Utilities Rate Advisory Commission Meeting - October 22, 2014
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Utilities Rate Advisory Commission Meeting - October 22, 2014
The Utilities Rate Advisory Commission (URAC) met on Wednesday, October 22, 2014 at 5:30 PM in Council Chambers. The commission approved the meeting calendar for 2015, received updates on the Department of Utilities' accountability plan and rate development, discussed membership composition changes, and deferred the selection of a new chair and vice chair to the November 12, 2014 meeting.
Consent Calendar
- The commission unanimously approved the minutes of the October 8, 2014 meeting. Commissioner Christopher Butcher abstained.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were made.
Discussion Items
- 2015 Utility Rate Advisory Commission Calendar – Staff presented the proposed meeting schedule for 2015, noting no meeting in November due to Veterans Day. The commission approved the calendar (6-0, with Butcher voting yes).
- Department of Utilities Quarterly Accountability Plan Update – Interim Director Bill Busath reported on community engagement, bond expenditures, capital program progress, water conservation, and drought response. Highlights included: 18% year-to-date water use reduction (goal 20%), 17,000 water waste notifications with 6,000 first notices, $70M of $240M water bonds expended, $13M of $30M wastewater bonds expended, and a drought surcharge being considered for future stages. Commissioner Steven Archibald requested data on conservation breakdown by customer class. The report was received and filed.
- Department of Utilities Rate Development Planning Update – Jamille Moens presented the rate development process and introduced a rate structure study by Robert Armijo. Five alternative water rate structures were reviewed: current (44% variable), increased variable (70% variable), two-tier, consumption-based fixed (ratchet), and a drought surcharge. Wastewater alternatives included full variable, hybrid, and simplified flat rates. Drainage alternatives included gross area, impervious area, and simplified flat rates. The study is near completion; final report expected by end of November. The commission requested detailed impact analyses, histograms, and legal clarity on tiered rates for unmetered customers. The report was received and filed.
- Utility Rate Advisory Commission Membership Composition – Assistant City Clerk Wendy Klock-Johnson presented plans to amend the ordinance to remove the industrial category and clarify seat definitions. The current commission composition is not fully compliant with code, but compliance is not required for non-hearing actions. A revised ordinance is expected to go to the Law and Legislation Committee in early November, with appointments possibly completed by end of January 2015. Commissioners raised the issue of representing duplex owners and the status of incumbents. The item was received and filed; no formal recommendation to council was made.
- Selection of New Commission Chair and Vice Chair – The commission voted 5-0 (Carolyn Veal-Hunter had left at 7:14 PM) to defer this item to the November 12, 2014 meeting due to Commissioner Veal-Hunter's absence and pending clarity on membership composition.
Key Outcomes
- Approved the 2015 meeting calendar (6-0).
- Received and filed the quarterly accountability update and rate development planning update.
- Received and filed the membership composition update; no formal recommendation made.
- Deferred selection of new chair and vice chair to November 12, 2014 (5-0).
- Directed staff to provide detailed rate impact analyses, histograms, and legal guidance on tiered rates for unmetered customers at a future meeting.
Meeting Transcript
Advisory commission meeting. It is 534, based on my course eye sight, that looks about right. And we have Ms. Neighbors filling in for Mr. Sanger. And first item is taking the roll. Ms. Neighbors, would you please take the roll? Kevin Schubert? Douglas Brown. Stephen Archibald. Oh, here. Sorry, I didn't hear that. Stephen Archibald? Timothy Horner. Scott Brown. Here. Carolyn Gillhunter? Here. Commission has a form. All right, great. And uh moving on to the consent calendar. That's approval of the amendments. And uh any questions, comments, or do we have a motion to approve the consent calendar? All right. We have one motion to approve. Do we have a second? Second. All right. With that. Christopher Butcher. Uh all obstacles to not here. Kevin Schubert? Stephen Archibald? Yes. Timothy Horner. Scott Brown. Yes. Carolyn Villahunter? Yes. Douglas Brown. Aye. All right. Moving on to the discussion calendar, item number two, two thousand fifteen utility rate advisory commission calendar. And this one is Aaron. Yes. Um as we do this time of year, we uh bring forth a calendar for the uh next year. We have to have the council chambers reserved uh a year in advance. Um the tradition, or at least the most recent tradition of the commission is to hold their meetings on the fourth uh Wednesday of the month. And uh that would be from January through October, and then in November and December, we hold it on the second Wednesday of the month because of the holidays.
openpublica.com