HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/06/2000, 4B - 2000 SEWER FUND REVIEW counat6, 2000
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LA ac,Enaa REpout 4B
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
FROM: John Moss,Utilities Director
Prepared By: Sue Baasch,Administrative Analyst
Dave Hix,Wastewater Division Manager
SUBJECT: 2000 SEWER FUND REVIEW
CAO RECOMMENDATION
1. Review and file the 2000 annual sewer fund financial review; and
2. Conceptually approve the proposed operating program change request ($11,300) and
capital improvement plan request($30,000),pending the June 20,2000,budget review.
DISCUSSION
This report presents the annual review of the sewer fund and no changes are recommended to the
currently adopted sewer rate resolution. Last year, Council approved increasing sewer rates by
4.0 percent, effective July 1, 2000. The analysis shows that the currently adopted rate increase
will provide sewer revenues adequate to fund proposed expenditures in 2000-01.
There are two recommended changes to the currently approved 2000-01 Budget:
Significant Operating Program Change Request
❑ Half-time temporary laboratory aid for the Water Reclamation Facility($11,300).
Capital Improvement Plan Request
❑ Wastewater collection telemetry system enhancements ($30,000).
Within this analysis are three prior years of financial information, an update to projections for the
1999-00 year end, and a forecast for the next three years through 2002-03. In summary, this
analysis confirms that with the adopted rate increase, the sewer fund will meet the fiscal policies
established by the City and will support the recommended operating budgets and capital
improvement plan contained in the 2000-01 budget. In addition, this analysis includes estimates
for the revenues required to fund the sewer master plan improvements.
Background
The following is a brief update on key sewer fund projects:
❑ Laguna Lift Station design and construction
Design for the Laguna Lift Station and Force Main has been completed and the project
should shortly be before Council for approval to bid. The budget for this project is
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Council Agenda Report-2000 Sewer Fund Review
Page 2
$1,500,000, and was included in the 1999-00 capital improvement plan budget. The project
will replace the lift station and force main (both are over capacity) with a low-maintenance,
above ground, efficient lift station and sub-surface force main. Completion of the project is
targeted for early 2001.
❑ Wastewater Master Plan Collection System development and implementation
Preliminary studies of the Tank Farm Lift station and surrounding service area recommended
that constructing a gravity sewer main along Tank Farm Road to a new lift station near the
Margarita area would be the best method for providing service to the Edna Islay, Airport
Area and portions of the Margarita areas. The new lift station would consolidate and replace
the existing Tank Farm, Rockview, Airport and Fuller Road lift stations and would provide
sufficient capacity to meet the build out of the City's General Plan. Design services
($500,000) have been approved in the 00-01 Capital Improvement Plan.
Construction of this project is estimated to cost $4,500,000, and has been included in the
2002-03 Capital Improvement Plan. This project will be debt-financed.
❑ Wastewater Master Plan Water Reclamation Facility Improvements
The analysis includes $1,780,000 for improvements at the Water Reclamation Facility.
These improvements will be defined through the Master Plan and presented to the Council
for consideration in the near future.
❑ Sewer residential rate study—preliminary findings
As presented to Council at last year's annual sewer fund analysis, staff has proceeded to study
options to the current sewer residential rate structure. William Ferry, who previously
prepared extensive sewer fund revenue projections as a part of the City's application for State
Revolving Loan Funds for the major upgrade to the Water Reclamation Facility, is
completing the study for the Utilities Department. It is part of the Department's ongoing
effort to examine alternative rate structures, and billing and payment options that are most
convenient and cost-effective for our customers. The report is nearing completion and the
results and any recommendation for rate structure changes will be presented to Council prior
to the 2001 sewer fiord analysis.
The issue addressed through the study is as follows: A number of customers have expressed
dissatisfaction with the sewer residential rate structure, as it is a flat rate that does not account
for lot size, number of dwelling unit occupants, or size of structure. A single person
household pays the same for sewer as a six person household. Flat rates for residential sewer
is the norm in California, but staff is studying the strengths and weaknesses of alternative
residential rate structures. It must be noted, however, that any change in rate structure would
not change the total revenue required. It would only change who pays what amount.
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Council Agenda Report-2000 Sewer Fund Review
Page 3
1999-01 Financial Plan Supplement: 2000-01 Budget
• Significant Operating Program Change Request
The request is to approve hiring a half-time temporary Laboratory Aid for the Water Reclamation
Facility to assist with significant workload increases due to mandated process control and
legislative requirements ($11,300 a year).
• Capital Improvement Plan Request
The request is to replace existing Bristol-Babcock 3330 telemetry controllers at the eight City
wastewater collection lift station sites, the Cal Poly flow vault, the master controllers at the
collection shop and Water Reclamation Facility to increase reliability of the telemetry system and
improve staff's ability to troubleshoot and maintain the system($30,000).
Rate Review Exhibits
Financial schedules providing detail for the sewer fund analysis are provided in Exhibits A.1
through A.3. These include an analysis showing changes in working capital from 1996-97 to
2002-03; summary of key assumptions by year; and the proposed three year capital improvement
plan.
Rate Setting Methodology
In determining sewer revenue requirements and setting recommended rates,the following general
methodology is used:
Step 1: Determine Sewer Fund revenue requirements for:
■ Operations and maintenance
■ Capital improvements and replacements
■ Debt service obligations (existing and projected)
Step 2: Subtract from this amount "non-rate revenues" such as:
■ Interest earnings
■ Connection fees
■ Other service charges(lateral installations and abandonments, etc.)
Step 3: Identify sewer rate requirements:
■ Revenue needed to be generated from sewer rates is the difference between.
sewer revenue requirements (Step 1)and "non-rate"revenues(Step 2).
Step 4: Determine new rates:
■ Model the rate base (consumption and customer account assumptions) against
the existing rate structure and rate requirements identified in Step 3.
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Council Agenda Report-2000 Sewer Fund Review
Page 4
Because this analysis is performed over a multi-year period, other factors are considered, such as
working capital available to support capital projects, debt service requirements, and minimum
working capital policy.
Summary of Key Assumptions
The following is a summary of key assumptions for expenditures and revenues:
■ Operations and maintenance costs are based on the preliminary 2000-01 Budget with an
inflation rate of 3%thereafter.
■ Sewer customer growth rate is projected at 1%.
■ Sales to Cal Poly are based on historic use and the 1998 Agreement with Cal Poly. This
agreement set the proportion (71%) of.the commercial rate the University pays to account for
the University's difference from other customers (ownership percentage in the collection
system and at the Water Reclamation Facility).
■ Capital improvement charges (development impact fees) are estimated based on inflation and
customer growth assumptions. This analysis assumes a varying percentage collection of these
fees (see Exhibit A-2). Development occurring under maps vested prior to impact fee
establishment pays only those fees in place at the time of approval.
■ Additional sewer revenues due to the installation of metron water meters for commercial
customers have been assumed as follows: $100,000 in 2000-01; and additional $100,000 in
2001-02.
■ Master Plan implementation reserves are established in 2001-02 ($700,000) and 2002-03
($1,080,000). This is in addition to the design and construction of the Tank Farm Lift Station
in 2001-02.
■ Annual debt service payments of$2,135,700 are to repay the State Revolving Loan Funds
received by the City for the construction of the Unit 3 and 4 improvements to the Water
Reclamation Facility and collection system improvement("Relief Sewer Maid').
■ Annual debt service is increased by $315,000 in 2002-03 to pay for the $4.5 million Tank
Farm Lift Station project.
Conclusion
This review concludes that no changes are necessary to the currently adopted rate resolution,
increasing rates by 4.0 percent in July 2000.
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Council Agenda Report-2000 Sewer Fund Review
Page 5
FISCAL MACT
In July 2000, the previously adopted four percent sewer rate increase establishes monthly sewer
service charges of $23.79 for single family dwellings. This is an increase of$ .91 per month
over the 1999 single family charges.
EX MITS
A. Sewer Fund Review
1. Changes in financial position
2. Assumptions for fund projections
3. Capital improvement plan
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