Council continues “latecomer” talk for Eastown owners

Published 1:03 pm Saturday, November 21, 2009

There was more discussion on the Eastown utility latecomer agreement at the Nov. 18 workshop of the Bonney Lake City Council.

The ULA will fund construction of a lift station, two sewer lines crossing state Route 410 and a water line extension on 410 and 96th Street.

The council is looking at five options for the ULA. Option A includes a lift station, pressure line on 96th Street and upgrade to Lift Station No. 18, while Option B includes a gravity sewer line to 233rd Avenue and state Route 410 intersection.

Option C is a combination of A and B with a gravity sewer line to 225th and SR 410 intersection, and west of the Compass Pointe Development. Option D uses Option A along with the SR 410 sewer crossings at 225th and 223rd avenue with no gravity sewer lines. A final option, E, is a water line extension of 410 and 96th Street to Compass Pointe.

The sewer ULA would cover 165 acres and the water ULA more than 47 acres.

Under staff recommendation, individual property owners and developers would construct the gravity sewer lines.

Public Works Director Dan Grigsby said there are several reasons why the city shouldn’t construct the gravity sewer lines in Eastown. One reason is that utility lines cannot be placed until the property is developed and another was identifying an easement on some of the properties.

Grigsby said if the city builds the gravity sewer line, it would take longer to develop the design of the system due to unknown impacts on the environment.

He also said property owners have a choice, like the city, to create their own ULA for the line.

“Some property owners may be able to contribute up front, while others may financially be able to,” Grigsby said. “The ones who can contribute, can build it and have a ULA so the other property owners can reimburse them when they develop their property.”

Councilman James Rackley said he is concerned about the city investing money on the sewers without benefitting the landowners equally.

“If we don’t do the project and make it functional, someone could get hurt somehow,” he said.

Grigsby said the advantage of not putting in the gravity line is there could be a debate of who should pay and how much.

“If we put in the water line, only a few property owners will pay for it compared to all of Eastown,” he said.

Deputy Mayor Dan Swatman said the lift station is a key for Eastown.

“It’s almost highly, financially impractical for another separate property owner to fund any connection to the lift station unless they’re sitting on that parcel where the lift station goes in,” he said.

Mayor Neil Johnson said the city is investing money to see the Eastown properties developed.

Swatman said property owners north of 410 have done a lot of work to get the easements necessary for the gravity line to work. He urged property owners south of 410 to do the same.

Grigsby said the city cannot go to a bonding agency until it knows the cost of the projects.

Swatman said three ULAs are needed with three bonds. He said adding Option A and B would push the timeline back for Eastown property owners.

Johnson said the city can move forward with Option A, then work on Option B.

“We need Option A and to move forward with a bond, the water with a bond, then start working on Option B with the south side folks so everyone will understand what is expected,” Johnson said.

The mayor said the north side property owners have agreed to the placement of the gravity line.

Councilman Mark Hamilton wanted to know if rate payers are going to get their money back in 20 years.

“I have to know this before I vote to go forward on this,” he said.

Hamilton also brought up the issue of the city’s share of the sewer capacity at Sumner’s treatment plant.

Grigsby said the city’s capacity at the plant is good until 2014.

“In order for us to get that capacity for 2014, you have to spend 2010 and 2011 for design, and 2012 and 2013 for construction,” he explained.

Johnson said after meeting with Sumner Mayor Dave Enslow, the city may be able to purchase added capacity.

“It sounds like they may not be needing their capacity now,” Johnson said.

Grigsby also gave the council a map of a future road network in Eastown and surrounding developments. He said the last version of the map was produced in 2005.

The public works director said the map shows the impact of the widening of 410 and where traffic signals and turn lanes will be installed.