Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (May 16, 2018)
Wednesday, May 16, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon City adopts new water, sewer rates By Sue Stafford Correspondent The Sisters City Council approved adoption of new methodologies and rates for water and sewer sys- tem development charges (SDCs), effective May 10, that will recover the actual costs of providing the ser- vices. The City recently updated its water and sewer master plans, which provided an opportune time to update its SDCs. Water and sewer SDCs were last updated 11 years ago in 2007, and were based on a “plumbing fixture unit” basis, a cumbersome and inaccurate method usu- ally used when there are no meters. Donovan Enterprises was hired to conduct the new review and update. A water- and sewer- rate study, conducted in November 2017 by FCS Group, resulted in proposed fee increases to both the water and sewer rates for existing customers of two percent per year for the funds as a whole, effective July 1, 2018. A two percent increase in utility rates will result in an estimated $24,000 to the water fund. For the average residential customer with a three-quarter-inch meter (95 percent of city meters), the base water rate will increase from $15.50 per month to $16.05, with the same charge of $1 per 100 cubic feet vol- ume rate. Larger meters will have proportionally higher base rates. The key objectives of the study done by Donovan included analyzing capital project costs, existing fund balances, and required SDC revenues to keep up with growth, as well as determin- ing the most appropriate and defensible fee methodology. SDCs are one-time charges for new develop- ment or expansion of exist- ing development, and are assessed at the time of devel- opment approval or increased usage of the system. The fees are designed to recover costs of infrastructure capacity needed to serve new devel- opment. SDCs ensure that development is paying its way by providing a propor- tionate share of the cost of existing and planned/future capital facilities that serve the development property. Water and sewer are only two of the SDC categories for which fees are charged on new development. The others are streets and parks, which are also directly impacted by growth. Sisters’ total SDC charges are currently the lowest in the tri-county area at $9,910. Bend charges $22,520 per unit and La Pine is $10,534. The newly adopted meth- odology for determining water and sewer SDCs is meter-based, with a flat fee established for each size of meter from three-quarter- inch to eight-inch. For a single-family residential unit with a three-quarter-inch meter the water SDC will increase $2 to $3,338 and the sewer SDC will increase $97 to $4,463. The sum of these maximum fees amounts to $7,701 per unit, $99 more than the current amount of $7,602. These increases still keep the total SDCs below $10,000 per unit, less than half of Bend’s charges. Donovan also recom- mended the City adopt a pol- icy of reviewing SDCs every five years, with the ability to apply a cost adjustment index to the SDC rates annu- ally if necessary to reflect changes in land and construc- tion costs. Two components have been considered for over 20 years when establish- ing water and wastewater (sewer) SDCs. The reim- bursement fee considers the cost of existing facilities, prior contributions by exist- ing users of those facilities, the value of the unused/avail- able capacity, and generally accepted ratemaking princi- ples. The objective is future system users contribute no more than an equitable share to the cost of existing facili- ties. The reimbursement fee can be spent on capital costs or debt service related to the systems for which the SDC is applied. The improvement fee por- tion of the SDC is based on the cost of planned future facilities that expand the system’s capacity to accom- modate growth or increase its level of performance. The improvement SDC is calcu- lated as a function of the esti- mated number of additional equivalent residential units to be served by the City’s facilities over the planning period. The improvement fee is intended to protect existing customers from the cost bur- den and impact of expanding a system that is already ade- quate for their own needs in the absence of growth. “The advantage of having a robust capital plan for all City services is that the City is able to keep up with the needs of population growth,” according to Public Works Director Paul Bertagna. Quality Truck-mounted CARPET CLEANING Quality Cleaning 16 years in Reasonable Prices Sisters! — Credit Cards Accepted — ENVIROTECH 541-771-5048 Licensed • Bonded • Insured • CCB#181062 RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL Dr. Thomas R. Rheuben General, Cosmetic, Implant and Family Dentistry ~ Your Dentist in Sisters Since 1993 ~ We are here to help you smile with confi dence! 541-549-0109 | 304 W. Adams Ave. | Sisters SENIORS: Alliance will hold “next steps” meeting May 30 Continued from page 11 about the services to iso- lated seniors. Some won- dered what is the level of community commitment to focusing on needs of all ages; and why there were so few young people at the event. Priorities included: trans- portation; multi-purpose community center; improved communication about what’s available; housing for seniors of varying incomes; youth- to-senior involvement; local government leadership; access to healthcare; consoli- dation of resources; ability to age in place without leaving community. When C4C asked about issues that may divide Sisters Country, responses included: income inequality, old-tim- ers vs. newcomers, growth/ no growth, liberal/conser- vative, lack of diversity in decision-making, bullying, funding sources, residents vs. visitors, public land People & Pet Friendly Lawn Maintenance Services 21 conflicts, special-interest groups. Ninety percent indicated they would be willing to participate in future C4C- sponsored community con- versations and suggested future topics: Sharing public lands; freedom of speech; bridging divides; senior resources; affordable trans- portation; medical access; how to deflate bigotry; senior education; law enforce- ment for traffic/driving offenses. Copies of all the research materials and information for seniors are available in the SAGE room at Sisters Park & Recreation District. Volunteers from the Senior Alliance will staff an information table at the May 19 Volunteer Fair at SPRD from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A “Next Steps” meet- ing for the Age Friendly Communities initiative will be held on May 30 at The Pines Clubhouse on Brooks Camp Road at 8:30 a.m. A new alliance will be created to take this com- munity conversation to the next level. All ages are welcome. Organic, natural n products Personal a approach for every lawn Spring cleanups S Mowing M o & pruning 22 years in business • LCB#9583 83 3 541-549-2882 2 Irrigation Ir r repair & start-ups ONTHE CORNEROF SPINEST& WHOOD AVE Featured Artists: Skilled watercolor artist Winnie Givot and longtime local potters Mitch and Michelle Deaderick.
