Agenda Item Wording:
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Goshen Community Services District - Request for Additional Sewer Discharge Capacity - Approve a request from the Goshen Community Services District (GCSD) to increase sewer discharge capacity that is permitted under the June 5, 1995 Wastewater Service Agreement between the City and the GCSD.
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Deadline for Action: 12/18/2023
Submitting Department: Public Works
Contact Name and Phone Number: Nick Bartsch, Public Works Director, nick.bartsch@visalia.city <mailto:nick.bartsch@visalia.city>, 713-4052
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends that Council approve a request from the Goshen Community Services District (GCSD) to increase sewer discharge capacity that is permitted under the June 5, 1995 Wastewater Service Agreement between the City and the GCSD.
Background Discussion:
The City of Visalia entered into an agreement with the Goshen Community Services District (GCSD) in 1995, which established that the City would accept and treat wastewater discharge from the Community of Goshen. The agreement created maximum limits (both daily and monthly average) of not only flow discharged, but also of specific components that comprise that flow - Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Total Suspended Solids (TSS). The terms of the agreement also clearly state that the City has no authority by which to allocate the GCSD’s purchased capacity, but rather places this responsibility purely on the GCSD. This agreement has been amended numerous times to ultimately increase the quantities of each of the discharge factors. In 2007, the most recent amendment (No. 5) was processed.
Currently, the GCSD is utilizing an average of 90% of its contracted flow capacity and around 60% of its BOD and TSS capacities. However, on several occasions, the GCSD has exceeded its maximum daily discharge limits for both BOD and TSS, resulting in assessed monetary penalties on their monthly bills.
With ongoing and proposed development occurring throughout and surrounding Goshen, in April of 2023, the GCSD formally requested Amendment No. 6 to the Wastewater Treatment Agreement with the City of Visalia. This request reflected a 50% increase in all parameters over the most recent amended quantities, and roughly double the original contract quantities. At that time, the City had already enlisted the assistance of an engineering consultant to perform a facility condition and operational assessment of the WRF, as well as an update to its Facility Master Plan. This assessment was intended to determine current available capacities (flow and wastewater strength), address near-term improvements (if needed) to operate more efficiently, and ultimately identify what additional improvements could be required to accommodate additional sewer discharge from the City, while factoring in the effects of new building code updates and water conservation efforts. Additionally, that assessment would also dovetail into an update of the City’s current 2008 WRF Facility Master Plan to show long-term improvements needed to accommodate the development, and ultimate build-out, of the City’s sphere of influence. The facility assessment and near-term analysis was expected to take approximately 6-8 months to complete. Therefore, at that time, the City denied GCSD’s request, reiterating that it was not in a position where it could commit any additional capacity beyond those contracted limits until the assessment had been completed and the proposed impacts had been fully evaluated.
Since then, Carollo has completed the condition assessment and facility plan. While the report has not yet been finalized, Carollo has concluded that in conjunction with the planned near-term improvement projects, the City has the ability to accommodate the GCSD’s requested contract capacity increases identified under the proposed Amendment No. 6.
With the approval of the request, and upon payment of the calculated Treatment Connection Charge of $839,401, the amended contracted discharge quantities shall be:
Fiscal Impact:
Based on the additional requested quantity of flow and associated constituents (BOD’s and TSS), the calculated Treatment Connection Charge to be assessed to GCSD is $839,401. Upon payment of this fee, the current contractual capacities will be increased by the requested amounts.
Prior Council Action:
June 5, 1995 - Approval of the Wastewater Service Agreement between the City of Visalia and the Goshen Community Services District.
April 23, 1996 - Approval of Amendment No. 1 to the Wastewater Service Agreement
June 30, 2003 - Approval of Amendment No. 2 to the Wastewater Service Agreement
April 2005 - Acceptance of Amendment No. 3 to the Wastewater Service Agreement
June 2006 - Acceptance of Amendment No. 4 to the Wastewater Service Agreement
April 2007 - Acceptance of Amendment No. 5 to the Wastewater Service Agreement
April 3, 2023 - Authorize the City Manager to award a contract to Carollo of Fresno, CA for the Condition Assessment, Facility Plan, and Master Plan Update at the City's Water Reclamation Facility.
Other: None
Alternatives: Deny the request by the Goshen Community Service District for the specified additional sewer discharge capacity.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to approve a request from the Goshen Community Services District (GCSD) to increase sewer discharge capacity that is permitted under the June 5, 1995 Wastewater Service Agreement between the City and the GCSD.
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Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Attachments:
Goshen CSD - Service Agreement
Goshen CSD - Service Agreement- Proposed Amendment 6
Goshen CSD - Response to Proposed Amendment for Additional Wastewater Capacity - 5-16-23