 2000. The outcome of EWEB's
Riverfront Site Planning Project may or may not ultimately be titled a "master
plan"; however, it will be developed with full knowledge of the City.
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