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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - Water Services Advisory Commission - Meeting Date: 1/4/2017t+ry Water Services Advisory Commission Orsb lYeter Cempus 7070 W. Northem Avenue Jenuery 4, 2017, 6:l[ PJI[. FINAL MINUTES I. CALL TO ORDER - 6:fi) p.m. II. ROLL CALL: Present Chairman Jonathan Liebman, Vice-chairman Ron Shor! Commissionen Amber Ford and Ruth Faulls; Comm. Robin Berryhill attended telephonically Absent Comm. Robert Gehl Staff: Water Services.Craig Johnson, Ron Serio, Doug Kupel, Dan Hatch, Drew Swieczkowski, Megan Sheldon, Thomas Relucio, and Sally Melling Recording Secretary; Public Works-Jack Friedline and Michelle Woytenko III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS Approval of the Final Minutes, December 7,2016 meeting - Motion for approval made by Comm. Ford, seconded by Vice-chairman Short. APPROVED 4-0 IV. DIRECTOR'S RDFORT-CraigJohnson, P.E., Water Services Director Mr. Craig Johnson informed the Commission Ont the ircm concerning the expanded duties of the WSAC that was on the agenda for the Government Services Committee meeting ofJanuary 3,2017 , had been cancelled on that day due to a lack of a quorum and re-scheduled for January 5 at 2 p.m. He and lvIr. Friedline will present the item and Vice-chair Short would attend in Chairman Liebman's absence. Mr. Johnson explained the request would be presentod to Council at the January 24,2017 voting meeting for approval. ACTION: NO ACTION REQITIRED,INFORMATION ONLY V. GLENDALE'S WATBR SI'PPLY AND T'PIDATE ON ART,ZIONA'S DROUGIilT PII\N Mr. Drew Swieczkowski, Environmental Program Manager, presented information to the Commission. He began his presentation by reviewing the deparfinent's specifics as to stafl facility and infrastrucnre nesourses, and watertotals produced and treated. Mr. Swieczkowski defined the city's water r€sourc€s as to the four sources and the percentage from each source. Mr. Swieczkowski showed the water demand from 2008-2015 and explained that it is dropping due in large parts to conservation efforts. Chairman Liebman asked why such a significant drop in demand occurred in 2009-2010 and Mr. Swieczkowski explained it was a very nainy year. He Water Services Depanmenr . ,oro woffiflHffif;. . Glendale, Az 8sxt3 . (623) 930-f lfi) January 4,2017 Water Services Advisorv Commission Final Minutes Page2 explained several important terms: groundwater which is pumped from wells and is non-renewable; stored water (behind dams); recharge credits which come from water being pumped back into the ground and are like a bank accounq and surface water which, for example, is water delivered through the Cennal Arizona Project (CAP) canal and from the Salt River Project (SRP) watershed. He explained the total supply is 66,000 acre-feet/year from all sources venus the current demand of slightly over 42,000 acre-feet/year. He provided deailed explanations on the water zones serving the city, water sources for eaclr, future redundancy plans, recharge effofts, and regional cooperation by agencies that work to protect and manage the resources. He recapped that the citSr's water supply is in a very good position thanks to efforts by a great many people in the city. Mr. Swieczkowski outlined the state's drought plan beginning with the fnst declaration by Governor Hull in June 1999 which is still in effect. The plan consists of four parts: planning and reporting for water providers which requires water providers to have conservation and drought plans in place and reduces wlnerability, drought monitoring to distibute information to providers which need such information, local drought planning (more for rural communities), and inter- agency coordination to advise the governor on current status. He presented short term and long term drought status information with current conditions for both the Colorado River supply (Lakes Powell and Mead) andthe SRP watershed system. Chairman Liebman asked ii like a banlq security was in place for stored water credits. IvIr. Swieczkowski explained there are protections and there is an overall net benefitto the aquifer since it is not being drawn down. Recharging at the West Area Aquifer is only permitted for effluent; while at SRP's New River Agua Fria Underground Storage Project, effluent CAP water, SRP water, or Roosevelt New Conservation Space (NCS) water is permitted to be recharged as stored water credits. Vice-chairman Short asked how many wells are in the city and how much water can be pumped from each. Mr. Swieczkowski said l0 wells are currently active throughont the city, with 3-5 wells planned for Zone 3 rcdundancy. He further explained that each well has a permitted capacity but the city tries to limit groundwater use to below or around l07o only since it is a non-renewable sour@. Vice-chairman Short then asked hou, deep the wells are and if they are the cheapest nesouroe. Mr. Swieczkowski stated the costs ar€ not cheap because of the electricity needed to pump the water to the surface since well depths range from 600 feet to 1,300 feet. He also explained that many wells are associated with past agricultural activities with residual chemicaUwater qualrty issues. Comm. Berryhill asked what the maximum SRP service area supply could be in the future. Mr. Swieczkowski stated his educated guess that it could be an additional 5,(X)0 acre-feet added for a total of 35,000 acre-feet p€r year. She then asked if oflproject SRP water is paid back with CAP water. Mr. Swieczkowski stated currently there is no deficit but the past overage was paid back with NCS water. ACTION: NO ACTION REQITIRED, INFORIYIA'TION ONLY KEY DATES FOR PI'BLIC WORKS - SOLD WASTE RESIDENTIAL COLLECTION RATE IDISCUSSION vI. January 4,2017 Water Scrvices Advisory Commission Final Minutes Page 3 Mr. Jack Friedline Public Works, Director and Ms. Michelle Woytenko, Public Works, Deputy Director, presented information to the Commission. Ms. Woytenko began by providing information on the Government Services Committee (GSC) and explained the meeting scheduled ofJanuary 3,2017 could not be held because ofthe lack of a quorum. The meeting was rescheduled to January 5. Depending on direction from the GSC, an item is anticipated to be presented to Council at the January 24,2017 voting meeting. There is tentatively a target effective date of July 1,2017 for any anticipated rate adjustnent. With the target date, certain key deadlines of 60day and l5day mandatory actions would have to be met. She then presented expanded information on the elements of rate adjustment consideration and requested commission input on information they would like. Chairman Liebman requested separate public informational meetings with locations throughout the city. Ittlr. Johnson outlined the process that had been followed with the urban inigation item by having one disfrict meeting with Councilman Aldanra, trvo regular WSAC commission meetings which were moved to the Council Chamben to accommodate larger attendance, all with widespread advertising through multiple sources. Mr. Johnson stated that a similar plan could work for Public Works' request. He explained that Water Services will hold similar public meetingp when it is time to present rate information to the public. More specific information is anticipated by next month's WSAC meeting. He gave an anticipated roll out date for Water Services request ofthe first quarter of 2018. Mr. Johnson added fur0rer information that a Council workshop pr€sentation would be given in February to discuss capital improvement projects. Chairman Liebman asked why Public Works had set a date of July I for their requested rate increase. Ms. Woytenko stated it starts the new fiscal year with spending versus nevenues beginning a budget deficit but explained it is a flexible timeline. Chairman Liebman wonied that three informational meetings would not be sufficient. Vice-chairman Short concurred that four meetings minimum would be betteq one each at the Foothills Aquatic Center, the Glendale Main Library, the Council Chambers, and Independence High School. Both members are concerned about the volume of citizen concern and Chairman Liebman asked how feedback metrics were to be handled. Commissioner Faulls asked if Vice-chairman Short was refening to regular WSAC meetings or orha meetings. Vice-chairman Short clarifiedthattheywouldbeextrameetingswithtapingbyChannel ll ifpossible. CommissionerFaulls pointed out that mone success could be garnered with council member participation such as the individual council member district meetings. Chairman Liebman stated an outneach communication plan needs to be fonnulated. Comm. Berryhill asked if council member publicity could be requested. Ms. Melling explained that council members often mention their district meetings during the council member @mments portion at the end of every council meeting. Ms. Woytenko stated that these meetings could certainly be held and metrics gathered. Mr. Friedline confirmed that the timeline will be shifted to allow more options with greater public outeach; and staff will coordinat€ everything including gathering and processing metrics. He also foresees presenting the collected information at a Council workshop sometime between now and April. The target date will shift with the rate model that is determined. Chairman Liebman reiterated that suffrcient public outneach is top priority. Comm. Ford asked if additional monthly meetings will be planned. Chairman Liebman explained that will all be decided if January 4,2017 Water Services Advisory Commission Final Minutes Page 4 Council approval is obtained after the January 24. More comprehensive information should be available at the February I meeting. VII. CALL TO THE AIJDIENCE No audience members spoke. VIN. FUTTJRE AGENDA ITEMS Update on the January 24,2017 Council meeting Public Works Work Plan, Overview of Communication Plan, and hojected Flexible Timeline Reminder list of Shategic Items being postponed with possible results IX. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Vice-chairman Short commended all saff efforts to produce the Glendale Clean and Green publication he received in the mail. X. NEXTMEETING: February 1,2017,6p.m. XI. ADJOITRNMENT - Motion to adjourn was made by Vice-chainnan Short, scconded by Comm. Faulls. Mr. Johnson took the opportunity to thank the WSAC for their flexibility in accepting the anticipated expanded role and appreciated their willingness to serve. MOTION APPROVED 5-0. The meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m. Respectfu l ly submitted,