DEPARTMENT: Planning and Community Development
DEPARTMENT HEAD: John Dugan
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City-wide
SUBJECT:
An Ordinance authorizing a Professional Services Agreement with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, an agency of the State of Texas and an institution of the Texas A&M University system, on behalf of the Water Conservation and Technology Center of the Texas Water Resources Institute, to prepare a water policy study for an amount not to exceed $98,096.00 and appropriating funds.
SUMMARY:
An Ordinance authorizing a Professional Services Agreement with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, an agency of the State of Texas and an institution of the Texas A&M University system, on behalf of the Water Conservation and Technology Center of the Texas Water Resources Institute, to prepare a water policy study for an amount not to exceed $98,096.00.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Councilman Ron Nirenberg, initiated a City Council Consideration Request (CCR) to discuss an analysis of policies, procedures and regulations pertaining to long term planning to ensure water security including the provision of adequate and affordable water supplies.
This project will produce a comprehensive report that assesses San Antonio's and Bexar County's water security by reviewing existing data on city policies, regulations and initiatives involving the cost, quantity and quality of the water from the Edwards Aquifer and other sources. The City of Fair Oaks Ranch is participating in the study.
ISSUE:
The City's Master Plan Policies adopted in 1997 do not sufficiently address the need for a comprehensive water policy based on the City's projected growth. This report, upon completion and adoption, will be an input in the City's Comprehensive Master Plan.
A portion of the study will be led by Department of Planning and Community Development staff to provide data on historic and projected population growth, a summary of governing entities and their authority, and city code provisions and planning strategies related to water. Staff is proposing an interlocal agreement with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, on behalf of the Water Conservation and Technology Center, a division of the Texas Water Resources Institute to prepare the study. Dr. Calvin Finch, the Senior Investigator, would work with the City of San Antonio, San Antonio Water System (SAWS) and other participants in the overall program to integrate findings of the various parts of the project.
Scope of Services
The Scope of Services will produce a comprehensive, long range report that assesses the water security of the City of San Antonio and its ETJ, the City of Fair Oaks Ranch (FOR) and its ETJ to the extent located in Bexar County, Western Comal County, Southern Kendall County, and Bexar County by reviewing existing data on city policies, regulations and initiatives involving the cost, quantity and quality of the water from the Edwards and Trinity Aquifers plus Canyon Lake/GBRA and other sources for the time period 2015-2060.
Dr. Calvin Finch, the Senior Investigator will work, with the City of San Antonio, City of Fair Oaks Ranch, FOR Utilities, San Antonio Water System (SAWS) and other participants in the overall program to integrate findings of the various parts of the project. Additional staff support includes an economist and staff support will be provided in areas of risk management and software applications.
The initial part of the study will entail the collection of data that will describe each of SAWS Water Resources and the City of Fair Oaks Ranch and its ETJ Water Resources actual and planned, to include the amount of water produced, cost of water produced, environmental characteristics, regulatory status, sustainability of the source, regulatory agencies involved; relationship to the distribution system, and relationship to drought. Additionally, the special characteristics of San Antonio and Fair Oaks Ranch water security including drought management, distribution system, dependence on the Edwards, Trinity Aquifers and GBRA regional status, relationship to municipal utility districts (MUDs), former Bexar Metropolitan Water District, water treatment, geography and water conservation will be identified, and a numerical risk value will be assigned to each water source based on its comparison to obtaining water from the Edwards, Trinity Aquifers and GBRA.
The study also will assess the organization and management characteristics for SAWS, the City of Fair Oaks Ranch, the Edwards Aquifer Authority, the Trinity Glen Rose Groundwater Conservation District, and other state, regional or local entities granted water regulatory authority. Among the items to be addressed are governance structures and other policies including urban extension (Certificate of Convenience), impact fees, water planning, water management, financial management, rates, and stakeholder communications.
The final report will provide an overall risk assessment of the City of San Antonio and the City of Fair Oaks Ranch and their respective ETJ's water structure in terms of meeting water needs, including a summary of the most significant assets of the areas and the issues that detract most from meeting future needs. The report will include recommendations for legislation and practices that will successfully contribute to the Cities of San Antonio and Fair Oaks Ranch Growth Plans.
The expected date of completion is February 28, 2015.
ALTERNATIVES:
City Council may approve, disapprove or approve with modifications.
FISCAL IMPACT:
On August 21, 2014, City Council passed Ordinance 2014-08-21-0614, an agreement with Fair Oaks Ranch to release a portion of the City's extraterritorial jurisdiction to Fair Oaks Ranch and authorized the acceptance of $100,000 contribution to the City of San Antonio to assist with the Water Policy Study from the General Fund fund balance (which includes the deposit of the Fair Oaks Ranch payment).
This ordinance will authorize a Professional Services Agreement with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, to prepare a water policy study for an amount not to exceed $98,096 and appropriates funds in the same amount.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval. Both the Governance Committee on April 16, 2014, and the Infrastructure and Growth Committee on May 21, 2014, recommended approval.