HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-10-25 Utilities MinutesUTILITIES COMMITTEE
Meeting Minutes
City Council Utilities Committee
October25, 2016 - 5:30 p.m. - Foster Conference Room, 6300 Building
Councilmembers: Kathy Hougardy, Chair; Kate Kruller, Thomas McLeod
Staff: David Cline, Bob Giberson, Robin Tischmak, Ryan Larson, Gail Labanara, Evie
Boykan, Stacy Hansen, Vicky Carlsen, Peggy McCarthy, Laurel Humphrey
CALL TO ORDER: Committee Chair Hougardy called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
I. PRESENTATIONS
II. BUSINESSAGENDA
A. Tukwila 205 Levee Certification
Staff is seeking Council approval of Supplemental Agreement No.1 to Contract No. 14 -164 in the
amount of $316,788.00 with Northwest Hydraulic Consultants, Inc. for levee certification services
for Phase 2 of the Tukwila 205 Levee Certification. The total contract amount will then be
$642,379.00, and the $100,000 budgeted for Phase 2 in 2016 will need to be transferred to 2017.
UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO NOVEMBER 14, 2016 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.
B. Public Works Fee Resolution for Water, Sewer, Surface Water and Pole Attachment Rates
Staff is seeking Council approval of a resolution adopting a Public Works fee schedule to update
water, sewer, surface water, and pole attachment rates for 2017 and 2018 based upon analysis
of the enterprise funds and as outlined in the memo. Cascade Water Alliance and King County
sewer rates are increasing, which impacts City rates. While the proposal is to adopt rates for two
years, analysis could result in modifications for 2018. The new section on pole attachments
would allow the City to charge fees to entities such as Puget Sound Energy who wish to attach
antennas to streetlights. Councilmember Kruller suggested that the City consider other rate -
charging models in an effort to avoid increases such as those proposed. Chair Hougardy pointed
out that Tukwila is an old city with aging infrastructure. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO
NOVEMBER 14, 2016 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.
Utilities Committee Minutes ............................................................................ ............................... ........................October 25, 2016
C. Customer Assistance Programs (CAPS) for Water, Sewer, and Surface Water
The Environmental Protection Agency completed a 2016 study which found that around 29
percent of utilities across the country offer customer assistance programs. The City of Tukwila
does so by providing a 50% discount to seniors (62 +) and permanently disabled individuals
making less than $32,000 annually. 70 water accounts are currently signed up for this assistance,
at an approximate annual cost of $63,740.28, which must be absorbed by other ratepayers to
make up the cost of infrastructure needs and King County sewer rates. If the Council wanted to
expand the assistance program, it could consider increasing the income limit, increasing the
discount, allowing for temporary assistance, or add additional funds to Human Services. The
Committee asked staff to analyze the effects of increasing the income limit to $34,000 and
$35,000. Committee members and staff also discussed the possibility of using debt to pay for
utility capital projects. This policy discussion will be continued in 2017. INFORMATION ONLY.
III. MISCELLANEOUS
Meeting adjourned at 6:34 p.m.
Next meeting: Tuesday, November 29, 2016
µ Committee ChairApproval
Minutes by LH, Reviewed by GL