Utility Advisory Committee

City Hall Meeting Minutes - Final 601 4th Avenue E Olympia, WA 98501 Utility Advisory Committee Contact: Jesse Barham 360.753.8164 Thursday, October 5, 2023 4:30 PM City Hall, Room 207 1. WORK SESSION ROLL CALL: Comprehensive Plan Update - Utilities Chapter, Waste ReSources Utility Goals/Policies Present: 5 - Chair Dennis Bloom, Vice Chair Kristin Lamson, Committee member Sherry Chilcutt, Committee member Arland Schneider and Committee member Virginia Towne Absent: 4 - Committee member JP Anderson, Committee member Dani Clark, Committee member Donald Krug and Committee member Eleanor (Pat) Vernon WORK SESSION STAFF PRESENT Water Resources Director Jesse Barham Engineering & Planning Supervisor Susan Clark Waste ReSources Senior Planner Ron Jones Waste ReSources Director Gary Franks Administrative Specialist Jessica Ashlee Drinking Water Utility Director Mike Vessey Administrative Specialist Lindsay Walker 23-0860 Utilities Chapter of the City of Olympia Comprehensive Plan Update The UAC and staff reviewed and provided proposed revisions to the following during the meeting: • Goals and Policies for the Waste ReSources utility • Vision and Values for the Utilities Chapter Chair Bloom requested that once the Equity Index is online, include the correct reference to identify the source/author as the City of Olympia. Staff and UAC will discuss the general financial goals and policies at the November meeting as provided in the October 5 staff report. Staff followed up with the following information: • 41 community members completed the Comp Plan survey. The UAC will discuss the Wastewater utility at the next Comp Plan Work Session on City of Olympia Page 1 Utility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final October 5, 2023 November 2. Chair Bloom adjourned the Work Session at 5:26 p.m. The discussion was completed. BREAK 2. CALL TO ORDER Chair Bloom called the meeting to order at 5:38 p.m. and read the Tribal Acknowledgement. 3.A ROLL CALL Present: 5 - Chair Dennis Bloom, Vice Chair Kristin Lamson, Committee member Sherry Chilcutt, Committee member Arland Schneider and Committee member Virginia Towne Absent: 4 - Committee member JP Anderson, Committee member Dani Clark, Committee member Donald Krug and Committee member Eleanor (Pat) Vernon 3.B STAFF PRESENT Water Resources Director Jesse Barham Engineering & Planning Supervisor Susan Clark Waste ReSources Senior Planner Ron Jones Waste ReSources Director, Gary Franks Administrative Specialist Jessica Ashlee Drinking Water Utility Director Mike Vessey Administrative Specialist Lindsay Walker 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was approved. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 23-0857 Approval of September 7, 2023 Meeting Minutes The minutes were approved. 6. PUBLIC COMMENT - None 7. ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM UAC AND STAFF City of Olympia Page 2 Utility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final October 5, 2023 Chair Bloom signed a letter on behalf of the UAC supporting the City's draft Water System Plan. Staff provided the following information: · UAC terms expiring for Vice Chair Lamson and Committee member Anderson in 2024. Vice Chair Lamson responded indicating interest in re-appointment to another UAC term. No response yet from Committee member Anderson. · The City signed an amendment with Community Action Council (CAC) for the City's Helping Neighbors program. The CAC will assess a $15 per application/administrative fee and bill the City for these charges. · Staff sent an email with a scheduling survey to UAC members to tour the Pioneer Recycling Facility in Tacoma. Staff proposed the dates of November 6, 7 or 8. UAC discussed and November 6 is the date that works the best for the members that responded. Staff will provide further details on the tour to UAC members and will notice the tour as a potential quorom since five UAC members are interested in attending. 8. BUSINESS ITEM 23-0861 2024 Preliminary Utility Rates and Operating Budgets Staff provided a briefing of current information for the 2024 budget and rates. UAC asked some clarifying questions and held a discussion with staff. The UAC requested from staff the affordability metrics as they relate to the City's proposed 2024 rate increases. The UAC would like to see if the rates are within the guidance for low-income households. They would also like this information added to the UAC's letter of support to City Council. The UAC thanked staff for the briefing. Vice Chair Lamson moved, seconded by Committee member Schneider, to approve the 2024 utility operating budget and rate proposals, the general facility charges and the Capital Facilities Plan. The UAC will write a letter to the City Council supporting the 2024 budget and rates. The motion passed unanimously. 9. ADJOURNMENT Chair Bloom adjourned the meeting at 6:39 p.m. Upcoming City of Olympia Page 3 Utility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final October 5, 2023 Next UAC Meeting: Thursday, November 2, 2023 at 4:30 p.m. Business Items: - Work Session: Comp Plan, Wastewater Goals and Policies - Storm and Surface Water Habitat Program Update - Cellular Antenna Leases on Water Tanks - Climate Mitigation and Sea Level Rise Updates - Utilities - 3rd Quarter Financial Updates City of Olympia Page 4