Agenda Date: 08/02/2016
Subject:
Title
An ordinance on second reading authorizing five farm lease agreements for the Littleton/Englewood Wastewater Treatment Plant
Body
Presented By:
Mark Relph, Public Works and Utilities Director
POLICY QUESTION:
Does city council support renewing five farm lease agreements for Littleton/Englewood Wastewater Treatment Plant (LEWWTP)?
BACKGROUND:
Biosolids are nutrient-rich, organic materials produced during the treatment of domestic wastewater. These materials, when treated and processed properly, are environmentally safe and recycled as an organic soil amendment or fertilizer, to improve farm soils and stimulate crop growth. Since 1982, the L/E WWTP has produced Class "B" biosolids which are used in an agricultural land application program (approximately 3,400 dry tons per year) for production of human consumable crops. This program was initiated in response to the increased cost and liability for landfill disposal of wastewater biosolids.
In 1995/96, L/E WWTP was granted approval by the Cities of Englewood and Littleton to purchase approximately 6,600 acres of dryland farm property (Byers farm) for the beneficial application of domestic wastewater biosolids generated by the facility. In 2007, an additional 1,270 acres was purchased for biosolids application (added to the Byers farm). In addition, the cities also own approximately 947 acres near Bennett, Co. (Bennett farm), which is also actively farmed. There are a total of five lease agreements with: Kent Beichle (Exhibit A), Clint A. Burnet (Exhibit B), Craig Farms General Partnership (Exhibit C), Gary Meier (Exhibit D) and Progressive Farms (Exhibit E).
STAFF ANALYSIS:
The initial land purchases included farming agreements with the previous owner, based on a 1/3 share of crop sale proceeds and 1/3 share of farming expenses (fertilizer, weed control, etc.) with L/E WWTP. In 2006, cash lease agreements were developed for $8 per acre. With this arrangement,...
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