Utility Advisory Committee

City Hall Meeting Minutes 601 4th Avenue E Olympia, WA 98501 Utility Advisory Committee Contact: Jesse Barham 360.753.8164 Thursday, October 6, 2022 5:30 PM City Hall, Room 207 and Virtually Register to attend: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Y0lT9bfYTxWRgDWUgTABfQ 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Bloom called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. 1.A ROLL CALL Present: 6 - Chair Dennis Bloom, Vice Chair Kristin Lamson, Committee member Donald Krug, Committee member Arland Schneider, Committee member Eleanor (Pat) Vernon and Committee member Roger Wilson Absent: 1 - Committee member Dani Clark 1.B. STAFF PRESENT Water Resources Director/Staff Liaison Eric Christensen Waste ReSources Director Gary Franks Engineering and Planning Supervisor Susan Clark Interim Drinking Water Director Mike Vessey Program Assistant Lindsay Marquez 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was approved. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 22-0911 Approval of September 1, 2022 UAC Meeting Minutes The minutes were approved. 4. PUBLIC COMMENT Hellmuth J. Endler asked the City to keep elderly community members who are on fixed incomes in mind during utility rate increases. He said he is aware of the City's Life Rate Program but he makes a little too much to meet the income requirements. He indicated that because his wastewater utility bill is based on his water use, his bill goes up in the summer when he irrigates. He requested wastewater rates not be tied to water usage.The UAC and staff thanked Mr. Endler for his comments. The UAC requested staff City of Olympia Page 1 Utility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes October 6, 2022 to schedule a work plan item to further discuss the issue. 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM UAC AND STAFF Mr. Christensen provided an update on Committee vacancies and recruitment: The UAC has four vacancies (Stephenson and Selwig left two vacant positions). Three current members have terms expiring in March 2023. Committee members Wilson and Vernon will not seek re-appointment. Committee member Krug has asked to be re-appointed to the UAC. The City launched the advisory committee recruitment today. The UAC Chair and Vice Chair will help screen applications. The Council’s Community Livability and Public Safety Committee (formerly General Government Committee) will conduct interviews (with UAC Chair and VC invited to listen in). Appointments of new members will occur in March. Chair Bloom and Vice Chair Lamson expressed interest in attending neighborhood association meetings and advertising the recruitment in order to reach diverse candidates. Stipends of $25 per meeting are now available to committee members. Susan Clark announced City staff are about to launch a public comment period for the Draft Water System Plan (WSP). The comment period is expected to be open through mid-December. The City will also send the WSP to the WA State Department of Health Office of Drinking Water for their review. After completion of the public comment and the DOH review period, City staff will request a letter of support from the UAC. 6. BUSINESS ITEMS 22-0912 2023 Preliminary Utility Rates and Operating Budgets Mr. Christensen, Mr. Vessey and Mr. Franks provided the briefing. At the September meeting, the UAC requested staff bring information on what is being deferred from the Drinking Water Capital Facilities Plan. City Finance staff are still providing staff with final numbers; staff will provide this information soon. The proposed 2023 preliminary utility rate increases are as follows: Drinking Water 6.60% Wastewater 9.82% Storm & Surface Water 9.88% Waste ReSources 4.00% LOTT 3.0% Vice Chair Lamson moved, seconded by Committee member Schneider, to approve the 2023 utility rate proposal and the operating budget and amend the UAC recommendation letter to express concerns about the risk of continued Capital Facilities Plan project deferrals in order to reduce rate increases. The motion passed unanimously. City of Olympia Page 2 Utility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes October 6, 2022 7. ADJOURNMENT Chair Bloom adjourned the meeting at 7:38 p.m. UPCOMING Next UAC Meeting: Thursday, November 3, 2022 at 5:30 pm Thursday, November 3, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. City of Olympia Page 3