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Home My WebLink About11 Water Facilities fees Agenda Item # V- -Nam Memorandum To: Board of Directors From. Peter Holzmeister Date: October 12, 2001 Appeal of water facilities fee submitted by Jack Emmetts Attached is a letter from Jack Emmetts asking that the Board waive his water facilities fee. Mr. Emmetts plans to construct a 1257 square-foot addition to his house. Our facilities fee is $1.56 per square foot, so Mr. Emmetts has been charged $1,960.92. We modified our facilities fee in May to utilize a square-foot formula. A timeline of activities leading up to this action follows: 1. On January 18, 2001 there was an article in the Sierra Sun stating that TDPUD was considering raising water facilities fees. 2. We advertised a public hearing to consider an ordinance amending the water facilities fee on March 1, 2001 3. We conducted the public hearing on March 7, 2001. 4. We adopted the ordinance on March 7, 2001 5. We advertised the new adopted ordinance in the Sierra Sun 6. The ordinance took effect on May 7, 2001 7. A broadcast fax was sent out to contractors informing them of the grace period on May 8, 2001 expiring at 5:00 PM on May 11, 2001. During the grace period the old fees would remain in effect. 8. On May 21, 2001 Mr. Emmetts filed an application for a building permit with the Town of Truckee. 9. Mr. Emmetts filed an application with TDPUD for a water permit on about September 21, 2001. From the time we adopt a fee ordinance it takes sixty days to become effective. During that time people can file applications for water connections and pay the old fee. As I see it you have three options, each with its advantages and disadvantages: 1. Deny the request. Advantage: it treats Mr. Emmetts like all others who have applied and provides funds we need to build our water system. Disadvantage: Mr. Emmetts would be left feeling that he paid a fee he did not know about. 2. Approve the request. Advantage: Mr. Emmetts is satisfied that he was treated well. Disadvantage: Others who have paid the fee since May will be treated differently or we will need to reimburse their fees at considerable expense. This revenue is required to continue to construct wells to serve our customers. 3. Repeal the portion of the fee that applies to the construction of additional space after the hoarse is built. Advantage: we can reimburse all customers who paid for this type of fee, and everyone is treated equally. Disadvantage: We lose revenues we need to support our system expansion and people who build a small house and then expand it pay a lower fee than those who build the larger house at first. Jack Emmetts 13926 Pathway Ave Truckee, CA 96161 530-550-7789 Fax 530-550-7758 September 30, 2001 Truckee Donner Public Utility District Board of Directors 11570 Donner Pass Road PO Box 309 Truckee, CA 96160 Subject: Water System Facility Fees Dear Directors, I am writing this letter to request a waiver of the fees or deadline extension on Ordinance 2001- 01. 1 have been a resident of Truckee for the past year. On December 30, 2000 1 contracted with Ken Wittels Engineering to design and engineer additional living space for our family. On May 21, 2001, 1 filed for our building permit with the town of Truckee and was informed that I would be responsible for the following Departments fees • Town of Truckee Planning Department • Truckee Fire Department • Truckee Tahoe Unified School District • Tahoe Donner Recreational Parks District After submitting numerous revisions to planning I was notified on September 21, 2001 that my plans were ready, however, I had to get a release from the Tahoe Donner Public Utility District (TDPUD). I arrived at TDPUD only to be informed that I had to pay a facility fee of $1.56 per square foot. Since we were adding 1257 square feet the total was $1,960.92. Needless to say I was in shock. I requested to speak with Peter Holzmeister, General Manager, and asked how long this fee had been in effect . He indicated that on March 7, 2001 Ordinance 2001-01 was passed and effective May 7th on increased habitable living space. My first question was, "Why would I have to pay an additional fee to support the TDPUD when we were not increasing any burden to the system?" I was told that local contractors protested that the burden be shared with the entire community. Secondly, I asked, "How would I have known about such an increase?" I was informed that ads were taken in the local newspaper and that the Contractors' Association of Tahoe Truckee was notified. I am an owner builder not a contractor nor do 1 read the local paper on a regular basis. Therefore, I did not have the benefit of proper notification to file my permit before the deadline. I believe TDPUD had several other effective methods of notifying the community of the new ordinance. • A notice could have gone out to all present users with their utility bill. I get all sorts of community notices and energy saving information but something as important as an additional fee was not addressed. • A list of all open permit applications could have been pulled from the Town of Truckee and a notice sent via mail by the TDPUD . • The Town of Truckee Planning Department could have been requested to give a hand out on behalf of TDPUD, informing the public of the impending deadline. • We have a public television station Channel 6 available at our disposal for just such notices. I am requesting an extension to the deadline and a waiver of fees, due to the close date of May 7, 2001 and my permit filing on May 21, 2001. This request is also due to the fact that proper notification of this Ordinance was not given to such owner builders as myself. I also would like more detailed information on what this fee is for and how I was informed that such a hearing was to take place on March 7, 2001 on Ordinance 2001-01. 1 would have attended the meeting had I been informed. Your consideration of a waiver of fees and a deadline extension is greatly appreciated. Sinderely,rz 1 I J ck Em e tts cc: Peter Holzmeister California State Utility Commission Truckee Danner Public Utility District B'�osf(irac=tors r Aguera J.Ronald Hemig James A.Maass (530)587-3896 Patricia S.Sutton FAX(530) 587-1189 Nelson Van Gundy General Manager Peter L.Holzmeister NOTICE TRUCKEE DONNER PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT WATER SYSTEM FACILITY FEES On March 7. 2001 the Board of Directors for.the Truckee Donner Public Utility District, approved Ordinance 2001-01. This ordinance revised the Water System,Facility Fee schedule for all new construction. This new fee schedule applies to the following: 1) All new applications for water service as of May 6, 2001. 2) All additions by existing water system customers that result in an increase of habitable living space that submit a building permit application after May 6,2001. The fee must be paid to the Truckee Donner Public Utility District(11570 Donner Pass Road) as a condition of receiving a Building Permit. Fee will be calculated based on the information provided on the Building Permit application. For residential construction (both single-family and multi-fatally), the Facility Fmis.$1.56 per square foot ofltabitable living space. The amount of habitable living space is determined by the appropriate Building Authority (Town of Truckee or Placer County) and listed on the Building Permit. For non-residential construction, Developers should contact the District directly at 530-587- 3896. Sop-27-01 09s43aa PrwTPXKEE Oa1NER PUO + T-094 P 02/02 f-230 May 8,2001 Notice to Truckee Contractors I, Truckee Douuer PUD's water connection and facilities fees are increaslug' The effective date of the ittcae�Wa was to be May 7,2001. f�Towever,because many contracwrs building homes in the T[)pU a were tinware of the increase,1 are ease,you will have until 5:00 PM on Friday,May 11,2001 to AP*fOT water service and pay the old facilities fee. The new cOrmcc ion charge will still be charged*0ective May 7- The oldconnectiou fee was$450. The new connection fee is$940 The old facilities fee was$707. The new lbe effective after Ma acilities fee will be$1.56��2001 uant foot applie4to the residential living space,w wi So,if you apply for service before 5:00 on Friday,May 11,you will be asked to pay a total of R,647 for the water connection and facilities fees To take advantage of this grace Period You need to have plans submitted To the Town of Truckee for construction of The home. Please bring the Townes Building Permit Application form at the time you apply for water service. l. The now electric 2. The TDPUD dectric connection fee willincce age effeeti Y�00 if no temporary pole connection fee will be$1,350 if a temporary power Pole is used. The old elwmc connection fee ranged from$885 to$1,0$5. i�rA A�ZiI. f"I ijx .'nos fir . ... _ r PERMIT ry ...... ... �_. 4 tlC+wEdRr b'�Q NEN7 FE£ ..�,.,,.-F -...•_�-- - �� SNUP RC+crcTWN GRAD PLUMSA� �� SPIN ING ELECTRIC . .. OAT£ PERMtT NO, YA4.UATION PCN CK PECRGy P.C. - OFFICIAL RECEIPT COMMUNITY OEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TOWN OF TRUCKEE 11570 DONNER\PASS ROAD TRUCKEE,CALIFORMA 96161 17 xJ rtccwro niet��3lar1- RCAD pomrt ORl.OINB CAGE TOTAL .NAME CKrCti iva BMIP neTEurian rivoa*s DEVELOPMENT FEE ENC. GPM PERMIT ENFC. �. 16139 •-