The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About7/7/2004 - STAFF REPORTS (19) DATE: July 7, 2004 TO: City Council FROM: Director of Public Works/City Engineer SEWER SERVICE TO DREAM HOMES RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council authorize extension of sewer service to the Dream Homes properties located in the City of Cathedral City adjacent to the Palm Springs City Limits, north of Ramon Road and east of Gene Autry Trail. The fees shall be those applicable to properties within the City. This authorization would be contingent upon receipt and approval of an Engineering Study outlining the requirements for sewer mains, lift station, and the affects on Treatment Plant capacity and operation. City Council further authorizes preparation of a Memorandum of Understanding between Palm Springs and Cathedral City memorializing the responsibility outlined herein. SUMMARY: In response to a request from the City Manager of Cathedral City, this action would allow a maximum equivalent of 500 single family units on land outside the Palm Springs City Limits to connect to the city sewer. The connection fee is currently $4,816 per unit for properties outside the Palm Springs City Limits and $2,408 for properties within the City of Palm Springs. BACKGROUND: The Municipal Code provides that sewer service may be extended to properties outside Palm Springs City Limits. The current fee for such properties as established by Palm Springs City Council Resolution is $4,816 per unit, which is double the fee for properties within the City of Palm Springs. This provision goes back to 1967 where Palm Springs City Council approved a double fee by ordinance for properties notwithin the Palm Springs City Limits. The City Managerof Cathedral City,on behalf of the Cathedral City Council, has requested the City of Palm Springs consider providing sewer service to the Dream Homes properties outside the Palm Springs City Limits, north of Ramon Road and east of Gene Autry Trail. This area does not currently have sanitary sewer service available to it. Service into Cathedral City is not likely, due to the Whitewater River. Although there are no environmental issues specific to these properties which would make sanitary sewer connection the only option,providing sanitary sewerto developable properties is of general benefit, not only to the proposed area, but to the City of Palm Springs and its adjacent areas in terms of precluding spills and contamination resulting when septic systems eventually fail. Although not within the Palm Springs City's sewer master planned area, the proposed amounts of dwelling units added to the treatment plant is considered negligible, as the flow is estimated at 0.1 million gallons per day (MGD). Flow at the treatment plant currently averages between 6.5 and 7.5 MGD, so a 0.1 addition would not be significant. Staff recommends that an Engineering Study be required, obtained, and funded by Cathedral City to verify any effects to the treatment plant as well as requirements for sewer mains and existing lift station. =- Sewer Service to Dream Homes July 7, 2004 Page 2 In order for this area to connect to the city sewer, Cathedral City would need to construct over a mile of sewer main from Ramon Road north to the Dream Homes and within the streets of the Dream Homes Development. Maintenance of all sewer mains within Cathedral City shall be the responsibility of Cathedral City. Staff has contacted Desert Water Agency, who has sewer service rights to this portion of Cathedral City, and they have no objection to Palm Springs providing this sewer service. In 2001 the Palm Springs City Council had, by Resolution Number 20178, authorized connection of an area south of Acanto Drive to connect to city sewer under similar circumstances and requirements. l 1/a9�{yf DAVID J. BARAKIAN Director of Public Works/City Engineer APPROVED:, City Manager %j ATTACHMENTS: 1. Resolution 2. Map of Dream Homes Area 3. City of Cathedral City's Request Letter Apr-12-2004 10:19am From-CITY MAWERS OFFICE +760T700699 T-71 P.002/002 F-?Zg �2 L Cathedral I 2004 L CITY 0F DALto _s April 8, 2004 Mr. David Ready City Manager City of Palm Springs P. O. Box 2743 Palm Springs, CA 92263-2743 Dear David, This is a follow up to our recent discussion about Palm Springs' charging double sewer capacity fees for properties outside the municipal boundaries for treatment of sewage at the Palm Springs Wastewater Treatment Plant. The policy is a concern to the City of Cathedral City at this time because the Dream Homes area, abutting Palm Springs' easterly border, is in the process of forming an assessment district to install sewers. Under the current fee schedule, these 500 residential property owners in the lowest-income neighborhood of our city would be required to pay twice the $2,408 fee levied in Palm Springs, or $4,816. The use of centralized sewage treatment ratherthan individualized septic tanks and )each pits certainly enhances neighborhood health and safety, promotes water recycling and protects the aquifer, which is the main source of drinking water for the entire Coachella Valley. We would be grateful for any steps you could take to negate the double fee, applying a single rate to everyone. This would make centralized sewage treatment available to all citizens while protecting one of the desert's most vital natural resources. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Donald E. Bradley City Manager DF_6;Jl3/tIm 68-700 AVENIDA LALO GUERRE`1 0 - CATHEDRAL CITY, CA 92234 - 760/770-0340 - FAX: 760/202-1460 jSHEETl1PwA SITEINIERNAMYIN.RIONT RA`DH10 EDNAx � m+Ho fQA ..K N.'A pR / y ' N.T.B. VICINITY MAP d q0 z iF 0 UI a R1f0IN RIE OFFICE OF ME CRY G.ERN THIS__OAT OF 20Dp N 1 NEEDY CEHHFY TH Th E 1NlHIN MAP SHO'MNG PROPOSED OONNDARIES OF DREAM HOME "'ODEIOE.$fAl[CF CALPp�RNI WASRApggOrp IOYRTIE QATYNLWNLILI OFF COUNTY OFLlh 6 UI AT A R'Ee MEETNG THEREOF,HEM ON THE__DAT aF BT ITS REEOWTON NO. 20CA. Q CITY tt AK CATHEDRAL CRY FRED T-0S DAY OF O'CLOCK I-IN lHE BOOK 3004,AT THE HOUR OF CDMMUNItt PACUTES OIEIRICTA PAGE —OF MAPS R ASSESSMENT ANO IN THIS pPFlCE OF THE COUN AD INSTRUMENT NO, TY RECORDER N THE CoMNTT _ OF gIVEA910E.STAIE OF CAN THIS A SAN JDACUIN LF7 DR. COUNTY RECORDER COUNTY W plyEg510E --I STATE OF CrC%NNIA 1FE ONES ANp MiOSE DIMENSIRS OF EACH LOT DR PARCEL SHOYM ON 1HIE OIACRAM SHALL ]pp' 150' p' Opp• MPS FOR THOSE PARCES BONS AE EHONN ON THE RIVcR51p0 COUNTY ACRAM SHS SCALE�'f D LEGENf) USED. PROPOSED BOUNOApy WE RIVER90E COUNTY AESESSRS MAPS pgLL OOVFRN FOR ALL DETAILS CONCERNING IHE LINES AND DIMENSIONS OF SUCH LOTS OR PARCELS. l FOR DETAILS ON UUU IES.REFER TO THE UTILITY PLANEAL ON FILE WTH CATHEDR CIT, S" 0o MCI Odu1IIlaTlclal(ila MAP OF PROPOSED BOUNDARIES OF Psao:"2TJO9 Yln DaTu 1° seT DREAM HOME NEIGHBORHOOD SEWERS & STREET IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (W"cou) "Iasoo92�x(s°oo)Bev-sslo CATHEDRAL CITY COUNTY Or Ri\/FRSIDZ m�a�� STATE OF CALIFORNMA RESOLUTION NO. OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS,CALIFORNIA,AUTHORIZING THE EXTENSION OF SEWER SERVICE TO THE DREAM HOMES PROPERTIES, LOCATED IN THE CITY OF CATHEDRAL CITY ADJACENT TO AND OUTSIDE THE PALM SPRINGS CITY LIMITS, NORTH OF RAMON ROAD AND EAST OF GENE AUTRY TRAIL. WHEREAS, the Municipal Code provides that sewer service may be extended to properties outside the City Limits; and WHEREAS, the City Manager of Cathedral City, on behalf of the City Council of the City of Cathedral City has requested the City of Palm Springs consider authorizing sewer service to Dream Homes properties adjacent to and outside the Palm Springs City Limits, north of Ramon Road and east of Gene Autry Trail; and WHEREAS, the maximum development potential on this property is estimated to not exceed 500 equivalent dwelling units; and WHEREAS, providing sanitary sewerto developed properties is of benefit, not only to the proposed development, but environmentally to the City of Palm Springs and its adjacent areas; and WHEREAS, the area is not within the City of Palm Springs's sewer master planned area, the proposed amount of flow added to the treatment plant is not significant; and WHEREAS, in order for this area to connect to the city sewer, City of Cathedral City would need to construct more than one mile of sewer main from Ramon Road north into the Dream Homes and within the existing streets of the Dream Homes Development; and WHEREAS, City of Cathedral Cuty will maintain all sewer main within its City Limits; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BYTHE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, that providing sewer service to the Dream Homes properties located outside the Palm Springs City Limits, north of Ramon Road and east of Gene Autry Trail is authorized, provided alV fees as authorized by the Municipal Code and Fee Resolution are paid, an Engineering Study outlining requirements for sewer mains, lift station and the effects on the treatment plant capacity and operation is submitted and approved, and further provided that all properties shall be charged the fee schedule applicable to connections within Palm Springs City Limits. A Memorandum of Understanding, between City of Palm Springs and City of Cathedral City is hereby authorized memorializing the responsibilities outlined herein. ADOPTED this day of 2004 Sewer Service to Dream Homes Resolution No. July 7, 2004 Page 2 AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ATTEST: CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA City Clerk City Manager REVIEWED &APPROVED AS TO FORM: