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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/28/2021 - Meeting Minutes 00. Minutes DEPARTMENT of PUBLIC UTILITIES -(Z-j ADMINISTRATION m "�•.,�' I To•�,`, Salt Lake City ..."" Public Utilities Advisory Committee Minutes January 28, 2021 The Public Utilities Advisory Committee meeting was held at 8:00 a.m. on January 28, 2021 via online meeting platform due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Committee members present were Lynn Hemingway,Kent Moore,Roger Player,Ted Wilson,Ted Boyer and Tom Godfrey. Salt Lake City Public Utilities employees present were Laura Briefer, Jesse Stewart, Tamara Prue, Holly Lopez, Jeff Snelling, Jason Brown, Brad Stewart, Michelle Barry, Jamey West, Tamara Wambeam, Marian Rice, Karryn Greenleaf, Lisa Tarufelli and Janine Calfo. Also in attendance were Mike Wilson from CRS Engineers; Rusty Vetter, Salt Lake City Attorney's Office; Sam Owen, City Council Office; Tim Cosgrove, City Mayor's Office; Mike DeVries, Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake and Sandy; other attendees are Katina Payne, Timothy White, Jeremy Williams, Jeff Davis and members of the public. Welcome and Introductions Committee Chair Tom Godfrey and Public Utilities Director Laura Briefer welcomed the attendees. Approve Minutes of December 10, 2020 Meeting Committee member Ted Boyer made a motion and committee member Kent Moore seconded the motion to approve the minutes of the December 28, 2020. All members voted to approve. Election of Chair for 2021 Committee member Ted Boyer made a motion and Committee member Roger Player seconded the motion to elect Lynn Hemingway Chair of the Committee. All members present voted in favor, and the motion passed. Election of Vice Chair for 2021 Committee member Lynn Hemingway made a motion and Committee member Ted Wilson seconded the motion to make Roger Player Vice Chair of the Committee. All members present voted in favor, and the motion passed. Review Duties of PUAC—Laura Briefer and Rusty Vetter Laura Briefer and Rusty Vetter gave the PUAC members a handout, via email, of the Salt Lake City Code Provisions Related to PUAC and are attached. The handout showed all the city codes January 28,2021 PUAC MEETING MINUTES that related to the PUAC. Rusty spoke about the decision-making authority of the Committee and the administrative laws that are applied. Budget Sub-Committee Update—Tom Godfrey Tom Godfrey gave an overview of the first budget sub-Committee meeting and the process that the budget will follow. The financial overview is generally given by Lisa Tarufelli monthly to the PUAC. Customer Service has been working with customers who have been having difficulties making payments. The greatest number of people who are having these difficulties are tending to be those that habitually have problems. Industrial water usage is lower for the year, as possibly due to COVID. Staff is evaluating the impact of a drought and possible rate increases in relation to the FY 2022 b budget preparation. The infrastructure needs an upgrade. The Federal Lead and Copper rule may be in place and operational capacity will need to be increased. There is a new stormwater permit that may have a budget impact. There were 30 new FTEs that were proposed last year and were not hired due to COVID. There is a possible 5-10 percent rate increase for water customers. Sewer was the only rate that was increased last year. Laura mentioned that the Lead and Copper Rule has been delayed by the new Presidential Administration for review. Monthly Financial Report—Lisa Tarufelli Public Utilities Finance Administrator Lisa Tarufelli gave a presentation of the financial report as of the end of December 2020. A copy of that presentation is attached. Ted Wilson asked if there was an impact on the general budget from people moving from commercial buildings to a home setting for work. Home users are billed at a lower rate. Lisa responded that the increase in residential use will need to be reviewed further to see the impact. The Department is spending bond proceeds as expected. Anticipated water conservation efforts with the drought may impact future budget revenue projections. There was a budget amendment made to include CARES funding. The first WIFIA quarterly construction report will be submitted. Big Cottonwood Treatment Plan Rehabilitation Alternatives Analysis Jason Brown N Jason Brown introduced Dr. Michelle Barry, Public Utilities process engineer, to give the presentation. A copy of that presentation is attached. a SALT LAKE CITY DEPARTMENT of PUBLIC UTILITIES 1530 SOUTH WEST TEMPLE STREET WWW.SLCGOV.COM SALT LAKE CITY,UTAH 84115 2 of 3 TEL 801-483-6770 January 28,2021 PUAC MEETING MINUTES The purposed of the rehabilitation is to rebuild and replace the Big Cottonwood Treatment Plant. The original plant was constructed in 1959 and has provided high quality drinking water to Salt Lake City for more than 60 years. The project is presented in five key phases. It is anticipated to use the same implementation plan as the Water Reclamation Plant. The total cost estimate for the project is tentatively forecast at $177,595,000. Laura Briefer added that there are many opportunities and challenges. The Big Cottonwood water resource is incredibly important to the overall water supply. There are critical water treatment infrastructure that will need rehabilitation over the next decade. The Little Cottonwood Canyon Environmental Impact Study now includes a Park& Ride at the bottom of the canyon and parts of Wasatch Blvd. The Director of UDOT is aware of the priority to work with them to provide parking facilities at the bottom of the canyon and the need for collaboration. Director's Report and Legislative Update Laura Briefer Laura Briefer thanked Tom Godfrey for serving as Committee Chair over the last term and congratulated Lynn. It is still early in the legislative session and there are some bills that the Department is actively supporting. There are some bills that are being watched closely that are being opposed. H.B. 144 would require lot size to be considered in tiered water pricing and would be inequitable. There is the possibility of a bill that would be introduced to create a Utah Lake Authority that would create a new government agency to manage Utah Lake. There may be many unintended consequences to the formation of this agency. Ted Wilson asked if there was previous legislation that was proposed regarding the Utah Lake Authority. Laura responded that the previous legislation was different than the new bill proposed. Ted asked if there were any new proposed legislation for watershed issues. Laura indicated that there are none at this time and will continue to watch carefully. Meeting adjourned at 9:06 a.m. Next Meeting will be held on February 251 at 8:00 am. M a SALT LAKE CITY DEPARTMENT of PUBLIC UTILITIES 1530 SOUTH WEST TEMPLE STREET WWW.SLCGOV.COM SALT LAKE CITY,UTAH 84115 3 of 3 TEL 801-483-6770