Drafter
Clerk 06/03/2011
Title
AN ORDINANCE approving the 2006 Tacoma Water Comprehensive Water System Plan.
Body
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
1. King County has adopted K.C.C. chapter 13.24, which requires approval of comprehensive plans for water utilities that distribute or obtain water 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 70.116.050 requires that general comprehensive plans for water utilities within critical water supply service areas be submitted to, and approved by, the legislative authority within whose boundaries all or a portion of the water utility lies.
3. The city of Tacoma's ("the city") previous water system plan was prepared in 2000 and approved by King County in 2003. Both Washington state Department of Health ("the DOH") and King County regulations require water system plans to be updated every six years.
4. The city is in Pierce county, provides direct retail water service to a small number of customers in both incorporated and unincorporated areas in South King County, and wholesale water service to multiple water utilities in Pierce and King counties. It is a partner, with the city of Kent, Lakehaven utility district and the Covington water district, in the development of the second supply project that delivers water from the Green river to those utilities for use in Pierce and King counties. It also has an agreement to provide water supply to the members of the Cascade Water Alliance. These service areas lie within the boundaries of the critical water supply service areas identified in both the East King and South King Coordinated Water System Plans.
5. The city's principal source of supply is the Green river in King County.
6. King County has adopted a county comprehensive plan that includes water supply policies in its provisions for facilities and services (policies F-201 through F-244) that call for consistency with other adopted plans, support for regional water supply planning, pursuit of reclaimed water, water conservation and protection of water resources.
7. K.C.C. chapter 13.24 requires the utilities technical review committee ("the UTRC") to review and make a recommendation to the King County executive and council about the plan's consistency with requirements contained in under K.C.C. chapter 13.24; and, consistency with the King County Comprehensive Plan. The UTRC reviewed the planning data and city's operations as outlined in the August, 2006 draft comprehensive plan update, and in January 2007 conditionally approved the plan, pending submittal of additional information to address questions raised by the UTRC. Additional information was submitted by the city on January 9, 2007, and satisfactorily addressed questions that were raised by the UTRC, and was incorporated into the city's July 2007 final draft plan ("plan"), which the city submitted to the county and to DOH. Based upon review of the plan, and additional information submitted by the city, the UTRC found that:
a. The plan uses population and employment forecasts independently developed by the city using both growth rates from the Puget Sound Regional Council and historic growth patterns seen by the utility for its service area, including King County. The city can meet the Growth Management Planning Council adopted growth target for both the incorporated (Federal Way) and unincorporated portions of King County to which it provides direct retail service;
b. The plan uses King County land use classifications for the portion of the city's service area located in unincorporated King County. The city has current franchises to operate its facilities in unincorporated King County;
c. The capital facility plan is adequate to meet anticipated facility and service needs;
d. The plan is consistent with applicable Washington state water quality laws; and
e. The plan is consistent with other pertinent county adopted plans and policies.
8. The DOH approved the city's plan in 2008.
9. The city completed a state Environmental Policy Act checklist and issued a determination of nonsignificance for the issuance of the plan on December 6, 2006.
10. The city's operations and facilities meet multiple existing statutory, administrative and planning standards. As the city's operations, facilities and planning meet the requirements of the King County Code, and are consistent with the King County Comprehensive Plan, the UTRC recommends approval of the plan.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. The 2006 Tacoma Water Comprehensive Water System Plan
Update, Attachment A to this ordinance, is hereby approved as a comprehensive water system plan.
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