Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-04-13; City Council; 15140; Appropriations Of Funds And Adjust Sewer Ratesf . - c”l-3 0 13’ CITY OF CARLSBAD - AGElvDA BILL lI/ AB# [<, /Yo TITLE: MTG. 04/13/99 APPROPRIATIONS OF SEWER OPERATIONS UNRESERVED FUNDS AND SETTING OF A PUBLIC HEARING TO ADJUST DEPT. CMWD SEWER RATES CITY MGRa RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt Resolution No. 9P-/2? transferring funds from the Sewer Operations Fund Balance to the Sewer Fixed Asset Replacement Fund and requesting the Council to set a Public Hearing for May 4, 1999 to consider adjusting sewer rates. ITEM EXPLANATION: Staff has reviewed the status of the Sewer Operations Fund Balance and the present sewer rates. This review has resulted in a determination that the present fund balance exceeds the level of reserves that was recommended in the District’s Rate Study approved by the City Council in 1996. The unreserved funds in Sewer Operations are a result of revenue being generated by the sewer services rates which were set to provide for funding for operations and maintenance of the City’s sewer collection system as well as the City’s share of Encina Wastewater Operations. As a result of a reorganization within Encina’s operations, the City has realized a reduction in annual Encina cost of services. This resulted in a fund balance that exceeded the level of required reserves stated in the previously mentioned adopted Rate Study. Staff is recommending that the unreserved funds be appropriated to the Sewer Fixed Asset Replacement Fund to cover costs associated with future capital replacement projects. To deal with future setting of rates, staff has developed a financial “wastewater rate model” to better forecast future operational expenses and establish subsequent revenue requirements. With improved wastewater rate forecasting and full-funding of the adopted level of annual operations reserves, staff is recommending adjustments to the sewer services rates as follows: l Reduce the existing monthly sewer flat rate charge (single family residences) from $15.00 to $13.00, and l Reduce the existing monthly sewer flow-based charge by 9.6% for all remaining customer categories. It is recommended that the Council set a Public Hearing for May 4, 1999, to take public input regarding the proposed rate adjustments. FISCAL IMPACT: Because the Sewer Capital Replacement Fund was not funded prior to 1990 and based on an updated inventory of the City’s sewer system infrastructure, staff estimates that the sewer operation should have set aside $7.5 million for the Sewer Fixed Asset Replacement Fund prior to 1990. This allocation of unreserved funds from the City’s Sewer Operations Fund Balance totals $5.92 million and will be added to the present balance in the Replacement Fund. ii) I , - Page 2 of Agenda Bill No. /q/q0 / EXHIBITS: 1. Resolution No. 99-129 transferring funds from the Sewer Operations Fund Balance to Sewer Fixed Asset Replacement Fund and setting the date for the Public Hearing to adjust sewer rates. R:\CMWD\WordlWord - 99\Agenda Bill - Sewer Rates.doc 6 II RESOLUTION NO. 99-129 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA TRANSFERRING FUNDS FROM THE SEWER OPERATIONS FUND BALANCE TO THE SEWER FIXED ASSET REPLACEMENT FUND AND SETTING THE DATE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING TO ADJUST SEWER RATES 7 8 WHEREAS, a review of the Sewer Operation Fund Balance shows the level of 9 required revenues exceeds the level stated in the 1996 Rate Study; and 10 WHEREAS, these unreserved funds are the result of revenue being generated which 11 were set to provide funding for operations and maintenance of the City’s sewer collection ; i2 system as well as the City’s share of the Encina Wastewater operations; and i’ 13 WHEREAS, as a result of a reorganization within’Encina’s operations, the City has 14 15 16 realized a reduction in annual Encina cost of services; and WHEREAS, a financial “wastewater rate model” has been developed to better 17 forecast future expenditures and revenues and with improved forecasting it has been 18 19 20 21 22 23 recommended the existing monthly sewer flat rate charge be reduced from $15 .OO to $13 .OO and that the existing monthly sewer flow-based charge by 9.6% for all remaining customer categories; and WHEREAS, the Public Hearing is required to take public input regarding the proposed sewer rate adjustments. 24 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of 25 26 27 28 Carlsbad, California as follows: 1. The above recitations are true and correct. 2. That unreserved funds be transferred from Sewer Operations Fund Balance to the Sewer Fixed Asset Replacement Fund. . 3. That a Public Hearing is set for May 4,1999 to take public input regarding the proposed sewer rate adjustments. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California held on the 13th day of April 1999, by the following vote: AYES: Council Members Lewis, Hall, Finnila, Nygaard and Kulchin NOES: None ABSENT: None