DATE: April 9, 2024
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: Budget Resolution for Development Services and Capital Projects
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Adopt Budget Resolution increasing appropriations and estimated revenues for Public Works and Planning Org 43600200 in the amount of $800,000 for the emergency removal of tertiary treated Title 22 recycled wastewater from County Service Area No 34 (4/5 vote); and
2. Adopt Budget Resolution increasing appropriations for Public Works and Planning Org 1198 in the amount of $800,000 using available fund balance (4/5 vote).
REPORT
Approval of the recommended actions will increase FY 2023-24 appropriations, in the amount of $800,000 for Org 43600200 in order to fund expenses for the emergency removal of tertiary treated Title 22 recycled wastewater (recycled water) from County Service Area No. (CSA) 34’s Reclaim Pond 2 (Pond 2) that were not anticipated in the FY 2023-24. Approval of the second recommended action increases appropriation in Org 1198 using available fund balance to facilitate reimbursement to Org 43600200. This item pertains to a location in District 5.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended actions are not approved, Development Services Org 43600200 will not be reimbursed for the expenditures used for removal of the recycled wastewater.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost with the recommended actions. All costs for administering Org 43600200 are budgeted in Department of Public Works and Planning - Development Services Org 43600200. The increased appropriations in Org 43600200 will allow for funds received from the developers, collected for the development of the wastewater treatment facility infrastructure for CSA No. 34, to reimburse Development Services Org 43600200 for invoices related to the emergency removal of recycled water from Pond 2. Available fund balance in Org 1198 will be used to reimburse Org 43600200.
DISCUSSION:
CSA 34 was formed in 1986 to provide various community services for the development of the Millerton Specific Plan, which consists of 1,420 acres lying on the north and south sides of Millerton Road, to the south of Millerton Lake. CSA No. 34 provides sewer utility services to Millerton Specific Plan Area, currently serving approximately 400 connections.
As a result of the recent storms in late 2023 and early 2024, the freeboard level of Pond 2 is encroaching on the limit as defined in the State Waste Discharge Requirements (WDR) for CSA No. 34 Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF). In order to stay within the WDRs and avoid any fines or other penalties, staff, through coordination with the City of Fresno and with approval from the Regional Water Quality Control Board (Water Board), directed JPJ Incorporated to transport recycled water to the City of Fresno Regional Wastewater Facility (FRWTF).
The first recommended action will increase appropriations and estimated revenues in Org 43600200. The appropriations will be used to pay for the emergency hauling of recycled water from CSA No. 34 Pond 2 to the City of Fresno RWTF. The second recommended action will allow for the reimbursement of $800,000 in Org 43600200 via an operating transfer from Org 1198.
The Facility fees and Development fees paid by the developer are fees that the developers pay in an amount equal to the pro-rata share of costs for construction of improvements specific to the Millerton Specific Plan area. When the Facility and Development Fees are paid, they are then placed in accounts administered by the County and may be used for reimbursement to future subdividers that construct more than their pro-rata share of certain improvements for full build-out of the Millerton Specific Plan area.
There are ongoing discussions with the Water Board and developers regarding actions needed to ensure that CSA No. 34’s WWTF has sufficient means of discharging recycled water moving forward to avoid the need for future emergency actions such as these.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Resolution (Org 4360)
On file with Clerk - Resolution (Org 1198)
CAO ANALYST:
Salvador Espino