HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Water Utility Commission - 4/13/2015 MINUTES
ORO VALLEY WATER UTILITY COMMISSION
REGULAR SESSION
Monday, April 13, 2015
HOPI CONFERENCE ROOM
N
11000 N. LA CANADA DRIVE
CALL TO ORDER - AT OR AFTER 6:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Richard Davis, Chair
Richard Reynolds, Vice Chair
Javier Arriaga, Commissioner
Shanna Weagle, Commissioner
EXCUSED: Anne Campbell, Commissioner
Winston Tustison, Commissioner
STAFF PRESENT:
Philip C. Saletta, Water Utility Director
Shirley Seng, Water Utility Administrator
Robert Jacklitch, Project Manager
CALL TO AUDIENCE:
Oro Valley resident Doug McKee commented on California's mismanagement of water
and declining levels and including average residential water usage in the next annual
report.
1. APPROVAL MARCH 9, 2015 MINUTES
Commissioner Weagle suggested a correction to Item 2 of the minutes. There was also a
suggested change to Item 4 which was not changed due to Granicus live streaming. In
addition, there were corrections that needed to be made to the graphs on-line for Item 4
and those will be corrected in Granicus by staff.
MOTION: A Motion was made by Vice Chair Reynolds and Seconded by
Commissioner Arriaga to approve the minutes as amended. Minutes were
approved 3-1 (Commissioner Weagle)
2. DISCUSSION AND UPDATE REGARDING THE FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE
MEETING - GROUNDWATER PRESERVATION FEE AND CASH
RESERVES (Commissioner Arriaga & S. Seng)
Commissioner Arriaga opened the discussion indicating that the Finance Subcommittee
met March 31, 2015 to discuss the Groundwater Preservation Fee Policy and Cash
Reserve Policy.
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Ms. Seng reported there was discussion on use and purpose of the Groundwater
Preservation Fee (GPF). She indicated that six financial scenarios were prepared
and reviewed. The consensus among the subcommittee members was that CAP
wheeling costs could be paid with Groundwater Preservation Fees (GPF). Staff will
prepare an additional financial scenario regarding the GPF and will draft language for
policy changes regarding use of the GPF.
The subcommittee also discussed potential policy changes regarding the Cash Reserve
Policy. These financial scenarios and changes to the policy language will be reviewed at
the finance subcommittee meeting to be held the week of May 18. These items will then
be brought back to the Water Utility Commission for review June 8.
No formal action was taken or required.
3. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE WATER
RESOURCES SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING - HOOVER ARIZONA POWER
AUTHORTY APPLICATION, GROUNDWATER EXTINGUISHMENT CREDITS,
WATER RESOURCES AND WATER POLICIES & CODE (Commissioner
Reynolds,R. Jacklitch & P. Saletta)
Vice Chair Reynolds opened the discussion indicating that the Water Resources
Subcommittee met April 7 to discuss the Hoover Arizona Power Authority, Groundwater
Extinguishment Credits, Water Resources and Water Policies and Code. Mr. Jacklitch
gave a brief update on the 2017 Hoover Arizona Power Authority application process and
that the application will be submitted no later than April 27, 2015.
Mr. Saletta discussed the opportunity to purchase about 2,000 AF of groundwater
extinguishment credits by June 30th and that funds are budgeted in FY 14/15 to make this
purchase. Currently Oro Valley has about 25,000 AF in its storage accounts. It is planned
to potentially increase these accounts up to 42,000 AF over the next 5 years.
The Arizona Water Banking Authority (AWBA) currently has 404,000 AF of credits in the
Tucson Active Management Area (TAMA) and in 2015 this is estimated to increase to
428,000 AF. There was discussion regarding AWBA storage and that it is accessible and
will be allocated during any water shortages to CAP M&I subcontractors.
Mr. Saletta presented several graphs for review. After discussion, the commission
preferred the stacked Total Annual Water Production and the side-by-side 2-year Water
Production graphs and that these graphs be presented quarterly. Customer Service
reports will also be presented on a quarterly basis. Capital Improvement Project
reports will remain on a monthly basis.
No formal action was taken or required on this item.
4. TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS/COMMUNICATIONS (Councilmember Hornat)
Councilmember Hornat reported on the recent items and Council meetings:
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-Naranja Park Strategic Plan, Town Sign Code, La Cholla road improvements 2017
(Overton to Tangerine), Approval of WUC Annual Report 2015, IGA Children's Museum
IGA approved.
-4/15: T.0 meeting: Presentation of Managers Budget, La Cholla, Glover to Lambert
Lane changes in General Plan, -Zoning issue S.E. corner La Cholla and Lambert Zoning
-4/18: Spring Triathlon
5. SUBCOMMITTEE/COMMISSIONER REPORTS
a. Conservation Subcommittee (Commissioner Davis)
Commissioner Davis reported that the Conservation Subcommittee met April 10. There
was discussion about water conservation in the Southwest and the AquaHawk program
and assisting customers with setting thresholds and leak alerts. There was discussion
about setting up a booth with volunteers at the Steam Pump Ranch Farmers Market on
weekends. Commissioner Davis also mentioned that the committees which participated in
Your Voice and our Future program have gathered their information and a final draft is
being reviewed.
6. STAFF REPORTS
a. Customer Service Report (S. Seng)
Ms. Seng reported the following:
-Total Metered Connections as of 3/31/15: 19,136
-Actual New Metered Connections: Month of March: 19
-Projected Meter Installations for FY 14-15: 211 Tracking: 150
-Actual SU's as of 3/31/15: 240
-Projected SU's for FY 14-15: 345
-SU= Service Unit (1 service unit is equivalent to a 5/8-inch meter)
-AMI Meter Installations: 12,308
Project is estimated to be completed by March 2016
-Water Conservation Audits as of 3/31/15: FY 14-15: 86 -Month of March: 4
-Registered accounts in AquaHawk: FY 14-15: 1,119
-Total audits completed from inception: 1,886
b. Capital Projects (B. Jacklitch)
Mr. Jacklitch reported on:
Countryside Water-12-inch water is 90% complete. The project will be closed in June.
Design Projects
-Tangerine Road - This project is ongoing and is part of the RTA
-Lambert Lane - Design process has started for the potable water line is ongoing. 60% of
the roadway plans are in.
-Energy Efficiency Project - This project is on track and will continue until next fiscal
year.
-Naranja CAP Crossing - This project is complete.
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7. DIRECTOR'S REPORT (P. Saletta)
a. Colorado River Streamflow and Snow Reports
Mr. Saletta reported on:
-Arizona, Colorado, Utah and Wyoming Current Snow Water Equivalent -April 13, 2015
-Colorado Streamflow - Colorado, Rio Grande, and Arkansas River Basis Mountain
Snowpack - April 1, 2015
-Colorado River Water Supply Report: - March 17, 2015
The Water Resources subcommittee will discuss whether these reports will be presented
on a monthly basis.
b. Upcoming Meetings
Mr. Saletta reported on:
-T.C. approval of the WUC Annual Report 2015
-4/15: T.C. meeting Agenda item: Town Manager Budget
-4/22: T.C. Study Session. Water Utility budget presentation time: 4:00 p.m.
-4/29: T.C. Study Session. Remaining Town budget presentations
-5/11: WUC meeting
-5/20: T.0 tentative budget adoption
-6/9-6/10: Water Resources Research Center Conference will be held in Phoenix. The
Water Utility Director will attend. The Commissioners were also invited to attend for a day.
-6/17: T.C. Final Budget approval
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Water Resources Subcommittee items
-Recovery of stored water, storage facilities, and existing assets now and in the
future. (Commissioner Weagle)
-Fourth Management Plan and impact to the Water Utility
Conservation Subcommittee items -Drought Preparedness Plan (Commissioner Weagle)
These items will be discussed at the subcommittee meetings and if approved by the
subcommittee could be forwarded to the Water Utility Commission for further discussion.
CALL TO AUDIENCE - Oro Valley resident Doug McKee commented on the Consumer
Confidence Report, CAP water blending and hardness, and CAP water versus
groundwater pumping.
NEXT MEETING: MAY 11, 2015 LOCATION: HOPI CONFERENCE ROOM
ADJOURNMENT: 7:50 p.m.
MOTION: A Motion was made by Commissioner Arriaga and Seconded by Vice
Chair Reynolds to adjourn the meeting.
MOTION carried, 4-0.
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I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of
the regular session of the Water Utility Commission of Oro Valley, Arizona held on the
13 day of , 2015. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held
and that a quorum was present.
Dated this lob day of , 2015.
Prepared by:
Iris L. Chaparro
Senior Office Specialist
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