HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrder 006 - Nitrogen Reducing Rebate ProgramDeschutes County Board of Commissioners
1300 NW Wall St., Suite 200, Bend, OR 97701-1960
(541) 388-6570 - Fax (541) 385-3202 - www.deschutes.o g
AGENDA REQUEST & STAFF REPORT
For Board Business Meeting of 10:00 A.M., Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Please see directions for completing this document on the next page.
DATE: December 23, 2009.
FROM: Tom Anderson Community Development (CDD) 385-1704
TITLE OF AGENDA ITEM:
Consideration of Board Signature of Order No. 2010-006, an order establishing the Nitrogen Reducing
Rebate Program in the South County.
PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS DATE? No.
BACKGROUND AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS:
This is an order to establish the Nitrogen Reducing System Rebate Program and to authorize the
Director of the Community Development Department to sign agreements with eligible propety ow lers
and authorize rebate payments on behalf of the county to provide financial assistance to South Col my
property owners who have upgraded their existing systems utilizing nitrogen reducing technology and
are eligible for the rebate. This program will fill the gap in financial assistance caused by the
suspension of Pollution Reduction Credit purchases in the South County by developers of the New
Neighborhood.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Approximately $300,000 is available in Fund 296, the CDD Groundwater Partnership Fund. Proi rerty
owners who are eligible, may receive up to a maximum of $3,750 in rebate per property. This pr' )gram
is subject to the continued availability of funds.
RECOMMENDATION & ACTION REQUESTED:
Approval and signature of Order No. 2010-006.
ATTENDANCE: Tom Anderson, CDD Director; Laurie Craghead, Assistant Legal Counsel; Todd
Cleveland, CDD Registered Environmental Health Specialist.
DISTRIBUTION OF DOCUMENTS:
Todd Cleveland (call for pick up x 4714)
Community Development Department
Environmental Health Division
117 NW Lafayette Avenue, Bend, OR 97701-1925
(541) 388-6575 - Fax (541) 385-1764
http://www.deschutes.org/cdd
STAFF REPORT
Board Business Meeting January 6, 2010
The Board will consider Order 2010-006 to create the Nitrogen Reducing Onsite Wastewater
Treatment Rebate Program (NROTWRP) to provide an opportunity for financial assistance for
property owners in South County that have repaired, altered or otherwise upgraded their
conventional onsite system to a system utilizing nitrogen reducing wastewater treatment
technology.
Program Summary:
The NROTWRP System Rebate Program is an interim mechanism to provide financial
assistance to property owners in Townships 19,20,21,22 and ranges 9, 10, and 11 that are
required to upgrade their existing septic systems to a nitrogen reducing onsite wastewater
treatment system. Property owners that have retrofitted their systems may be eligible for up to
$3750 in the form of a rebate. The new systems better protect the groundwater aquifer that is
the primary drinking water resource in South County. However, these systems create an
additional financial burden for property owners. Because developers in the New Neighborhood
in La Pine have suspended their purchase of Pollution Reduction Credits (PRC), that form of
assistance is not available for property owners. This program will fill the void and provide direct
assistance to property owners in order to ease the financial burden after upgrade of the existing
system is complete.
Property owners within the South County that upgrade existing systems serving an existing
residence are the primary targets for this funding. New development, except replacement
residences and remodels, would not be eligible for this rebate. Funds will not be released until
the system is final, an application is complete, the property and owner(s) are found to be eligible
and the Community Development Director (CDD) has authorized the rebate. The program is
dependent on available funds and will cease when a New Neighborhood developer
begins a program to purchase Pollution Reduction Credits.
Program Documents:
Board Order 2010-006 will create the program and authorize the Community Development
Director to release rebate payments. The application will include the necessary information to
determine eligibility. All owners must sign and complete an application form to be eligible. A
program description handout will provide information about the program, what properties qualify
and how to become eligible for the rebate. Additional installation assistance resources through
Neighborlmpact and United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development programs are
identified with their contact information at the bottom of the handout.
REVIEWED
LEGAL COUNSEL
For Recording Stamp Only
BEFORE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF DESCHUTES COUNTY, OREGON
An Order To Establish The Nitrogen Reducing
Onsite Wastewater Treatment Rebate Program
and to Authorize the Director of the Community
Development Department to Sign Agreements and
Authorize Rebate Payments on Behalf of the
County.
ORDER NO. 2010-006
WHEREAS, Deschutes County ("County") wants to protect the unconfined groundwater aquifer that is
the primary drinking water source for the area from receiving higher levels of nitrogen that is now discharged
from existing conventional onsite wastewater treatment systems ("onsite systems") in the areas serving single
family residences in south Deschutes County located in Townships 19, 20, 21, 22 and Ranges 9, 10 and 11; and
WHEREAS, sewers systems are not currently allowed by law in most of the area described above; arid
WHEREAS, providing financial assistance to property owners in the above described area for
retrofitting, as that term is used in DCC 11.12.010, onsite systems will encourage property owners in the area
described above to more quickly retrofit those onsite systems; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the County to assist property owners in installing or retrofitting
their onsite wastewater treatment systems to nitrogen -reducing onsite systems as soon as possible; now,
therefore,
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF DESCHUTES COUNTY, OREGON, HERE BY
ORDERS as follows:
Section 1. The Nitrogen Reducing Onsite Wastewater Treatment Rebate Program ("NROWTRP') is
now established.
Section 2. The NROWTRP may provide financial assistance for property owners in Townships 19, 20,
21, 22 and Ranges 9, 10 and 11 where sewer systems are not permitted and who have installed or retrofitted
their existing onsite systems with County -approved nitrogen reducing onsite systems.
Section 3. Property owners' eligibility for the NROWTRP shall be as outlined in Exhibit "A", attaced
and incorporated by reference herein.
Section 4. Upon final approval for the newly upgraded nitrogen reducing system and qualification for a
rebate, the County may reimburse the property owner up to $3750.
Section 5. The Director of the Community Development Department is authorized to sign agreements
with the eligible property owners and authorize rebate payments on behalf of the County.
Section 6. Owners of property located in the above described area may apply for the NROWTRP c n a
form prescribed by the Community Development Department Director.
PAGE 1 OF 2- ORDER No. 2010- 006 (01/06/2010)
Section 6. The NROWTRP grants will be paid from Groundwater Partnership Fund, Fund 296.
Section 7. This program is dependent on available funds and may cease at any time.
Dated this of , 2010 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF DESCHUTES COUNTY, OREGON
ATTEST:
DENNIS R. LUKE, Chair
ALAN UNGER, Vice Chair
Recording Secretary TAMMY BANEY, Commissioner
PAGE 2 OF 2- ORDER No. 2010- 006 (01/06/2010)
DESCHUTES COUNTY
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
117 NW Lafayette Avenue, Bend, OR 97701
Lti
Telephone (541)388-6575, Fax (541)385-1764
Nitrogen Reducing Onsite Wastewater Treatment Rebate Program
Deschutes County Groundwater Protection
Financial assistance is available for retrofitting an onsite wastewater treatment system ("onsite system")
(See Deschutes County Code 11.12.010 for a definition of "retrofit.").
The County has financial assistance monies available to provide financial assistance in the form of a partial
rebate to property owners who have completed a retrofit of an existing onsite system serving a residence, This
program is dependent on available funds and the County may cease this program at any time.
To Be Eligible for the Rebate:
1. The subject property must be located in Townships 19, 20, 21, 22 and Range 9, 10 and 11 in south
Deschutes County and not in an area currently eligible for connection to a sewer system.
2. The applicant must be the owner of the property and permittee for the nitrogen -reducing onsite system
installation.
3. A nitrogen -reducing onsite system must have been installed as a retrofit of an existing onsite system
serving a residence on the subject property.
4. The nitrogen -reducing onsite system permit must have received the final inspection from the Dee ,chutes
County Environmental Health Division.
5. The Operation and Maintenance contract and reporting required by Oregon Administrative Rule^,
Chapter 340-71 for the nitrogen -reducing onsite system must be current. .
You are not eligible if:
1. Monies have been granted to the Property Owner from a third party through the Deschutes County
Pollution Reduction Credit program outlined in DCC Chapter 11.12; or
2. The nitrogen reducing system is to serve new development (i.e. construction on a vacant lot).
If you are interested in or have questions about, please contact Deschutes County Community Development for
an application.
Additional financial assistance for installing nitrogen -reducing onsite systems may be available from the
Neighborlmpact Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program at 541-316-2037 or through the US Department 4 ►f
Agriculture Rural Development Program at 541-923-4358, ext. 130.
Page 1 of 1 — Exhibit A to Order 2010-006