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Home My WebLink AboutMinutes - Water Utility Commission - 11/13/2023MINUTES WATER UTILITY COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION November 13, 2023 HOPI CONFERENCE ROOM 11000 N. LA CAÑADA DRIVE REGULAR SESSION AT OR AFTER 5:00 PM CALL TO ORDER Chair Greg Hitt called the meeting to order at 5:02 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: Greg Hitt, Chair Alan Forrest, Vice Chair Patricia Olson, Commissioner Niranjan Vescio, Commissioner David Atler, Commissioner Absent: Kay Lantow, Commissioner Tom Marek, Commissioner Staff Present:Peter A. Abraham, Water Utility Director Mary Rallis, Water Utility Administrator Lee Jacobs, Water Utility Engineering Division Manager David Allred, Water Operations Manager Jeff Wilkins, Town Manager Milini Simms, Principal Planner Renee Olvera, Senior Planner CALL TO AUDIENCE - at this time, any member of the public is allowed to address the Commission on any issue not listed on today’s agenda. Pursuant to the Arizona open meeting law, individual Commission members may ask Town staff to review the matter, ask that the matter be placed on a future agenda, or respond to criticism made by speakers. However, the Commission may not discuss or take legal action on matters raised during "Call to Audience." In order to speak during "Call to Audience", please specify what you wish to discuss when completing the blue speaker card. No speakers. REGULAR SESSION AGENDA 1.REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE SEPTEMBER 11, 2023 REGULAR SESSION MEETING MINUTES Motion by Vice Chair Alan Forrest, seconded by Commissioner Niranjan Vescio to approve the September 11, 2023 regular session meeting minutes. 11/13/2023 Minutes, Water Utility Commission Regular Session 1 Vote: 5 - 0 Carried 2.UPDATE AND DISCUSSION ON THE COMMUNITY'S NEXT 10-YEAR ACTION PLAN KNOWN AS OV'S PATH FORWARD (M. SIMMS) Principal Planner Milini Simms presented the Oro Valley's Path Forward 10-year plan to the Water Utility Commission. Principal Planner Milini Simms asked the present Commissioners to participate in providing their responses to questions. Principal Planner Milini Simms informed the Commission that volunteers are needed to assist in spreading the word of Oro Valley's Path Forward. Discussion ensued between the commission and Principal Planner Milini Simms. 3.UPDATE AND DISCUSSION ON CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS (L. JACOBS) Water Engineering Division Manager Lee Jacobs presented the following updates on the Water Utility's Capital Improvement Projects: Rehabilitation of Well E-2 Nakoma Sky Well Production Design of Redundancy Water Lines Steam Pump Production Palisades Area El Conquistador Subdivision Countryside Wheeling Station Increased Wheeling Capacity to Countryside Service Area Rancho Vistoso Booster Design and Construction Big Wash Reservoir Relining Project La Canada Two Zone Booster (on Moore Rd and King Heir) NWRRDS Independent Booster and Forebay NWRRDS Partnered Well Equipping, Pipeline & Reservoir Vice Chair Alan Forrest asked a question regarding the swedging of Well E-2. Discussion ensued between Vice Chair Alan Forrest and Water Engineering Division Manager Lee Jacobs regarding HP Tanks. Discussion ensued between Vice Chair Alan Forrest and Water Engineering Division Manager Lee Jacobs regarding Boosters. Discussion ensued between Vice Chair Alan Forrest, Water Utility Director Peter Abraham, and Water Engineering Division Manager Lee Jacobs regarding the NWRRDS Partnered Project. 4.UPDATE AND DISCUSSION ON WATER OPERATIONS ACTIVITIES (D. ALLRED) Water Operations Manager David Allred provided the following water operations updates: Provided a summary of the current Water Utility statistics SCADA upgrade is 96% complete Currently working on an Emergency Response Plan Upgrade to Remote Radio Communications Water Production activities Update on the Arizona Department of Corrections Inmate Work Program Water control systems activities Water Distribution activities Water Meter activities 11/13/2023 Minutes, Water Utility Commission Regular Session 2 Water Quality activities Discussion ensued amongst the Commission and staff. 5.UPDATE AND DISCUSSION ON WATER UTILITY FINANCIALS (M. RALLIS) Water Utility Administrator Mary Rallis provided the following updates in Revenues: Met budget in potable water sales Reclaimed water sales meet or exceed budget Groundwater preservation fee to meet budget Service fees to meet or exceed budget Water Utility Administrator Mary Rallis provided the following updates in Expenses: Below budget in personnel Meet or slightly below budget Water Utility Administrator Mary Rallis provided an update on Customer Service. Discussion ensued between the commission and staff. 6.UPDATE AND DISCUSSION ON WATER RESOURCE USAGE (P. ABRAHAM) Water Utility Director Peter Abraham provided an update on the Water Resource usage: Usage in the countryside with groundwater and CAP water with the lowest resource consumption since 1999 Usage of the Oro Valley main service area Provided statistics on delivery and production through the month of September Water Utility Director Peter Abraham noted that despite the substantial heat, the Utility was able to maintain good water conservation numbers. In 2022 OV used a low amount of groundwater; 2023 might be the same 7.UPDATE AND DISCUSSION ON WATER RATES ANALYSIS (M. RALLIS) Water Utility Administrator Mary Rallis provided the following information and updates on the Water Rates Analysis for fiscal years 2024 Purpose for the water rates analysis for the Town Goals of the Water Rates analysis Tentative Schedule of activities for water rates analysis (to meet with the finance subcommittee meeting) Discussion ensued amongst the Commission and Water Utility Director Peter Abraham. 8.DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON CANCELLATION OF THE DECEMBER 2023 WATER UTILITY COMMISSION MEETING Motion by Vice Chair Alan Forrest, seconded by Commissioner Patricia Olson Vote: 5 - 0 Carried 9.TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS/COMMUNICATIONS (COUNCILMEMBER BOHEN) Councilmember Bohen provided the following update: 11/13/2023 Minutes, Water Utility Commission Regular Session 3 Councilmember Bohen provided the following update: Town Council meeting on 11/15/2023 Introduced Town Manager Jeff Wilkins 10.DIRECTOR'S REPORT Water Utility Director Peter Abraham provided a report on the following: November 15, Town Council Meeting December 6, Town Council Meeting December 11, Water Utility Commission canceled December 20, Town Council Regular Session canceled due to holiday break January 3, Town Council Regular Session January 8, Water Utility Commission Meeting Water News for Upper Colorado Basin Snow-pack comparisons Reservoir Levels Growing Water Smart Workshop Retreat in Scottsdale from January 22-24, 2024 Water Conservation Grant Fund Update Water Utility Peter Abraham provided a description of the workshop and the importance of the workshop, and opened the invitation to the Commission to inquire other potential attendees to the Workshop Retreat. Town Manager Jeff Wilkins provided input on the Growing Water Smart Workshop Retreat as well. Discussion ensued between Water Utility Director Peter Abraham and the Commission regarding the grant. CALL TO AUDIENCE - at this time, any member of the public is allowed to address the Commission on any issue not listed on today’s agenda. Pursuant to the Arizona open meeting law, individual Commission members may ask Town staff to review the matter, ask that the matter be placed on a future agenda, or respond to criticism made by speakers. However, the Commission may not discuss or take legal action on matters raised during "Call to Audience." In order to speak during "Call to Audience", please specify what you wish to discuss when completing the blue speaker card. No speakers at this time. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Vice Chair Alan Forrest, seconded by Commissioner Niranjan Vescio to adjourn the meeting at 6:34 p.m. Vote: 5 - 0 Carried I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the regular session of the Town of Oro Valley Water Utility Commission of Oro Valley, Arizona held on the 13th day of November 2023. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present. Dated this 10th day of January, 2024. ___________________________ Maritza M Valenzuela 11/13/2023 Minutes, Water Utility Commission Regular Session 4 Senior Office Specialist 11/13/2023 Minutes, Water Utility Commission Regular Session 5