1985-10-14 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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u CITY OF LA PORTE COUNCIL MEMORANDUM T0: City Council FROM: Jack Owen, City Manager DATE: October 9, 1985 SUBJECT: Proposed Texas Water Plan • The 1985 Texas Legislature adopted a new proposed Texas Water Plan that will be submitted for voter approval this sll. The proposed plan will appear on the November 5, 1985 state-wi e election ballot as Amendment 1 and 2. Adoption of the plan will provide the framework for a coordinated approach to the state's multifaceted water resource challenge and will provide significant benefits to the City of La Porte. COMPONENTS OF THE PLAN The following points are direct excerpts from the attached TML report, and address the specific areas of the Plan which will impact the City of La Porte. 1.) STATE FUNDING FOR RESOURCES - under the proposal, the state could, as one example, provide a major share of the up-front funding for a reservoir designed to meet the water supply needs of a region for 50 years, but with respect to which local government units can only afford to construct a 25 year facility. Later, as the region develops and its financial base expands, participating localities would gradually buy back the state's portion of the project. 2.) STATE LOANS TO LOCALITIES - Amendment 1 would authorize the issuance of $580 million in bonds to be used for state loans to cities and other localities for water resource projects. Of the total amount, $190 million will be allocated for water supply facilities and $190 million for wastewater projects. The balance of $200 million will be made available for state loans on behalf of flood control facilities, which are being made eligible for state financial assistance for the first time. 3.) LOCAL BOND INSURANCE PROGRAM - A third provision of Amendment 1 would create a state bond quaranty program to underwrite bonds issued by cities and other localities. CONCLUSION As stated in the TML report, historically, local water users and local taxpayers have paid, and will continue to pay most of the cost of water supply, sewage treatment and flood control facilities. These demands far exceed the cities financial abilities, therefore, without assistance from the state, the job simply will not be done. RECOMMENDED ACTION I request the Council adopt a resolution supporting adoption of the new Texas Water Plan at the November 5, 1985 constitutional Amendment Election. Jack Owen _1.--