Title
Water Reservoir Feasibility and Potential Site Selection
Body
Whereas, the City Council has carefully considered the feasibility and advisability of constructing and operating water storage reservoirs intended to improve water service and to hold down the cost of water for City residents and businesses by reducing the City's peak hour consumption; and
Whereas, the City has considered, and will continue to consider and implement, other regulatory and educational measures to promote water conservation and reduce water consumption particularly during peak hours. The effect of these measures cannot yet be fully determined or known, but are expected to result in some reduction of the City's peak hour water consumption; and
Whereas, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department and the City of Detroit are under scrutiny with allegations and reports of mismanagement and lack of transparency, and recent criminal indictments for corrupt practices; and
Whereas, these circumstances and developments have spawned litigation by the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner and proposed legislation to establish and place governance of DWSD in the hands of a regional authority; and
Whereas, it is unknown what effect or result these legal and legislative initiatives will have on the future water system management or water rates; and
Whereas, for these and other reasons, the City is unable to secure any guarantee as to future water rates; and
Whereas, after thorough study, consideration and public discourse, many questions and uncertainties remain, and, consequently, it is the collective sense of City Council that the current water storage project should not proceed at this time.
Therefore, the Rochester Hills City Council resolves that the City shall:
1. Discontinue the current water storage project in the City;
2. Not engage in any further design, study, engineering or other efforts relating to the current water reservoir project, and
3. Direct the Administration to terminate the contract with TetraTech.