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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - City Council - Meeting Date: 7/16/2012 MINUTES CITY OF GLENDALE AD HOC CITIZEN TASK FORCE ON WATER AND SEWER PALO VERDE ROOM ADULT CENTER 5970 W. BROWN STREET GLENDALE,ARIZONA 85301 MONDAY,JULY 16,2012 6:00 p.m. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 6 p.m. by Michael Ashcraft, facilitator. He gave a brief overview of the agenda and a brief explanation and anticipated timeframe for the evening's events. He also requested permission of the Task Force to place a time limit on the exercise, if three tables are finished with their discussion and conclusions, then the remaining tables would be urged to finish in approximately five minutes to keep events on track. Approval was given by group majority. ROLL CALL APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE MAY 21, 2012 MEETINGS Sally Melling, Water Services Sr. Secretary, asked for approval of the Final Minutes for the June 25, 2012 meeting from the Task Force. Comm. Stratton made a motion to approve, seconded by Comm. Vickie Loya. The minutes were unanimously approved as written by voice vote. Mike Ashcraft announced that the Task Force is at the half-way point in the schedule and commended everyone for their efforts. He called their attention to the Dot Polling results to date. These results will be revisited in the second phase of the process in September. WATER RECLAMATION PRESENTATION Larry Brotman, Water Reclamation Superintendent, presented information on the water reclamation process. He explained the before 1993, waste water did not have much value. That paradigm has changed to viewing reclaimed water as a valuable commodity. A task force held on sewer issues, Project Waters, was formed in 1994. Modern day facilities used to treat wastewater are no longer called sewage plants, they are referred to as reclamation facilities to better describe the change in attitude to waste water and the process behind treating it. He explained the differences between the two facility sites, West Area and Arrowhead Ranch, are not only in size and capacity but also that Arrowhead is an end of line plant while West Area has the capability to move wastewater down the line for treatment. He explained ground recharge, credits, storage projects, and direct reuse of effluent. He also explained the Pretreatment Program division and their function in inspecting and protecting the system. Task Force members were given the opportunity to ask question. Where do you get the microbes used in processing the water? (They are naturally found in the environment and we assist them in growing and multiplying by providing food and allowing air into the process for their use.) July 16, 2012 Ad Hoc Citizen Task Force on Water and Sewer Minutes Page 2 When well water is exchanged for recharge water, is it dollar for dollar? (It is in terms of gallon for gallon.) Are all commercial users required to have grease traps? (Only if they are classified as a certain type of user such as food preparation.) Comm. Cruz asked Larry to repeat the financial terms for the Palo Verde contract for reclaimed water and if the contract could be revisited for better terms for the city. (Yes, when the current contract expires. Percentage of acre foot payment could be reconfigured.) Where does that money go? (Into the Water and Sewer fund.) How do the chemical costs compare between the two facilities? (Currently, production at West Area is low while Arrowhead remains at their standard processing capacity so the chemical costs are proportionate to the use going on.) Are the two facilities enough to handle the population of Glendale? (Yes, both are capable of handling things now. West Area was built with enough excess capacity to last another 10 years.) What about future growth and construction, specifically in the Loop 303 area? (Glendale's service area extends to 115`h Avenue by Council direction in 2008. Any future developer in the Loop 303 area needs to provide their own means for water service and sewage treatment. Currently, there are about 5-6 water companies serving the region and Global Water is the sewer provider.) Comm. Ricki Ray had read a statement that said if the proposed casino is built, Glendale would need to build another facility. Is that true? (No.) Comm. Vicente Abeyta asked what it meant that the Arrowhead facility can be shut down for 24 hours. (Larry explained it is an "end of line treatment facility". Storage facilities at Arrowhead allow for 36 hours of holding room. The facility is self-contained and there is no capability to forward material down the line for processing. The plant is 30 years old but several Capital Improvement Projects have been completed, and more are currently scheduled for its maintenance and upgrade.) STORM WATER PRESENTATION Doug Kukino, Environmental Resources Director, presented information on the storm water program and the rules, regulations, and permitting required for continued compliance. He explained that the Clean Water Acts is the law that governs surface water quality in the United States. The federal storm water runoff requirements were issued in 1990. Glendale received its first storm water permit in 1999 and its second permit in 2010. Mark Fortkamp, Wastewater Collections Superintendent, presented information on the storm water system inspection and maintenance process. He presented an overall view of the stormwater system, division figures, and highlighted some notable situations encountered by staff in their daily tasks. Member questions: Comm. Ron Short asked where the money comes from to replace the grates, rebuilt cache basins, etc. (The Wastewater Collections budget has money set aside for replacements.) Comm. Barbara Garland asked if stormwater permits were issued by the state and are there time limits on them? (Yes, the Arizona Department of Water Resources issues them based on federal requirements and they are good for five years.) Comm. Loya asked if the recent rains had caused problems with the storm water system. (Mark replied that this year hadn't seen as many problems as last year or previous years. He credited the consistent cleaning schedule and maintenance of the system for this improvement.) FACILITATED EXERCISE ON PRESENTATIONS Members discussed policy issues and areas of concern, and indicated their top items of interest in the Blue/Red Dot poll. Michael Ashcraft reminded members to keep in mind the end product July 16, 2012 Ad Hoc Citizen Task Force on Water and Sewer Minutes Page 3 which would be presented to the Mayor and City Council. Commissioner Gary Livingston asked staff, from their stand point, if anything the Task Force had done so far was useable to them. Craig Johnson replied that the Task Force has zeroed in on points we are currently doing or have targeted to do. There are some concerns we share and some that have been brought to our attention. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Sally M mg, Recording ecretary