COMMISSIONERS' COURT AGENDA REQUEST PLEASE FUKNISH ONE ORIGINAL AND NINE COPIES OF THIS REQUEST AND DOCUMENTS TO BE REVIEWED BY THE COURT. MADE BY: William H. Williams OFFICE: Commissioner, Pct. 2 MEETING DATE: August 27, 2001 TIME PREFERRED: SUBJECT: (Please be specific) Consider and discuss establishing a Kerr County Water Conservation Program as outlined, and incorporating a Rainwater Harvesting Incentive Program as Phase I of the new progam. EXECUTIVE SESSION REQUESTED: (PLEASE STATE REASON) NAME OF PERSON(S) ADDRESSING THE COURT: Bill Williams, Commissioner, Precinct 2 ESTIMATED LENGTH OF PRESENTATION: 5 minutes. IF PERSONNEL MATTER-NAME OF EMPLOYEE: Time for submitting this request for Court to assure that the matter is posted in accordance with Title 5, Chapter 551 and 552, Government Code, is as follows: Meeting scheduled for Mondays: 5:00 P.M. previous Tuesday THIS REQUEST RECEIVED BY: THIS REQUEST RECEIVED ON: All Agenda Requests will be screened by the County Judge's Office to determine if adequate information has been prepared for the Court's formal consideration and action at time of Court meetings. Your cooperation is appreciated and contributes toward your request being addressed at the earliest opportunity. See Agenda Request Rule adopted by Commissioners Court. KERR COUNTY WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM • Ken County is designated as being in the middle of a Priority Groundwater Management Area (PGMA). Thus, the need for Ken County to establish and maintain a water conservation program is in the best interests of its citizens who live both inside city limits or in the unincorporated areas of the county. • Water conservation programs can take on many shapes and forms. For example, a program can begin with simple things like changing shower heads in home bathrooms or replacing older model toilets to low flow toilets; or making a decision to replace an old conventional washing machine with a newer water and energy saving high efficiency washing machine. • More extensive water conservation measures can include installation of Rainwater Harvesting Systems, Cedar Eradication Programs, and perhaps water-saving landscaping around homes and offices by encouraging the use of native plants, and other water saving measures. • The emphases of a Ken County Water Conservation Program should be both public awareness measures and incentives to achieve water conservation whenever possible. Additional water conservation programs should be studied. • A Ken County Water Conservation Program can have as many components as are reasonable and/or practical, and can be added to or taken away as Commissioners Court deems appropriately in the best interests of county residents. • Whenever incentives for water conservation are proposed for inclusion in the program, they should be designed in such a manner to accomplish their intended purpose without creating a beaurocracy that requires additional county funds to administer, or by placing unnecessary burdens on other water responsible agencies. Revised draft KERB COUNTY WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM RAINWATER HARVESTING BENEFITS AND QUALIFICATION CRITERIA PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS • Ken County will provide to a property owner aone-time $1 tax credit for every $10 invested in Rainwater Harvesting Equipment purchase and installation that meets or exceeds the established minimum criteria, up to a maximum of $1,000, or the limit of a property owner's County tax liability (whichever is the lesser) in the year following installation, inspection and certification of the Rainwater Harvesting system. • Application for participation in this program must be made through either the Upper Guadalupe River Authority (UGRA) or Headwaters Ground Water Conservation District (HGWCD) at their respective offices. • Inspection of the completed system must be made by field personnel of the water agency to which application was made initially. Upon completion of the inspection, the inspecting agency will certify to Kerr County that the system meets or exceeds the minimum critera established by Kerr County Commissioners Court. • Upon receipt of certification by inspecting agency, Kerr County will issue a credit for county taxes to the property owner in an amount consistent with the formula established above for the ensuing tax year following installation of the Rainwater Harvesting System. QUALIFICATION CRITERIA • Kerr County Application for Rainwater Harvesting System tax credit to be submitted through either Upper Guadalupe River Authority (UGRA), or Headwaters Ground Water Conservation District (HGWCD). • System storage capacity: 2,500 gallons minimum. • Sunlight restrictive design and construction to prevent algae growth. • Insect-proofing of storage system required. Rainwater Collection System Incentive Program value to a property owner: • For a new system valued at $2,500, a tax credit of up to $250 or the limit of the property owner's county tax obligation in the year after certification, whichever is the lesser. • For a new system valued at $5,000, a tax credit of up to $500 or the limit of the property owner's county tax obligation in the year after certification, whichever is the lesser. • For a new system valued at $7,500, a tax credit of up to $750 or the limit of the property owner's county tax obligation in the year after certification„ whichever is the lesser. • For a new system valued at $10,000, a tax credit of up to $1,000 or the limit of the property owner's county tax obligation in the year after certification, whichever is the lesser. BENEFITS • Free high-quality water for your use. • Reduces groundwater demands. • Saves costs for water, electricity, water softener expenses. • Reduces salt discharges into soil. • Limits runoff while reducing storm water pollution. • Fire protection. • Peace of mind. August 14, 2001 Mr.Cameron Cornett, General Manager Headwaters Ground Water Conservation District 1424 Sidney Baker North Kerrville, Texas 78028 Dear Cameron: Further to our conversation this date, attached hereto is the revised Rainwater Harvesting Incentive program that I intend to re-introduce to Commissioners Court on August 27, 2001. I am proposing that Headwaters Ground Water Conservation District (HGWCD) and the Upper Guadalupe River Authority (UGRA) be the point-of-contact agencies for property owners that desire to purchase and install harvesting systems thus qualifying for a county tax credit. I am requesting that HGWCD service the application(s), conduct the inspection(s) and provide certification to Kerr County, thereby qualifying the property owner for a tax credit. I would greatly appreciate your reviewing this request with your Executive Committee, and placing this matter before your entire boazd at the eazliest opportunity. Sincerely William H. Williams, Commissioner Precinct 2 attachment August 14, 2001 Mr. Jim T. Brown, General Manager Upper Guadalupe River Authority 125 Lehman Dr., Suite 100 Kerrville, Texas 78028 Dear Jim: Further to our conversation this date, attached hereto is the revised Rainwater Harvesting Incentive program that I intend to re-introduce to Commissioners Court on August 27, 2001. I am proposing that Upper Guadalupe River Authority (UGRA), and Headwaters Ground Water Conservation District (HGWCD) be the point-of-contact agencies for property owners that desire to purchase and install harvesting systems thus qualifying for a county tax credit. I am requesting that UGRA service the application(s), conduct the inspection(s) and provide certification to Kerr County, thereby qualifying the property owner for a tax credit. I would greatly appreciate your reviewing this request with your Executive Committee, and placing this matter before your entire board at the earliest opportunity. Sincerely William H. Williams, Commissioner Precinct 2 C: Cameron Cornett, HGWCD Attachment KERB COUNTY Application for Rainwater Collection System Incentive Program Site Address: Legal Property Description: Subdivision Lot Daytime telephone Construction start date Estimated completion Square footage of collection azea: Total system storage capacity in gallons: Planned use: Potable Non-potable Distribution method: Gravity flow Pumped Disinfection: Yes No Method Do you authorize release of your address and system capacity for Fire Department mapping and emergency use? Yes No Additional Application Requirements: • Project summary • Site plan with detailed system design • Detailed cost estimate $ , (list capital outlays), or • Firm installed project bid: $ Completion Information Date of systcm completion: Completion Verification: Requires signature of inspecting agency. On behalf of Upper Guadalupe River Authority On behalf of Headwaters Ground Water Conservation District Rcceipt of application for tax credit purposes acknowledged by Kerr County: