CITIZENS ADVISORY PANEL September 19, 2017 Meeting Minutes

Transcription

1 CITIZENS ADVISORY PANEL September 19, 2017 Meeting Minutes Attended Excused Absent Marcy Andrade Al Arreola, Jr. Adam Flores Boffa Charlotte Broussard Rachel Cywinski Suzanne de Leon Jonathan Delmer Mary M. Dennis Michael Ferguson Javier Garcia Yongli Gao Ayda Gonzalez Cullen Jones Olga Garza Kauffman Kay Kutchins Bianca Maldonado Gloria S. Martinez Yulanee McKnight Eddie Meza Brice Moczygemba Denise Ojeda William Ramos II Garland Scott Robert Sheldon Lisa Tatum Guest Staff Staff Jack M. Finger Mary Bailey Donovan Burton Thomas Klein Darren Thompson Isabel Walters Steven Siebert Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by Chairwoman Andrade at 6:01 p.m. 1

2 Presentation: 2018 Proposed Budget and Rate Adjustments Ms. Mary Bailey The presentation was provided. Ms. Ojeda asked confirming SAWS has the same number of employees today as in Ms. Bailey replied yes, SAWS has the same number of employees today as in 2009 while adding approximately 100,000 new customers. Ms. Cywinski asked the nine (9) percent is for impact fees. Ms. Cywinski continued how is that assessed and what is it used for. Mr. Bailey answered the nine (9) percent of SAWS revenue comes from impacts fees and SAWS goes through an impact fee study every five (5) years. It calculates the cost that SAWS needs to charge new customers, new development in San Antonio to connect to the SAWS system. Ms. Martinez asked that it takes $36 million to balance the budget. Ms. Bailey replied yes, that is what it takes to balance the budget and that SAWS does have a balanced budget. Ms. Martinez continued by asking how much money does SAWS send to the City of San Antonio. Ms. Bailey answered SAWS transfers $18 million to the City of San Antonio. The SAWS creation ordinance allows a transfer of up to five (5) percent although SAWS pays the current rate of 2.5 percent. Ms. Martinez asked are we doing reconditioning on all parts of the City that need it or are we just doing reconditioning on various parts to maintain what is there. Ms. Bailey replied our priority is typically where the system requires reconditioning based on age or in certain areas of town where the infrastructure does not last as long due to soil types so it is based on the need of the infrastructure. SAWS top priority is reliability of service for each of SAWS customers. Mr. Ramos stated that in his neighborhood to read the gas meter, a meter reader drives by the house. Mr. Ramos then asked if AMI (Automated Meter Infrastructure) was the same technology. Ms. Bailey answered that technology is called AMR (Automated Meter Reading) and that technology is older than AMI. Mr. Delmer asked what the true cost of meter reading is. Ms. Bailey replied SAWS spends several million dollars. Mr. Meza asked where the costs associated for the Vista Ridge project electrical connection fees, were they incorporate in the original funding of the project. Ms. Bailey answered the group developing the pipeline were never responsible for the capital costs. SAWS always said we would be assume responsibility for the utilities to that pipeline and that SAWS would pay the costs of providing electricity to that pipeline by paying for the connection fees up front we will reduce the rate we pay over time for that actual electricity. This 2

3 is how the contract was negotiated. SAWS is going to come in under what we asked City Council to approve from a rate perspective. Mr. Ferguson asked if the rate adjustments are expected to be small down the road due to all the investment SAWS is doing now. Ms. Bailey answered that is our expectation. Ms. Kauffman asked if there are any plans to ameliorate some of this rate increase for some families. Ms. Bailey answered SAWS has several affordability programs for families that qualify including bill discounts and plumbers to people and SAWS increases funding for these programs every year. Ms. McKnight asked if this rate adjustment has been approved. Ms. Bailey answered no. SAWS goes to City Council in November for approval. Presentation: C13 Broadway Corridor Sewer Project Mr. Thomas Klein, P.E., PMP The presentation was provided. Ms. Ojeda asked since there is a push for urban infill where old homes and larger lots are being razed and then creating multiplexes and increasing the population on this footprint. Mr. Klein answered SAWS does account for population growth in the model and develop a future sewer flow based on that. Mr. Scott asked how deep the 60 pipeline is. Mr. Klein answered it ranges but typically ten feet deep. Mr. Scott followed-up by asking how much cover is on top of that. Mr. Klein replied SAWS wants at least four feet of cover. Approval of Minutes: Chairwoman Andrade asked if there were any questions, changes, or motions to the August 2017 meeting minutes. Ms. Martinez motioned to approve the minutes. The motion was seconded by Ms. Gonzalez. The minutes were approved. Water Resources Report (Steven Siebert): Edwards Aquifer Level J-17 Index Well The J-17 index well is at The 10-day average is The monthly September average is ; this is 2.7 below above the historical average SAWS customers are in Stage 1 water restrictions. Landscape watering with an irrigation system or sprinkler is permitted once per week before 11am or after 7pm on your designated water day City of San Antonio declared Stage 1 drought restrictions July 14 th 3

4 Aquifer Storage and Recovery Facility H2Oaks ASR storage was 140,428 acre-feet as of September 13, ASR is currently storing water at a rate of 40 mgd Precipitation Totals San Antonio received 0.00 inches of rain month to date through September 18th This is 1.89 below normal month-to-date San Antonio s year to date rainfall is Year to date, precipitation is 3.33 inches below normal Average rainfall in San Antonio is inches Year Total Annual Precipitation (Inches) Production 2017 production year to date is 168,230 acre-feet as of September 9 th This is an increase over previous year s production year to date but much lower than in 2011 Canyon Regional Water Authority (CRWA) converted the Lake Dunlap plant to free chlorine through a new ozone system SAWS will start to receive Lake Dunlap water in October after the burn at the plant which will increase the water volume delivered to SAWS This year, SAWS has only received water from the Wells Ranch groundwater project Draft 2017 Water Management Plan (2017 WMP) SAWS presented to City Council B Session August 2 nd The 2017 WMP will be presented to the SAWS Board Tuesday October 10 th Mr. Siebert will provide each CAP member with a printed copy of the final 2017 WMP during the October CAP meeting 2018 CAP Selection Process Every CAP member that is eligible to return to the CAP has chosen to return in Thank you! The following CAP members are term limited and will be retiring from the CAP: o Kay Kutchins 8 years total District 1 o Michael Ferguson 6 years District 7 o Olga Garza-Kauffman 6 years District 7 o Bianca Maldonado 6 years District 7 o Brice Moczygemba 6 years District 9 o Lisa Tatum 6 years District 8 4

5 Five current vacancies: Council Districts 5,7,8, and 10 Upcoming Events Rain Barrel Coupons are back o Sign up at o Distribution: September 30 th 2800 US Highway 281 N October 14 th Mitchell Lake Audubon Center Pleasanton rd. November 4 th Concordia Lutheran Church Huebner Rd. SAWS simplifies senior billing o SAWS customers 60 years and older will now be automatically enrolled in the senior billing program o The program provides an exemption for seniors from late fees on their SAWS bill, giving them more payment flexibility o In the past, customers were required to apply for the senior exemption Ms. McKnight commented positively on the senior billing program. The senior billing program automatically enrolls SAWS customers 60 years and older and provides an exemption for seniors from late fees on their SAWS bill giving them more payment flexibility. Citizens to be Heard: Mr. Jack Finger Next Meeting: Tuesday, October 17, 2017 Adjournment: With no further business to discuss, the Citizens Advisory Panel Meeting was adjourned at 7:41pm. 5