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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - Water Services Advisory Commission - Meeting Date: 6/3/2015 Water Services Advisory GLENDfE Commission Oasis Water Campus 7070 W.Northern Avenue June 3,2015,6:00 P.M. FINAL MINUTES I. CALL TO ORDER—6:00 p.m. II. ROLL CALL: Present: Commissioners John Sipple, Roger Schwierjohn, Robin Berryhill, Chair Ron Short,and Vice-chair Jonathan Liebman Absent: Commissioners Ruth Faulls and Robert Gehl Staff: Craig Johnson, John Henny, Dr. Doug Kupel, Javier Setovich, Amanda McKeever, Dan Hatch, Mark Fortkamp, Anthony Weathersby, Thomas Relucio, and Sally Melling, Recording Secretary III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS Approval of the Final Minutes, May 6, 2015 meeting - Motion for approval made by Comm. Schwierjohn, seconded by Comm. Sipple. APPROVED 5-0 IV. DIRECTOR'S REPORT—Craig Johnson,P.E.,Water Services Director Mr.Johnson presented an update on the Salt River Irrigation(SRI)contract. He explained city staff from the Materials Management and Water Services Department met with SRI staff. Mr. Johnson reported that the city is in the renewal process of the contract for this year due to a price increase requested by the vendor. Mr. Johnson stated we are starting negotiations with SRI. He stated the intent is to get this year's contract finalized with the probable intent of going out for a new contract for the irrigation season of 2016. Mr. Johnson stated he felt there was a need to keep the Commission and public informed. He explained there will be no interruption in service and delivery for the current irrigation season. Mr. Johnson confirmed for Comm. Berryhill that it is the negotiations for this year's irrigation season that will soon be underway. He explained that negotiations had not started yet and he was not at liberty to discuss any specifics at this time. Comm. Berryhill questioned why in August of 2014, SRI did not request this rate increase when the contract renewal was brought before Council. Mr. Johnson stated he did not know why an increase was not requested by the contractor then but clarified that was for Contract Amendment #1 running from March 2014 to March 2015. This year's contract amendment is Amendment#2 scheduled to run from March 2015 until March 2016. Mr. Johnson also informed the Commission of the mandatory Lead and Copper Study that all utilities and water companies are required to conduct every three years. The city is required to City of Glendale Water Services Department•7070 West Northern Avenue•Glendale,AZ 85303•(623)930-4100 June 3,2015 Water Services Advisory Commission Final Minutes Page 2 contact fifty resident owners during June-August to request a water sample from an indoor faucet as the first-draw of the day. Action: No action required,information only V. PYRAMID PEAK WATER TREATMENT PLANT INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH CITY OF PEORIA Javier Setovich, P.E., Deputy Water Services Director, Michael Weber, P.E., City of Peoria Public Works-Utility Deputy Director, and Bill Mattingly, P.E., City of Peoria Public Works-Utility Director,presented information on this project to the Commission. Mr. Setovich replied to Comm. Sipple's question that the project is in the assessment phase with anticipated completion at the end of 2019, and it is a CIP funded project. Comm. Berryhill asked what water sources were used prior to the Pyramid Peak Plant. Dr. Kupel replied that groundwater was used for areas north of the Arizona Canal and when the Salt River Project is dried to provide annual maintenance, groundwater was used throughout the city. Comm. Berryhill questioned whether we pay City of Phoenix taxes to which Dr.Kupel clarified that we are a tax-exempt government entity. Comm. Schwierjohn asked how often the plant rates are reviewed and reset to which Mr. Setovich replied it is based on the operating costs of the plant. Vice-chair Liebman requested information on the funding. Mr.Johnson explained that there is CIP cash allocated from the City of Peoria which will deposit their funds into an escrow fund. The plant will be staffed and run with City of Glendale employees. Comm. Schwierjohn asked what the largest capacity for the Pyramid Peak plant is. Mr. Setovich explained there is enough purchased land surrounding the current plant for a matching expansion of another 10 million gallon reservoir on the other side of the plant. Ultimate plans envisioned plant growth surrounding the entire current water plant. Comm. Schwierjohn questioned if this was also the case for the Cholla Water Plant but Mr. Johnson clarified that the Cholla Water Plant is landlocked. The Oasis Water Plant has the same scenario as Pyramid Peak Plant with generous room for growth. Action: No action required,information only VI. COLORADO RIVER SHORTAGE/DROUGHT MANAGEMENT PLAN Ms. Joanne Toms, Environmental Program Manager, provided information to the Commission on plans to address any possible Colorado River shortages and the City's Drought Management Plan. Comm. Schwierjohn asked if there would be a stop to new pool construction or filling. Ms. Toms replied that a lack of water could damage pools so this was unlikely. Comm. Berryhill asked if the policy is city-wide no matter which water source serves an area. Dr. Kupel replied that it is city- wide regardless of where the water source comes from and a triggering event could come from any of the water source areas. Comm. Berryhill pointed out that water rights are tied to the land and there should be an availability difference based on whether the water source is Salt River Project (SRP)or Central Arizona Project(CAP). Dr.Kupel agreed that water rights are tied to the land and stressed drought management measures apply city-wide. Comm. Sipple asked what was done prior to the drought management plan in 2004. Ms. Toms stated she was not aware of any action prior to 2004. Dr. Kupel confirmed that there were no drought actions taken in Glendale prior to that time; June 3,2015 Water Services Advisory Commission Final Minutes Page 3 however, in the City of Phoenix in 1941, police patrol cars drove through neighborhoods with loud speakers asking residents to conserve water during a particularly severe drought. Comm. Sipple asked what shortage tier will be in effect in 2017. Ms. Toms stated it is non-Indian agriculture, past tier 3. Vice-chair Liebman asked about shortage sharing since California is not a part of it. Ms.Toms explained California will not lose any water until the CAP loses all water. Vice-chair Liebman asked how long the"temporary"designation was for. Ms.Toms explained that a drought is a cycle, not forever. He then asked what the process would be if the Bureau of Reclamation issues a declaration in August. Ms. Toms stated that if a shortage is declared in 2016, it does not impact the city's water supply; a declaration would only start the timeline as declarations are sequential. Comm. Berryhill asked if it would be a Council decision to impose a city-wide declaration. Dr. Kupel explained the Drought Plan was adopted by the Council in 2004. Staff anticipates they will review documents over the next few months. Ms. Toms could only give an estimate of sometime this summer when Chairman Short asked for a date. Chairman Short then asked if a Council workshop would be held in the fall. Dr. Kupel explained only minor revisions are anticipated to the Drought Management Plan. Water Services will post it to the website as soon as possible. When asked if the WSAC will be present at the workshop, Mr. Johnson explained that city-wide meetings could be expected with extensive publicity if a Stage/Tier 3 declaration is made. Vice- chair Liebman stated that the process should be included in the Strategic Plan. Dr. Kupel asked everyone to put it into perspective and stated there would be plenty of publicity should it occur and everyone will know about it. Comm. Berryhill asked if it would be placed on the Water Service website. Ms. Toms stated that staff will work to place the Drought Frequently Asked Questions and the 2004 Drought Management Plan documents on the website; the updated Plan will also be placed on the website with the most current fmalized revisions as soon as possible. VII. CALL TO THE AUDIENCE No audience members addressed the Commission. VIII.FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Ms. Amanda McKeever, Water Services Administrator, stated that the Strategic Plan tentative calendar formulated on balancing available staffing resources with Commission requested areas of interest will be presented at the September meeting. IX. NEXT MEETING: September 2,2015, 6 p.m. X. ADJOURNMENT — Motion to adjourn was made by Comm. Schwierjohn, seconded by Vice- chair Liebman. MOTION APPROVED by voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Sally''elling,RecordiT ecretary