Ongoing Coordination of Services with City of Vancouver
Clark Regional Wastewater District and the City of Vancouver have executed two new wastewater agreements, aimed at providing service flexibility, rate protection and future stability.
The agreements change the two agencies’ relationship from customer/treatment provider to partners. Sewer District Commissioners adopted the agreements in June 2010.
Details of the new relationship are laid out in these agreements: a Wholesale Wastewater Treatment Agreement on operations and a Wastewater Coordinated Services Agreement on assumptions. The agreements reflect guiding principles developed by the agencies over nearly three years, and input incorporated as part of a six-month public outreach effort in 2009.
For many years the District and City have looked to maximize existing and future infrastructure, address technical and governance issues, and create cost-saving opportunities for shared services. These agreements address those points, as well as the critical question of how to provide stability for customers, the District and the City in both the near term and far future.
Ninety-three percent of Clark Regional Wastewater District’s service area lies within the City of Vancouver’s Urban Growth Boundary (UGB). Many District customers already receive other City services, such as water and firefighting resources. Annexation of any portion of this area provides the City with the legislative authority of “assumption” under RCW 35.13A. That means, following annexation, the City would have the ability to assume control of sewer infrastructure and customers, including the rights and responsibilities to fix and collect sewer service rates and charges. The agreements represent a coordinated plan for handling sewer functions in case of annexation, lending future stability for planning, providers and customers, without changing the annexation process and requirements.
The Treatment (Operations) Agreement provides for:
- City treatment of up to 1 million gallons per day of District flows, higher if agreed
- District cost for city treatment services based on operating and capital costs, including a direct share of the Westside treatment plant and interceptor. Those costs would also factor in depreciation and return on investment, which could be reduced by as much as $200,000 a year if the agencies adopt the related Coordinated Services (Assumption) Agreement, creating a partnership. The District would commit to using such “savings” for projects that protect the community’s aquifers and water resources, including septic tank elimination projects.
The Coordinated Services (Assumption) Agreement lays out a predictable roadmap for the District, the City and customers if and when annexations occur. It does not change the annexation process nor make annexation easier or faster for the City. It provides for:
- Continued ownership, operation and control by the District of its own services
- Coordinated operations and maintenance for cost-effectiveness and efficiencies
- Creation of a joint District and City oversight committee made up of two staff members and one elected official from each to meet at least once every six months.
As annexations occurred, District customers would remain with the District, preventing a piecemeal approach, and pay a 6 percent fee of about $2 per month to the City. If and when Vancouver had annexed at least 60 percent of the area or assessed valuation within the District, the entire District would be assumed by the City (per current state statute), providing at least 12 years had passed since the agreement were adopted. The agreement would also address employment and rights of District employees as provided for under state law.
The agreements are in effect for 30 years or until the City assumed the entire District. Early termination would be possible, however, if a new city incorporated within Vancouver’s Urban Growth Boundary or the District’s role in the larger Clark County community changed materially.
Clark Regional Wastewater District, a special purpose district formed in 1958, has more than 381 miles of sewer lines and 50 pump stations serving a population base of more than 81,000. Vancouver's wastewater collection system includes approximately 710 miles of sewer lines and 38 pumping stations, as well as two state Department of Ecology recognized wastewater treatment facilities with ample capacity serving a population base of approximately 202,000.
About 8 percent of the District’s sewer flows go to Vancouver’s Westside Water Reclamation Facility now. Operations agreements between the District and the City of Vancouver have long expired, though both agencies have continued their service relationship.
The District and the City have also been active partners in the Regional Sewer Coalition Planning Study, funded by a Department of Ecology grant and focusing primarily on the north Clark County cities. Work continues on that effort to consider a coordinated, long-term general sewer plan that would maximize infrastructure and address technical and governance issues for a partnership between the District, Clark County and the cities of Battle Ground and Ridgefield.
In addition to presentations and discussions at business and neighborhood stakeholder groups in 2009, information about the proposals has been provided to customers in billing inserts, on websites and at a public open house October 6, 2009.
If you have any questions, please contact Kim Thur at (360) 993-8822.
View the letter to our customers (pdf, 217K), which was included in August/September 2009 billings.
View the July 21, 2009 letter (pdf, 230K), which was mailed to our stakeholders, as well as the list (pdf, 13K) it was sent to.
View the Wholesale Wastewater Treatment (Operations) Agreement (pdf, 106K).
View the Wastewater Coordinated Services (Assumption) Agreement (pdf, 67K).
View the updated, joint presentation (pdf, 541K), which was developed to explain the two agreements and provide the latest status of the process.
[ back to top ]