Drafter
Clerk 10/06/2008
Title
AN ORDINANCE approving the city of Bellevue Water Comprehensive Plan, 2006.
Body
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
1. King County has adopted K.C.C. chapter 13.24, which requires approval of comprehensive plans for water and sewer utilities that distribute or obtain water, or provide sewer collection or treatment, in unincorporated King County as a prerequisite for operating in unincorporated King County, receiving approval for annexation proposals, being granted right-of-way franchises, and being given approval for right-of-way construction permits. K.C.C. 13.24.060 prescribes the requirements for approval of such plans, including consistency with state and local planning requirements.
2. RCW 43.20.260 requires that water system plans for any new industrial, commercial, or residential use are to be consistent with the requirements of any comprehensive plans or development regulations adopted under chapter 36.70A RCW or any other applicable comprehensive plan, land use plan, or development regulation adopted by a city, town or county for the service area. King County has adopted a Comprehensive Plan that includes water supply and wastewater policies in its provisions for Facilities and Services (Policies F-225 through F-244) that, inter alia, call for consistency with other adopted plans, support for regional water supply planning, pursuit of reclaimed water and water conservation, and protection of water resources.
3. King County last approved the City of Bellevue Water Comprehensive Plan ("the plan") on April 5, 1999. Both the Washington state Department of Health ("DOH") and King County regulations require water system plans to be updated every six years.
4. The city of Bellevue ("the city") operates a large water supply system in the central part of King County. It provides service to over 132,000 people, which is 36,800 connections, in its retail service area. The retail service area includes all of the current city limits plus some additional areas that are outside the current city limits. The annual average day demand (water consumed) by water system customers in 2003 was approximately 16.5 million gallons per day ("mgd"); the maximum day consumption of 34.2 mgd occurred in late July 2003, the hottest part of that year.
5. The city, based on its membership in the Cascade Water Alliance ("Cascade"), operated under a "Transition Water Conservation Program" in 2004 and 2005 that includes conservation measures similar to those the city had implemented in previous years. The Transition Water Conservation Program, which was to be completed in 2006, will provide the framework for Cascade's long-range conservation plan, which will guide Cascade's, and the city's, conservation activities through 2011. The city's conservation program is comprised of both local and regional programs. The city is seeking to be proactive and is adhering to the DOH water use efficiency requirements despite the plan preceding the adoption of the final water use efficiency rule. The city anticipates that its program will meet the substantive requirements of the rule.
6. The plan contains elements of a six-year water capital improvement program ("CIP") and includes additional projects up to the twenty-year planning horizon. Projects in the city are scheduled and prioritized based on capacity concerns, growth, regulatory requirements, component reliability, system benefits, and financial priority. The cost of the six-year annual CIP is approximately $4.5 million with estimated annual costs varying between $50,000 and $2,000,000. The city intends to fund its CIP projects by rates, public works trust fund loans or using funding from the city's renewal and replacement account, or any combination thereof. Total revenues from water service in 2005 were $25,926,000, of which $9,735,000, which is thirty-eight percent, was paid for wholesale water.
7. K.C.C. chapter 13.24 requires review of water system plans by the utilities technical review committee ("UTRC"), and a recommendation to the executive and council on the plan and the requirements under K.C.C. chapter 13.24 and consistency with the King County Comprehensive Plan. The UTRC has reviewed planning data and utility operations and determined that:
a. The population and employment forecasts developed by the Puget Sound Regional Council for service areas are appropriately used;
b. The plan appropriately used the King County land use classifications;
c. The capital facility plan is adequate to meet anticipated facility needs;
d. The plan is consistent with applicable state water quality standards and reclaimed water use was evaluated; and
e. The plan is consistent with other pertinent county adopted plans and policies.
8. The DOH is withholding approval of the city's plan pending approval by King County.
9. The city completed an environmental checklist and issued a determination of nonsignificance on April 12, 2007, for the plan.
10. The city's operations and facilities meet multiple existing statutory, administrative and planning standards for water utilities. The city's operations, facilities and planning substantially meet the requirements of the King County Code and are consistent with the King County Comprehensive Plan. A detailed evaluation documenting these findings has been provided by the executive in his transmittal of the proposed ordinance approving the plan.
11. The UTRC recommends approval of the plan.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. The city of Bellevue's Water Comprehensive Plan, 2006, Attachment A to this ordinance, is hereby approved as a comprehensive water system plan.
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