Handout 1: Logistics and Exercises

Transcription

1 Handout 1: Logistics and Exercises Introduction Welcome to the first meeting of the Citizen Advisory Committee! Thank you so much for agreeing to serve on this important committee. This handout contains logistical information applicable to all the meetings as well as background information for the three exercises we will complete during the meeting tonight. The three exercises are designed to solicit your input on and incorporate your ideas into the basic framework that will govern the Committee s process. Tonight, you will be asked for your ideas on: 1. The Committee s Roadmap our topics of discussion and meeting schedule, during Exercise #1 2. The Ground Rules the rules that will enable us to have a respectful and efficient Committee process, during Exercise #2 3. The Objective Criteria the standards by which we will evaluate the topics and options that are discussed at meetings, during Exercise #3 Citizen Advisory Committee Charge and Role The Water Department is in the first phase of a four year plan to change the current stormwater fee from a meter based charge to a parcel based charge for larger meter customers (e.g., commercial, institutional and industrial customers). This basis of cost allocation was implemented for smaller meter customers (e.g., residential customers) in the 2001 rate proceeding. This change has impacted customers in a variety of ways. The transition from meter to parcel based system results in fees that are representative of the relationship between the stormwater runoff contribution from a parcel to our sewer collection system or nearby stream. We recognize that the implementation of this parcel fee can have an adverse economic impact on some customers. We have convened the CAC to examine rate relief options, special rate issues, and revisions to our current credits and incentives programs. Our goal for the CAC is to allow an informed, engaged customer group to make recommendations to the Water Department on potential rate relief options, revisions to our current credit regulations, and other issues that customers have brought to our attention. The committee s charge, or mission, is as follows: To provide advisory opinions to PWD on topics related to rate structure, stormwater credits and incentives, and special ratepayer situations to be considered as a part of the Department s 2012 rate case. The Committee s role is to provide advisory opinions to the Philadelphia Water Department that are representative of the community. Because the group members hold a variety of interests, unanimous opinions (that is complete agreements) are not expected or demanded. At times, we may not even achieve consensus opinions (compromise agreements). Instead, PWD anticipates that on some issues, the CAC may arrive at median opinions with well defined alternate views. Our goal is to hear and fully understand the range of concerns with the current rate approach and explore and gauge support for any alternatives and ideas presented by CAC members. April 28, 2011 PWD CAC M1 Handout 1 3MAY11 V3.docx 1

2 General Logistics Meetings will be held on the 15 th floor of the ARAMARK Tower at 1101 Market Street. The Water Department will pay for parking at the PPA garage at 11 th and Filbert Streets (tickets will be validated). For participants who will travel by rail, the ARAMARK Tower is conveniently located directly above the Market East Station of SEPTA s Regional Rail. A rail service schedule can be found at: Meetings will start at 6:00 pm with a meal. The learning and discussion period starts at 6:30 pm sharp and ends at 8:30 pm. We will not go beyond the allotted time without your permission. For future meetings, you will receive a mail out approximately one week prior to the meeting to read and think about prior to the meeting. Mail outs will also contain a summary of the previous meeting. If possible, we would like to this information to you rather than mail it. Please provide your primary address, if you have one, for Committee communication. We will provide hard copies of handouts and presentations at the meeting and you will be given a binder in which to keep materials. Between meetings, we are happy to store your binder for you. At each meeting we will present a summary of the mail out and will lead you through a brief discussion of the topic, alternatives, and pros/cons where appropriate. We will then ask you to provide your individual opinion and give us your good ideas. We are not looking for consensus on all topics, but to gain an accurate representation of a cross section of the community, and to gain the benefit of your wisdom and knowledge. We are grateful for your participation on the Committee and know that it represents a significant commitment of your time and talents. We recognize that you might not be able to attend every meeting. We ask that you please designate an alternate for any meetings you cannot attend. The alternate will attend meetings to represent you or your organization in your place. You can either designate that person tonight or you can contact Sydina Williams at swilliams@simonpr.com or x28. Thanks again for agreeing to serve. We promise to honor you by respecting your time commitment by starting on time, moving efficiently, and ending on time. We promise to fully consider your opinions in all final decision making. And we hope to have fun in the process! April 28, 2011 PWD CAC M1 Handout 1 3MAY11 V3.docx 2

3 Proposed Roadmap and Exercise #1 PWD hopes to provide a voice for the broad spectrum of interests represented on the Committee in the Department s upcoming rate making process that begins in January Given the deadlines for the rate case and in order to include the CAC s input on a range of topics, we hope to meet every three weeks until the end of October. Currently, we are proposing the following meeting dates (every third Thursday evening) and recommending the following topics for discussion. Date April 28 May 19 June 9 June 30 July 14 August 4 August 25 Sept. 15 October 6 October 27 Topic Introduction Rate Relief Issues Special Issues Credits 1 Intro and General Policies Credits 2 Gross Area Credit Credits 3 IA, Residential, and NPDES Credits 4 Other Credits Incentives 1 Review of Current and Possible Incentives Incentives 2 Incentives and Credits Integration Final Meeting Exercise 1 Looking at the topics for discussion, is there anything on your mind that we are missing? What is important to you that is not addressed in this list? Will the proposed regular schedule of meetings work well for you most of the time? Can someone else attend meetings as alternate if you are unavailable? Proposed Ground Rules and Exercise #2 As with any group, a simple set of ground rules makes the meeting flow smoothly and helps us to attain our objectives. The following list is a set of ground rules that was used by the previous CAC. 1. Wait to Be Recognized 2. Stay on Topic 3. One Question at a Time 4. Share Time with Others 5. Avoid Sidebar Discussions 6. Arrive on Time and Stay until the End 7. Send an Alternate if You Cannot Attend April 28, 2011 PWD CAC M1 Handout 1 3MAY11 V3.docx 3

4 Exercise 2 Examine the ground rules. Are there any rules that you would add to facilitate a comfortable discussion environment? Are there proposed rules that you would change? Are there rules you would delete? Givens, Proposed Objective Criteria and Exercise #3 PWD previously convened a CAC to provide advisory opinions on the structure of the stormwater fee in This group operated within a framework of givens and objective criteria. The givens were bounding conditions, set by PWD, for the committee s policy decisions. The objective criteria were the standards that the committee set to help guide its policy recommendations to arrive at its opinions. The criteria addresses considerations such as is this a fair and equitable policy or opinion? Givens During this CAC process, there are again givens, or bounding conditions, within which the CAC will need to operate. For the most part these reflect unchangeable financial and legal realities within which the PWD itself must operate. The givens are: 1. Stormwater costs will continue to be billed and collected as part of the water/sewer user charge 2. Stormwater fees must meet the program s revenue requirements revenue neutrality 3. Stormwater costs will continue to be allocated using a parcel based system of cost recovery 4. Stormwater fees will not violate legal requirements for rates and rate structures (we will enumerate some of these) 5. Stormwater management will remain a function of PWD and must meet program obligations and responsibilities Past Objective Criteria During the previous CAC process, the objective criteria listed below served as the measuring sticks for the feasibility and advisability of policy options. Be clear and understandable Promote stormwater revenue stability Reflect what has been learned in other places Promote good stormwater management behavior Do not harm the City (residents or businesses) Be efficient Be cost effective Be revenue neutral Be equitable and fair Promote good stewardship of financial and environmental resources Exercise 3 Examine the objective criteria used by the previous CAC. Are there any criteria that you would add that reflect considerations that are important to you? Are there criteria that you would change? Are there criteria you would delete? April 28, 2011 PWD CAC M1 Handout 1 3MAY11 V3.docx 4

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