2012 2:00:00 PM

Monday, November 26, 2012 2:00 PM
Sparks Legislative Building, 745 E. 4th Street, Sparks, NV 89431

Consent Items: 5.5

Title: Consideration and possible approval of an extension of special sewer rates for the Northern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services Campus.

Petitioner/Presenter: John Martini, P.E., Assistant Community Services Director/Andrew Hummel, P.E., Utility Manager

Recommendation: Staff recommends that the City Council approve the extension of special sewer rates for the Northern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services Campus.

Financial Impact: None.

Business Impact (Per NRS 237):
A Business Impact Statement is not required because this is not a rule.

Agenda Item Brief: On January 6, 2006, City Council approved temporary special sewer rates for Northern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services (NNAMHS) wherein sewer billing is based on average water consumption during winter months. The special rate was extended on September 15, 2008 through December 31, 2012. Work to retrofit the site with Landscape Meters has begun, however it will not be completed prior to the expiration date. NNAMHS has requested an extension of special rates to June 30, 2013. Staff recommends approval.

Background: NNAMHS is an adult mental health facility owned and operated by the State of Nevada located in Sparks. The site is very old, and as such there are no meters segregating irrigation and domestic water. As such, without extending special sewer rates, NNAMHS sewer bills will be based on water flow including irrigation water that does not discharge into the sewer system. NNAMHS has been granted approval by City Council for special rates several times in the past: February 11, 2002; January 8, 2006; and September 15, 2008. The current extension expires on December 31, 2012. The State of Nevada Public Works Division is currently preparing a project to install private landscape water meters on the NNAMHS campus. A total of 20 meters will be installed, and will ultimately be used to verify landscape water used on the site for determining domestic water usage (and subsequently sewage volumes for billing). The meters are intended to be read by NNAMHS staff with verification on an annual basis by Sparks staff. This project is not scheduled to be completed until Spring of 2013, therefore it is requested that the special rate be extended to June 30, 2013.

Analysis: Section 13.09.031 of Sparks Municipal Code allows that State dischargers may use private water meters to verify non-sewered flow. Installation of the private meters will allow NNAMHS to track landscape irrigation flows, and will ultimately end the need for a special rate allowance for this site.

Alternatives: 1. City Council could approve the extension of special sewer rates as outlined by Staff. 2. City Council could reject the extension of special sewer rates and provide direction to the City Manager.

Recommended Motion: “I move to approve the extension of special sewer rates for the Northern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services Campus.”

Attached Files:

NNAMHS Nov 26 Backup.pdf

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