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Utilities
Organization of this Chapter
The Utilities Chapter is divided into the following sections:
The Introduction describes the intent of the Utilities Chapter and its relationship to Redmond’s vision of the future and other chapters.
The Planning Context summarizes how this chapter responds to the requirements of the Growth Management Act and the Countywide Planning Policies and describes how the proposed policies relate to other laws, policies, commissions and local needs.
The Utilities Policies are divided into the following areas:
A. General Utility Policies address provision of utilities in general, including issues of adequacy, phasing, economic and environmental considerations.
B. Facility Plans, City-Managed Utilities incorporate functional facility plans into the Development Guide by reference.
C. Water Policies provide an inventory of facilities, addresses source of supply and discusses facility design and level of service criteria.
D. Sewer Policies include an inventory of facilities and policies relating to design and level of service criteria.
E. Stormwater Policies provide an inventory of facilities and policies relating to design and level of service criteria.
F. Solid Waste Policies include an inventory of conditions and policies concerning recycling and waste management.
G. Non-City-Owned Utilities Policies encourage an adequate infrastructure to provide a wide range of utility choices, energy conservation, and environmental protection.
H. Electric Policies provide an inventory of facilities and policies relating to the siting of such facilities.
I. Natural Gas Policies relate to the provision of natural gas and includes a brief description of the existing system and capacity.
J. Telecommunications Policies provide a brief description of the existing system and capacity and address new technologies.
K. Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Policies provide a brief description of the existing system and include policies intended to minimize the likelihood of pipeline damage, address land use compatibility, and promote continued improvement in safety measures.
(Ord. 2136; Ord. 1847)
Introduction
s Redmond continues to grow, either through annexation or more concentrated development, the Comprehensive Plan proposes to encourage growth in designated areas as a way to achieve the City’s future vision of a community composed of attractive residential, commercial and industrial neighborhoods that exist in balance with the natural environment.
The City Center and Overlake neighborhoods are examples of two areas targeted for concentrated development and growth under the Redmond Comprehensive Plan. As such growth occurs, utility infrastructure must be provided. It is the intent of the Utilities Chapter to ensure adequate provision of utilities within these areas as well as others within the City. The Utilities policies will work with the Land Use and Capital Facilities Chapters to ensure that facilities are available and funded for the proposed land uses. It also is important to provide those utilities in an economical fashion. Policies in this chapter are meant to promote the provision of affordable utilities.
In addition, changing environmental regulations are placing increased demands upon utilities. For instance, stormwater management must meet increasingly strict standards for water quality prior to release into natural systems. The Utilities policies, together with those proposed by the Natural Environment Chapter, will work to protect the quality of Redmond’s natural environment. Water regulation has been changing as new information is discovered about the effects of chemicals in the water supply. Policies in this chapter are meant to acknowledge and accommodate future regulatory changes.
During the lifetime of this Comprehensive Plan, there will be changes in the way some utilities are provided. This chapter is intended to address the potential for change in provision of utilities in an effort to acknowledge and accommodate future changes. Just as the advent of electricity and telephones dramatically changed the way we live, technological changes will alter the way Redmond citizens will live through basic changes in the nature of some utilities. Telecommunications is a prime example. As that industry changes, it is important to ensure that Redmond citizens continue to have access to the basic communication services they now receive. Similarly, it is important for Redmond businesses to keep up with technological changes in telecommunications in order to stay competitive. Another example is the possibility of changes in the future provision of water. Redmond citizens may need to adopt regional approaches to maintaining a source of water or increase conservation efforts.
The purpose of the policies provided in this chapter is to:
▀ Provide an inventory of present facilities to assist in planning for future needs.
▀ Set policy directions that will guide the timing and placement of capital improvements.
▀ Provide criteria for the design and siting of facilities in order to develop reasonable standards for both residents and developers.
▀ Protect the environment by minimizing disruption of the natural and built environment when placing utilities.
▀ Encourage provision of utilities in an economical fashion.
▀ Tie the development and provision of utilities to land use policies and plans.
In short, these policies are intended to maintain a quality of life for Redmond residents and businesses where utilities will be accessible, affordable and provided without unnecessary harm to the environment.
(Ord. 1847)
Planning Context
edmond has both public and private utilities providing service to the community. The water, sewer and stormwater utilities are provided by the City of Redmond. A private company, under a State franchise agreement, handles solid waste removal and the City contracts with a private company for recycling service. Electricity, natural gas and telecommunications are provided by private, investor-owned utilities.
The Growth Management Act (RCW 36.70A.070(4)) requires an inventory of utility facilities that consists of “the general location, proposed location and capacity of all existing and proposed utilities, including, but not limited to electrical lines, telecommunication lines and natural gas lines.” Also, certain state and federal laws require that issues such as water quality and recycling efforts must be addressed.
The Countywide Planning Policies (required under RCW 36.70A.210) address a wide range of utility issues related to sewer, water and environmental health. Other regional or state bodies, such as the East King County Regional Water Association, METRO, Washington State Departments of Health and Ecology, have developed policies regarding water, sewer, stormwater and solid waste. Some federal agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency, also have additional policies.
The private utilities are governed by another set of laws and agencies, such as the Federal Communications Commission and the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission.
Within this framework of existing laws and policies, Redmond has developed a set of policies to fit the local needs and desires of its citizens while acknowledging those outside policies and laws that also govern utility provision.
(Ord. 1847)
Utility Policies
A. General Utility Policies
Adequacy and Phasing of City Facilities
he provision of utilities is an important factor considered by developers when deciding where or whether to build. Thus, land use decisions and utility policies can work together to help achieve Redmond’s future vision by directing growth to those locations chosen by citizens for development. This is particularly true for water and sewer utilities, since they are publicly held.
Generally this land use-utility link includes providing service only within City boundaries and requiring annexation upon provision of such services beyond the boundary. In some cases, City services will be allowed outside the City limits to address health and safety issues, to serve areas within the Redmond service area or to serve areas within the annexation area prior to annexation. For areas which lie within the City’s identified potential annexation area, the requirement to meet City standards will maintain the integrity of the entire system and prevent future costly upgrades. Likewise, if service is extended to rural lands, the pressure to develop those areas can be prevented by waiving requirements to meet some City standards.
The Growth Management Act requires consistency between capital facilities planning and the land use plan. One of the goals of the Act is to ensure that public facilities, such as water and sewer, are adequate to serve a development at the time it is available for occupancy without decreasing current service levels below locally established standards.
UT-1 Ensure that adequate public facilities are in place, consistent with the patterns and phasing of growth described in the Annexation and Land Use Chapters.
UT-2 Base the extension and sizing of public facilities upon the land use plan. In those cases where engineering standards are in excess of the requirements for the immediate development but are required to meet established levels of service for proposed uses and future needs, the excess capacity shall not be a reason to allow growth out of sequence with the land use plan.
UT-3 City-provided urban utilities shall not be extended to rural areas outside the urban growth boundary except to meet State Department of Health or other applicable health, safety and welfare codes. Such extensions shall be designed to rural standards and requirements to meet other urban city development standards such as street widening, sidewalks, or street lighting shall be waived.
UT-4 City-provided utilities should be provided within their service area consistent with adopted policies, including the Growth Phasing Plan in the Annexation Chapter. Where outside the City but within the annexation area, service extensions should be provided when the area annexes or, if annexation is not possible at that time, be conditioned upon an annexation agreement and compliance with applicable City development standards.
Economic Considerations
In order to balance capital expenditures with revenues and still maintain established levels of service, new development will have to pay for the portion of facility improvements related to its level of demand on the system. The combining of development money with City funds allows for a more equitable distribution of costs and helps to keep utility rates lower.
There are cases where one development occurs prior to another and is not adjacent to existing infrastructure. The new development may extend transmission pipes across the frontage of non-developed properties and incur the cost of that extension in order to develop their parcel. Reimbursable agreements have been a method that Redmond has used to employ equitable cost sharing for development costs. These provide for a reimbursement to the original developer of costs associated with that portion of the line that is later used by another development. This is one way of maintaining the concept of fair share financing.
In limited cases, public utilities may be extended outside the City boundary. However, it costs more to provide long-term, low-density service. Public utilities presently fund improvements from revenues. If in the future general taxes where to be used to fund infrastructure, properties outside the City would benefit from the infrastructure without paying those taxes to fund it. Equity can be established through a differential rate structure or differential connection fees to ensure that City residents are not subsidizing the extension of services outside City boundaries.
Right-of-way acquisition and installation of facilities are factors in the eventual cost of utilities. Coordination of facility planning can reduce those costs several ways. For instance, if utilities are notified of roadway construction and repairs, they may be able to place or upgrade lines or pipes at the same time. Or several utilities may be able to use the same trench. Right-of-way acquisition cost could be shared where such right-of-way would serve joint uses, such as recreational trail use.
Timely permitting and reasonable development and mitigation requirements affect utilities’ ability to develop facilities at lower costs, which affects eventual cost of utility provision.
UT-5 New development shall pay for its share of infrastructure needed by that development. The City will provide appropriate means to employ equitable cost sharing
UT-6 Rates and connection fees for utility service outside City limits should reflect the full cost of providing service and create equity in financing of capital facilities.
UT-7 Co-locate public and private utilities in shared trenches or utility corridors, provided that such joint use is consistent with limitations as may be prescribed by applicable law and safety considerations.
UT-8 Coordinate facility planning so that utilities may locate in transportation corridors and dedicated right-of-way.
UT-9 Provide timely notice to utilities when the construction or repair of existing and new roadways is anticipated.
UT-10 Provide timely and reasonable permitting to utilities that balances the need for provision of utilities at a reasonable cost with the need to protect the environment.
UT-11 Approve utility facilities or infrastructure necessary for a given development together with the site plan approval.
UT-12 Encourage joint use of utility corridors for recreational facilities.
Environmental Considerations
Redmond contains many natural features, such as fish spawning creeks, open space and forested areas. Minimizing utility intrusion into these areas is a means of protecting these important assets. Utility corridors often need to be free of vegetation for maintenance purposes. If utilities were allowed to build in wetlands, periodic maintenance could require intrusion into sensitive areas and disrupt wildlife during critical reproductive periods. Similarly, sewage or stormwater lines can overflow or break and therefore should be designed to minimize the chance of these events to prevent danger to human health, killing of or disruption to wildlife and other environmental hazards.
To maintain a quality environment, aesthetics are also important. Placing utilities underground prevents the need to prune trees and shrubs, which can be detrimental to the plant and often result in oddly shaped plants. Placing utilities underground also reduces incidence of power and telecommunications loss during such events as storms and auto accidents involving utility poles. Above-ground facilities can be properly screened or designed to be compatible with or to enhance an area. Examples include vegetative screening that surrounds neighborhood substation fences or exemplary designs such as the METRO York pump station at Willows and NE 124th Street.
UT-13 Design, locate and construct facilities to reasonably minimize significant, individual and cumulative adverse impacts to the environment and to protect environmentally sensitive areas. This should include actions such as:
▀ Locate sewer lines and use construction methods and materials to prevent or minimize the risk of spillage into watercourses and water bodies.
▀ Locate utility corridors in existing cleared areas.
▀ Locate utility facilities and corridors outside of wetlands.
▀ Minimize crossings of fish-bearing water courses.
▀ Use bio-stabilization, rip-rap or other engineering techniques to prevent erosion where lines may need to follow steep slopes.
▀ Minimize corridor width.
UT-14 Require undergrounding of all new utility distribution lines in all cases, except where undergrounding would cause greater environmental harm than alternatives or where the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission tariff structure is not consistent with this policy.
UT-15 Encourage the undergrounding of existing utility wires by such means as:
▀ Require undergrounding of utility distribution lines or the provision for undergrounding as a condition for redevelopment projects.
▀ Require undergrounding of utility distribution lines or the provision for undergrounding as road projects occur.
▀ Fund undergrounding through a capital improvement program or through formation of a local improvement district.
UT-16 Require reasonable screening or architecturally compatible design of above-ground facilities.
B. Facilities Plans, City-Managed Utilities
Facilities Plans
lanning facility improvements in advance of development, rather than in reaction to it, allows for a better, more-compatible system design and reduces the need for resizing and upgrading of facilities. This improves efficiency and reduces cost. Having a written Facility Plan is a method of ensuring planned facility improvements.
UT-17 In accordance with the requirements of the Growth Management Act and the Redmond Community Development Guide regulations, the City shall adopt and maintain plans to guide construction of and improvements to the City’s water, wastewater, and stormwater facilities. These plans shall be consistent with the goals and policies contained in the Comprehensive Plan. Upon approval by the City and all appropriate County and State agencies, the City’s adopted facility plans shall be considered to be incorporated into the Comprehensive Plan by reference. The plans may be amended as needed to reflect changing development trends or to update the plans as new facilities are constructed.
The following plans shall be the Facility Plans of the City and are hereby adopted by reference:
WATER: The Redmond Water System Plan, as amended or updated;
WASTEWATER: The City of Redmond General Sewer Plan, as amended or updated;
STORMWATER: The Comprehensive Stormwater Plan, as amended or updated.
UT-18 The Facility Plans of each City-owned utility shall be updated every six years. When there are major, substantive changes or updates that create inconsistencies with the Land Use Plan, the change or update will be reviewed by the procedure in the Redmond Community Development Guide. This procedure shall be the same procedure as a Redmond Community Development Guide update. When changes or updates do not create major, substantive inconsistencies with the Land Use Plan, the change or update will be reviewed and decided by the Technical Committee process.
UT-19 The Facility Plans may be amended as necessary by the procedure in the Community Development Guide. Where there are major, substantive changes affecting the Land Use Plan, the Development Guide amendment process should be used; where the changes are minor, they may be decided by the Technical Committee process.
UT-20 The Utility Facility Plans of the City shall guide development of utility facilities and capital improvements.
UT-21 Recommendations for capital facilities improvements in the Utility Facility Plans shall be consistent with policies in the Community Development Guide. If inconsistencies occur, the Community Development Guide shall be the guiding document.
C. Water Policies
Inventory of Conditions and Future Needs
edmond provides water service to most areas within the City limits and to a number of properties outside the City. The City’s supply comes from wells, directly from Seattle’s water system through a connection to Tolt pipeline No. 2 and indirectly from Seattle’s water system through the water systems of the cities of Bellevue and Kirkland. The City sells water to the Union Hill Water Association. A number of water purveyors service the areas surrounding the City. To balance demand loads, Redmond has a number of storage facilities.
Map UT-1 indicates water service areas. Map UT-2 shows an inventory of water facilities.
To meet future demand in parts of the City and its service area, new water sources or facilities will be needed. In 1993, the supply of water was adequate to meet demand. However, during drought conditions, such as occurred in 1991, some water restrictions must be enforced to meet basic needs. Due to increased urbanization and the susceptibility of the present aquifer to contamination, it is prudent to consider alternatives to reliance upon groundwater sources. However, wells presently do provide a more economical means of delivery than the regional supply system and the City is committed to maintaining this source. Additional local or regional water supply sources will need to be identified to meet growing demand.
Source of Supply
The Redmond well system is an important component of the City’s water supply. It also is a less costly water source and thus helps to stabilize water rates. However, the well system draws from a shallow aquifer and is susceptible to contamination, especially if urbanization of the aquifer recharge zone continues. If water
Map UT-1
Map UT-2
quality can be maintained and the well source remains more economical than alternative sources, it is logical to continue using water from the well source. Maintaining a Wellhead Protection Program is a component of protecting that resource. Concurrently, Redmond needs to acquire additional sources in order to protect against the potential loss of wells as a supply source. Reducing water use through conservation measures also is an alternative to drawing from new sources.
There are a number of groups which serve as coordinating agencies, as facilitators for development of water supply plans, as forums for regional cooperation or as technical advisors. Redmond belongs to the East King County Regional Water Association and participates in the Seattle Purveyor Committee, the Water Utility Coordinating Committee, the Suburban Cities Association and the King County Groundwater Purveyors Association. If the City continues to participate in these groups, it will continue to have a voice in policy development, will have a more efficient system of procuring new sources and can participate in programs which are funded by grants procured from these agencies.
UT-22 Continue to utilize the Redmond well system as long as water quality is in accordance with state and federal drinking water regulations.
UT-23 Maintain a Wellhead Protection Program as long as groundwater sources remain viable. This program shall guide land use decisions, development regulations, stormwater facilities requirements and other measures necessary to protect Redmond’s well system.
UT-24 Participate in cooperative regional efforts to acquire additional source of supply for future needs.
UT-25 Support and implement conservation strategies aimed at reducing average annual and peak day water use. These can include such implementation strategies as:
▀ Use billing rate structures which encourage conservation.
▀ Impose water restrictions at appropriate times.
▀ Reclaim wastewater for irrigation use.
▀ Provide technical assistance for leak detection, design of low-water use irrigation and other water saving measures.
▀ Educate the public.
▀ Use drought tolerant plantings and native vegetation in City landscaping and have development regulations which promote a reduction in irrigation demand.
▀ Have and enforce construction codes requiring water saving devices.
▀ Amend glacial till soils with organic materials to make subsurface water more available to landscaped plants to reduce irrigation demand.
UT-26 Continue to participate in the East King County Regional Water Association and work with appropriate agencies to develop and implement policies contained in the East King County Coordinated Water System Plan.
Facilities
Redmond needs to ensure standardization of design so that facilities will be compatible and have a reasonable economic life. There are known and accepted system designs which may be less costly to build, less costly to operate or more reliable, such as looped systems and gravity feed systems. If the City maintains a set of standards, developers can be assured of knowing the standards prior to design and the public can be assured that the system is designed as an integrated whole. System inter-ties allow cooperation between systems other than Redmond’s to provide adequate flow in emergency situations. This reduces the need to build larger and more expensive facilities. Defining level of service standards offers a way of measuring performance against community standards. For water service, this is a way of measuring adequacy and safety.
UT-27 Design water delivery and storage systems to provide efficient and reliable service while balancing short and long term costs. This shall include:
▀ Use of gravity feed whenever feasible.
▀ Development of a looped system.
▀ Standardization of transmission facilities sizing and/or materials.
UT-28 Design and construction standards should facilitate long-term operation and maintenance at the lowest reasonable cost.
UT-29 Design standards shall meet or exceed the standards of the East King County Coordinated Water System plan.
UT-30 Incorporate into Redmond’s design and construction standards those standards which are required to comply with state or federal regulations.
UT-31 New development shall construct water system improvements necessary to serve the development and to provide a reliable integrated distribution system.
UT-32 Repealed by 2058.
UT-33 Maintain adequate storage facilities to meet equalizing and fire demand volume and emergency supply.
UT-34 Pursue the creation of emergency inter-ties with adjacent purveyors.
UT-35 Redmond’s level of service standard for transmission and distribution facilities shall be defined as that flow which meets instantaneous demand together with projected fire flows.
The Growth Management Act and the King County Countywide Planning Policies state that cities shall be the provider of local urban services to urban areas. Therefore, Redmond should be the provider of water services within its boundaries and may be the provider to areas within the Redmond service area. Redmond also is dependent upon wells to provide a water source. Preventing the penetration of the aquifer by numerous individual wells helps to ensure its integrity against both excessive draw and contamination.
As the City expands, it may acquire territory that is serviced by other water systems. Since the City has better resources to ensure water quality than the limited provider and it is more efficient to manage one system, consolidation of systems is a reasonable goal. The Satellite System Management was set up under the East King County Coordinated Water System Plan to ensure water quality of small systems, financial responsibility to maintain them properly and compliance with design standards. Qualified water purveyors are given a degree of management responsibility over smaller systems and may dictate that the smaller system meet its design standards. These systems may eventually be acquired as the larger system is expanded. By maintaining a set of policies and regulations for the Satellite Systems, Redmond can assure that it will provide sound, compatible systems.
UT-36 The City of Redmond shall be the primary provider of water service within the City limits. It is the goal of the City to be the sole provider of water service within the City.
UT-37 Encourage the connection to City water for those properties on existing private well systems.
UT-38 Creation of new water systems within existing and potential service areas shall not be allowed. If Redmond is unable to extend service to those areas, a Satellite system shall be formed.
UT-39 Consolidate existing systems upon annexation as reasonable.
UT-40 Maintain a set of policies and regulations for the Satellite System Management Program for facilities serving customers within the Redmond Water Service area.
UT-41 Require connection to the city water system for all new development permitted by the City.
UT-42 Require connection to the City water system for existing developments when a short plat, subdivision or other significant land use action occurs to that property unless the connection is not reasonably feasible.
UT-43 The City of Redmond shall be the provider of water to any area to which it provides wastewater services except for areas specifically addressed in interagency agreements or served by on-site sewage disposal facilities.
D. Sewer
Inventory of Conditions and Future Needs
majority of the City of Redmond is sewered. However, there are still a few areas which have on-site disposal systems, such as septic tank systems. Most of the proposed annexation areas are unsewered, except a portion of the East Sammamish Plateau. Annexation will require expansion of sewer facilities and will add new demand for treatment capacity. METRO, which provides wastewater treatment facilities, currently has sufficient capacity to meet Redmond’s present needs and allow for some growth. Additional treatment facilities or facility upgrades will be necessary to meet long term future regional demand.
Map UT-3 presents an inventory of sewer facilities.
Facilities
The Growth Management Act and the King County Countywide Planning Policies state that cities shall be the provider of local urban services to urban areas. To ensure the health and safety of the community, a proliferation of small systems should be avoided. Therefore, Redmond should be the provider of wastewater collection services within its boundaries and may be the provider for areas within the Redmond service area.
Redmond needs to ensure standardization of sewer facility design so that facilities will be compatible, less costly and have a reasonable economic life. Standards which include system designs such as gravity flow are less costly and more reliable and therefore should be used. Defining level of service standards offers a way of measuring performance against community standards. Standardization of design and level of service standards also assists the developer in design and cost calculations.
Map UT-3
Regional treatment facilities have replaced local ones in the Seattle Metropolitan area. This is largely due to increasing awareness of the effects of local treatment facilities on the environment. Regional facilities have been able to ensure higher levels of treatment for sewage before release back into the environment. Due to economy of scale, Metro often can hire more highly trained staff and build better systems. At the present time, and for some time into the future, this disposal system should be the system of choice.
Composting toilets have been proven to work on a limited scale. Technology such as this may provide an equal or better sewage disposal method in the future. Redmond should have policies in place allowing the use of alternate technology if it proves to be a better alternative.
UT-44 The City of Redmond shall be the sole provider of wastewater collection within the City limits, except for limited on-site wastewater disposal systems.
UT-45 The City of Redmond shall be the provider of wastewater service to any area to which it provides water service, except for areas specifically addressed in interagency agreements or served by on-site wastewater disposal facilities.
UT-46 Require connection to the City wastewater system for all new development unless the zoned density is less intense than one unit per acre.
UT-47 Require existing development to connect to the City wastewater system when a short plat, subdivision or other significant land use action occurs to that property unless the connection is not reasonably feasible or the zoned density of the property is less intense than one unit per acre.
UT-48 Design wastewater systems to provide efficient and reliable service while balancing short- and long-term costs. Gravity feed shall be used whenever feasible.
UT-49 Design and construction standards should facilitate long-term operation and maintenance at the lowest reasonable cost.
UT-50 Design standards shall meet or exceed the standards of the State Department of Ecology.
UT-51 New development shall construct sewer system improvements necessary to serve the development and to provide a reliable integrated collection system.
UT-52 Repealed by 2058.
UT-53 Incorporate into Redmond’s design and construction standards those standards which are required to comply with State or Federal regulations.
UT-54 Redmond’s level of service standard shall be defined as that level which allows collection of peak wastewater discharge plus infiltration and inflow.
UT-55 Support a regional approach to wastewater treatment, contracting with METRO for transmission and treatment of Redmond’s wastewater.
UT-56 Adopt and/or allow new technologies for waste disposal if they prove equal or superior to existing methods.
Redmond presently has some areas served by septic or other on-site wastewater disposal systems. As urbanization continues, these systems are becoming less viable. Sometimes individuals do not properly pump and maintain their systems. To compensate for poor soil conditions, systems more frequently are incorporating mechanical pumps which require periodic maintenance and flow regulation. Failures have occurred and prevention may require costly regulation. Some systems are located in aquifer recharge zones and pose potential contamination issues to Redmond’s ground water supply. Generally, the soil types and saturation levels in this area are not particularly suitable to these systems. It is necessary to prevent the proliferation of new systems and to convert the existing on-site systems to sewer in order to protect the public health and safety.
UT-57 Require existing development to connect to the City wastewater collection system when on-site systems have failed and sewer facilities are available.
UT-58 Encourage conversion from on-site wastewater disposal systems as sewer lines becomes available, requiring connection when possible.
UT-59 Limit the use of on-site wastewater disposal systems to agricultural areas or areas where the zoned density is less intense than one unit per acre and allow them only if soil conditions are suitable and groundwater would not be negatively impacted.
E. Stormwater
Inventory of Conditions and Future Needs
edmond’s Natural Resource Division manages both storm and surface water as well as participates in groundwater management with the Seattle-King County Department of Public Health. Stormwater facilities are both private and public. They consist of a number of types of facilities. They may be retention/detention ponds or vaults and small, on-site oil separators that are engineered to Redmond standards but whose ownership remains private. There are a series of pipes or conveyance systems both public and private. The facilities also include some larger water quality facilities, such as oil separators, which are public.
Map UT-4 indicates stormwater facilities.
Map UT-4
Stormwater management deals with both control of quality and the quantity of water that runs off a site when it rains. To manage both quantity and quality, water may be detained on site in either a surface or a closed system. These detention or retention facilities are typically a pond (surface system) or a vault or an underground pipe (closed system). Detention controls rate of flow, retention additionally stores water below the outlet of the system retaining the water in the pond
until the next storm. All systems temporarily hold water and discharge it to a storm drain or watercourse at a designed flow rate. Control systems are designed to control a 6-month, 10-year, or a 100-year “storm event.” A “storm event” is a storm whose severity would only be likely to occur once in that time frame based on statistical records.
Water quality is maintained in a number of ways: Settling in retention facilities which removes suspended soil particles and separates toxic, heavy metals which tend to settle to the bottom once the water is still; filtration that occurs as water moves through the soil; biological breakdown that occurs from existing bacteria and water plants; aeration/oxygenation that occurs as water moves along an open path, or by toxic removal in engineered structures such as oil separators.
Groundwater management efforts overlap with surface water management and is concerned with the quality of water that is recharging the aquifer.
Facilities
Redmond needs to maintain standards for facility design to control the rate of stormwater flow off a site and prevent loss from flooding. Standards are contained in The Puget Sound Water Quality Management Plan, written in response to the Federal Clean Water Act, states that “Best Management Practices” be used. This is defined as a method, activity or management practice that reduces pollution prior to its entry into the water. It is a preventative program. Infiltration through the soil, exposure to light, and oxygenation which occurs as water travels through open watercourses assist the water purification process and should be encouraged when feasible. Open watercourses also provide use to wildlife. In areas where pollutants are not overly toxic and the rate of infiltration allows sufficient removal of pollutants, infiltration is desirable to recharge the underlying aquifer. Where sedimentation and pollutants can be adequately controlled, it is desirable to discharge to natural drainage systems in order to keep stream levels sufficient for fisheries.
UT-60 The stormwater system shall be designed to a level of service standard that provides adequate drainage for the appropriate design storm to ensure the safety, welfare and convenience of the developed areas. It shall also be designed to a level of service such that it adequately protects the quality of surface and groundwater.
UT-61 Design and construction standards should address rate of discharge, water quality, and method of storm drainage control.
UT-62 Stormwater facilities shall be designed to a level of service standard such that rate of flow from a property shall not exceed pre-development levels.
UT-63 Redmond’s stormwater runoff regulations should allow the use of regional detention and treatment facilities when they are adequate and available.
UT-64 Stormwater Utility standards should incorporate the principles of “Best Management Practices.”
UT-65 The Stormwater Utility standards shall address methods to control runoff during construction to limit erosion, siltation, and stream channel scouring.
UT-66 Design of stormwater management facilities should approximate pre-development levels of infiltration and recharge in areas where appropriate.
UT-67 Open channel drainage systems, natural or man-made, should be retained and new systems encouraged and utilized when feasible.
UT-68 Stormwater management systems shall be designed and constructed to minimize adverse impacts to natural watercourses.
The purpose of open space requirements may be different on various sites. Open space may be needed to retain some pervious surface on site for recharge, for aesthetics, for recreational purposes, to protect sensitive areas or to maintain plant life needed in the oxygen cycle. Stormwater facilities allow recharge and may support plant life. With some creativity, detention/retention ponds can even be designed to be aesthetically pleasing if incorporated into the landscaping design. It is reasonable to reduce the burden on the developer when objectives of a requirement can be met. Allowing stormwater facilities to fulfill some of the open space requirement increases the land available for actual development, reducing the burden on the developer while still meeting the intent of open space requirements.
UT-69 Stormwater retention/detention facilities shall be allowed to be used as partial fulfillment of open space requirements. The percentage that is allowed in lieu of open space will be determined by the type of development. A greater percentage will be allowed for non-residential or higher density urban development; a smaller percentage in residential lower density areas.
The Growth Management Act, the King County Countywide Planning Policies and the Puget Sound Water Quality Authority all mandate groundwater management plans. Even without these mandates, groundwater management is important for Redmond because it relies on groundwater for a water supply source. For surface water management, the City of Redmond falls under four collection basins: the Lake Sammamish, the Sammamish River, the Kelsey Creek and the Bear Creek basin. The Bear Creek basin has been ranked as top priority by the State and in 1994, the work began on development and implementation of a basin plan for surface water management in Bear Creek. Other basin plans may be developed at later times.
UT-70 Redmond shall adopt and implement the Stormwater Management Manual for the Puget Sound Basin with adjustments to suit local conditions.
UT-71 Redmond shall participate in Groundwater Management Plans and develop programs to implement the Plans. Such participation should be in cooperation with surrounding jurisdictions.
UT-72 Redmond shall work with state and regional agencies to develop and implement the Stormwater Management Manual for the Puget Sound Basin.
UT-73 Redmond shall cooperate with policy development and multi-jurisdictional programs to implement policies in the Bear Creek Basin Plan and any subsequent plans that may be developed for the other basins in the Redmond area. In addition, Redmond will develop its own programs to implement these policies where local action is more appropriate.
Private maintenance of stormwater facilities such as private oil separators has been found to be inconsistent. If these systems are not properly maintained, they become dysfunctional defeating the purpose of requiring such systems. The City has a need to address this issue to prevent pollution of surface and ground water. Part of ground and surface water management is dealing with the storage, disposal, and accidental spillage of hazardous materials. Developing regulations, an emergency response plan, and setting standards for disposal of street waste are some of the mechanisms that can be used to prevent problems. In many cases the issue of contamination is not just a utility staff issue but may involve police, fire, and transportation, as well as City maintenance or inspections crews. If these staff work together to develop standards for storage of hazardous materials and an emergency response plan to deal with contamination emergencies, the expertise of all these departments and division can be used and staff time may be saved by coordination.
UT-74 Redmond shall adopt a stormwater system maintenance ordinance that will encompass all publicly owned and privately owned stormwater systems. It shall enable the Natural Resources division to set minimum operation and maintenance standards.
UT-75 Public and privately owned stormwater system maintenance activities shall be coordinated with one another. This shall include synchronous maintenance schedules whenever feasible and shall be accomplished in accordance with all Puget Sound Water Quality Authority (PSWQA) plan requirements.
UT-76 Redmond shall develop and implement regulations concerning the storage and use of hazardous materials.
UT-77 Redmond shall adopt and implement an emergency response plan to be used for responding to surface and ground water contamination emergencies. Staff from different divisions and departments within the City should work together. This program will meet all PSWQA plan requirements.
UT-78 Standards shall be set by the Natural Resources division concerning disposal and handling of street waste to include material generated from stormwater maintenance and street sweeping.
F. Solid Waste
Inventory of Conditions and Future Needs
olid waste disposal service is provided by a private company which also removes recyclables under a contract with the City. The garbage and recycling services are voluntary for both residential and commercial waste disposal. Whether pickup is by private carrier, individual or is self-hauled by businesses, the waste stream portion is taken to a transfer station and then hauled to a regional landfill. The City also sponsors special recycling days for items which are not easily hauled with curbside service, but have recycle or reuse capability. King County sponsors special days for the collection of hazardous substances.
There is adequate landfill capacity as of 1994. Several factors make it difficult to predict future capacity for solid waste removal: the changing ideologies of citizens with respect to waste, technologies of the solid waste industry, possible changes in state law to allow imposition of mandatory recycling or to deny the privilege of self-hauling and the regional nature of landfill and recycling operations.
Waste Management
These policies are in response to the State Solid Waste Reduction Act and the Hazardous Waste Management Act. These laws include mandates on reduction of the waste stream, education and recycling. As a community leader, City offices should serve as a good example in waste reduction efforts.
UT-79 Continue to support and provide recycling opportunities to all City residents and commercial establishments.
UT-80 Continue incentive programs to encourage recycling of materials. If incentive programs fail to reach reasonable reductions in waste, consider mandatory programs to the extent allowable by state law.
UT-81 Continue public education programs on solid waste management, recycling, waste reduction, and the proper storage and disposal of hazardous wastes.
UT-82 Continue to encourage procurement of recycled-content products by residents, businesses and government agencies.
UT-83 Continue to provide solid waste and recycling collection services within the City using contract hauling or whichever method is most economical to the City while providing equal opportunities to all residents and businesses.
G. Non-City Managed Utilities
vailability of energy and communications can influence decisions of developers to locate particular land uses. Conversely, land use decisions may influence the need for energy or communications to support the land use. It is important to link the provision of utilities with the land use plan.
The method in which we use our land affects how efficiently we use our energy resources. Examples are land uses which reduce car trips or encourage transit, building codes affecting heating/cooling, common wall construction, street trees which cool asphalt or height codes which protect solar gain. Less conversion of fossil fuels to energy or use of cleaner, more-efficient fuels can lead to cleaner air and reduced cost to individuals and society. It is also prudent to encourage conservation and efficient land uses to reduce the need for additional facilities which can result in higher utility costs. Costs of development may be reduced due to coordination between jurisdictions to expedite permit processing.
More than one utility may be able to meet a particular need. Examples would be gas versus electric cooking or wire versus cellular communications. If Redmond encourages an adequate utility infrastructure for private utilities, a wider range of choices may be available for its residents.
Historically, electrical energy and natural gas was provided to the City of Redmond and surrounding communities by Puget Sound Power and Light Company and Washington Natural Gas, respectively. In February, 1997, these two companies merged to form Puget Sound Energy (PSE) which now provides electrical and natural gas services and information to city residents, businesses and other customers.
UT-84 Facility plans for non-City-owned utilities should reflect and support Redmond’s land use plan. Likewise, Redmond should work with other utilities to ensure that energy and telecommunications resources are available to support the land uses.
UT-85 Reduce energy consumption, encourage conservation of energy resources and control solar gain through such measures as:
▀ Support trip-reducing or transit-oriented land use.
▀ Use of alternative-fuel city vehicles.
▀ Street tree and parking landscape requirements.
▀ Allow clustering with common wall construction.
▀ Effective enforcement of the energy code.
UT-86 Coordinate and seek to cooperate with other jurisdictions when transmission facility additions or improvements cross jurisdictional boundaries. Such coordination should include efforts to achieve consistency between jurisdictions in permit timing.
UT-87 Encourage pruning of trees to direct growth away from overhead utility lines and encourage phased replacement of vegetation located improperly in the right-of-way. Pruning of trees necessary for safe and reliable utility service should be performed in an aesthetic manner to the extent possible and performed according to professional arboricultural specifications and standards.
UT-88 Discourage the use of herbicides to control vegetative growth around utility facilities and encourage alternative methods, such as mowing or selective treatment.
H. Electricity
Inventory of Conditions and Future Needs
edmond is served by Puget Sound Energy, a private electrical utility whose operation and rates are governed by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission. It is part of a western regional system, which means electricity is produced elsewhere and transported to Redmond through high-voltage transmission lines. As electricity nears its point of destination, the voltage is reduced and redistributed through the use of transmission substations, distribution substations and transformers. Redmond has several high-voltage transmission lines running east-west and north-south. At present, it has one transmission substation and a number of smaller distribution substations. Within Redmond’s City limits and future annexation areas, Puget Sound Energy has plans to add an additional transmission/switching facility, several distribution substations and high-voltage transmission lines. Some of the proposed lines follow new routes and the siting of these facilities will have to be considered.
Map UT-5 shows the locations of existing electrical facilities. Map UT-6 shows proposed electrical facilities.
Electrical Facilities
The electrical transmission system is a utility system that fills an essential public need. Therefore, zoning should allow the siting of major transmission lines at or above 115KV capacity and substation facilities in areas where it is reasonably necessary to provide efficient service. If there is coordination between the utility and the City in advance of the siting, problems of conflicting land uses may be reduced or avoided.
Map UT-5
Map UT-6
UT-89 The Facility plan for electrical utilities serving Redmond and the vicinity is the King County Draft GMA Electrical Facilities Plan, February 1993 authored by Puget Power. Where this plan is consistent with Redmond’s land use goals it shall serve as a guide in identifying and preserving utility corridors and locating electrical facilities.
UT-90 Allow electrical distribution facilities as a permitted use where appropriate to ensure that land is available for the siting of electrical facilities.
UT-91 Coordinate with the current electrical provider when considering land use designations or new development in the vicinity of proposed facilities locations that might affect the suitability of the designated areas for location of facilities.
Citizen opinions have stated that there is a high regard for maintaining the forested appearance of many areas of the City. Also, professional arborists have expressed concern in the past that requirements for removal of vegetation around electrical lines has utilized improper pruning practices that have killed or weakened trees. While the City of Redmond values safe and reliable electrical power, which requires regular vegetation management (proper pruning and appropriate removal), at the same time, care can be taken to minimize damage to and the loss of trees.
In some cases, the growth of vegetation is controlled around utility facilities for such purposes as access or maintenance. It is preferable to reduce the use of herbicides to control such growth as this can contaminate surface and ground water if used improperly.
There have been a number of studies that have examined possible health effects of extremely low frequency (ELF) electric and magnetic fields (EMF) which are generated by power lines, household wiring and appliances. Many are statistical incidence (epidemiological) studies, not controlled by laboratory studies. Even with controlled laboratory studies, results have been mixed and do not clearly point to a connection between ELF/EMF and health effect. Since some evidence indicates there may be an effect on the body, but at present the effect is not sufficiently linked with a particular result, the risk remains undefined.
Facility siting and design standards, many of which are presently used by electrical utilities, can reduce exposure to ELF/EMF. Transmission line configurations also affect field strength. Reverse phasing, a method of running current in opposite directions, may result in magnetic field reductions. Magnetic field strength also falls off dramatically as distance increases. Any of these known and acceptable low-cost methods can be used to reasonably reduce ELF/EMF exposure without placing an undue burden on the electrical provider.
UT-92 When siting high-voltage electrical facilities, design criteria should incorporate known and accepted low-cost technological methods of reducing magnetic fields until further research provides more information on the health effects of electromagnetic fields. Methods may include:
▀ Line configurations that reduce field strength.
▀ Sufficient right-of-way widths.
UT-93 Periodically review the state of scientific research on ELF/EMF and modify policies and regulations, if warranted, by changing knowledge, state or federal regulation.
