DATE: July 14, 2015
TO: Board of Mayor and Aldermen
FROM: Eric Stuckey, City Administrator
David Parker, City Engineer / CIP Executive
Paul Holzen, Director of Engineering
SUBJECT:
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Discussion Concerning the Cities Policy on Water and Sanitary Sewer Availability (Deferred from 07/23/15 CIC)
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Purpose
The purpose of this memo is to provide information to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BOMA) for the discussion on the City policies for water and sanitary sewer availability outside of the City Limits.
Background
In August 1986, BOMA approved a policy which prohibited extension of sewer mains outside the City Limits. In 1992 this policy was rescinded and extension of sewer mains outside the City Limits was allowed with certain conditions. Since that time unofficial policies have been added to better define the requirements for properties outside the City Limits. The latest policy from the BOMA is to require properties outside of the City Limits that request more than one (1) single family unit equivalent (SFUE) to be annexed into the City. Included in this packet is a copy of the 1992 water and sewer availability policy.
The connection to a central wastewater treatment system and the elimination of on-site treatment promote the health, safety and welfare of all City of Franklin residents by protecting the environment and providing for regulatory safeguards. For this reason City staff is proposing some modification to this policy and would like to obtain BOMA feedback. Below are the revised recommended conditions:
Regardless of whether the owner/project is inside or outside of City limits, availability shall be approved by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen with the following conditions:
1. The City has available uncommitted capacity in its collection and/or distribution systems and the treatment facilities required to handle the additional expected sanitary sewage discharge and/or water demand for the proposed project(s); and
2. The developer(s) or owner(s) shall pay all costs associated in providing the extensions and/or necessary upgrades of the water and/or sanitary sewer systems for the proposed project(s) and shall, upon completion and acceptance by the City, dedicate the improvements to the City of Franklin along with all on-site and off-site easements required for the construction of the improvements; and
3. Any availability granted for a project is subject to a one (1) year time limit for the submission of construction plans and a one and one half (1 ½) year time limit for the start of construction on the project; and
4. Unless otherwise determined by the Board of Mayor and Alderman, annexation shall be required as a condition of approval in order to be granted sanitary sewer availability based on the following guidance:
A. Property located in the City’s Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) and Contiguous to the City’s corporate limits shall be required to go through the annexation process prior to availability approval.
B. A maximum of one (1) single family unit equivalent (SFUE) for sanitary sewer availability may be granted to a single family house located in the City’s Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) that is not contiguous to the City’s corporate limits. Annexation shall occur at such time the property becomes contiguous to the City’s corporate limits.
C. New developments located in the City’s Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) requesting more than one (1) single family unit equivalent (SFUE) shall be required to go through the Annexation process prior to approval.
5. The Board of Mayor and Aldermen determines that such extension(s) of water and/or sanitary sewer service is in the best interest of the water and sanitary sewer customers of the City and in the public interest generally.
Financial Impact
There is no financial impact with the approval of this policy.
Recommendation
No recommendation at this time.