City Commission Workshop Meeting

Commission Work Session Town Hall - Water July 16, 2024 (APPROVED) 7/16/2024 - Minutes 1. CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL Commission Members Present: Mayor Jack Hilligoss, Robin Gibson, Keith Thompson, Carol Gillespie Staff Present: James Slaton, City Manager; Jennifer Nanek, City Clerk; Sara Irvine, Special Projects Administrator; Sarah Kirkland, Utilities Director James Slaton, City Manager, called the meeting to order. Sara Irvine, Special Projects Administrator, welcomed everyone and introduced the speakers. 2. City Of Lake Wales Water Supply Strategy Sarah Sullivan from Hoyle Tanner and Associates presented an update on the City of Lake Wales' water supply strategy. The City currently relies on three water treatment plants and seven wells to meet its water demand, which is currently below the permitted limit. However, with projected growth, the city is nearing its water capacity. To address potential future water shortages, the city is exploring various options, including water conservation measures, reuse systems, and potential alternative water sources like the lower Florida aquifer. The city is also considering land use transfer options, but recent discussions indicate that modifying the existing water use permit might be a more viable approach. Overall, the presentation highlighted the need for proactive water management to ensure the city's long-term water supply sustainability. 3. SEWF Alternative Water Supply Project Eric Dehaven, Executive Director of the Polk Regional Water Cooperative (PRWC), provided an update on the cooperative’s efforts to address the region's water supply challenges. The PRWC was formed in response to concerns about depleting water resources and the increasing demand for alternative water sources. The cooperative is focused on developing two major projects: the Southeast Lower Florida Aquifer Wellfield and the West Polk Lower Florida Aquifer Wellfield. The Southeast Wellfield project, which is the primary focus of the presentation, will provide an additional 7.5 million gallons of water per day by 2028, with the potential for expansion to 16.3 million gallons by 2045. the Southeast Lower Florida Aquifer Wellfield and the West Polk Lower Florida Aquifer Wellfield. The Southeast Wellfield project, which is the primary focus of the presentation, will provide an additional 7.5 million gallons of water per day by 2028, with the potential for expansion to 16.3 million gallons by 2045. The project involves constructing a water treatment facility, a desalination plant, and extensive pipelines. Lake Wales is currently a project associate but is considering becoming a full participant in the project's second phase. The PRWC operates on a subscription-based model, where member municipalities contribute to the project and share in its benefits. Mr. DeHaven emphasized the importance of the project in addressing the region's water supply needs and the cooperative's commitment to sustainable water management. Mr. DeHaven thanked Commissioner Thompson for his participation on the board of directors for the PRWC The board is comprised of a member from each of the PRWC members so we have a commission member from each of the commissions that are comprised Commissioner Lindsay right now is our chairman of the overall PRWC and Commissioner Bird song from Winter Haven is our chairman of the Southeast project overseeing this right now. Ms. Irvine introduced Dave Edson from Hoyle Tanner and Associates. Charlene Bennett, resident, asked about a previous projection indicating that Lake Wales' water demand would exceed its permit limit. Mr. Edson clarified that recent updates to the projection show a more positive outlook, suggesting that the City can now meet its water demands within the current permit. Dave Edson, a consultant with Hoyle Tanner, presented an update on Lake Wales' water supply. He explained that projected residential growth, while substantial, is not expected to exceed the city's current water use permit limits until the mid-2030s. This is a more optimistic outlook than previously anticipated due to a recent change in interpretation of the Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI) rule by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD). The rule, which previously required cities to obtain alternative water supplies for demand exceeding 2025 levels, has been relaxed, allowing cities to continue pumping from the upper Floridan aquifer. While this is positive news for Lake Wales, other cities facing tighter water restrictions will need to rely on alternative water supplies sooner. Ms. Bennett inquired about the potential impact of increased water demand in other parts of the county on Lake Wales' water supply. Mr. DeHaven explained that while Lake Wales is currently in a favorable position regarding water supply, other municipalities within the Polk Regional Water Cooperative are facing more stringent water restrictions and will need to rely on alternative water sources sooner due to reaching their water use permit limits. Robert Connors, Lake Wales News, raised concerns about the potential impact of pumping water from the lower Floridan aquifer on the quality of the upper Floridan aquifer. Mr. DeHaven responded by explaining that the purpose of the lower Floridan aquifer project is to reduce pressure on the upper aquifer, Robert Connors, Lake Wales News, raised concerns about the potential impact of pumping water from the lower Floridan aquifer on the quality of the upper Floridan aquifer. Mr. DeHaven responded by explaining that the purpose of the lower Floridan aquifer project is to reduce pressure on the upper aquifer, which is more closely connected to lakes and rivers. While acknowledging that pumping from the lower aquifer can have some impact on the upper aquifer, he emphasized that the overall effect is significantly less compared to continuing to pump from the upper aquifer. Mr. DeHaven also highlighted that the project is viewed as a natural system recovery project, supported by funding from the water management district. This was discussed. Dave Edson explained that the city explored the possibility of developing its own lower Floridan aquifer (LFA) well supply but determined it to be economically infeasible. The city found that partnering with the Polk Regional Water Cooperative (PRWC) was a more cost- effective option due to the cooperative's access to external funding for such projects. Mr. DeHaven announced that the Southwest Florida Water Management District's general counsel will be speaking at the next PRWC board meeting on the upcoming Wednesday at 2:00 PM. The presentation will provide further clarification on the Central Florida Water Initiative rule and its implications for water management in the region. James Slaton, City Manager, inquired about the basis for the 2025 water demand projection. Mr. Edson, the City's consultant, explained that while the city can currently meet its water needs, joining the Polk Regional Water Cooperative (PRWC) is a prudent decision to secure future water supply options. He emphasized that even though the recent changes to the CFWI rule are favorable, it's essential to have a hedge against potential future water restrictions. Mr. Edison also clarified the role of the PRWC as a bulk water provider and the potential impact on water costs. Dave Edson emphasized the potential financial implications of joining the Polk Regional Water Cooperative (PRWC). He explained that while the city's current water production costs are low, the cost of water purchased from the PRWC will be higher. Additionally, the city will need to invest in additional infrastructure to distribute the purchased water. Mr. Edson stressed the importance of carefully considering these factors before making a decision to join the cooperative. Sarah Sullivan clarified that the previous water demand projections were based on anticipated development that has not fully materialized. Due to this discrepancy between projected and actual development, the city has reassessed its water demand projections and found that the previous concerns about exceeding water capacity were overestimated. Mr. Edson emphasized the dynamic nature of water demand projections. He highlighted the need for regular reevaluation of the city's water supply strategy due to potential fluctuations in development and water consumption patterns. David Price, resident, inquired about the contractor responsible for the desalination process. Mr. DeHaven confirmed that a contract is in place with Florida Water Partners, a consortium of companies including Wharton Smith for the water treatment facility and Garney for the transmission line. There was a question about the financial implications of obtaining water from the Polk  process. Mr. DeHaven confirmed that a contract is in place with Florida Water Partners, a consortium of companies including Wharton Smith for the water treatment facility and Garney for the transmission line. There was a question about the financial implications of obtaining water from the Polk Regional Water Cooperative (PRWC). While the PRWC can secure lower costs through grants and economies of scale, the price of water purchased from the cooperative will likely be higher than the city's current production costs. This increased cost will need to be factored into potential rate adjustments for water customers. Additionally, the city would need to invest in infrastructure to distribute the purchased water. 4. ADJOURN The meeting was adjourned at 5:53 p.m. _____________________ Mayor ATTEST: ____________________ City Clerk