Utility Advisory Committee

City Hall Meeting Minutes 601 4th Avenue E Olympia, WA 98501 Utility Advisory Committee Contact: Jesse Barham 360.753.8164 Thursday, December 7, 2023 5:30 PM City Hall, Room 207 Regular Business Meeting 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Bloom called the meeting to order at 5:49 p.m. 1.A ROLL CALL Present: 5 - Chair Dennis Bloom, Vice Chair Kristin Lamson, Committee member Sherry Chilcutt, Committee member Dani Clark and Committee member Donald Krug Absent: 2 - Committee member Arland Schneider and Committee member Eleanor (Pat) Vernon 1.B. STAFF PRESENT Water Resources Director Jesse Barham Drinking Water Utility Director Mike Vessey Waste ReSources Director Gary Franks Waste ReSources Senior Planner Ron Jones Administrative Specialist Jessica Ashlee 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was approved. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 23-1036 Approval of November 2, 2023 UAC Meeting Minutes The minutes were approved. 4. PUBLIC COMMENT - None 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM UAC AND STAFF Vice Chair Lamson thanked staff for a tour of Pioneer Recycling. Water Resources Director Barham provided an update on the rain event and localized urban flooding on December 5. City staff are monitoring upcoming king tides and City of Olympia Page 1 Utility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes December 7, 2023 weather conditions, especially expected rainfall and barometric pressure. The City coordinates with Washington State Department of Enterprise Services for flooding of Capitol Lake. Reminder that the City is accepting applications for the advisory committee recruitments through December 15. The UAC has one vacancy and potentially one more vacancy. 6. BUSINESS ITEMS 23-1037 Waste ReSources 2023 Recycling Program Update Waste ReSources Director Franks and Senior Planner Jones provided the briefing. UAC asked some clarifying questions and held a discussion with staff. Vice Chair Lamson asked about compostable plastic bags and suggested outreach opportunities. Staff clarified they are not accepted in recycle or compost. Staff will take suggestions to include in Five Things, Recycle Coach app and the City's website. The discussion was completed. 23-1038 Review Draft 2024-2025 Work Plan and Elect UAC Officers Water Resources Director Barham reviewed the proposed 2024-2025 UAC work plan. Noted a reduction in the number of UAC meetings from ten meetings to eight. No meetings in January, July, August and December. Proposing to hold the April meeting the 2nd Thursday, instead of the usual 1st Thursday, to accommodate spring break. UAC members asked some clarifying questions and held a discussion with staff. General agreement was to reduce the meetings, and revisit during the next work plan development to see if more meetings are necessary. Staff and UAC members brainstormed potential items for the 2024-2025 work plan: • LOTT rates in June; overview and context • Financial updates reduction is ok, but anomalies should be brought up in announcements • Utility Benchmarks • Updates on PFAS, lead and other drinking water regulatory changes • Summary at end of legislative session • Equity index; how it fits with rate review • Tour of LOTT wastewater treatment plant • Climate change updates; every 6 months? • Comprehensive Plan chapters (transportation, land use, parks) • Update on re-issuance of NPDES Municipal Stormwater Permit • UAC Bylaws Election of UAC Officers Chair: Committee member Krug nominated Chair Bloom for Chair. He declined Chair, but will remain a committee member. Chair Bloom nominated Vice Chair Lamson for City of Olympia Page 2 Utility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes December 7, 2023 Chair; seconded by Committee member Krug. Vice Chair Lamson accepted the nomination. No other nominations. UAC members voted unanimously for Vice Chair Lamson to be UAC Chair. Vice Chair: Committee member Krug nominated Committee member Chilcutt for Vice Chair; seconded by Vice Chair Lamson. Committee member Chilcutt accepted the nomination. No other nominations. UAC members voted unanimously for Committee member Chilcutt to be UAC Vice Chair. Officer appointments go into effect January 1, 2024. The decision was approved. 7. ADJOURNMENT Chair Bloom adjourned the meeting at 7:52 p.m. Upcoming Next UAC Meeting: Thursday, February 1, 2024 at 5:30 pm Business Items: - Comprehensive Plan - Utilities: 4th Quarter Financial Update - UAC Work Plan Development for 2024-2025 City of Olympia Page 3