The Bonney Lake City Council voted 6-0 for the mayor to sign the 2010 Lake Tapps Area Water Resources Agreement during the Jan. 26 meeting.
Bonney Lake is one of four cities – along with Buckley, Sumner and Auburn – who have been negotiating this agreement with Cascade Water Alliance since January 2009.
Once signed by the four cities and CWA, the agreement will be in effect for 50 years.
“I think if is something that is very positive for the city, as well as the three others,” Mayor Neil Johnson said. “It will allow us to create a partnership with Cascade without paying the membership dues.”
The city would receive future water supplies at a cheaper rate than could be negotiated with Tacoma Public Utilities, using Tacoma’s current rates. The city would be able to purchase TPU water from the alliance at the rate paid to TPU in October 2005.
Under the agreement, Bonney Lake has an option to purchase 2 million gallons per day during peak demand periods from Cascade using Tacoma water and another 2 million gallons per day year-round from the White River Basin using CWA water rights.
The total requirement for additional wholesale water by the city in 2040 is expected to be 4 million gallons per day in addition to the 2 million gallons purchased from TPU in January 2005.
CWA, under the agreement, will establish a Lake Tapps Municipal Advisory Board to consist of elected mayors of the four cities and three members of the CWA board of directors. The group will meet at least twice annually.
The CWA also agrees to assist the cities in their efforts to meet projected 50-year water needs.
Deputy Mayor Dan Swatman said he likes the idea of paying a one-time fee of $744,000 if the city finds a water source in the White River Basin and maintains it.
“That’s the cheapest water we’ll ever buy,” Councilman James Rackley said.
The city also authorized the mayor to sign an amendment and four-year extension for emergency management services with Pierce County.
Bonney Lake is part of the countywide emergency management system. The cost for 2010 is $12,045 and rates have not increased in several years.
The city is eligible for the emergency medical services and National Incident Management System training put on by the county, access to the county’s emergency management resources and other resources and services.
The council tabled action for the city to contract with Billing Document Specialist of Caldwell, Idaho, for utility billing and lockbox services. The measure will go back to the Finance Committee before returning to the council for action.
For the past six years, billing and lockbox services has been contracted with Databar Inc.
Bonney Lake passed a motion to submit an application for a grant from The Plum Creek Foundation for $2,700.
Executive Assistant Brian Hartsell said the grant would be used to supplement a $500 donation from the Senior Advisory Board to purchase two automated external defibrillators to be located in the senior center and senior center shuttle.
The AEDs will allow the city to be prepared and responsive to cardiac arrest situations more common in the senior population segment.
East Pierce Fire and Rescue staff will provide initial and refresher training as well as AED replacement pads.
Total cost for both AEDs is $3,300.
