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Harbor as an example, he pointed out that if we went ahead and <br />built those lines based on their projections and later on that <br />development came to a dead stop, the burden would be on the <br />existing customers and we would be in dire financial shape. He <br />advised that we are going to go back in and do a further analysis <br />of 'what these costs do to our impact fees, but looking at it <br />realistically, these are the improvements that are needed to serve <br />specific areas. If the cost shows that there is an need to <br />increase the impact fees, there is no alternative except to <br />increase the operating service charges. Director Pinto stressed <br />that the impact fee directs the cost of capacity. All the impact <br />fee is saying is that this is what it costs to provide that <br />capacity. When a developer comes in and says he doesn't want to <br />pay these impact fees because they are too high, we might point out <br />that if the County wasn't providing the service, he would have to <br />build his own lines and facilities and that would be his impact <br />fee. All we are saying is that whatever it takes for what we have <br />to do for the developer, that is what it costs to provide that <br />service. <br />Chairman Bird was concerned about excessively high impact fees <br />stifling growth and stopping development from occurring, and <br />Director Pinto admitted that it is a real balancing act to keep the <br />capacity even with the demand. The whole key to helping the <br />developer is in the financing of the impact fees. If a developer <br />comes in and doesn't have the faith in his project to sign whatever <br />documents that are necessary to guarantee his financing, then he <br />should not be developing. If they want to extend the cost over 10 <br />years, they have to sign on the dotted line that the County will <br />spend the money but they have to pay us. <br />Commissioner Adams inquired about the estimated capital costs, <br />and Mr. Fuller explained that the capital costs includes the <br />physical facility as well as the engineering costs to design it and <br />a built-in contingency which are the costs to implement the <br />project. <br />Mr. Fuller extended his thanks to the Commission for their <br />attention this morning and to the Utilities' staff for their <br />assistance in pulling all this information together to allow them <br />to produce a document that will help plan the County's utility <br />needs for the next 17 years. He expressed his excitement on the <br />announcement of the Disney project and advised that the Master Plan <br />will need to be modified because the Disney project probably will <br />change the timing of the Sea Oaks wastewater plant. <br />Chairman Bird thanked Mr. Fuller for his excellent <br />presentation. <br />11 <br />PEAR j u j99j BROW 8 a .. <br />