HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 2469 CI'T'Y OF RENTON, WASHINGTON
RESOLUTION NO. 2469
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON,
ESTABLISHING FACTS SUPPORTING SPECIAL UTILITY
CONNECTION CHARGES FOR WATER AND SEWER FACILITIES .
WHEREAS the City of Renton is a suburban city bordering
on the City of Seattle ; and
WHEREAS the City of Renton has been undergoing substantial
growth within the last several .years ; and
WHEREAS such growth requires capital improvements by the
City of Renton, such as the extension of water and sewer main
facilities ; and
WHEREAS such new capital facilities require funding, through
one means or another; and
WHEREAS future growth is expected to continue nigh within
the next five to ten years ; and
WHEREAS existing residences and businesses have contributed
to capital improvements through either tap-in charges , special service
connection fees , or general tax payments ; and
WHEREAS many residences and new business construction have
not contributed to capital improvements already constructed and in
use through the City, and
WHEREAS cities have been permitted previously and are still
permitted to recover the historical costs of capital improvements to
utilities as a connection charge , and
WHEREAS an equitable method must be established whereby
new growth which has not previously contributed to capital improvements
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of the City' s utilities can contribute to the historical costs of the
utility capital improvements which are in place ; and
WHEREAS the City of Renton has determined that the best
utilization for the recovery of historical costs of capital improve-
ments of utilities within the City of Renton, would be to construct
new capital improvements with the City of Renton; and
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WHEREAS the City of Renton has established special funds
for the purpose. of utilizing the special connection charges , designating
those funds to the maintenance of the previously installed utilities
and for funding new capital improvements required because of new
growth; and
WHEREAS the City of Renton has previously adopted a six
year capital improvement program establishing the necessity and
priority of certain capital improvements within the City of Renton;
and
WHEREAS the City of Renton has previously adopted a Compre-
hensive Plan forecasting the need and priority of certain city utilities ;
and
WHEREAS each of these Plans establishes the goals of the
City of Renton for capital improvements within the next six years ;
and
WHEREAS the establishment and development of new construction,
residential and commercial and industrial , without the construction
of new capital improvements , presents, an immediate and present danger
to the quality of living within the City of Renton; and
WHEREAS such development threatens to contaminate and
pollute the air, water and living atmosphere in and about the City
of Renton; and
WHEREAS such development threatens to overtax and burden
the existing utilities , public services and facilities of the City
of Renton; and
WHEREAS the tax payers of the City of Renton already suffer
a substantial tax burden from federal , state .and local taxes ; and
WHEREAS it would appear from experience and estimates
that the tax revenues available to the City of Renton, and other
revenues available to the City of Renton, must be dedicated, in whole
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or in large part , to the maintenance of existing capital improvements ,
with little or no fundings left over for the construction of new
capital improvements ; and
WHEREAS the number of square feet of property connecting to
the water or sewer utility bears a reasonable relationship on the
impact of- that construction upon existing city utilities ; and
WHEREAS the water utility of the City of Renton consists .
of a grid system of water distribution inter-ties , reservoirs , pumps ,
and distribution lines , generally benefiting the citizens of the
City of Renton; and
WHEREAS the sewer utility within the City of Renton has
been constructed in such a fashion that the developed established
neighborhoods were generally developed first witha lower historical
cost , and the newer developing areas , wherein growth- will most
naturally be occurring have had sewers developed later in time with
a corresponding h.igh.er historical costs ; and
WHEREAS the City of Renton does not wishto unduly burden
new development by imposing the higher historical costs of the
recently developed sewers , it wishes to recover an average cost
such that it would be equitable to average the entire plant value
of the sewer system for each development by that particular drainage
basin and its own historical costs , and.
WHEREAS it would be advisable and beneficial to the City
and property owners as well to establish a single rate for each of
the special utility connection charges so that the costs incurred
for those charges will be predictable ; and
WHEREAS those methods and means of calculating the impact
of growth upon capital improvements are reasonable ; and
WHEREAS such calculations are not exact , and are estimates
based upon the best available information; and
WHEREAS the City staff has previously submitted to the
Council a report entitled "Actual Plant Connection Charges - Report
to City Council , Part II" dated August 25 , 1982 ; and
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WHEREAS that report establishes that a per square foot
charge to recover the historical costs of the water utility would
be approximately 8 1/2(,, per square foot and for the sewer utility
~ it would be approximately 4(,% per square foot ; and
WHEREAS the City Council finds that the charge of 8 1/2(,%
per square foot would be unduly burdensome on new development; and
WHEREAS the fee for residential construction is based on
a minimum lot size of 7 , 500 square feet of property to be served;
NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RENTON,
WASHINGTON, DO RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS :
SECTION I : The above recitals are found to be true and
correct in all respects .
SECTION II : The findings as made support the establishment
of a special utility connection charge for connecting, to existing
water and sewer facilities for those properties which have not
previously been assessed.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 20th day of September, 1982 .
Maxine Motor , cting. City er
APPROVED BY THE MAYOR this 20th day of September, 1982 .
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Barbara Y. Shinpoch, Mayor
Approved as to form:
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Lawrence J.J. W ren, City Attorney
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