Utility Advisory Committee

City Hall Meeting Minutes 601 4th Avenue E Olympia, WA 98501 Utility Advisory Committee Contact: Andy Haub 360.753.8475 Thursday, September 6, 2018 5:40 PM City Hall, Room 207 1. CALL TO ORDER (5:40 pm) Chair Haffner-Ratliffe called the meeting to order. 1.A ROLL CALL (5:40 - 5:41 pm) Present: 8 - Chair Dever Haffner-Ratliffe, Vice Chair Mike Buffo, Committee member Dennis Bloom, Committee member Luke Bowerman, Committee member Steve Fossum, Committee member Austin Hildreth, Committee member Arland Schneider and Committee member Roger Wilson OTHERS PRESENT Water Resources Director Andy Haub Waste ReSources Director Gary Franks 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA (5:41 - 5:42 pm) The agenda was approved. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (5:42 - 5:45 pm) 18-0822 Approval of August 23, 2018 UAC Meeting Minutes The minutes were approved. 4. PUBLIC COMMENT - None 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM UAC AND STAFF (5:50 - 6:00 pm) Mr. Haub announced upcoming sea level rise events: - September 8: Self-guided walking tour along Percival Landing - September 17: Meeting of the elected officials from Olympia, LOTT Clean Water Alliance and the Port of Olympia - September 19: Community meeting Mr. Haub proposed the UAC take a tour of the Log Cabin Reservoir site within the next City of Olympia Page 1 Utility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes September 6, 2018 year. UAC members expressed interest in the tour. Mr. Haub noted proposed revisions to the UAC 2018-2019 workplan. For October, staff will add a quick briefing on the sea level rise response plan and the LOTT Reclaimed Water Infiltration Study will be scheduled to a future date. UAC will also continue in October the 2019 Utility budgets and rates discussion and recommendation. 6. BUSINESS ITEMS 18-0823 2019 Utility Rate and General Facility Charge (GFC) Recommendations Mr. Haub presented a briefing on the Water Resources utility rates (Drinking Water, Wastewater and Storm and Surface Water). Mr. Franks presented information on the rates for garbage, recycling and organics. Lifeline Rate Program Update The UAC is supportive of staff keeping the Lifeline program criteria the same and implementing more public outreach to increase participation. The UAC will potentially review the Lifeline program expansion in the 2020 utility rate review. The UAC offered the following suggestions for the Lifeline program: - Send outreach materials to landlords about the program to have low-income tenants pay the utility bill and be in the program, instead of the landlord. - Offer utility customers an opportunity to make financial contributions to the Lifeline program. Pilot this during the holidays. Evaluate the pilot regarding the administrative overhead costs and decide if the program can be implemented permanently. The UAC asked staff some clarifying questions about the budget and rates. For the October meeting, Committee member Wilson requested historical information on the budgeted vs actuals for revenues and expenses. Staff said they could provide that data in the UAC's October meeting materials. The UAC will do a final review of the 2019 rates at the October 4, 2018 UAC meeting and will make a recommendation at that time. 7. ADJOURNMENT Chair Haffner-Ratliffe adjourned the meeting. City of Olympia Page 2