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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-06-13 - AGENDA REPORTS - PROPOSED PURCHASE OF PERMANENT SEWER CONNECTION (2)Agenda Item: 10 CITY OF SANTA CLARITA Q) AGENDA REPORT CONSENT CALENDAR CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: 1 P441) DATE: June 13, 2017 SUBJECT: PROPOSED PURCHASE OF PERMANENT SEWER CONNECTION DEPARTMENT: Neighborhood Services PRESENTER: Kevin Tonoian RECOMMENDED ACTION City Council: Authorize and approve a 20 -year agreement with the Los Angeles County Sanitation District in an amount not to exceed $631,373 for the purchase of a permanent sewer connection to dispose of nuisance groundwater originating from the Shangri-La community. 2. Authorize an ongoing appropriation of $31,568 from Fund 357 to Account No. 12516- 5161.001 (LMD Zone T31) effective Fiscal Year (FY) 2017-18. 3. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all contracts and associated documents, contingent upon the appropriation of funds by the City Council in the annual budget for such Fiscal Year, and execute all documents subject to City Attorney approval. BACKGROUND This action recommends the purchase of a permanent connection to the Los Angeles County Sanitation District (LACSD) for the disposal of nuisance groundwater, originating from Drainage Benefit Assessment Area (DBAA) 18. In 1986, the developer of the Shangri-La community was required by LACSD to install groundwater pumps on Nathan Hill Drive (DBAA 6) and Bakerton Avenue (DBAA 18) to maintain slope stability, which sent the groundwater to the Santa Clara River via the flood control channel. While groundwater coming from Shangri-La is safe for human consumption, the water naturally contains high levels of chloride, from 204-278 milligrams per liter. This exceeds the 100 milligram per liter limit allowed by the State of California for discharge into the river, and although the City of Santa Clarita (City) disagreed, the City was charged with water quality fines. Page 1 PacketPg. 85 To address the State's water quality concerns, in 2010 the City secured a temporary sewer connection permit from the LACSD and re -directed Shangri-La nuisance water to the sewer. Then, in 2014, the City purchased a permanent sewer connection for DBAA 6. Due to the minimal number of gallons discharged from DBAA 6, less than 2,000 gallons per day, the one- time cost for this permanent connection totaled approximately $7,500. A long-term decision on how to dispose of nuisance water originating from DBAA 18 must be made prior to June 30, 2017, as the City's temporary sewer permit has expired. In contrast to DBAA 6, this pump station discharges approximately 37,000 gallons of water to the sewer system each day. Based on this volume, the one-time cost for a permanent sewer connection is $413,989. Several solutions to manage this nuisance water have been considered by staff, including constructing an on-site storage tank and using this groundwater for irrigation purposes. However, in addition to being not financially viable, this option requires a Waste Discharge Requirements Permit from the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Board). Given the high levels of chloride, it is unlikely that the Regional Board would issue a permit for this use. An additional option considered by staff was a potential ecological demonstration project at Discovery Park. This concept, proposed by a third party, encompassed the creation of an ecological solution to remove chlorides from Shangri-La groundwater. This concept combined the use of a standard reverse -osmosis (RO) system and a prototype technology to reduce chlorides and facilitate groundwater recharge. However, the third -party firm was unable to provide empirical evidence to conclusively demonstrate the prototype technology would be effective to remove chlorides, and was also deemed not financially viable. Based on staffs analysis, the financially superior option is to purchase a permanent sewer connection from the LACSD. This can be purchased over 20 years and, inclusive of financing, will cost $631,372. In addition, the LACSD will allow the City to withdraw at any time during the 20 year agreement period should a more preferred and less costly option to reuse this groundwater become available. The 446 residential property owners in Shangri-La each pay an annual special assessment of $159 to support operational costs for their DBAA. This assessment was not calculated to forecast potential costs associated with meeting water quality standards or connecting to the sewer system. The current special assessment is not sufficient to fully cover all costs, resulting in DBAA 6 and 18 having a combined deficit of $414,915. As the same group of property owners that benefit from, and financially contribute to, DBAA 6 and 18 are also located within Landscape Maintenance District (LMD) Zone T31, it has been determined LMD revenues may be utilized to fund operating and capital costs for these DBAAs. The strategy below will allow the City to manage Shangri-La's LMD and DBAAs in a financially responsible manner and minimize fiscal impacts to property owners. Page 2 1. LMD Zone T31 funds in the amount of $149,940 have been identified for appropriation in the proposed FY 2017-18 budget to fund operational expenditures for DBAA 6 and 18. 2. Approval of an ongoing appropriation in the amount of $31,568 from Fund 357 to Account No. 12516-5161.001 (LMD Zone T31) is proposed to finance the permanent sewer connection. Pending Council approval, the first debt service payment to the LACSD will be made on August 1, 2017. 3. DBAA 6 and 18 revenues will continue to be collected at the current rate of $159 per year and used to pay down the deficits accumulated by the two drainage districts. Based on staffs financial forecast, this approach will retire DBAA 6 and 18 deficits by Fiscal Year 2022-23. 4. Upon retiring these deficits, staff will work with property owners to create anew special assessment methodology that will consolidate the LMD and both DBAAs into one zone. This individual zone will establish a lower annual assessment rate for all services and incorporate a consumer price index escalator to allow costs to keep up with inflation. This proposed action will not impact the level of LMD services property owners receive from the City. Adequate zone reserves to cover all forecasted operational costs and future reserve needs will continue to be available in the future. Further, the annual special assessment each residential property owner pays for LMD services will be reduced by $25 beginning in FY 2017- 18. Lastly, staff has met with the four Homeowner Associations in Shangri- La and mailed informative letters to all property owners outlining the recommended action. ALTERNATIVE ACTION Other actions as determined by the City Council. FISCAL IMPACT There is a fiscal impact of $631,373 associated with the approval of a 20 -year agreement between the City and the LACSD for the purchase of a permanent sewer connection to dispose of nuisance water originating from the Shangri-La community. Future annual debt service payments of $31,568 will be contingent upon the appropriation of funds by the City Council. ATTACHMENTS Santa Clarita DBAA 18 (Bakerton Pump Station) Connection Fee Page 3 Packet Pg. 87 10.a COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICTS OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY 1955 Workman Mill Road, Whittier, CA 90601.1400 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 4998, Whittier, CA 90607.4998 Telephone: (562) 6994411, FAX: (562) 699-5422 www.iocsd.org May 15, 2017 Ms. Susan Lynch City of Santa Clarity DBAA 18 (Bakerton Pump Station) 23920 Valencia Boulevard #300 Santa Clarita, CA 91355 Dear Ms. Lynch: GRACE ROBINSON HYDE Chief Engineer and General Manager Wastewater Connection Fee, Surcharge Account Number 9244255, Permit Number 20525 Located at 27807 Bakerton Avenue, Santa Clarita. CA 91387 As of December 15, 1981, all new users of the sewerage system, as well as existing industrial users who increase their historic wastewater discharge by more than 25 percent, are required to pay a connection fee to the Sanitation Districts. This fee is based upon the quantity (flow) and the strength (chemical oxygen demand and suspended solids) of the wastewater discharge. The connection fee is to be paid prior to the time the facility is actually connected to the sewer or, in the case of expanding industrial facilities, at the time of increase in the wastewater discharge. Dischargers who increase their wastewater discharge are required to pay a connection fee for the increased discharge only. Baseline capacity for industrial dischargers (i.e., your company's existing connection fee capacity) is determined from the Districts' paid surcharge records and is based on the highest annual average discharge made to the Districts between fiscal years 1976-77 and 1981-82 or from those industrial waste permits that accurately describe the wastewater discharge. For the determination of connection fee capacity, the term "capacity unit" (CU) has been developed. A capacity unit (CU) is the burden for proper wastewater disposal that a typical single-family home places on the sewerage system in terms of wastewater flow and strength. As submitted with the Districts' letter of March 31, 2017, City of Santa Clarita DBAA 18 (Bakernm Pump Station) has a baseline of 0.00 CU's. Review of the 2015-2016 fiscal year surcharge statement indicates an actual wastewater discharge equivalent to 78.81 CU's. Payment for the difference of 78.81 CUs above the current baseline is now due. At the current connection fee rate for Sanitation District No. 32 of $5,253.00 per capacity unit, a payment of $363,422.62 is required (see attached invoice). To address this charge the following options are available: Option # 1 Return the Surcharge Copy of the enclosed invoice with full payment within 45 days of the date of this letter. Payment received after this date will be subject to an immediate penalty of ten percent of the unpaid connection fee, thereafter followed by a secondary penalty of one and one-half percent per month of the total of the delinquent connection fee plus the ten percent penalty. Packet Pg. 88 10.a City of Santa Clarice DBAA 18 (Bakerton Pump Station) -2- May 15, 2017 Option 02: If City of Santa Clarita DBAA 18 (Bakerton Pump Station) wishes to enter an extended payment schedule to satisfy these charges, please submit a request in writing with a minimum deposit often percent of the billed connection fee. The request and deposit MUST BE RECEIVED within 45 days of the date of this letter. Failure to submit the above mentioned documents within the 45 day period will result in automatic penalties and eliminates the extended payment plan option. If City of Santa Clarita DBAA 18 (Bakerron Pump Station) has any questions, please contact Tanya Garcia of the Sanitation DistrictsSurcharge Section at (562) 908-4288, extension 2609. Very truly yours, for Sharie L. Pike Revenue Collection Supervisor SLP:tg Enclosures Packet Pg. 89 COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICTS GRACE ROBINSON HYDE OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY Chief Engineer and 1955 Workman Mill Road P. 0. Box 4998 General Manager Whittier, California 90607-4998 (562)699.7411 INDUSTRIAL CONNECTION FEE NOTICE OF CHARGES Status As Of May 15, 2017 10.a FOR DISTRICTS' USE ONLY Payment Received Postmark Date I Date Received Group No. I Received By Account Number 9244255 Permit Number 20525 Company Name City of Santa Clarita DBAA 18 for (Bakerton Pump Station) property 27807 Bakerton Avenue 23920 Valencia Boulevard #300 located Santa Clarita, CA 91387 Santa Clarita, CA 91387 at Please return the green copy of this form with payment US Postmarked within 45 days of the date of this invoice. Payment received after this date are considered delinquent and are subj ect to penalty and interest penalty charges. TOTAL CAPACITY USAGE AT SITE ................ 78.81 CU'S LESS CREDIT ...................................... 0.00 CU'S ADDITIONAL CAPACITY UNITS REQUIRED ........ 78.81 CU'S COST PER CAPACITY UNIT FOR DISTRICT 05 ........ $5,253.00 AMOUNT PAID ....................................$50,566.31 TOTAL NOW DUE ............................... $363,422.62 Upon receipt and verification of payment (approximately three weeks), the total number of capacity units at the above address will be 78.81 CU's. C Packe[ Pg. 90 10.a CAPACITY USAGE CALCULATION SHEET (Lang Form 1 Outfall Surcharge CF Rate) Z CREDIT/BASELINE: Surcharge Data: Yes: No: Year. COMMENTS: O Company Name: City of Santa Clarita DBAA 18 (Bakerton Pump Station) By: Tanya Garcia Date: 5/15/201 U Type of Industry: Groundwater Dewatering Slope Stabilization I.W. No. 20525 District No. 32 W Situs Address: 27807 Bakerton Ave. Santa Clarita, CA 91351 Z Z Mailing Address: 23920 Valencia Blvd., #300, Santa Clarita, CA 91355 O Previous IW Permit: U Company Contact: Susan Lynch Tel No. (661)290-2208 y. MPP No, 2803-023-124 Facility ID No. 9244255 TG: -4�551/�G2 - SIC N0. (s) 9199 Change in SIC: Yes No .' Zm rjl New Connection Discharging["[ Current Discharger with New Connection O r FISCAL YR: 20144015 Z h'low= 13.55 MGY / 365 days/year x 1,000,000 = 37,123 gpd Z COD = 0.51 1000 lbs / 365 days/year x 1000 = 1.40 ppd < SS = 0.08 100016s / 365 days/year x 1000 = 0.22 ppd K W IL PROPOSED DISCHARGE Flow (GPD) COD (PPD) SS (PPD) U. O IW FLOW VOLUME -III N COD=( god ) ( 8.34E-6 ) ( mg/I) 1.40 Q 2 53=( gpd) (8.342-6) ( mgtl) 022 U K SANITARY =( 0 cmp)(IS GPD) 0 LL COD=( 0 eap)(0.06430) 0.00 w SS=( 0 emp)(0.03J76) 0.00 00 COMBINED= 37,123 1.40 0.22 m m CU's = ( 0.5498 ) ( 37,123 )t( 0.1849 )( 1.40 )+( 0.2653 ) ( 0.22u _ ]8.81 CUs 260 1.22 0.59 O U XYZ Effective Dale: July 1, 2006 Baseline Credit - 0.00 CUs CC O Rate Effective Date: July 1, 2016 Net Proposed Increase = ]8.81 CUs i O Strength data from: 2014-2015 Surcharge filings ii Established Baseline: = 0.00 x 25.49 % = 0.00 CU's (2) E IL A Connection Fee is required if the Net Proposed Increase is greeter than 25.49 % of the Established Baseline. G O eX (1)>(2) Connection Fee Due = $5,253.00 /CU x 78.81 Clls = 5413,988.97 ym (2)a(1) No Connection Fee Due 02 Previous Payment: Ciry ofSonm Clarimpaid$50,566.31 on 5/7/2009 at a prorated rate of8393.881CUor 5140 ofthe the?= 850,566.31 00 connection rate ofS3,151.00/CU Applicant hadrequeated m be permilledfor 5 years at that time. Connection Fee Due = 5363,422.62 m O CREDIT/BASELINE: Surcharge Data: Yes: No: Year. COMMENTS: c t U m Q r,,,,::a.j, ew,.raga..ease.,>w: a rr._ra,�wa.n�,,.�,aa n�.,a„vu, Packe[ Pg. 91 m Long Front: Shaft Porta; V Previous IW Permit: Tax Assessors'Reeords: m Water Bills: Cmmection Fee Payment: N c t U m Q r,,,,::a.j, ew,.raga..ease.,>w: a rr._ra,�wa.n�,,.�,aa n�.,a„vu, Packe[ Pg. 91 10.a COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICTS OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY 1955 Workman Mill Road, Whittier, CA 90601-1400 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 4998, Whittier, CA 90607-4998 GRACE ROBINSON HYDE Telephone: (562) 699-7411, FAX: (562) 699-5422 Chief Engineer and General Manager www.locsd.org May 15, 2017 Ms. Susan Lynch City of Santa Clarita DBAA 18 (Bakerton Pump Station) 23920 Valencia Boulevard 4300 Santa Clarita, CA 91355 Dear Ms. Lynch: Wastewater Treatment Surcharge Statement for Fiscal Year 2015-2016, Facility ID Number 9244255, Industrial Waste Permit Number 20525 Located at 27807 Bakerton Avenue, Santa Clarita, CA 91387 The Districts previously notified your company of adjustments made as a result of an audit of the 2015-2016 fiscal year Long Form Surcharge Statement. The specifics of the audit were discussed in a letter dated March 31, 2017 accompanied by a Surcharge Statement which detailed the revised calculations. The adjustments discussed in the above referenced letter remain unchanged and the refund, as detailed below, is being processed. Fiscal Year 2015-2016 Surcharge Payable $ 15,068.46 Amount Paid $ 15,215.69 Penalty $ 0.00 Interest $ 0.00 Refund Due $ 14T23 The total amount of the refund to be forwarded to your company under separate cover is $147.23. If you have any further questions, please contact Tanya Garcia at (562) 908-4288, extension 2609. Very truly yours, for Shwie L. Pike Revenue Collection Supervisor SLP:tg Enclosures w Packet Pg. 92