CITY OF SHORELINE
SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL
Monday, April 28, 2008 – 6:00 p.m.
Shoreline Conference Center
Highlander Room
PRESENT: Mayor Cindy Ryu, Deputy Mayor Terry Scott, and Councilmembers Keith McGlashan, Chris Eggen, and Janet Way
ABSENT: Councilmember Doris McConnell
GUESTS: Ronald Wastewater: Arthur Wadekamper, Commissioner Chair, Arnold Lind, Commissioner, Brian Carroll, Commissioner, Michael Derrick, General Manager
STAFF: Bob Olander, City Manager, Julie Modrzejewski, Assistant City Manager, Mark Relph, Public Works Director, John Norris, CMO Management Analyst
Mayor Ryu called the meeting to order at 6:20 p.m.
Mayor Ryu started the meeting by thanking the Ronald Wastewater District for their work. Mr. Olander mentioned the upcoming annexation election that the District has scheduled in August. He asked Council if they would be interested in having a presentation and a discussion regarding a resolution. Councilmembers were agreeable to discussing this topic at a future meeting.
Mr. Wadekamper said that they are meeting with many neighborhood groups to educate them on the election. He stated that it took the District three years to change the law regarding annexation petitions. Boards and councils of jurisdictions can initiate an annexation election by a vote of the board or council; however, sewer districts were excluded and would have to petition voters. Currently, rate payers cannot vote for District Commissioners; this election would allow them to vote on District Commissioners.
Mr. Wadekamper stated that the District was formed in 1954. When the Lake City Sewer District failed in the 1970s Seattle Public Utilities acquired it and addressed the immediate issues. Then in 2001 the District acquired it from Seattle.
Mr. Wadekamper said that the District would like to work with the City to address private septic tanks, of which there are approximately 20 within the District. Mr. Derrick stated that anyone with a septic can no longer receive a repair permit from King County.
Mr. Olander stated that the District primarily handles conveyance and pumps to the City of Edmonds for treatment. The District does not have a treatment plant. Mr. Derrick said that until the early 1990s there was a Richmond Breach Treatment Facility, which served half of the District. King County bills the District a flat rate, and 75 percent of a household’s bill is dedicated to King County charges. The District charges a flat rate of $11.15, which is based on costs, not consumption.
Mr. Olander stated that the City receives little complaints on the District’s rates; however, the City does receive complaints on the Brightwater fee, which is approximately $8K per new construction hook up. Mr. Lind said every new home built in King or South Snohomish Counties are charged a capacity charge for 15 years ($40/month) and all other rate payers pay a monthly charge to pay down the interest and debt on 40 year bonds, as well as operational costs.
Councilmember Way asked if the District had a policy on gray/reclaimed water. Mr. Derrick stated that he also spoke with Bill Bear on this issue and explained that there is no policy on gray water. Until it is in their system, they do not have jurisdiction. He stated that it is feasible and makes a lot of sense where water is limited.
Councilmember McGlashan stated that he learned that with the Brightwater Project King County is laying some pipes for reclaimed water near golf courses and cemeteries. Mr. Wadekamper only knows of Willows Run using reclaimed water.
Mr. Olander asked about the District’s Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) Project. Mr. Wadekamper responded that they received $900K from a grant and the District added another $900K to conduct an I&I study in the Highland Terrace neighborhood including approximately 300 homes. Infiltration is groundwater that enters sanitary sewer systems through cracks and/or leaks in the sanitary sewer pipes. They found improper connections to the system and were able to lower the I&I percentage by 74 percent. Mr. Derrick stated that the major thrust on I&I is on capacity, not treatment. He is looking forward to working more closely with the City on land use issues to ensure that there is adequate capacity.
Mr. Carroll stated that in the last significant storm they experienced similar problems that the City did on inflow.
The meeting ended with Mr. Olander pledging to schedule the District’s annexation election for a future Council meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m. for the tennis courts lighting ceremony.
/S/ Julie Modrzejewski, Assistant City Manager