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Home My WebLink About2010-10-26 Utilities Minutes City of Tukwila s Utilities Committee +YNS UTILITIES COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes October 26, 2010 5:00 p.m. Conference Room #1 PRESENT Councilmembers: Kathy Hougardy, Chair; Joe Duffle and Allan Ekberg Staff: Bob Giberson, Frank Iriarte, Pat Brodin, Gail Labanara, Mike Cusick, Ryan Larson, Mary Miotke, Shawn Hunstock, and Peggy McCarthy CALL TO ORDER: Committee Chair Hougardy called the meeting to order at 5:02 p.m. I. PRESENTATIONS No presentations. II. BUSINESS AGENDA A. Cascade Water Alliance Update As an information only item, staff informed the Committee of the 2011 budget update from the Cascade Water Alliance. Monthly commodity charges will increase from 6% to 12 This fluctuation was due to Bellevue being double- charged for water that flowed through the Bellevue pipeline into Issaquah and Sammamish Plateau. This adjustment for Bellevue then caused the entire rate model for the 8 cities to be recalculated and a one -time adjustment to all members for 2011. INFORMATION ONLY. B. Water and Sewer Ordinances Staff is seeking Council approval of two ordinances updating the water and sewer chapter of the Tukwila Municipal Code (TMC). The chapter has not been completely updated in some time and staff wanted the fees to be included in the Public Works Fee Schedule Resolution (see below). Committee reviewed all of the underlined changes with discussion. Regulation changes included updated backflow assembly requirements (14.06.03) and unlawful discharge of prohibited foreign substances into the public sewer (14.12.250). There are three new fees for unauthorized water usage, special meter reads, and an administrative fee for changing the name /address on a utility bill. Interest will now be charged on delinquent utility accounts rather than a flat fee. Staff originally proposed changing Section 14.17 regarding sewer connection charges, but after review by the City Attorney, those sections will not be changed and will not be forwarded to the COW. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO NOVEMBER 8 COW FOR DISCUSSION. C. Water. Sewer. and Surface Water Rate Increases for 2011 Staff is seeking Council approval of a resolution adopting a new Public Works Fee Schedule which will reflect increased water, sewer, and surface water rates for 2011. Committee Member Ekberg suggested that the Resolution also include the old fees. Water. In order to maintain current levels of service and lessen the impact of future increases to purchased water, staff is recommending an increase to the minimum water meter charge from $8.00 to $10.00 for residential customers and for commercial /industrial, from $20.00 $360.00 to $30.00 $480.00 (see draft resolution for specific service charges). Water revenue remains flat due to the economic downturn and summer consumption was down due to the weather. Increasing the base rate would be the most logical cost increase implementation since consumption levels are not changing. Additionally, Cascade Water Alliance rates are projected to increase 5.8% in 2011 and 15.6% in 2012. Water service charges and fire protection services also have proposed increases. Utilities Committee Minutes October 26. 2010 Paae 2 Sewer. King County will be increasing their monthly sewer rate 13.17 from $31.90 to $36.10 per month and will be increasing the sewer capacity charge for new sewer connections. Staff is proposing a 20% increase for City sewer fees with residential customers increasing from $13.39 to $16.06 and commercial /industrial increasing from $23.43 to $28.12. The Sewer Enterprise Fund still remains low with the impact of the interfund utility tax and the working capital reserve fund. However, with the rate comparison with adjoining cities, Tukwila remains in the middle of the range. SurfaceWater. Staff is proposing a 10% increase to surface water fees in 2011. Surface Water fees would increase from $85.00 to $93.00 per year for residential parcels. Commercial /industrial properties would increase from $101.80 $850.50 to $111.98 to $935.55. Even with the increase, Tukwila surface water rates remain low compared with other cities. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO NOVEMBER 8 COW FOR DISCUSSION. D. City Council Preliminary 2011 -12 Budget Review The Committee reviewed the 2011 -12 Biennial Budget pages as listed below in preparation of full Council discussion and review of the budget. SECTION Budget Pages CIP Pages IT GF -143 to GF -147 Debt Service OF -11 to OF -17 Attachment D Water CIP XVI -XXII Water OF -23 to OF -26 CIP 91 -119 Attachment E Sewer CIP XVIII -XIX Sewer OF -27 to OF -30 CIP 121 -144 Water /Sewer Rev. Bond Fund OF -31 Attachment F SWM CIP XX -XXI Surface Water OF -36 to OF -39 CIP 145 -173 III. MISCELLANEOUS Meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m. Next meeting: Tuesday, November 9, 2010 5:00 p.m. Conf. Room No. 1. Committee Chair Approval Minut by Reviewed by PB KAM.