Sewer Advisory Group

Jefferson County and the wastewater design project team worked with a Sewer Advisory Group through a series of four facilitated workshops. This was a volunteer group of local stakeholders was convened by the County to represent the interests of the public. The Sewer Advisory Group offered participants an opportunity to provide stakeholder perspectives on key policy and technical issues related to wastewater system design, public involvement approaches, and funding and financing strategies.

Key questions deliberated by the Sewer Advisory Group through the workshop process included the following:

• System Connection: When will connection to sewers be required? Will there be allowances for interim on-site systems? What policies will apply to side sewers?
• Sewer Availability: When will sewer service be available in specific neighborhoods? Will there be flexibility to allow for specific development plans?
• Cost Allocation: How should capital costs be allocated and recovered from users? How will costs be divided between general facilities, local facilities, and on-site costs? Will local improvement districts be allowed as a mechanism for financing local costs?
• Rate Structure: How many different customer classes should there be? Should discounts be allowed for low-income customers? If so, what should the criteria be?
• Administration: Should the County consider contracting out billing, maintenance, and/or operations or add necessary staff?

Key Sewer Advisory Group conclusions included:

• Policies and practices must consider startup and cash flow challenges. Development of a customer base and operational cash flow is challenging in the initial years of a new utility.
• It is important to consider economically disadvantaged customers when establishing a rate structure.
• It is important to keep policies simple and flexible rather than complex and prescriptive, particularly in a new and growing utility.
• The Sewer Advisory Group recommended a flat or two-tiered residential rate system based on monthly water use rather than a more complex system. This strikes a balance between predictable revenue and recognizing water conservation.
• The Sewer Advisory Group recommended a usage-based commercial rate system based on actual water usage, allowing for surcharges for high-strength waste producers.
• The group recommended that the County consider a program to provide rate discounts for low-income users.
• Discounts offered to one group or customer class ultimately would need to be paid by others, since the cost to operate the system must be paid through rate revenues; yet this was an important element for the community.
• The County should provide the flexibility of local improvement districts and developer extensions to expand the system in an orderly manner, in accordance with the facility plan. This will help fund expansion of the system as the opportunity arises.

Below are the meeting materials from the four Sewer Advisory Group meetings held from July through October 2009.

Meeting #1 – July 14, 2009
WSU Extension, Spruce Room

July 14 Meeting Materials:

• Draft Agenda
• Meeting Presentation
• Meeting Summary

Meeting #2 – Tuesday, August 11, 2009
WSU Extension, Spruce Room

August 11 Meeting Materials:

• Meeting Agenda
• Meeting Presentation
• Meeting Summary

Meeting #3 – Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Jefferson County Library, Humphrey Room

September 9 Meeting Materials:

• Meeting Agenda
• Meeting Presentation
• Meeting Summary

Meeting #4 – Tuesday, October 6
WSU Extension, Spruce Room

October 6 Meeting Materials:

• Meeting Agenda
• Meeting Presentation
• Meeting Summary