Title
Continued Discussion on the Ad Hoc Water Expansion Project
Brief Description: City Staff would like to introduce and discuss with City Council the update of the City’s Water Expansion Project. City staff will present an outline of the discussions with the Ad Hoc Water Expansion Committee and provide a draft outline of the public input and schedule for the project.
Body
Legislative History
Initial discussion was held at the June 13, 2023, Council Workshop.
Purpose & Explanation
In 2022, City Council identified a desire to evaluate and update the City’s policy for expansion of the Hudson water distribution system to unserved portions of the City, and to identify possible methods to pay for the expansion of the system. As a result, an Ad Hoc Water Expansion Committee, which included both City Council members and City staff, was appointed to review and update the policy.
The Ad Hoc Committee met on December 12, 2022, March 9, 2023, and May 24, 2023, to discuss the existing water system and limits, potential areas of expansion, costs associated with expansion of the water system and how to gauge resident interest in expanding the water system to those unserved neighborhoods.
The Ad Hoc Committee has prioritized a list of five (5) neighborhoods to be first evaluated, established a possible funding structure for the improvements and created a draft public outreach program to gather resident input.
The five neighborhood areas to be evaluated are shown on the attached map and listed below:
Area 1 - Londonairy Blvd, Bridgewater Blvd, Bersham Dr, Oldham Way Neighborhoods
Area 2 (Towbridge Drive, Port Chester Dr, Cheshire Dr, Wilshire Park Dr. Neighborhoods)
Area 3 (Sunset Dr, Barlow Rd, Carriage Hill Dr, Argyle Dr, Arbutus Dr Neighborhood)
Area 4 (Pinebrook Dr, Elmcrest Dr Neighborhoods)
Area 5 (Nicholson Drive, Williamsburg Cir, Independence Dr Neighborhoods)
The areas were chosen due to their proximity to our Hudson Water System Well Field, or previous public improvement expansion petition requests for the neighborhoods and the proximity of the neighborhood to our existing Hudson water distribution system.
The Committee evaluated several funding options for the public improvements. Staff reviewed the water system expansion with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA). The OEPA notified the City that the EPA offers a Water Supply Revolving Loan Account (WSRLA) that provides financial assistance for the planning, design, and construction of water system improvements. The current interest rate offered for the WSRLA Program is currently 2.5%. Therefore, staff used this interest for the basis of its cost calculations.
The Committee also identified that splitting the cost between the City and Residents, at a 25/75 split was a reasonable approach. A summary of cost per household is attached using the 2.5% interstate rate and cost split of 25%/75% (City/Resident).
The Committee identified that using the City's existing Public Improvements Petition, detailed in Codified Ordinance 1018.04 Special Assessment Petitions, would be the best way to secure neighborhood commitments to the project. The Special Assessment Petition requires 60% of the residents who front the waterline project to legally sign a petition which will then be reviewed and approved by City Council prior to the project’s detailed design and construction proceeding.
Lastly, the Committee identified a draft schedule, attached, for public input and neighborhood commitments to the water system expansion project.
The public input sessions are scheduled for later this summer and construction of the approved projects would then take place in 2024.
Fiscal Impact
Currently Budgeted
Supplemental Appropriation Required
Appropriation Not Required.
Recommendation
Suggested Action
Staff recommends council discussion on the above information and provide guidance to staff on the next steps of this project.
Submitted by,
Thomas J. Sheridan, City Manager
Jeff Knoblauch, Asst. City Manager - Finance Director
Brian Griffith, Director - Management & Budget
Kevin Powell, Assistant Public Works Director
Bradley Kosco, P.E., P.S., City Engineer