DocumentsStaff ReportFeb 1, 2016Pages 50–52
Staff Report: Sewer Utility Bylaw No. 1600, 2016 — Background Report
Background report introducing Sewer Utility Bylaw No. 1600 (2016) which replaces previous sewer bylaws, updates fees (including SPL septage fees), and provides the legal mechanism to mandate sewer connections.
Key facts
- Proposed actions: repeal Sanitary Sewer Utility Bylaw No.125 (1995) and Sanitary Sewer User Charge Bylaw No.351 (1999) and give readings to Sewer Utility Bylaw No.1600, 2016
- Mandatory sewer connection: Part 3 of Bylaw No.1600 mandates connections by December 31, 2019 (five-year connection window referenced)
- Fee changes: Environmental Levy remains $5,000; proposed revised discharge fee schedule for SPL (details in comparison table)
- Legal: Bylaw reviewed by City's solicitor; attachments include concordance summary and full Bylaw No.1600
Staff Report: Sewer Utility Bylaw No. 1600, 2016 — Background Report
Date: February 1, 2016
Department: Engineering
Background
At the regular meeting of Council December 15, 2014 Council considered a report on sewer rates for the period of 2015 through 2019 as well as the concept of mandatory connections. Council approved the rates set forth in the December 2014 report and approved mandatory sewer connections.
The purpose of this report is to introduce Bylaw No. 1600, 2016 which provides for the legal mechanism to mandate sewer connections.
Commentary
The City has three existing bylaws relating to the sewer servicing:
- District of Langford Sanitary Sewer Utility Bylaw No. 125, 1995
- District of Langford Sanitary Sewer User Charge Bylaw No. 351, 1999
- City of Langford Sewer Capital Recover Fee Bylaw No. 1100, 2007
Bylaw No. 125 Langford's original Sanitary Sewer Utility Bylaw was prepared following the City's incorporation to provide sanitary sewer servicing to the City. Many of the items contained in Bylaw No. 125 are included in Bylaw No.1600. The City has eliminated outdated or unnecessary items. A summary of the concordance between Bylaw No. 125 and Bylaw No. 1600 is attached to this report.
Bylaw No. 351 is being repealed as part of the creation of this new Bylaw No. 1600. The purpose of the new Bylaw No. 1600 is to clean up outdated references in Bylaw No. 351, and to amend the fees charged to SPL (private sewage disposal facility on Henry Eng Place) for discharge to our sanitary sewer.
With respect to the existing reference in Bylaw No. 351 for fees collected by the City that enable SPL to discharge to the City's sewer system, discussions have occurred between City staff, West Shore Environmental Services and SPL who have mutually agreed that the fee schedule for the septage processing plant on Henry Eng Drive needs to be updated.
A comparison of the existing and proposed fees is as follows.
| Fee Description | Existing | Proposed |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Levy | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| Plus: Flat rate discharge fee | Flat amounts in 2 million gallon increments with 7 million gallon minimum ($35,000) and 17 million gallon maximum ($60,000). | One-half cent per gallon for the first 13 million gallons and 1 cent per gallon over 13 million gallons |
| Less: Credit for taxes payable | Offsets the flat rate discharge fee in the amount of SPL's proportionate share of property tax as invoiced by the landlord. | Eliminated |
| Plus: Flat charge for discharge during peak operating hours | $3.50 per cubic metre | Eliminated. We are not concerned about peak flow as SPL are limiting plant discharge to a max of 7.5 L/S which is well within the pump station capacity |
These amendments will simplify the fee schedule and update the fees which have not been amended since 2003. They have been agreed to in principal by all affected parties.
With respect to the second existing sewer related bylaw, Bylaw No. 1100 was put in place in 2007 to allow collection of fees for areas already serviced by sanitary sewers when the City entered into an agreement with West Shore Environmental Services Inc. Bylaw No. 1100 must remain in place until the last of the fees relating to the service areas of Goldstream Meadows and Bear Mountain are collected. Once the fees related to Bylaw No. 1100 are completed (estimated to be in 2021), Bylaw No. 1100 can be repealed.
Bylaw No. 1600 therefore replaces Bylaw No. 351, updates fees charged to SPL and in Part 3 of the new Bylaw No. 1600 mandates sewer connections by December 31, 2019. With the proposed mandatory connection date of December 31, 2019, there are four years ahead of the mandatory connection timing before Council would have to consider any legal action for connections. Staff suggest that the four year timeline for mandatory connection along with the one year that has already passed since the original December 2014 Council resolution have given sufficient notice of the intention to enable the mandatory connections. With this five year connection window in mind, staff are not suggesting any other consideration for residents who have updated their septage treatment system within that five year window.
Financial Implications
(Section present in source; no additional financial detail provided on these pages.)
Legal Implications
This bylaw has been thoroughly reviewed by the City's solicitor.
Options
That Council:
- Repeal Sanitary Sewer Utility Bylaw No. 125, 1995;
AND - Repeal District of Langford Sanitary Sewer User Charge Bylaw No. 351, 1999;
AND - Give First, Second and Third Readings to Sewer Utility Bylaw No. 1600, 2016;
OR - Do nothing at this time.
Respectfully submitted
Michelle Mahovlich, P.Geo., P.Eng.
Steve Ternent
Director of Engineering
Treasurer
Matt ew Baldwin, MCIP, RPP
Director of Planning
Brent Molnar, AScT
Manager, Land Development
erry Worobec
Acting Manager, Building Inspection
Manager, Bylaw Enforcement
Attachments
- Concordance Summary Bylaw 125 to Bylaw 1600
- Sewer Utility Bylaw No. 1600, 2016
Document Images
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