HomeMy WebLinkAboutSo Co Financial Asstc Committee CharterDepartment of Administrative Services
Dave Kanner, County Administrator
1300 NW Wall St, Suite 200, Bend, OR 97701-1960
(541) 388-6570 - Fax [541) 385-3202
www.co.deschutes.or.us
February 20, 2008
TO: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
FROM: DAVE KANNER
RE: FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHARGE
Following the discussion of the charge to the South County Financial Assistance
Advisory Committee on February 6, there was no action taken to adopt the attached as
the committee's formal charge. We have received no further input regarding what we
have here and would request, for the record, a motion and a vote to make this the charge
to the committee.
Enhancing the Lives of Citizens by Delivering Quality Services in a Cost -Effective Manner
Financial Assistance Advisory Committee
Givens: These items have been reviewed, peer-reviewed and accepted by the Department of
Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners. Further
discussion of these items is not within the committee purview:
• The groundwater underlying southern Deschutes County is the primary source of drinking water for tin
residents of the region.
• Scientific investigations conducted by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and the United
States Geological Survey, published in the Journal of Hydrology, found that the groundwater underlying
southern Deschutes County is threatened by conventional onsite wastewater treatment systems (formerly
called septic systems).
• The Oregon DEQ has determined that a public health hazard exists and that groundwater protection actions;
need to be taken (doing nothing is not an option).
• Sampling to date has shown that contaminant plumes exist in the aquifer, and some drinking water wel
sites, that exceed the federal safe drinking water standard for nitrate and Oregon's standard for groundwater
quality protection.
• The County owns assets worth an estimated $35 million that are dedicated to solving the groundwater
pollution problem identified in southern Deschutes County.
Purpose / Guidance / Questions:
The purpose of the advisory committee shall be to provide a recommendation to the Board of
Commissioners for a program to assist property owners financially to implement groundwater protection
measures.
• How can the county's resources best be used to help homeowners implementing groundwater protection
measures?
• Should any financial assistance be available for development on vacant land or should all financial resources
target existing development?
• Should property owners who hold approvals for conventional systems be compensated for having to install an
ATT system?
• What population should receive the bulk of financial resources? All low income? Some to middle income?
Some available to all income levels?
• What proportion of the funds should be available as loans that are paid back (and so can be used again) or
grants?
• Should loans or grants cover 100% of the costs of the groundwater protection measures or should the
homeowner have some cost share or some kind of sweat equity? Or should a set amount be available for all
property owners?
• Should the county provide long term, cost deferred loans?
• Should financial programs focus on groundwater protection measures completed at the time of property sale?
• Should incentives be offered that would motivate people to implement groundwater protection measures sooner
rather than later? if so, what should those incentives be?
• Are there reasons to focus financial assistance geographically? For instance, areas that are closer to rivers or
areas of denser development? If so, what form would that take?
• Should the county resources be used to finance feasibility studies of sewer districts and other alternatives or
should financial resources target septic and replacement only?
• Should resources be used to provide education and/or promotion to the community regarding pollution credits?