Agenda - 06-15-2010- 4cc - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 Attachment 1 is a packet for a parcel that did belong to an original signer. The original agreement is included along with a new connection agreement. Since an easement is needed, the easement portion of the packet is included. The property owner also owns multiple parcels. Attachment 2 shows the potential expanded service area and the map indexing system used to refer to the individual parcels. Every colored parcel will have a packet created. Some of these parcels are undeveloped and some are not adjacent to a sewer line. Nevertheless, staff believes it is important to begin the dialog regarding sewer service with owners of these parcels and give them an opportunity to be part of this sewer expansion program to leverage the capital project economies of scale. Outreach: County staff is planning on meeting with the public after the packets and concepts therein have been approved in order to distribute the information packets and answer any questions customers may have. After this initial meeting, there would be follow -ups with those who attended the meeting and any packets not distributed at the meeting would be mailed out to the property owners. This series of meetings will serve as a continuation of ongoing effort by County staff to obtain the necessary easements for the sewer line extension and as an opportunity to inform the public about how sewer connection works and what would be involved to connect. (See Attachment 3) Easements: Before construction plans are approved and the project is awarded, Orange County must accept a voluntary dedication, acquire, negotiate or condemn utility easements. Sewer cost efficiencies and incentives: There are efficiencies to be gained by having as many new customers as possible connect to the new system once it is ready for operation. Given the current economic climate and the relatively high costs of sewer connection, staff suggests that incentives be offered to encourage potential customers to sign connection agreements before the system is operational. This will be proposed for discussion by the BOCC in September /October 2010. Some Hillsborough fees have been waived pursuant to the County's 1988 capacity agreement with the Town of Hillsborough and there will be a discussion of further credits if the County's total reserve capacity is modified. Old sewer connection agreement: Approximately 58 of the roughly 100 planned connections in the expansion area (Phase I East and Phase 2) are to parcels for which an agreement was signed in the mid -1980s to connect to sewer once sewer service is available. The "original signers" granted the County sewer easements where needed across their entire property in exchange for a waiver of not only the County's $1,000 per acre and $600 per ERC fees, but also Hillsborough's sewer capital facilities fee (this was paid by the County to Hillsborough in a lump sum at the time). After legal review of these documents by the County Attorney, it was determined that none of the documents had been recorded. Also, many of the individuals who signed the documents in the mid -1980s are deceased and none of the agreements were signed by the County. For these reasons, staff has determined that many of these agreements are no longer valid and new agreements would need to be drawn up, signed by the current owners of the various properties and then recorded. The present scenario is that the terms offered to the original signers would be offered to the current owners of the same