Utility Advisory Committee

City Hall Meeting Minutes 601 4th Avenue E Olympia, WA 98501 Utility Advisory Committee Contact: Eric Christensen 360.570.3741 Thursday, December 2, 2021 5:30 PM Online via Zoom 1.A ROLL CALL Present: 9 - Chair Cullen Stephenson, Vice Chair Dennis Bloom, Committee member Donald Krug, Committee member Kristin Lamson, Committee member Arland Schneider, Committee member Eleanor (Pat) Vernon, Committee member Roger Wilson, Committee member Dani Clark and Committee member Jason Selwitz 1.B. STAFF PRESENT Water Resources Director/UAC Staff Liaison Eric Christensen 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was approved. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 21-1150 Approval of November 4, 2021 UAC Meeting Minutes The November 4, 2021 minutes were amended to add a sentence explaining why they opposed the utility tax increase. The amendment includes the following sentence: "The UAC opposed the tax due to the concern that it would benefit the general fund and it would burden low income households." The minutes were approved as amended. 4. PUBLIC COMMENT - None 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM UAC AND STAFF UAC members thanked Chair Stephenson and Vice Chair Bloom for drafting the letter regarding the increase to the municipal utility tax and for attending the Council meeting on November 16 to speak on behalf of the UAC. Mr. Christensen provided the following announcements: Public Works operations continues to run smoothly as they work through the pandemic. Water shutoffs for customers with delinquent utility bills will start February 2, 2022. City of Olympia Page 1 Utility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes December 2, 2021 6. BUSINESS ITEMS 21-1149 Development of Utility Advisory Committee Work Plan Mr. Christensen reviewed the draft workplan with the UAC. Committee members provided feedback and requested the addition of some business items, including a tour of City-owned utility facilities and the recycling center in Tacoma if possible. The UAC requested an update from the City Manager or the Finance Director on the appropriate use of municipal utility taxes. The UAC also requested the following work items be added to the workplan: AWWA Performance Metrics, Climate Mitigation update, Storm and Surface Water Utility preparation for climate change, how the utilities consider diversity, equity and inclusion issues in their decisions with a particular emphasis on the tribal nations. The UAC would also like to have opportunities throughout the year to review and propose topics for the utility bill insert, The Five Things. The UAC also requested that the Council liaison (to be appointed in January 2022) be invited to a UAC meeting(s). Mr. Christensen will revise the draft UAC workplan to reflect UAC members feedback and comments. Staff will bring this item back to the UAC in February 2022 for review and approval. 21-1151 Utilities Financial Updates Staff briefed the UAC on the current status of the finances for the utilities of Drinking Water, Wastewater, Storm and Surface Water and Waste ReSources. The UAC thanked staff for the briefing. The information was provided. 21-1152 Tribal Acknowledgement Language Mr. Christensen informed the UAC they would need to write a letter to City Council if they want to suggest different tribal land acknowledgement language. UAC members discussed and decided they will use the City-approved tribal language. The language will be included on every UAC agenda. The UAC Chair will read the tribal acknowledgment at the beginning of each meeting. Committee member Vernon moved, seconded by Committee member Schneider, to approve the City-approved tribal land acknowledgement language and include it on UAC agendas. The motion carried unanimously. 7. ADJOURNMENT Chair Stephenson adjourned the meeting at 6:54 p.m. City of Olympia Page 2