Efficiency

Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD)

Cost per pound of Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Total Suspended Solids (TSS) removed

About this performance measure: WTD measures efficiency in terms of operating costs per pound of Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Total Suspended Solids (TSS) removed during the treatment process. BOD and TSS are the primary pollutants that the treatment process is designed to remove, and these pollutants are directly monitored in the plants' water quality permits.

2008 Results: $0.3537

2008 Target: (adjusted for inflation) = $0.3365

Influencing factors: Steps taken through the productivity initiative have helped WTD achieve operational efficiencies represented by this measure.

Strategy going forward: WTD will continue to seek reductions in operating costs through its productivity initiative while maintaining high quality standards and service delivery.

Solid Waste Division (SWD)

Transfer station operating costs per ton of solid waste.

About This Performance Measure: This measure represents the total operating costs of the Solid Waste Division's 10 geographically dispersed transfer facilities (eight transfer stations and two drop boxes) per ton of solid waste disposed.

2008 Results: $13.11

2008 Target: $12.39

2009 Target: $12.97

Influencing Factors: A major cause of this measure being above the 2008 target is the 5% reduction in total transfer tons received last year. In contrast to this per-ton figure, the actual operating costs at the transfer stations only increased 2.4% over the year. While the economic environment is a major factor in the tonnage reduction, some of this change is due to our continued efforts to encourage greater recycling and waste reduction.

Strategy Going Forward: Management will continue to operate in the most efficient manner to control operating costs, including labor, wherever possible, while assuring the safety of both employees and customers at the transfer stations.

Technical Notes: SWD's operating costs include labor expenses for transfer station facility staffing (Transfer Station Operators and Scale Operators); utilities; and equipment repair, maintenance and replacement. This measure is calculated by dividing the total transfer station operating costs by the transfer tons. The cost per ton does not include transport of waste to the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill.

Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD)

Efficiency Measures

About this measure: Water and Land Resources administers programs funded from over forty different sources, making it impossible to quantify a single all-encompassing efficiency measure. These two measures address efficiency within two key revenue sources Ð surface water management and the noxious weeds program.

Noxious Weeds

About this measure: Over the past two years, the Noxious Weeds Program has seen a reduction in the cost per unit area of noxious weed infestations controlled. This is because a larger area of noxious weeds has been kept under control.

Noxious Weed Program expenditures / area of infestations controlled = cost per unit area infestations controlled

2007 results: $13.59 per square foot of noxious weeds area controlled

2008 results: 11.55 cents per square foot of noxious weeds area controlled

2008 target: 12 cents per square foot of noxious weeds area controlled

2009 target: 12 cents per square foot of noxious weeds area controlled

Influencing factors: Efficiency gains can be explained by a number of elements of the noxious weed program strategy including: 1) Greater use of voluntary citizen weed control compliance achieved by education and outreach activities rather than more expensive enforcement-based approaches, 2) Focus on prevention of , and early detection/rapid response to new infestations, which avoids or substantially reduces control costs, and 3) utilizing and continually refining more cost-effective integrated pest management control techniques . Economies of scale also contributes because it is cheaper to keep fewer, larger infestations under control than a multitude of smaller ones. In 2007, 7072 infestations covering an area of 9,218,187square feet were controlled. In 2008, 7250 infestations covering an area of 11,575,058 square feet were controlled. In 2008 therefore there were only a slightly higher number of infestations covering a significantly larger area controlled.

Strategy going forward: The program will continue to focus on prevention and early detection / rapid response to avoid or further minimize the costs of controlling new infestations. Effective stakeholder communications, education and citizen reports of infestations have much potential to help the program further gain efficiencies by increasing active community participation in noxious weed control. In addition, the program will continue to pursue new, more cost-effective weed control technologies, including biological control.

Surface Water Management -- Maintenance Cost per Facility:

About this measure: Maintaining surface water management facilities is one of the primary responsibilities of surface water fees. Costs used to calculate the efficiency of this activity include labor and mowing. Facility maintenance work is performed by King County's Roads Division in the Department of Transportation.

2008 Results: $1,184 per facility

2008 Target: $1,200 per facility

2009 Target: $1,255 per facility

Influencing factors: Negotiating labor practices, severe rain events, and annexations all influence cost of maintaining surface water management facilities. Addition factors include the availability of maintenance staff with the Roads Division at the Department of Transportation, since the alternative is contracting vendors for this maintenance, which is more expensive.

Strategy going forward: This measure does not account for differences in maintenance schedules and demands that vary by facility type, age and design. Discussions will continue as to how a new measure or series of indexed measures could be developed to provide a more accurate picture of facility maintenance costs and efficiencies.

Parks Division

Ratio of employees to acres maintained

About this measure: This efficiency measure is a ratio of the number of acres in parks inventory maintained to the number of full-time employees in the Resource Section.

Influencing factors: The division made an initial increase of FTEs in 2008 to improve maintenance to pre-2002 levels, which was a key policy direction with the 2008-2013 Parks Levy. Because staffing levels and land inventory are fairly stable and predictable from year to year, the main influencing factors impact the quality and type of maintenance Parks staff are able to perform. Influencing factor include:

1. Public and employee safety (for example: injury may result if maintenance action not taken);
2. Mandated requirements subject to potential fines if not performed (for example: various required permits, sensitive areas protection, ESA, integrated pest management, drainage maintenance);
3. Scheduled (revenue generating) use of park assets (for example: athletic leagues, picnics, weddings, large special events, revenue would be lost if maintenance action is not taken);
4. High community expectations and visibility projects (for example: East Lake Sammamish Trail, new athletic fields or community centers);
5. Storm damage and other natural event problems to the park system;
6. Preserve and protect projects (for example: roof repairs or field maintenance, if not done, further damage occurs); and
7. Unscheduled public use (for example: trail use, drop in athletic play, dog-off leash use).
8. The economy: Parks is hard hit by the current, unprecedented economic downturn. All Parks' funding sources are strained or threatened.

Strategy going forward: Under the guidelines of the levy that expires at the end of 2013, Parks will undertake key acquisitions with a very small increase in staffing. By increasing volunteer efforts through our programs, such as Park Ambassadors, Adopt-a-Park, and Community Partnership Grants, and continuing our partnerships with agencies, such as the Washington Trails Association and EarthCorps, we hope to improve our existing service levels. An acquisition strategy is being developed that includes identifying key properties for Parks to purchase as well as identifying funding to support the annual cost of the land management plan will be identified. This type of pre-acquisition evaluation will avoid costly liabilities, such as environmental hazards (including mine shafts, methamphetamine labs, and noxious weed infestations), and recognize existing inappropriate public uses, which may require costly management. Staff will also expand its reach for grants and other revenue sources for natural lands.