Utilities Rate Advisory Commission Meeting - March 23, 2022
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Utilities Rate Advisory Commission Meeting - March 23, 2022
The Utilities Rate Advisory Commission (URAC) held a virtual teleconference meeting on March 23, 2022, at 5:30 p.m. The meeting included the approval of consent calendar items and a detailed presentation on the Department of Utilities' second-quarter accountability plan for Fiscal Year 2022. Commissioners discussed the SURA program, the McKinley Vault project, drought response, water conservation, and development review statistics.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The commission unanimously approved the minutes from the January 26, 2022 meeting.
- Teleconferencing During COVID-19 Emergency: A motion was passed to continue meeting by teleconference for another 30 days, citing the ongoing state of emergency and social distancing measures. Commissioner Megan Fidell inquired about the timeline for returning to in-person meetings. Staff responded that the city council is considering plans and that commissions will likely follow the council's lead; the next month's meeting is expected to remain virtual.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public spoke during the meeting.
Discussion Items
- Department of Utilities Accountability Plan Update – 2nd Quarter of Fiscal Year 2022: Staff presented a comprehensive update covering the SURA program, community engagement, sustainability, water efficiency, and engineering projects.
- SURA Program: As of December 31, 2021, there were over 8,600 residential participants and five non-profit organizations. Approximately $931,000 was spent in the second quarter, with $1.8 million of the $3.78 million budget expended. The program is being restructured to a fixed percentage discount to improve budgeting and administration, with direction from the Budget and Audit Committee to maintain the benefit level. Commissioner Melissa Lee asked about the rationale and comparison to other utilities (e.g., SMUD, which uses a straight percentage).
- McKinley Vault: The 6-million-gallon offline storage vault performed as designed during the October 24, 2021 storm event (a 100-year, 6-hour storm with 2.52 inches of rain). Commissioner Connie Gutowsky raised concerns about a flyer claiming the vault failed; Director Bill Busath explained that the vault prevented structural flooding, though localized street flooding occurred. The vault was completed in October 2021.
- Water Conservation: The city saved an estimated 48.9 million gallons over the lifespan of various measures, costing about $630,000, with half reimbursed via grants. The average annual conservation rebate budget is approximately $2.7 million. Staff committed to providing updates on the conservation master plan.
- Drought: A Stage 2 water alert was declared in August 2021, and the state may issue mandatory conservation levels. Staff will update the commission on potential impacts to utility rates.
- Engineering Division Update: Nina Buelna, Supervising Engineer, reported on the October 24, 2021 storm (5.62 inches in 24 hours; 500-year event). The city responded to 1,991 calls (787 wastewater, 1,204 stormwater). The combined sewer system improvement plan has invested $156 million since 1995, adding 20 million gallons of storage (equivalent to 34 Olympic swimming pools).
- Water Program Highlights: The accelerated water meter program installed 42,000 meters and 61 miles of water main, completed in November 2021 at a cost of $225 million. The Shasta Reservoir and Groundwater Well project improved water pressure in South Sacramento, including methane and magnesium removal.
- Development Review: In 2021, the team reviewed 1,048 commercial plans and 2,525 residential plans. New developments must mitigate impacts via on-site measures or pay fees based on a development impact study. Projects under review include the old Kings Arena (potential hospital) and rail yards.
Key Outcomes
- Received and Filed: The commission received and filed the Department of Utilities Accountability Plan Update for the 2nd Quarter of FY2022. No vote was required on this item.
- Teleconferencing Extension: Approved unanimously (5-0, with Chair Thomas absent) for an additional 30 days.
- Storm Drainage Ballot Initiative: Staff noted that ballot results are expected by the end of the following week, with a presentation to the City Council on April 12, 2022.
- Next Steps: Staff will provide future updates on the SURA program restructuring, conservation master plan, and drought impacts. The commission will continue to meet virtually until the city council resumes in-person meetings.
Meeting Transcript
Absolutely thank you. We have our next all right. Thank you, Vice Chair. We are live, and staff is ready when you are. Good evening and welcome to March 23rd, 2022 Utility Rate Advisory Commission meeting. This meeting is now called to order. Will the clerk please call the role to establish a quorum? Yes, thank you. Members, please unmute and turn on your video. Commissioner Baring. Here. Commissioner Fidel. Here. Commissioner Gutowski. Here. Commissioner Lee. Here. Vice Chair Vanderwurf. Here. And Chair Thomas will be absent this evening. Vice Chair, we have quorum. Thank you. This meeting is virtual via Zoom for members of the public who wish to join us. Please refer to the agenda for the Zoom link. Once you have joined the meeting and you wish to speak, please raise your hand to provide public comment when the the when myself confirms that it's public comment speaking period for your desired item. If you're online, please click the raise hand at the bottom of your screen. If on the mobile app, please raise your hand by tapping the raise hand option in the more tab. And if you're calling in via telephone, to raise your hand, dial star nine and then to unmute. Um or mute, use star six. Speakers will be called on by the last four digits of their phone numbers if you are calling in via telephone. You will have two minutes to speak once you are called on. We are now going to proceed with today's agenda. And with that, I'd like please rise for those of us who can for the opening acknowledgments in honor of the Sacramento Indigenous indigenous peoples and tribe tribal lands. To the original people of this land, the Nice, the Nissanon people, the Southern Maidu, Valley and Plains, Mi Walk, the Putwen Wintu people, and the people of the Wilton Rancheria, Sacramento's only federally recognized tribe. May we acknowledge and honor the native people who came before us and still walk beside us on these ancestral lands by choosing to gather together today in an active practice of acknowledgement and appreciation for Sacramento's indigenous peoples, history, contributions, and lives. Thank you. For those of us who can still stand room, stay standing, please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. And to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Vice Chair. There are no members of the public with their hand raised to make comment on the consent calendar. Thank you. Are there any commissioners who wish to speak on any of the consent calendar items? Hi, yeah, I just thought that um item two. Um has us going forth with the remaining. I I don't know how many more meetings remotely. Um, and I just wanted to ask um how much longer are we going to meet remotely and can we come back to chambers? And is there anyone talking about that? Um, I can answer that, or at least I can take a stab at answering that. That would be so what you see on the consent calendar is just the monthly re communication of the current virtual um work, uh you know, uh the our virtual meeting uh methodology. The city and city council are considering uh what going back to live meetings looks like, and I would anticipate that over the next couple of months that they will finalize those plans and and start moving in that direction.
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