Agenda - 03-03-1999 - 9c - Laserfiche WebLink

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_• w~-_. ... - --- ~ .. To: Mayor Waldorf and Members of the Town Council From: ~ Juiic McClintock sad Flicks Bateman Subject: Recommendations regarding sewer assessments q ~~/~ S . ~`-, ~~,,,w2. AGENnA #9a ~~~V The Council and the OWASA Board of Directors have been dealing for some tune with the issue of how sewers in older neighborhoods should be financed. In~January of this year a Mayor's committee was appointed to examine the issues related to establishing a sewer subsidy fund sad to make recommendations to the Council, In June the 4WASA $oard asked the Council for feedback oa its March 12 discussion gaper entitled "Assessment Policy Applicable to. Water and Sewer Extensions to Existing Unnerved Neighborhood" (Set Attachment A). The request was rcfcrreci to our committee for tentative recommendations. This report presents our majority recommendations along with a brief history. Majority Report Recommendations to the Mayor and Council Connca Members McClintock and Bateman recommend that the Town provide a 20% subsidy to sewer projects for ezisting neighborhoods with private systems by providing a line item iu the CIP budget. Rationale We support this recommendation for three reasons. First, municipalities must respond the public health, safety, and welfare concerns of their citizens. Providing municipal sewer prevents septic system failures which can cause serious health problems. The Comprehensive Plan discourages the use of septic systems within Town limits for this reason. Second, a subsidy is needed to sewer in Town neighborhoods. In a Town budget of $44 million, it seems reasonable that we could allocate an annual amount for public sewers, one of the most basic needs generally provided by a town or city. All but one ~of the Chapel Hill neighborhoods in the OWASA study found in Attachment B would fact assessments over $10,000, as well as availability fees and plumber costs. Third sad most important, if vve arc to accomplish the objective of sewcriag most in-?'own neighborhoods, thin Chape! Hill must take the lead in setting a policy to accomplish this objective. Neighborhoods require a predictable policy to gain the majority support needed to petition OWASA for service.