RE: Sewer Classifications

From: Gerald Fisher

Sent: Wed Feb 26 10:04:15 2020

To: Leota Childress

Cc: Keith Swigart; Elizabeth Klein; Dan Huff

Subject: RE: Sewer Classifications

Importance: Normal

FYI. Commercial 2 is not working out to be twice. Also, Commercial 1 may be slightly less than Residential. I will have a better idea on the rates probably next week in relation to Residential.

Regards,

Gerald Fisher, P.E. | Public Works Director

City of Molalla

117 N Molalla Ave. | PO Box 248 |Molalla, OR 97038

Office: 503.829.6855 | Direct: 503.759.0218

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From: Leota Childress <lchildress@cityofmolalla.com>

Sent: Monday, February 24, 2020 1:19 PM

To: Gerald Fisher <gfisher@cityofmolalla.com>

Cc: Keith Swigart <kswigart@cityofmolalla.com>; Elizabeth Klein <eklein@cityofmolalla.com>; Dan Huff <dhuff@cityofmolalla.com>

Subject: Re: Sewer Classifications

Gerald, you're right, that was a lot to digest. I do appreciate that it will be revisited.

Leota Childress

City Council President

City of Molalla

503.829.6855

From: Gerald Fisher

Sent: Monday, February 24, 2020 12:06:16 PM

To: Leota Childress

Cc: Keith Swigart; Elizabeth Klein; Dan Huff

Subject: RE: Sewer Classifications

Hi Leota,

Churches are listed in both Commercial 1 and 2 classes. Commercial 1 assumes a kitchen without a garbage disposal so they are not doing significant food prep and no food waste goes down the drain. They also would not have a grease trap. Commercial 2 assumes a food service component with a grease trap, garbage disposal, and a higher impact on the sewer system. While these classes have differing impacts, it is important to recognize the volume of the use. Restaurants in Commercial 2 class have significant volumes over multiple days and attribute a large load to the collection system and treatment plant. Churches do not have the same ongoing impact to the system so their charges for the kitchens is significantly less. The base fees are the same for all user types with the same size of water meter. The difference is the price per 100 CCF of water used and has a direct connection to concentration of sewage. Commercial 1 class is the same as a single family home. Commercial 2 class is roughly twice the load. Right now the use charge for a SF home is $4.01 per 100 CCF. If the average SF home uses 500 CCF of water each month, then that use charge will be $20.05 ($4.01 x 5). If we assume a Commercial 2 is twice the price then the use charge, assuming they use as much water as a SF home does, would be $40.10 or $20.05 more than a SF home. Below is a cost comparison assuming both use the same amounts of water.

SF Home = $40.46 [Base Fee] + ($4.01 x 5) [Use Charge] = $60.51

Commercial 1 = $40.46 [Base Fee] + ($4.01 x 5) [Use Charge] = $60.51

Commercial 2 = $40.46 [Base Fee] + ($8.02 x 5) [Use Charge] = $80.56

It is hard to say how much water use each property uses without getting into the use history, so the above assumes every use is the same in the comparison. The point of the use charge is to make sure that all users, not matter what the type of use, pays its fair share of the sewer cost relating to both flow and load to the WWTP. The uses that use less water pay less sewer. The uses that have a lower sewer concentration impacts pay less for sewer. I know that was a lot to digest but I hope that made some sense. We can discuss more at the Council meeting and I will be looking for policy direction from the Council.

I haven’t set the rates yet for use. I am looking at loading impacts that others use and may set the rates based on those factors. In one I have looked at, the Commercial 2 is 20% more and Commercial 3 is 40% more. That would change the above cost for Commercial 2 as follows.

Commercial 2 = $40.46 [Base Fee] + ($4.81 x 5) [Use Charge] = $64.51. That means that they would be paying $4.00 more per month than a SF home. But, I’m not done with my research yet.

Regards,

Gerald Fisher, P.E. | Public Works Director

City of Molalla

117 N Molalla Ave. | PO Box 248 |Molalla, OR 97038

Office: 503.829.6855 | Direct: 503.759.0218

From: Leota Childress <lchildress@cityofmolalla.com>

Sent: Saturday, February 22, 2020 12:09 PM

To: Gerald Fisher <gfisher@cityofmolalla.com>

Cc: Keith Swigart <kswigart@cityofmolalla.com>; Elizabeth Klein <eklein@cityofmolalla.com>; Dan Huff <dhuff@cityofmolalla.com>

Subject: Sewer Classifications

Hi Gerald, I hope it's not too late to take this into consideration.

I would like to reconsider putting churches in the Commercial II class. A church's use of their kitchen is far below that of the other four businesses it is listed with. Often, a church kitchen consists of a sink, cookstove, and refrigerator and there are some that are full kitchens, although I've never seen one with frying equipment, therefore, less grease. The load on a church kitchen would most likely be below many of the businesses in Commercial I.

C. Commercial II.

1. Churches (each, with food service/kitchen);

2. Drive-in restaurants (each, with food service/kitchen);

3. Taverns (each, with food service/kitchen);

4. Full-service restaurants and fraternal clubs (each, with food service/kitchen, with grease trap); and

5. Institutions (each, hospitals, schools, nursing homes).

I am familiar with three church kitchens.

1. The Christian Church - they cook breakfast on Sunday morning during the winter and occasionally use it at funerals.
2. Foothills Community Church - To my knowledge they don't prepare any foodstuffs. When they have events, food is brought in and served. Water is used for clean up, drinks, etc. I would say on average that use doesn't usually exceed once a week.
3. St. James Catholic Church - they do have a full kitchen but no frying equipment. Again, the kitchen gets minimal use.

The main point is that churches use their kitchens minimally. As pointed out in the first paragraph, the load from churches is most likely below many other Commercial I businesses.

Thank you,

Leota Childress

City Council President

City of Molalla

503.829.6855