Utility Advisory Committee

City Hall Meeting Minutes 601 4th Avenue E Olympia, WA 98501 Utility Advisory Committee Contact: Andy Haub 360.753.8475 Thursday, January 7, 2016 5:40 PM City Hall, Room 207 2. Roll Call The meeting was called to order by Chair Curtz at 5:40 p.m. Present: 6 - Chair Thad Curtz, Vice Chair Margaret Drennan, Committee member Michelle Barnett, Committee member Steve Fossum, Committee member Dever Kuni, and Committee member Roger Wilson Absent: 2 - Committee member David Dunn, and Committee member Chris Ward 3. Approval of Agenda The agenda was approved. 4. Approval of Minutes 16-0023 Approval of December 3, 2015 UAC Meeting Minutes The minutes were approved. 5. Public Comment - None 6. Announcements from UAC and Staff Water Resources Director Andy Haub gave the following updates: Invited the UAC and public to the February 9 Council study session on climate change and sea level rise. Staff attended the recent Strong Towns presenation. The UAC has been interested in the work of this organization. Staff is bringing the low impact development (LID) code revisions to the Olympia Planning Commission (OPC). The next scheduled meeting is Monday, January 25. The public hearing is scheduled for February 1. The UAC discussed the draft recommendation letter that Chair Curtz wrote on the LID code revisions. Committee member Barnett suggested adding language to the letter that addresses the fact that the right-of-way/easement element of the code change will require more upfront permit work, such as analysis of geo-technical, soils and City of Olympia Page 1 Utility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes January 7, 2016 trees. Chair Curtz will add this language and finalize the draft. The letter will be included with the OPC January 25 staff report. 7. Business of the Evening 16-0009 Briefing on Olympia’s Downtown Strategy Community Planning & Development Senior Planner Amy Buckler briefed the UAC on the City's downtown strategy. Olympia's Comprehensive Plan sets up the policy to create the downtown strategy and the City Council is very interested and engaged in this item. The City kicked off the public process for the downtown strategy in the fall 2015. The City hired MAKERS Architecture and Urban Design for their assistance in leading the formation of the strategy. The City has also created a 15 person stakeholder workgroup. Several public meetings have been held and more are planned. Amy encouraged the UAC to complete the online survey, which is open until January 17, and attend upcoming public meetings. The report was received. 16-0024 Water Conservation Strategy to Reduce Water Loss Water Quality Program and Planning Supervisor Meliss Maxfield presented information on proposals to spend excess drinking water funds for water conservation or water loss prevention projects. Staff presented four proposals, or projects, to help reduce water loss in the City's water system: 1. Fire hydrant meter locks - To prevent theft of water. Approximate cost is $60,000. 2. Remote pressure sensors - Install five to six sensors in each of the seven pressure zones to monitor fluctuations in system pressure. Approximate cost is $92,000. 3. McCormick Valve House Leak - This leak is suspected to be caused by failing liners in the Fir Street tanks. Approximate cost is unknown. 4. Evaluation of asbestos concrete pipe and small diameter mains - Approximate cost to evaluate up to two miles of pipe is $80,000. Some UAC members suggested staff could put more money and effort toward the water conservation program, such as lowering the price of the low-flow toilets (or other incentives), to increase interest. Also suggested was more water conservation public outreach, education and advertising. Chair Curtz requested more data on the estimated cost to repair the McCormick valve house leak since the staff report only gave numbers on the amount of water that would be saved if the project was completed. Staff will get the data requested and follow up at a future date. Staff informed the UAC they did not need to make a decision right now. City of Olympia Page 2 Utility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes January 7, 2016 The recommendation was received. 16-0025 UAC 2016-2017 Workplan and Officer Elections The UAC received the draft 2016-2017 UAC workplan within their meeting packet. The workplan has numerous items on it, but focuses several meetings on three main topics: 1. Climate change/sea level rise 2. Storm and Surface Water Plan 3. Analysis of utility finances It was noted that the January 2017 UAC meeting has no business items on it. The UAC may choose to use this meeting for items that arise. Committee member Kuni is interested in learning more about how right-of-way/easements are regulated, managed and acquired (especially with the new low impact development codes). It was suggested this could be added to the business item regarding private utility franchises. The UAC was agreeable to the draft workplan and supported staff with bringing it forward to the General Government committee and then final Council adoption. The information was received. 8. Adjournment Chair Curtz adjourned the meeting. City of Olympia Page 3