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HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 900404 - Utility Ext & Improve PlanORDINANCE NUMBER } AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING A UTILITY EXTENSION AND IMPROVEMENT POLICY TO GUIDE THE PLANNING, DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF ALL UTILITY SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS WHEREAS, the City of Georgetown, Texas, is committed to providing utility services in a manner that is beneficial to present and future rate -payers; WHEREAS, it is recognized that the extension of utilities is a major factor in the timing and direction of urban growth, WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Georgetown, Texas, adopted the following Ordinances which establish the policies by which water and wastewater services will be extended and improved: 83-28 on August 29, 1983, and incorporated in the Subdivision Ordinance; and 86-50 on November 25, 1986; WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Georgetown, Texas, adopted Ordinance 870110 on March 24, 1987, which establishes the policies by which electrical service will be installed and provided; WHEREAS, the existing utility extension and improvement policies should be updated from time -to -time and conditions set forth by which they can be modified; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds that this action implements the following Century Plan - Policy Plan Policies: Finance Policies 1 and 2. Growth and Physical Development Policy 2, and Utilities/Energy Policies 3 and 5; the Community Development Goal of the Strategic Plan for Economic Development, and Policy 5/Goals A, B, and D, Policy 6/Goal A/Ongoing Objectives 1 and 2, Policy 8/Goal A/Short Range Objective 8, Policy 9/Goal B/Short Range Objective 1, Policy 18, and Policy 19 of the Century Plan - Development Plan. The City Council further finds that this action is not inconsistent or in conflict with any adopted Century Plan Policies or Goals, as required by Section 2.03 of the Administrative Chapter of the Policy Plan. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GEORGETOWN, TEXAS THAT: Section One. All of the facts recited in the preamble to this Ordinance are hereby found by the City Council to be true and correct, and are incorporated by reference herein and expressly made a part hereof, as if copied verbatim. Section Two. This policy shall apply to improvements to the City of Georgetown's Utility Systems, which encompass both existing system upgrades and system expansion for treatment plant capacity, utility line networks, and appurtenances. It is hereby established as the official policy of the City of Georgetown that all Utility System improvements shall be planned, designed, constructed, operated, and maintained such that A) Upgrades of existing infrastructure and system extensions in close proximity to existing utility networks shall be preferred to excessive line extensions and expansion of the system outside the established and approved utility service area. B) Priority shall be assigned to projects which provide the greatest benefit as measured by the size in acres of the land to be served and the level of capacity to be provided. C) System improvements which promote the retention and/or creation of long term jobs shall receive greater emphasis over projects which produce only temporary or no lasting employment results. D) Improvement programs which support and compliment the City's adopted economic and industrial development objectives shall receive preference. E) Projects which increase property values and retail sales are preferred. F) Project capacity should be able to accommodate projected demand for a ten (10) year period. G) Improvements that will achieve shorter build -out times and will initially satisfy higher levels of projected ultimate demand capacity are favored. H) Infrastructure programs designed to simplify construction, operation, and maintenance are preferred. I} There exists the potential for the City to recapture 100 percent of all non -reimbursed City expenditures. J) Participation by owners of benefiting property is strongly encouraged. K) Incentive for up -front participation. Enter into contract ® Guarantee capacity availability for ten (10) years - Interest free for first three (3) years Interest at T -Bill rate for remaining seven (7 ) years If option not exercised in ten (10) year period guarantee for capacity expires Option assignable if all/part of property sold during life of agreement - Prepayment applied to 100 percent of cost of first units used L) Terms for obtaining capacity, At time of connection - full payment for units of capacity requested computed on design capacity plus carrying costs calculated from date of award of contract for construction of initial project. (This is for non -guaranteed capacity and assumes capacity is available.) At time capacity is capacity by paying connection but must notice of intent to desired may obtain guaranteed in the same manner as for a provide City with one (1) year connect to system. All payments based upon units of capacity. All necessary easements are donated and only facilitate the ability to connect to system but do not convey any right or privilege to hook -on to system (water system will provide fire protection and lower fire insurance rates). M) Water line improvements shall be designed and constructed to satisfy domestic/industrial demands and fire flow requirements as forecast in the City's Comprehensive Plan. N) System improvements will begin when existing line demand equals 70 percent of design capacity or committed capacity plus existing demand equals 90 percent of design capacity. O) All design and implementation of utility improvements shall be in accordance with the City's adopted Comprehensive Plan. Section Three. 1) The Ordinances cited in the preamble to this Ordinance shall remain in effect, and this Ordinance shall be considered an addendum to those Ordinances. 2) The policies contained within this Ordinance shall be used to determine the conditions under which the preceding Ordinances may be modified. Section Four, This Ordinance shall take effect immediately after its passage on the second reading. READ, a , AND APPROVED o.. reading, on a of August 19900 READ, PASSED AND APPROVED on the second reading, day of August 1990. ATTEST. Elizabeth Gray, Cit 2 ecretary on this the um Marianne Landers Banks, City Attorney