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Board of County Commissioners Meeting Minutes - Final November 13, 2018 The Board entered into a discussion regarding the best to way to keep up with the Utilities' biggest expenses of personnel, chemicals, and electricity. They debated the necessity of indexing rates to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), and how that concept would be managed. In response to a request from Chairman O'Bryan, staff recommended returning before the Board in five (5) years with a recommendation regarding an updated rate study. A motion was made by Commissioner Flescher, seconded by Vice Chairman Solari, to approve staffs recommendations one (1) through six (6). The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 5 - Chairman O'Bryan, Vice Chairman Solari, Commissioner Adams, Commissioner Flescher, and Commissioner Zorc The Board returned to their discussion regarding the best method to allow for an annual CPI based rate increase, contingent on Board approval. A motion was made by Commissioner Adams, seconded by Chairman O'Bryan, to approve recommendation number seven (7) with the modification to have the Consumer Price Index increase factored into the Utilities Department's annual budget, which would be discussed during the July Budget Workshop meeting; the Board would have the option of declining the rate increase at that time. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 5- Chairman O'Bryan, Vice Chairman Solari, Commissioner Adams, Commissioner Flescher, and Commissioner Zorc A motion was made by Commissioner Flescher, seconded by Commissioner Adams, to have staff appear before the Board in 2024 with a report regarding the necessity of a new rate study. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 5- Chairman O'Bryan, Vice Chairman Solari, Commissioner Adams, Commissioner Flescher, and Commissioner Zorc 12.6.5. 18-2499 Uniform Septic to Sewer Policy - Deferred from Meeting of November 6, 2018 Recommended Action: Staff recommends the Board of County Commissioners create a septic to sewer (S2S) policy and direct staff to: 1. Require benefiting property owners to pay a minimum of 20% of project costs; 2. Solicit alternative funding options, which include various grants, to cover the remaining project costs; 3. Use optional sales tax dollars as needed, not to exceed 25% for both construction costs and impact fees; 4. Establish a S2S financing interest rate to be the greater of either the maximum of 2% or half of the current BCC approved rate. Current rate is 5% so the S2S rate would be 2.5%; 5. Extend the amortization period from ten years up to a 20 -year term and direct staff to work with the Indian River County Tax Collector to add the annual assessment fee to the property tax bill in order to assure a more consistent reimbursement cash flow for the project; and, 6. Offer a S2S impact fee credit of 100% for those property owners who commit to connect to the sewer system before sewer is available to the property. For those property owners that connect within one year from service availability, provide a credit of 50% of the impact fee. Indian River County Florida Page 12