1 ...4 let’s talk water why was there an increase to your utility bill? may 25, 2020 remko...
TRANSCRIPT
www.scrd.ca1
www.scrd.ca
Tonight• Is about your utility bill and water supply
• Conversation between community and SCRD Directors and staff– Opening by Lori Pratt, SCRD Board Chair– Presentation by Remko Rosenboom, General Manager, Infrastructure
Services– Conversation the community and panel of SCRD Directors and staff
• Login to Zoom-meeting:– Ask a question or make a comment– Verbally or in writing– Login details at www.SCRD.ca
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www.scrd.cawww.scrd.ca4
Let’s talk WaterWhy was there an increase to your Utility Bill?
May 25, 2020
Remko RosenboomGeneral Manager, Infrastructure Services
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What will we talk about today?• Utility Bills
– Difference with Parcel Taxes– What are they funding?– When are they set and how can I be informed about that?
• Status of SCRD water funding compared to other Local Governments
• Water supply in the 2019 – 2023 Strategic Plan
• Which water projects are funded in 2020?
• What to expect for 2021 rates?
• Payment of this year’s bill
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Utility Bills and Property TaxesUtility BillSent in April by SCRD
Property Tax NoticeSent in June by Province or municipality
Water Daily operations and maintenance (User fee)
Major repairs, replacements and new infrastructure (Parcel tax)
Wastewater
Daily operations and maintenance (User fee)
Major repairs, replacements and expansions (Frontage fee)
Solid waste Curbside collection (User fee) Waste diversion and disposal programs (Parcel Tax)
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What are the 2020 water rates?
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User Fee (Utility Bill)
Parcel Tax (Property Tax
Notice)Total per Year
Regional Water Service Area $410.85
$123.54 increase$276.94
$13.94 increase$687.79
Total increase: $137.48
North Pender Water Service Area $416.61
$138.87 increase$326.63
$0 increase$743.24
Total increase: $138.87
South Pender Water Service Area $529.14
$114.13 increase$347.41
$16.54 increase$876.55
Total increase: $130.67
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What about the other rates on my bill?
• Refuse collection: – Increased by $21.60 for curbside
collection of food waste this fall
• Wastewater rates:– Increased amounts vary per
wastewater system– Sustainable funding of operations,
maintenance and replacement of aging infrastructure
– Communicated in December 2019, more to come in 2020
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When are these rates set?• Rates are set as part of annual budget process:
– Base budget for reoccurring costs– One-time projects
• 2020 budget process:– October 24, 2019: Budget proposals – December 4-6, 2019: First round detailed discussions– January 23, 2020: Rates for 2020 Utility Bills confirmed– February 10-11, 2020: Second round detailed discussions– March 12, 2020: 2020 Budget adopted (incl. parcel taxes)– March 31, 2020: 2020 Budget amended (incl. parcel taxes)
• In response to COVID-19 Pandemic• No change possible to Rates for Utility Bills
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Payment of this year’s billPayment deadline: June 15
Can I pay in installments? YES:• MYSCRD• online banking• post-dated cheques
What about late payments?• 2% non-compounding interest per month
• Normally applied after June 15
• May 28, 2020: Board to confirm postponing application of this late payment penalty until September 30
• Unpaid utility accounts as of December 31 are transferred to property tax account for collection in 2021
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How can I be informed?• Budget meetings are open to the public• SCRD Newsletters, website and social media• Recording on SCRD-YouTube channel• Local media in attendance and reporting• Director’s newsletters, blogs or presentation
Mid-March 2020:COVID-19 Pandemic overshadowed the 2020 budget adoption
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Comparison with other local governments
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$366
$402
$407
$411
$417
$490
$506
$529
$654
$675
$728
CITY OF NANAIMO
TOW N OF COMOX
TOW N OF GIBSONS
SCRD - REGIONAL W ATER
SCRD - NORTH PENDER W ATER
DISTRICT OF SQUAMISH
CITY OF COURTNEY
SCRD - SOUTH PENDER W ATER
GREATER VERNON W ATER
QUATHET REGIONAL DISTRICT
W EST VANCOUVER
2020 WATER USER FEES(S INGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL USING 210M3/YEAR)
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Study confirmed that for most water providers in BC:
– “Water and sewer fees are not covering the full cost of service
delivery in many communities.”1
– “Smaller communities have greater financial gaps than larger
communities, as costs are shared across a small base of
users.”1
Comparison with other local governments
1 BC Water and Waste Water Association, 2015, Assessing the Financial Sustainability of BC’s Municipal Water and Sewer Systems
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SCRD’s current water and wastewater budget challenges• Funds required because:
– More and more SCRD infrastructure is aging and in need of major repairs or replacement
– Underfunding of daily operations, maintenance and repairs
• Funds availability:– Strong competition for grants: most local governments in similar
position – Minimal reserves (savings)– Long-term loans (20-40 year) for major projects (e.g. construction
Chapman Creek Water Treatment Plant in 2004)
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2019-2023 Strategic Plan• Water supply objectives
– Address backlog in repair and replacement of current infrastructure
– Address current water supply crisis– Prepare water supply plans for upcoming
decades– Adapt to changing climate
• Approach– Engaged – Respectful– Bold and Deliberate
• 2020 is first full year of implementation:– Many initiatives started or expedited– Concrete results expected in 2021 and beyond
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New in 2020 water supply budgets
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Maintenance and small repairs
Major repairs and replacement
Water supply expansion
$185,000 $3,356,000
$16,402,000
All water systems combined
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New in 2020 water supply budgets
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Maintenance and small repairs
Major repairs and replacement
Water supply expansion
$22,500
$200,000
$3,400 North Pender Harbour Water Service
$137,500 $2,991,000
$16,392,000
Regional Water System
$25,000
$165,000
$6,600
South Pender Harbour Water Service
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Maintenance and minor repairs
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• Archaeological work during construction projects
• Safety protocols for entering confined spaces
• Increase to budget to support maintenance (e.g. valves, chemicals, piping, couplings)
• Installation of hydrants (North and South Pender)
$22,500
$200,000
$3,400 North Pender Harbour Water Service
$25,000
$165,000
$6,600
South Pender Harbour Water Service
$137,500
$2,991,000
$16,392,000
Regional Water System
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Major repairs and replacements
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• Safety audits three dams at lakes (McNeil, Edwards, Chapman)
• Update Environmental Flow Needs Chapman Creek
• Rebuild Langdale and Cove Cay pump stations
• Equipment replacement South Pender and Chapman Creek Water Treatment Plant
• Hydrologic model for North and South Pender water systems
• Increase to annual budget for replacement of water mains
• Replacement of several large valves
• Back-up generator Garden Bay pump station
$22,500
$200,000
$3,400
North Pender Harbour Water Service
$25,000
$165,000
$6,600
South Pender Harbour Water Service
$137,500 $2,991,000
$16,392,000
Regional Water System
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Water supply expansion
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• Construction Church Rd Well field (public approval for long term this summer)
• Installation water meters Sechelt area (public approval for long term, when TBD)
• Drilling and testing wells on five more sites
• Raw Water Reservoir – site B, refined design and costs
• Assessment of water supply expansion options Eastbourne water system
• Water supply and conservation outreach and public participation
• Development of online portal water meter data
$22,500
$200,000
$3,400 North Pender Water Service
$25,000
$165,000
$6,600 South Pender Harbour Water Service
$137,500 $2,991,000
$16,392,000
Regional Water System
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2025Demand
Current Supply Supply
Deficit2,002,000 m3
How much water are we short to avoid going to Stage 3?
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Rainwater Harvesting
Rebate
Water Conservation Regulations
Washing Machine Rebate
Water Bylaw422 Review
EmergencyChapman Siphon
Church RoadWell Field
Raw WaterReservoirs
GroundwaterExploration
Round 2
Environmental Flow Needs
Update
Water MeteringProgram
Water MainUpgrades
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New Sources: Church Road Well Field
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GranthamsHall
Elphinstone Ave
Chu
rch
Rd
Well 2
Well 1 (monitoring)
Well 3 (2020)
New water treatment plant and pump station
At least 40% of current 2025 Water Supply DeficitAnticipated timelines:- Public approval for funding : June / July 2020- Start construction: October 2020- Commissioning: Summer 2021
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New Sources: Groundwater Investigation Round 2• 2020: 5 new test sites explored
this summer, results in Q4• 2021: Impact assessments,
engineering design and provincial permitting
• Construction could start in 2022
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New Sources: Raw Water Reservoir• 2019:
– One preferred site selected– Costs between $38 and $53 Million,
based on desktop studies
• 2020:– Field work to confirm soil conditions– Confirm market value of excavated
material– Refined design and cost estimates– Decision on if and when next steps taken
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Site B
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Operational Improvements: Update Environmental Flow Needs (EFN)
• Minimum flow requirement to protect aquatic ecosystem (incl. fish)
• Currently set at 200 liter per second for lower reaches of Chapman Creek
• Current study to explore options for lowering EFN when fish are not
migrating (before end of July)
• Provincial approvals required
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% Reduction in Water Supply Deficit for 2025 during 6 month drought
EFN at 180 l/s EFN at 150 l/s5% 13%
Fish habitat at 200 L/s
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Operational Improvements:Water Metering Program
• Program supports:– Improved management water system
– Billing equity
– Water conservation
• Leak program:– 195 letters and 50 follow-up phone calls and e-mails in
May
– 2 leaks fixed per day since 2017
• Next steps:– Installation of meters in Sechelt area
– Online portal with water meter data
• Personal Monthly Water Use Update program (NEW)27
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Conservation• Updating bylaws to include conservation measures• Clothes Washer Rebate program (new, fall 2020)• Expanded Rainwater rebate program
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What to expect in future years?• 2021 budget process to start early fall 2020
• Further investments required for:– More major repairs and replacements of current water and
wastewater infrastructure – Development and construction of more water supply expansion
projects– Development of long-term water supply plans
• Paid for by:• Reserves (savings) • User Fees and Parcel taxes • Long-term loans (20-40 year repayment)• Grants
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What to expect next?• May 28:
– Confirmation of deferrals Utility Bill penalties until Sept 30– Confirmation of timelines for public approval process Church Road
Well Field
• Late summer: start 2021 budget process
• Water supply expansion, until end of year:– Start construction Church Road Well Field (pending funding approved)– Results drilling wells on 5 new sites– Updated Environmental Flow Needs Chapman Creek– Updated design and costs estimates Raw Water Reservoir– Decision on next steps installation of meters in Sechelt area
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