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Home My WebLink AboutMinutes - Stormwater Utility Commission - 1/16/2025MINUTES STORMWATER UTILITY COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION JANUARY 16, 2025 HOPI CONFERENCE ROOM 11000 N. LA CAÑADA DRIVE REGULAR SESSION AT OR AFTER 4:00 PM CALL TO ORDER Chair Crocker called the meeting to order at 4:00 P.M. ROLL CALL Present: Richard Hawkinson, Commissioner Rob Schlicher, Commissioner Richard Crocker, Chair Staff Present:Dennis Roberts, Interim Division Manager Attendees: Dr. Harry Greene, Town Council Liaison Commissioner Schlicher attended via telephone. CALL TO AUDIENCE There were no speaker requests at this time. COUNCIL LIAISON COMMENTS (INFORMATIONAL ONLY) Council Liaison Dr. Harry Greene commented that he appreciated everything that previous Stormwater Division Manager John Spiker did, and that he did a terrific job. He wished Mr. Spiker well in his new job. Councilmember Greene also stated that the Council will be going into study sessions in the next month or so to prepare the course for the Town. DIRECTORS REPORT (INFORMATIONAL ONLY) Interim Stormwater Division Manager Dennis Roberts commented on the following: The presentation to the Stormwater Utility Commission (SWUC) about the Notice of Intent for the Stormwater Rate Review has been rescheduled for the SWUC meeting on February 20, 2025. Stormwater Utility (SWU) staff will meet with the Mayor and Council in early February to introduce the presentation. The Flood Control District advisory committee has announced a significant update regarding their revised methodology for peak discharge calculation software. A reminder that there are openings for the SWUC. Interested residents can visit orovalleyaz.gov and search 'Boards and Commissions' to learn more. The SWU team is partnering with the Pima County Flood Control District (PCFCD) for an exciting project collaboration at the end of the month. This meeting will explore potential projects and foster greater teamwork between our two organizations. The Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs (ADEMA) has reviewed and ranked Notices of Intent submitted by various Arizona agencies for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Post-Fire 5493 Grant. Our proposal for drainage infrastructure improvements on North Pomegranate Drive has been 1/16/25 Minutes, Stormwater Utility Commission Regular Session 1 ranked, and we are now competing for this grant. The SWU received a request for information from FEMA regarding the Highland Wash Flood Control Project. We responded and submitted our deliverables on January 14, 2025. We are hopeful that we will get a notification of award in our next correspondence with FEMA. REGULAR SESSION AGENDA 1.REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE NOVEMBER 21, 2024 MEETING MINUTES Motion by Chair Richard Crocker, seconded by Commissioner Richard Hawkinson to approve the November 21, 2024 meeting minutes. Vote: 3 - 0 Carried 2.NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF STORMWATER UTILITY COMMISSION CHAIR EFFECTIVE JANUARY 17, 2025 Motion by Chair Richard Crocker, seconded by Commissioner Rob Schlicher to elect Chair Richard Crocker as Stormwater Utility Commission Chair. Vote: 3 - 0 Carried 3.NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF STORMWATER UTILITY COMMISSION VICE CHAIR EFFECTIVE JANUARY 17, 2025 Motion by Commissioner Richard Hawkinson, seconded by Commissioner Rob Schlicher to elect Commissioner Richard Hawkinson as Stormwater Utility Commission Vice Chair. Discussion had ensued among the Commissioners. Both Commissioner Schlicher and Commissioner Hawkinson expressed their willingness to nominate themselves. Upon hearing that Commissioner Hawkinson nominated himself, Commissioner Schlicher seconded, stating that he would vote for Commissioner Hawkinson. All votes were cast unanimously for Commissioner Hawkinson. Vote: 3 - 0 Carried 4.DISCUSSION REGARDING THE STORMWATER UTILITY COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION MEETING SCHEDULE FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2025 The Stormwater Utility Commissioners reviewed the 2025 SWUC meeting dates as presented. Meetings will be held on the 3rd Thursday of each month. The attached document list the anticipated meeting dates for regular meetings of the SWUC for 2025. Mr. Roberts shared that Town Code Section 15-24-6 establishes a Town of Oro Valley Stormwater Utility Commission comprised of five (5) Oro Valley residents, and the Mayor and Council shall appoint the members. Commissioners serve two-year terms, with the possibility of reappointment for another term. Topics discussed during Regular Session Meetings are mostly informational, related to ongoing SW projects and administrative reports. One exception to this is the requirement in Town Code 15-24-13 Section H. It mandates that the Stormwater Utility Commission (SWUC) annually review the Stormwater Utility revenue requirements and recommend rate adjustments to the Town Council as necessary. Chair Crocker commented that the 2024 SWUC Tour of Projects Field Trip was canceled in October 2024, and no date for a 2025 SWUC Field Trip was listed in the 2025 meeting schedule. He suggested that the Commission seek a recommendation from staff regarding a suitable date and have staff present the information at the next SWUC meeting. 1/16/25 Minutes, Stormwater Utility Commission Regular Session 2 and have staff present the information at the next SWUC meeting. 5.DISCUSSION OF MEETINGS AND EVENTS Mr. Roberts discussed recent meetings and events. 6.DISCUSSION OF 2024/2025 TOWN OF ORO VALLEY MS4 COMPLIANCE SCHEDULE, SECOND QUARTER REPORT Mr. Roberts reported on the Town's 2024/2025 MS4 Compliance Schedule, Quarter 2, October 1 - December 31 2024 time period. The summary table shows that the SWU is up to date and has met their objectives this quarter. Chair Crocker stated that he understood that items not checked would take place during the remaining period. Mr. Roberts concurred. 7.DISCUSSION OF RESULTS OF NOVEMBER 14, 2024 TOWN OF ORO VALLEY MS4 AUDIT BY ADEQ Mr. Roberts reported that on November 14, 2024, the ADEQ (Arizona Department of Environmental Quality) performed a compliance audit of the MS4 program of the Town of Oro Valley (Town). The objective was to evaluate the Town's Stormwater Management program and to identify any possible concerns. Discussion ensued. Chair Crocker inquired if the audit was rated as noncompliant and mentioned noticing minor noncompliance issues in the report. Mr. Roberts stated that noncompliance issues outlined in the report were corrected immediately or were in the process of being addressed. We are submitting a report to the ADEQ with pictures of the corrected issues. Mr. Roberts stated that the SWU did receive a nice compliment at the end of the audit where the inspectors mentioned that the Town was probably within the top echelon of towns that do a good job with their ADEQ inspection. Commissioner Hawkinson had questions about the current procedure the SWU has for taking samples, and also about the sampling in relation to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules. Commissioner Hawkinson wondered if the sampling rules differed between the ephemeral streams in our region and the permanent streams found in the eastern United States. Mr. Roberts commented that in the SWU sampling process, our staff go out when there is a big rain, and that we adhere to the requirements to take proper sampling. We continue to submit our sample results, and we get positive feedback from the agencies. Commissioner Hawkinson was interested in knowing what the state thinks about the sampling program and about what the EPA requires from dry environments as compared to hydrology in the east, and if that was something that could be modified to better fit the situation. Commissioner Schlicher commented that those requirements are stated in the General Permit and would probably require a change to the Permit. Mr. Roberts agreed, stating that a modification would indeed be required if needed. At a future SWUC meeting, Mr. Roberts will have staff present a report to bring the commission up to date about the procedure the SWU uses to take samples. Mr. Roberts will also reach out to our EPA contacts for feedback on our process. Council Liaison Greene questioned the unnamed substance in uncovered containers pictured in the report. Mr. Roberts stated that the substance was identified as belonging to the Traffic Department and 1/16/25 Minutes, Stormwater Utility Commission Regular Session 3 was related to striping. The ADEQ inspectors expressed concern about the storage of the material. They recommended that it should be contained during rain and covered properly. Chair Crocker, along with Council Liaison Greene, inquired whether it was necessary to recommend adequate storage. Mr. Roberts explained that the need for storage requirements was not communicated to him during the inspection. He assured the Commission that he would follow up on the storage issue. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Rob Schlicher, seconded by Commissioner Richard Hawkinson to adjourn the meeting. Vote: 3 - 0 Carried Chair Crocker adjourned the meeting at 4:25 P.M. 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 Stormwater Utility Commission of Oro Valley, Arizona held on the 16th day of January 2025. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present. ___________________________ Yarina Hynd Senior Office Specialist 1/16/25 Minutes, Stormwater Utility Commission Regular Session 4