HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02071989 - 2.8 �.Y
TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FROM: J. MICHAEL WALFORD, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
DATE: FEBRUARY 7, 1989
SUBJECT: Sewer Service Fees on Dry Boat Storage in Contra Costa
County Sanitation District No. 15
Specific Request(s) or Recommendations) & Background &
Justification
I. RECOMMENDED ACTION:
CONSIDER REPORT from Public Works Director on rate structure
and dry boat storage fees and the potential for metering for
Contra Costa Sanitation District 15.
II. REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION/BACKGROUND:
Contra Costa County Sanitation District No. 15 Ordinance
No. 1 enacted May 26, 1981 established a system of basing
the annual sewer service fees on a flat rate. The rate
schedule in Ordinance No. 1 equated four boat berth spaces
to a single family home. In 1981 there were about one
hundred dry boat storage spaces in the District and these
spaces were not included in the rate schedule. A sewer
rate study was conducted in 1984 and the sewer fee
multipliers were changed to reflect the findings of the
study. The charge for boat berth spaces was reduced to 7%
Continued on attachment: X yes Signatur9AC't �
Recommendation of County Administrator
Recommendation of Board
Approve Other:
Committee
signature(s)
Action of Board on: February 7, 1989 Approved as
Recommended Other XX
As--recommended by Supervisor Torlakson, .the Board DEFERRED action on .the
above recommendation to provide the pri'nci'pal.s the opportunity to meet and
further discuss the matter.
Vote of Supervisors I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
nanimous (Absent )AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
Ayes AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE
Noes BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON DATE SHOWN.
Absent
Abstain
Attested February 7, 1989
Orig. Div. : Public Works/ES. PHIL BATCHELOR
cc: County Counsel CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
John Walsh via PW/ES AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
SD 15 CAC, D. Cornfield
Dee Heisch, Refl By
DEPUTY CAERK
of a single family home. At that time there was
approximately 350 dry boat storage spaces in the District.
The dry boat storage count in December 1988 totaled 709 .
The Community Development Department has approved an
application for 318 more spaces, and has received an
application for another 150 spaces. Construction of a
building has been started which will have a capacity of
approximately 120 boats. Within the next two years the
total dry boat storage spaces in the District could exceed
1300. This is approximately equal to the number of homes in
the District (1311) .
In the spring of 1987 the Citizens Advisory Committee
discussed the affect that the dry boat storage was having on
the sewer flow. The discussion pointed out that from boat
to boat there was a great variation in the frequency of
usage and the number of people per boat, but that there was
some "average" . When the dry stored boat was compared to
the boats in berths, it was- concluded that the frequency of
dry boat usage was lower, that the number of people per boat
was higher, and that a lower percentage of the dry boats had
on board sanitary facilities. Considering these factors,
The Citizens Advisory Committee recommended that the
District establish a sewer service fee for dry boat storage
at the same rate as boat berth space.
On September 8, 1988 Mr. John Walsh made a presentation to
the Sanitation District No. 15 Citizens Advisory Committee.
He briefly discussed dry boat storage, but the main object
of his presentation was a request for his sewer service fee
to be based upon metered water usage. The Committee
requested legal advice on the existing flat fee sewer and
service charge versus the metered water type of service
charge. At the October Citizens Advisory Committee the
subject was discussed and continued to the November meeting.
A written opinion had not been received from County Counsel
for the December meeting, but phone conversations indicated
that a flat fee basis of charges had been tested in the
courts and found to be acceptable. With this information,
the Committee unanimously recommended that the sewer service
fee for dry boat storage be retained at 7% of a unit ('single
family home) , that the flat rate charge base be retained and
that metered water usage not be used for any use category or
group of users.
County Counsel examined the factors the District used in
establishing the fee and compared the process the District
used to court decisions on cases that challenged the method
of setting rates, and concluded that "the rate charged for
dry boat storage areas appears reasonable. " They also
studied the flat rate versus metered water basis of charging
fees and determined that the method of basing the charges is
within the District's discretion. A copy of County
Counsel 's memorandum is attached.
In December, after the Citizens Advisory Committee had made
their recommendation, Public Works Department staff visited
the marinas that have dry boat storage and discussed their
operations and the charge for dry boat storage. After
reviewing County Counsel 's decision on flat rate charges
and the marina owners' opinions, staff recommended to the
Committee to consider reducing the dry boat storage fee from
7% to 4% of a unit and to eliminate the boat launch charge.
On January 12 , 1989 the Committee discussed staff ' s
recommendation and County Counsel 's written opinion, and
reaffirmed their prior recommendation not to change the
sewer service fees.
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