Present
Lisa-Ann Oliver, Flaura’s Acres
Tom Noonan, Flaura’s Acres
Travis Porter, Commerce, Small Communities Initiative Program
Amie Smith, Commerce, Small Communities Initiative Program
Claire Miller, Commerce, Small Communities Initiative Program
Mark Ozias, Clallam County Commissioner
Angi Kahn, Clallam County
Paul Bucich, City of Sequim
Nick Dostie, City of Sequim
Meggan Uecker, City of Sequim
Sewer Project
- Have 90% design ready but can’t submit to City for permits without funding. Permits are valid for 6 months, without funding the Association would have to pay for permit twice.
- City not in a position to sponsor because association is on County property. City also concerned with their own debt capacity to carry a loan. Also concerns about taking on a loan for work done outside City limits.
- City is also concerned about applying, negotiating deal, and determining the funding package is not viable and the project not moving forward.
- It was discussed that hardship analysis is underway, can know general terms of loan program, but can’t know true terms of the offer until it is made.
- Also concerned with underwriting – can ECY underwrite the loan based on the income of those who would be paying it back, rather than the applicant?
- County concerned about carrying loan for a project that will be hooked up to City. County would expect home owners to front cost for connections, like they would expect from a developer.
- Carlsburg sewer system, cared for by Sequim, could be a model for this project. Project was funded through County opportunity fund, Carlsburg was a urban growth area within the county so county had to build sewer system. County did that through PWB funding. Cost to Carlsburg based on flow volume, commitment to assist with future projects needed. MOU with city decides how fees work.
- There was concern that cost estimates are based on private projects, not public project costs to include things like prevailing wages.
- City and County would like to see newest cost estimate of $1.9million (this estimate includes $600,000 in connection fees)
- Annexation was discussed, and lower connection fees ($8,000) if area were annexed. General process for annexation is a petition by residents, fiscal analysis, proceed to vote. Concern with annexation is the poor state of drinking water system and roads. Annexation is likely cost prohibitive for the association.
- LID was discussed, Commissioner Ozias will find out more.
- Commissioner Ozias also mentioned Craft 3 as a funder, will follow up. Craft 3 has been investigated in the past.
Drinking Water
Lead service line inventory underway.
Next Steps
- Commissioner Mark Ozias of Clallam County will look into LID as a possible method for the homeowners to be able to pay the connection fees/or their portion of the project.
- Commissioner Mark Ozias will look into Craft 3 as a funder, to see if this might be a good fit.
- Tom will send the engineers design plans, cost breakdown, the video of the sewer main line to Paul Bucich, City of Sequim Public Works Director
- Paul will review to materials and see if there is a lower cost option that is viable (such as sleaving the sewer line (concern age and condition of pipe will not structurally support this), replace the sewer main (Lisa-Ann expressed concern that even with rehab of line there would be a future need to also rehab the drain field = which may make this cost prohibitive)
Next Meeting
September 4, 2024 at 9 am