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Home My WebLink About09162013 Sewer Planning Work Group Agenda1 MEETING POSTING TOWN OF NANTUCKET Pursuant to MGL Chapter 30A, § 18-25 All meeting notices and agenda must be filed and time stamped with the Town Clerk’s Office and posted at least 48 hours prior to the meeting (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays) Committee/Board/s SEWER PLANNING WORK GROUP Day, Date, and Time Monday, September 16, 2013 at 10:00 AM Location / Address Planning and Land Use Conference Room, 2 Fairgrounds Road Signature of Chair or Authorized Person ERIKA MOONEY AGENDA 1. Call to order. 2. Review minutes from past meetings. 3. Adopt draft Work Plan (10 minutes) 4. Mapping of data needed to evaluate update to CWMP (WP 1) (90 minutes) 5. Continued discussion of capital costs and cost recovery for wastewater infrastructure (WP2) (20 minutes) 6. Date and topics for next meeting. And any other business that can legally come before the Committee. Contact Phone: Nancy Wheatley at 617-417-9377 or Kara Buzanoski, DPW Director 508-228-7244 Sewer Planning Work Group Work Plan Goals, Objectives and Tasks September 16, 2013 1. BOS Charge 2: Prepare for building consensus for an updated CWMP, which will include long-term wastewater solutions, taking into consideration technology, environmental & economic concerns & financing. SPWG GOAL: Make recommendations for an update of the CWMP that includes long term wastewater solutions after having considering changes since the 2004 report was issued, new technology, alternatives to a new wastewater treatment plant, environmental and economic issues and financing. Objectives • Make an assessment of changes since the 2004 CWMP was issued. o Tasks  Analyze zoning changes and open space acquisitions throughout sewer needs areas  Assess impact of reduced net potential future sewer connections  Examine MEP Estuary studies including the addition of nitrogen loading as an issue and the reliability of data  Project the impact of septic system actions by the Board of Health, the extension of town water to Madaket and the fertilizer by-law  Analyze the emergence of other areas needing sewer such as Cisco, as a result of environmental deterioration  Catalogue new technological developments  Consider irregularities and missed areas in sewer district mapping  Assess the impact of mining of the landfill • Update needs areas after considering environmental, growth and other factors. o Tasks  Reach a consensus on the definition of need and examine its impact on Madaket, Shimmo, Monomoy and Somerset  Add or delete areas to sewer districts that reflect the current needs areas  Consider the impact of activity such as adding the planned Monomy Needs Area • Conduct an analysis of current and projected flows, loads and capacity using various alternatives o Tasks  Analyze WWTP actual and capacity trends/projections  Determine total capacity needed for the original CWMP  Examine collection system data including new connections trends  Estimate the updated capacity needed for modifications to needs areas based on zoning, conservation and other factors including modification to the original CWMP estimate; also consider additions/subtractions based on new needs area plans (for each alternative)  Consider collection system issues  Assess current estuary and pond data and the impact of checking the fertilizer box • Review technological developments and alternatives to a new wastewater treatment plant and make recommendations on technology or alternatives that would be effective and affordable o Tasks  Research technological developments relating to on-site septic systems and determine whether such developments would be feasible  Review developments relating to centralized wastewater treatment facilities as well as neighborhood systems  Identify storm water management strategies that could be effective and affordable  Examine ways of dealing with runoff, other than fertilizer controls • Compile information and data necessary for the Sewer Planning Work Group to make recommendations o Tasks  Identify regulatory drivers for CWMP  Identify environmental drivers for alternatives  Provide direction to the consultant for CWMP update (“MassDEP approved scope”)  Obtain updated data on WWTP capacity which would be used by needs areas  Determine anticipated changes to build-out in needs areas (Planning Department)  Confirm actual performance of Surfside and Sconset facilities  Gather criteria used by consultants for defining changes to needs areas  Obtain list of alternatives for wastewater treatment under consideration  Obtain Board of Health Title 5 implementation plan • Review current sewer district and sewer commission issues o Tasks  Examine the check list for additions to Sewer Districts - revisions change from growth control focus to public health, consistency and system approach  Review status of implementation of 2008 Sewer Act and consider potential amendments  Develop a schedule and/or priority for implementation of needs area extensions • Define the relationship between the CWMP and the capital plan o Tasks  Identify capital alternatives for wastewater treatment for all areas where centralized WWT and on-site upgrades will be proposed  Include tradeoffs and timing for alternatives • Consider the Staging of Issues o Tasks  Determine the timing of issues and consider coordination with other actions such as zoning changes, capital improvements and funding allocations  Examine the potential for future environmental and regulatory requirements  Evaluate the tradeoffs based on present conditions and future potential needs 2. BOS Charge 1: Examine, evaluate and advise as to funding options for future sewer- related capital projects. SPWG GOAL: Examine, evaluate and make recommendations on funding options that are fair, equitable and sufficient to finance future sewer-related capital projects Objectives • Analyze current financing mechanisms o Tasks  Assess the actual payment ratio of users, new connections and general taxpayers since the new plant went online  Evaluate the 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 payment concept  Assess the current payment structure for WWTP capital costs • Make projections on the scope and costs of potential new capital projects o Tasks  Identify potential new capital projects  Develop cost estimates for new capital projects • Make recommendations on financing mechanisms for system expansion and repairs to the existing system o Tasks  Gather and evaluate best practices from other communities  Reach a consensus on principles for a fair, equitable and adequate financing mechanism  Develop recommendations on funding options  Propose a schedule for implementation 3. BOS Charge 3: Develop a public outreach and education program for capital projects that may involve financial costs to taxpayers and/or ratepayers. SPWG GOAL: Advise as to public outreach and education for wastewater projects that will involve a financial cost to the taxpayers and/or ratepayers. Objectives • Identify venues and other opportunities for a public outreach program o Tasks  Compile a list of community organizations and neighborhood associations including their meeting schedules, dates of publication of newsletters and email updates; list organizations with websites  Contact organizations and associations about their willingness to use their communications outlets for the public outreach program  Identify opportunities for integrating a message on the updated CWMP and funding proposals into public meetings such as the Annual Town Meeting  Develop a schedule and a medium for regular communications to property owners and members of the community  List key community opinion leaders and develop a plan to enlist their support  Meet with the editor of The Inquirer and Mirror to discuss the issues and ways in which the newspaper could engage  Consider other options for public outreach including radio and PEG channels  Establish a schedule for letters, newsletters, public meetings and other communications opportunities for the next 3(?) years • Develop the message that should be emphasized in the outreach program o Tasks  Reach agreement on the most compelling points to be made  Develop supplemental arguments to bolster major points  Consider including the current status of the CWMP, sewer system issues and funding  Develop talking points for speakers and PowerPoint slide show for presenters • Prepare to respond to issues such as the use of sewer infrastructure for growth control o Tasks  Consider the encouragement/acceptance of the lack of consistency and uniformity with land use and economic development efforts and zoning  Address issues such as impeding/stalling/opposition to planned extensions of sewage collection system as outlined in CWMP (capital and sewer districts)  Address the failure to resolve what some see as the current unfair and irresponsible financing mechanism  Develop the ability to address sewer/septic users infighting on key sewer- related issues  Consider the distortion of purpose, timelines and goals of the sewer infrastructure system for growth suppression