12a - Laserfiche WebLink

regarding how to process utility connection requests while the Happy Valley utility study is being completed: Option 1: Establish an interim city policy to not accept applications for pre-annexation and annexations in Happy Valley until the water and sewer study is complete and reviewed by the City Council. New applications would be accepted when this interim policy is revised by the City Council. Option 1 would involve delaying the processing of any new annexation or pre- annexation agreements until the study is complete, unless the request is in response to an emergency as determined by the Director of Engineering, LAFCo's policies, and California law regarding an "existing or pending public health and safety threat".3 This would allow a comprehensive evaluation of the existing and needed infrastructure in Happy Valley to serve all properties, and would also avoid reviewing requests piecemeal. It would also allow the Director of Engineering to accept a request for connection to City water and/or sewer if it were to be determined that the request was in response to an emergency (e.g. failing septic system or contaminated water supply). Allowing individual property owners to connect one by one will eventually mean that the cost of any needed infrastructure will be shouldered by a smaller group of people (those who have not yet been connected to City services). Requiring that the study be completed before any further connections are approved would mean that the ultimate costs of utility extensions are assumed by a larger number of affected residents, reducing the cost of connection per property, and would also ensure that the installation of infrastructure keeps pace with development. Once the study is complete, staff plans to present its findings to the City Council and LAFCo. When the study is presented to City Council, staff will make a recommendation to as to how the policy could be updated: either revert to a case-by-case basis or a proposal that includes how to fund and construct the extended sewer and water services to make these services available to every property within Happy Valley. Under Option 1, formal applications for annexation or pre-annexation already accepted by the City would be processed, but no new annexation or pre-annexation applications for properties in Happy Valley would be accepted until completion of the comprehensive study (the City would continue to accept requests for connections outside of Happy Valley). A draft resolution is included as Attachment 1 should the City Council wish to adopt this option. Option 2: Accept applications for preannexation and annexations in Happy Valley and elsewhere in the city for water and/or sewer connections to any existing house or new house on an existing lot, even while the water and sewer study is pending. 'Any utility connection provided to unincorporated property requires LAFCo approval after finding such a health and safety emergency. (See Government Code§56133(c).) This has generally been found to be present in Happy Valley due to the existing nitrate contamination in the ground water and the County of Alameda's existing moratorium on new septic systems. Page 4 of 5