Sanitary Sewer Interceptor FeesMEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
August12,2003
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Limiting Sanitary Sewer Interceptor Fees
In the 1990s the City Council directed the City Engineering Division to extend
intemeptor sewers to service newly-annexed property without City sanitary sewer.
Under this direction, City Engineering extended sewers and determined a connection
charge based on the cost of the project and the number of developable acres within the
drainage basins. Over the last several years South Fork sanitary sewer was extended
just south of North Cascade Road to the Dubuque Metropolitan Landfill. The County
Farm sanitary sewer was extended from Nordstrom's to a location just west of Seippel
Road. The Granger Creek sewer was extended from Catfish Creek to Dubuque's south
side Technology Park.
Assistant City Engineer Gus Psihoyos is recommending City Council approval to limit
the maximum charge for interceptor fees for newly-constructed interceptor sewers for
Granger Creek, South Fork Phase II and the County Farm at no more than $500 per
acre. While this does not cover the full cost, it is believed that a higher rate might inhibit
development.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Gus Psihoyos, Assistant City Engineer
Mike Koch, Public Works Director
MEMORANDUM
August 11, 2003
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
Gus Psihoyos, Assistant City Engineer ~.~
Limiting Sanitary Sewer Interceptor Fees
The following is a proposal to limit the maximum charge for interceptor fees for newly-
constructed interceptor sewers.
BACKGROUND
In the 1990s the City Council directed City Engineering Division to extend interceptor sewers to
service newly-annexed property without City sanitary sewer. Under this direction, City
Engineering extended sewers and determined a connection charge based on the cost of the
project and the number of developable acres within the drainage basins. Over the last several
years South Fork sanitary sewer was extended just south of North Cascade Road to the
Dubuque Metropolitan Landfill. The County Farm sanitary sewer was extended from
Nordstrom's to a location just west of Seippel Road. The Granger Creek sewer was extended
from Catfish Creek to Dubuque's south side Technology Park.
The Granger Creek sanitary and the County Farm sanitary sewer interceptor rates have not
been determined. The process to calculate these connection fees is very timely due to the
many properties located within each basin.
During the course of determining the County Farm sanitary sewer interceptor fees, it was
proposed that the connection fee for this basin could be as much as $970 per acre. Historic
rates for interceptor fees have ranged from $465.41 to $602.90.
Charging a fee of $970 per acre could inhibit future development to newly-annexed areas;
therefore, the connection charge for interceptor sewers should be limited to a maximum of
$500.00 per acre, the fee established for the South Fork Interceptor Sewer - Phase I. The
shortfall would be made up by usage fees derived from increased development in these basins.
RECOMMENDATION
I recommend that the connection charge for interceptor fees for Granger Creek, South Fork
Phase II, and the County Farm should be established at no more than $500.00 per acre.
cc: Michael A. Koch, Public Works Director