District of Sooke Proceeding with 21-year Wastewater Franchise Agreement Negotiations

Sooke, BC – Thursday, November 4, 2010 at 4:30 p.m.

District of Sooke Council has voted in favour of proceeding with negotiations to enter into a 21-year franchise agreement with its current wastewater provider, EPCOR.

Once negotiations are complete, staff have been directed to prepare a report on a bylaw which would include the proposed 21-year franchise agreement. The bylaw will need public approval and Council has chosen the alternate approval process as the method for obtaining that approval.

The Council resolution and accompanying staff report have been placed on the November 8, 2010 Council meeting agenda.

“We must stress that both parties are in negotiations, and no final terms of the agreement have yet been decided,” Chief Administrative Officer Evan Parliament said. “The outcome of these negotiations will be a very public process and our goal is to ensure that Council and the public are kept very well informed. This will be a very transparent process.”

District staff are preparing a comprehensive public information and consultation package for presentation to Council in the coming weeks. The package will include frequently asked questions, background information, and important information on the alternate approval process.

“The essence of the 21-year franchise agreement is a true partnership whereby the District retains ownership and regulation of the wastewater system asset, including the setting of rates and charges, while EPCOR focuses on operations and growing the utility,” Parliament said.

Once negotiations are complete and an agreement is reached, a bylaw will be drafted, attaching the agreement, and presented to Council. Should Council vote to proceed, an alternate approval process will begin. It is anticipated that should Council vote to proceed, this process would not begin until early 2011.

EPCOR has been responsible for the construction and subsequent operation and maintenance of the District-owned wastewater treatment and collection system since the project began in 2004. The original contracted expired in 2009 but has been extended by Council resolutions to December 31, 2010.

For more information, contact:
Evan Parliament, Chief Administrative Officer
info@sooke.ca
Tel: (250) 642-1634
Fax: (250) 642-0541