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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993/10/18 - Lower Hood Canal CWD LOWER HOOD CANAL CLEAN WATER DISTRICT OCTOBER 18, 1993 ATTENDANCE: Mary L. Faughender, Commissioner William O. Hunter, Commissioner Laura E. Porter, Commissioner Wayne Clifford, Water Quality Director Al Adams, LHCCWD Advisory Committee Chair Jerry Hauth, Director of Public Works The Lower Hood Canal Clean Water District was called to order at 1:34 p.m. by Board of Commissioners Chairperson Bill Hunter. ELECTION OF CHAIRPERSON It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Faughender/Porter that Commissioner Hunter be elected Chairperson of the Lower Hood Canal Clean Water District. The motion passed unanimously. RECOGNITION OF ADVISORY BOARD It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Porter/Faughender that the LHCCWD concur with the Board of Commissioners action to appoint Al Adams - Chair, Don Rogers - Co-Chair, Carol Wiggs, Ray Dahlin, Norton Young, Ginny Case, Susan Hayward, Linton Rowan, Pat McCullough, Harry Martin and William Gates to the LHCCWD Advisory Committee and to thank them for their service to date.The motion passed unanimously. STATUS REPORT Wayne Clifford gave a status report on the following: Committee Meetings It was noted that the next meeting of the LHCCWD Advisory Committee was to be held that evening at 7:00 p.m. at the Theler Community Center in Belfair. Items on the agenda to be discussed included: 1.Alternatives for on-site wastewater management within the District. 2. Cost analysis for dye testing. 3. Foundation funding sources. 4. Sanitary survey protocol. 5. Update on the LHCCWD meeting. 6.Update on the Environmental Health Sewage Policy proposed change and the survey progress on Lower Hood Canal. Commissioner Porter asked if the LHCCWD Advisory Committee had established a fee structure, policy and amounts to provide the District with funding; and if not,would correspondence from the LHCCWD encourage that to occur. Mr. Clifford noted that they already had a proposed budget, and were trying to understand the costs so as to feel confident in their decisions and recommendations to the LHCCWD. Commissioner Faughender asked if the LHCCWD Advisory Committee had taken into consideration reduced rates for the elderly, handicapped and low income individuals.That possibility needed to be taken into account in the initial District budget,so it would establish a budget from actual funds received after any reductions, and avoid a budget shortfall. LOWER HOOD CANAL CLEAN WATER DISTRICT OCTOBER 18, 1993 - PAGE 2 Al Adams noted the matter was discussed briefly, but that they were waiting for the recommendations on the matter from the Totten Little Skookum Clean Water District.He asked if it was necessary to create a fee scale, or could a set figure be established for everyone, with the idea that there may be a different breakdown in the future. Commissioner Porter noted that the TLSCWD is using a flat fee structure for the first year of operation, after which the TLSCWD Advisory Committee will look at tiered rates, discounting, etc. Revenue needs to be generated first as there are costs already occurring. Legal opinions have been asked for the types of rate reductions that are legal. It has been determined that a tiered rate based on a different level of service would be legal. Chairperson Hunter noted that the TLSCWD had been working since Spring, so there had been an assessment for the current budget year,as well as for next year.Since the LHCCWD was just recently becoming established, it would most likely be 1994 before revenue could be generated. Commissioner Porter agreed,but noted that budgeting for 1994 was currently being developed,and there needed to be some sense of incoming revenue in order to establish the LHCCWD budget.Also,the type of testing that needed to be done was best conducted during the rainy season, so it would be good to have funds available to start that work in 1994. Mr.Adams stated that the LHCCWD Advisory Committee needed to notified of the budget urgency by staff. To date this has not happened. Chairperson Hunter noted that program that is being established has to matched by incoming revenue. He suggested that the budget topic be included in the LHCCWD Advisory Committee's future meeting agendas. Commissioner Porter noted that the ideal time to bill would be in January 1994, because cash flow is very difficult, especially the first quarter of the year.There would not necessarily be funding to loan the LHCCWD while the collection of fees was occurring.The earlier the fees are established,the earlier the billing can be done in early 1994 to generate revenue needed to do the work that is recommended. Mr.Clifford had planned to take a proposed budget to the LHCCWD Advisory Committee Meeting that evening for approval,which would at least provide the current level of work that was ongoing, whether or not a Grant was available in the future. If a Grant was provided, then the revenue generated can be used to match that Grant. Mr.Adams felt that the LHCCWD Advisory Committee's progress had been beneficial to date, and there was a sense of trust developing between it's members. He asked how the LHCCWD would respond if it felt a proposed fee brought before it was too low. Chairperson Hunter stated their considerations would be discussed through a public hearing on the budget or establishment of the fees. If there was a deficit, it would be presented at the hearing with the recommendation that the project would have to be diminished or the fees raised. It would be difficult to say what action would take place until the testimony was heard. Commissioner Porter noted that if a policy question arose that the LHCCWD was not supportive of, then it might be referred back to the LHCCWD Advisory Committee even before the public hearing. Chairperson Hunter and Commissioner Faughender both noted that the LHCCWD would rather meet first with the LHCCWD Advisory Committee to come to an agreement on fees and policies before presenting them to the public at a hearing. r i LOWER HOOD CANAL CLEAN WATER DISTRICT OCTOBER 18, 1993 - PAGE 3 Mr. Clifford noted that during the TLSCWD Advisory Committee meetings negotiations occurred between the two of them regarding the budget and the amount of services provided. This provided a realistic understanding of what could actually be done, and that was always communicated back to the TLSCWD. Mr.Adams strongly urged that it would be valuable to have someone from the LHCCWD present at the next one or two meetings of the LHCCWD Advisory Committee, to show support. Commissioner Porter felt that at least one or more of the LHCCWD could be present at the upcoming meetings. Commissioner Faughender recognized the value of attending occasionally, but also noted that too frequent of attendance often resulted in them being perceived to be part of the committee, which is not the goal. Grants In Progress Mr. Clifford noted two types that may, or were at work in Lower Hood Canal. The first was a Force Account through a grant that originated by the declaration of health hazard by North Bay. Because the sewage plant extended into lower Hood Canal,there was a portion of money equaling$50,000 set aside for survey work.After the consent order was signed, that money was released and is now being used. A$20,000 grant has also been received from the Dept.of Ecology that did require some matching funds to continue.Finally,an application has been submitted to the Water Quality Authority for their Puget Sound Action Grants.The amount requested was $200,000 to continue the survey work. Survey Work Status Mr.Clifford noted that 439 homes have received informational survey packets and they are rapidly returning by mail. To date the response from the public has been very positive. 42 homes have had visual inspections, and the work is continuing from the North Shore southward,from Elfendahl Pass towards Belfair.To date 8 failures have been identified, one of which was a black water discharge and the other 7 gray water discharges. ADJOURNMENT It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Porter/Faughender that the first meeting of the Lower Hood Canal Clean Water District be adjourned.The motion passed unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 2:03 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Brent Long LOWER HOOD CANAL CLEAN WATER DISTRICT 9 - Q� .2.�, . .M Faughender, o missioner William O. Hunter, Chairperson Laura E. Porter, Commissioner