May 7, 2018 - mouse's hibernation. The paint on the water tank at the south end of town is being recoated on the outside
UTILITIES COMMISSION DURANGO PUBLIC LIBRARY, PROGRAM ROOM 3 05/07/2018 4:30 PM AGENDA
1. Call to Order 2. Approval of Minutes 2.1.
Approval of minutes from April 2, 2018
3. Announcements 4. Public Participation 5. Old Business/Ongoing Items 5.1.
Santa Rita Water Reclamation Facility (SRWRF) Update
6. New Business 6.1.
Role of Lake Nighthorse in Drought Mitigation
6.2.
Water and Sewer System Redundancy
7. Staff Update 8. Calendar Review and Agenda Planning 8.1.
Next scheduled meeting: Monday, June 4, 2018
9. Adjournment
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Approval of minutes from April 2, 2018
City of Durango Utilities Commission Durango Public Library Program Room 3 Monday, April 2, 2018 4:30-6:00 PM Draft Action Minutes 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 4:30 p.m. by Chairperson John Ballew. The following Commission members were present: Chairperson John Ballew, Paul O’Neil, Brian Devine, Mike Amato and Youth Ex-Officio Iain McCourt. Council Liaison and Mayor Dick White was also present. Staff members in attendance included: City Manager Ron LeBlanc, Utilities Assistant Director Jarrod Biggs, City Operations Director Levi Lloyd, Public Information Specialist Shannon Waggoner and Assistant City Manager Amber Blake. 2. Approval of Minutes 2.1 Approval of minutes from February 5, 2018 Commissioner Amato made a motion to approve the minutes from the February 5, 2018 Commission meeting. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Devine. The motion passed. 3. Announcements 3.1. SWCD Annual Water Seminar: Friday, April 6 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Doubletree 3.2 Boards and Commissions Orientation: Thursday, April 12 7:30-8:30 a.m. at the Library 4. Public Participation Public participants remarked on the sewer multiplier for homes receiving City sewer service that are not located within City limits. Diana Howell (spelling of name?), who resides on CR 203, noted that she would like to hear what the Utilities Commission has to say since her sewer bill is her largest utility bill. also for her to be heard. Julianne Mortiello (spelling of name?), who also resides on CR 203, noted that she was at the meeting on behalf of a few other neighbors as well and would like to hear about and be involved regarding the sewer multiplier. She stated her neighbor uses a modular trailer and spends $159 monthly for sewer only. She stated she has been to several City Council meetings. She asked the Utilities Commission to consider that Hermosa Sanitation charges compared to what the City charges for sewer service. She stated she is forced to be on city sewer because they are within distance of a sewer main. Chairperson Ballew noted that the Commission will be discussing the Wildan Rate Study. He stated that John Simpson has written a letter; that will be a part of the deliberation moving forward.
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5. Old Business/Ongoing Items 5.1. City of Durango Public Engagement Process: Presentation & Discussion Assistant City Manager Amber Blake and Public Information Specialist Shannon Waggoner provided a presentation on the City’s Public Engagement Process and gathered the Utilities’ Commissioners feedback. The information is located at DurangoGov.org/Engage. 5.2. Discussion of Wildan Addendum Commissioner O’Neil stated that doubling outside of City limits rates when the rates were low wasn’t as big of a deal, but doubling a $50/$60 dollar bill starts to become a big deal. He noted that he is not sure on some of the cost categories that went into the analysis. City Operations Director Lloyd noted that the inputs for the analysis came from the budget book. They took the number of people inside and outside of the City limits and then looked at percentages to evaluate the cost. Assistant Utilities Director Biggs stated that the City could revisit a rate study on a more frequent basis, but they have planned to do so next year. City staff noted that in the case of CR203 sewer service, there was a preexisting sewer district that was formed and failed; the City Council agreed to take it over. When that happens, there are things that right away cost the City money. City Manager LeBlanc noted that it is much more expensive in the City for an acre of land compared to the County. The City inherited an unequal situation with respect to outside sewer service, and the more the Council increase the rates the bigger the differential becomes. Commissioner Amato suggested that the frustration may come from the proximity to Hermosa Sanitation District, which doesn’t have nearly the costs. City staff noted the deferred maintenance in the Hermosa sanitation district. Deferred maintenance in the City is one of the reason the City rates went up. Commissioner O’Neil noted that since Hermosa has less discharge, they have different (lower) discharge standards. Chairperson Ballew noted that during the upcoming rate study, the multiplier should be evaluated. City Operations Director Lloyd noted that the City is going to have another rate study performed in 2019. Commissioner Devine and Chairperson Ballew noted that they should not evaluate the multiplier separately from the rate structure as a whole. Mayor White said there are items that could use additional clarification in the rate study. For example, why does sewer treatment get allocated at a higher percent compared to other items. Those are the kinds of things that could be looked at more carefully. The cost of pumping is a big part of the differential between inside versus outside of the City. There are two lift stations that are entirely outside of the City.
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City Operations Director Lloyd stated the goal to have the rate study completed prior to the budget process in 2019. Mayor White requested a thoughtful review from the Commission of the rate study. Commissioner O’Neil noted that currently there is not a water multiplier, and that maybe water and sewer should be treated the same. Commissioner Amato stated that people are reasonable; if they have the data or have it in words they can understand, there would be less upheaval. Emphasis should be made when contracting with a company for a rate study that they are required to make a report that is understandable. Commissioner Devine agreed, suggesting breaking the descriptions down into simple sentences and total costs of services by percentage. When it gets reduced to “you get to pay twice as much because you live outside of the City limits” it is harder to swallow. City Operations Director Lloyd stated that the intent of a rate study is not to see how much the City could charge. Instead, the rate study is developed to make sure the City can recoup the costs of providing the service. City Manager LeBlanc stated that if there wasn’t a multiplier, the Council would still be increasing rates because the revenue from the differential would have to be made up. Mayor White stated that he plans to bring the topic up in Council retreat this year. City Manager LeBlanc noted that to do good planning, it has to be comprehensive and include streets, drainage, utilities, access etc. Commissioner Devine stated that he wouldn’t be opposed to an interim measure until a comprehensive study is done. 5.3. SRWRF (Santa Rita Water Reclamation Facility) design and construction status Assistant Utilities Director Biggs stated the City is currently operating under administrative permit extension from CDPHE. Progress has been made on the walkways and the Aeration basins. He invited Utilities Commissioners to the City Council meeting on April 3, 2018 to hear an update from the SRWRF Project Manager. May 10th is the scheduled operational date for the Aeration Basins. 5.4. Performance Dashboard Assistant Utilities Director Biggs shared the performance dashboard. Usually for the first four months is not the big part of the year in terms of usage. Utilities is collecting a read today to see how many people have started irrigation for the season. Assistant Utilities Director Biggs and the Commission discussed average water consumption per capita per day. Assistant Utilities Director Biggs stated he is compiling data to get drought management grant submitted at the end of the month.
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City staff has had productive meetings with Mountain Studies Institute regarding Santa Rita Water Reclamation Facility signage. Mayor White inquired about the Utilities Project Manager. City Operations Director Lloyd stated that Jennifer Holland was selected. Her first day is today, and she has been asked to attend next Utilities Commission meeting. Her background is in civil construction project management. 6. New Business 6.1. Election of officers (Chair and Vice-Chair) Commissioner Devine motioned, and Commissioner Amato seconded, to elect John Ballew as Chair of the Utilities Commission. Commissioner Devine motioned, and Commissioner Amato seconded, to elect Paul O’Neil as Vice Chair of the Utilities Commission. All Utilities Commissioners present were in favor of the nominees. 7. Staff Update The City is moving forward with the dam tow drain project for the Terminal Reservoir. In order to complete the project, the reservoir height has to be brought down temporarily but it will be filled back up. The project will last about a month. Water to the golf course and Fort Lewis College has started to turn on. Utilities sent Planning comments on the head gate redesign/redevelopment project, and is working toward getting the project out to bid. The plan is to start in the fall, working around the jumping mouse’s hibernation. The paint on the water tank at the south end of town is being recoated on the outside and inside. City Utilities staff has been working in the Fourth avenue area in conjunction with Atmos. 8. Calendar Review and Agenda Planning 8.1. Next scheduled meeting: Monday, May 7, 2018 9. Adjournment Commissioner O’Neil motioned to adjourn. Commissioner Amato seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 6:06 p.m.
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