| CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE: 01/08/2025 Agenda Item 4 A |
| TO: | Planning and Zoning Commission |
| PREPARED BY: | Kathryn Woodlee, City Engineer |
| SUBJECT: | Workshop presentation and discussion regarding a pending update to the City of Schertz Water and Wastewater Master Plans, Land Use Assumptions, and Capital Improvements Plans that establish the basis for an update to the City's Water and Wastewater Impact Fees. |
GENERAL INFORMATION
The City desires to update its capital recovery fees, or impact fees, in order to appropriately fund construction of new facilities and expand existing facilities to serve future development. The fees consider and apply to water and wastewater projects identified on the City's Water and Wastewater Master Plans necessary to support growth and development. To formulate the fees to be assessed, land use assumptions that project growth over a planning period must be established. Additionally, Capital Improvement Plans that address the needs of that growth must be prepared and approved.
The purpose of the impact fee is to provide a funding mechanism for the implementation of the water and wastewater capital improvements over a planning period. The impact fee program facilitates the funding participation of new development at a fair rate based on the demand placed on the City's water transmission and distribution and wastewater collection and conveyance systems by the development.
An initial step in the update of the impact fee is the establishment of land use assumptions including population and employment projections over the 30-year planning period (2020-2050). The assumptions include the type, location, quantity, and timing of land uses. The Land Use Assumptions report (LUA) includes a description of the methodology used in preparation, explanation of the data considered, and presentation of historical and projected growth trends.
The other major step in the update of the impact fee is the preparation of Water and Wastewater Capital Improvement Plans (CIPs). The proposed CIP for water was developed based on a hydraulic model of the existing water system, application of growth projections to that model, and identification of improvement projects needed to meet TCEQ minimum requirements for water service. The proposed CIP for wastewater was developed based on a hydraulic model of the existing collection and conveyance system, application of growth projections to that model, and identification of improvement projects needed to provide required capacity within the sewer system. Individual projects are identified and are spread as appropriate over the planning period into the categories of near term, 2030, and 2050 projects for planning purposes. Projects may shift in time based on actual patterns of development and the plan should be reviewed and updated as needed in five years. The projects that make up the Capital Improvement Plans will also be configured in such a way to serve as updated Water and Wastewater Master Plans for development.
The purpose of the impact fee is to provide a funding mechanism for the implementation of the water and wastewater capital improvements over a planning period. The impact fee program facilitates the funding participation of new development at a fair rate based on the demand placed on the City's water transmission and distribution and wastewater collection and conveyance systems by the development.
An initial step in the update of the impact fee is the establishment of land use assumptions including population and employment projections over the 30-year planning period (2020-2050). The assumptions include the type, location, quantity, and timing of land uses. The Land Use Assumptions report (LUA) includes a description of the methodology used in preparation, explanation of the data considered, and presentation of historical and projected growth trends.
The other major step in the update of the impact fee is the preparation of Water and Wastewater Capital Improvement Plans (CIPs). The proposed CIP for water was developed based on a hydraulic model of the existing water system, application of growth projections to that model, and identification of improvement projects needed to meet TCEQ minimum requirements for water service. The proposed CIP for wastewater was developed based on a hydraulic model of the existing collection and conveyance system, application of growth projections to that model, and identification of improvement projects needed to provide required capacity within the sewer system. Individual projects are identified and are spread as appropriate over the planning period into the categories of near term, 2030, and 2050 projects for planning purposes. Projects may shift in time based on actual patterns of development and the plan should be reviewed and updated as needed in five years. The projects that make up the Capital Improvement Plans will also be configured in such a way to serve as updated Water and Wastewater Master Plans for development.
STAFF ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATION
The goal of this workshop is to familiarize members of the Capital Improvement Advisory Committee (CIAC) and Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) with the proposed Water and Wastewater Master Plan Updates, updated Land Use Assumptions, and Capital Improvement Plans that establish the basis for calculation of updated maximum assessable water and wastewater impact fees.
At the next meeting of the P&Z, a public hearing will be held and Staff will recommend that the Commission recommend to Council adoption of the updated Water and Wastewater Master Plans as an amendment to the City's Comprehensive Plan.
At the next meeting of the CIAC, Staff will guide the Committee to make comments to City Council regarding the LUA, CIPs, and updated impact fees to be assessed.
At the next meeting of the P&Z, a public hearing will be held and Staff will recommend that the Commission recommend to Council adoption of the updated Water and Wastewater Master Plans as an amendment to the City's Comprehensive Plan.
At the next meeting of the CIAC, Staff will guide the Committee to make comments to City Council regarding the LUA, CIPs, and updated impact fees to be assessed.