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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-04-13 - Ad Hoc Citizens Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes MINUTES OF THE YORBA LINDA WATER DISTRICT AD HOC CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING Thursday, April 13, 2017, 6:00 p.m. 1717 E Miraloma Ave, Placentia CA 92870 1. CALL TO ORDER The April 13, 2017 meeting of the Yorba Linda Water District’s Ad Hoc Citizens Advisory Committee was called to order at 6:00 p.m. The meeting was held in the Training Room at the District’s Administration Building located at 1717 East Miraloma Avenue, Placentia California 92870. 2. ROLL CALL COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT Terry Harris (Chair) Pamela Hymel Dennis Anderson William Lawrence Lindon Baker Ben Parker Jeff Decker Cristy Parker Kent Ebinger Kenneth Tam YLWD STAFF PRESENT Steve Conklin, Engineering Manager John DeCriscio, Operations Manager Malissa Muttaraid, Public Affairs Representative OTHER ATTENDEES Brent Ives, Principal, BHI Management Consulting 3. PUBLIC COMMENTS Mr. Noel Incley, resident, asked for a sophisticated, fair, equitable and proportional rate structure driven by several factors. He also provided his written comments to staff to be added to the record as follows: “I Propose that YLWD adopts: 1. Equitable and proportional 2. Indoor water allowance based on # of household members 3. Outdoor water allowance based on plot size – Home’s footprint 4. Water pricing tiers to encourage conservation and discourage waste 5. Energy cost recovery based on elevation (“pumping zone”) and volume of water used”. Minutes of the Ad Hoc Citizens Advisory Committee Meeting Held April 13, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. 1 Ms. Pat Nelson, resident, indicated that she was in favor of a tiered structure and commented on the need to be careful with how it is designed. She was assured that the committee had covered that issue and understands the issue regarding that type of structure. 4. ACTION CALENDAR 4.1. Review of Minutes from meeting held on April 6, 2017 The committee reviewed the minutes and provided comments on the section for Item No. 6.1. The committee then determined to accept the minutes as revised. 5. DISCUSSION ITEMS 5.1 Overview of District’s 5-Year Capital Improvement Program Mr. Steve Conklin and Mr. John DeCriscio provided a presentation on the District’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) origin, design and status. The PowerPoint presented has been placed on the committee’s information hub. The presentation covered origins of the CIP, its linkage to engineering studies and past Board decisions. Also discussed were the status of major projects such as Well 22 and the Fairmont booster pump station. The presenters then discussed the CIP budget with the committee. Members of the public and committee were allowed to ask questions during the presentation. The presenters answered questions during the presentation and after. Discussions after ranged from return on investments and defining the term “reconciliation”. It was mentioned that one of the options for the Board each year during budget determination should be “rebate/refund”. 5.2. Budget Reconciliation for FY 2015/16 and FY 2016/17 Year to Date Dr. Jeff Decker briefly overviewed his presentation from the April 6, 2017 AHCAC meeting. He provided a bottom-line comment that a rebate/refund be provided to rate-payers so that rates can “reconcile” raising rates when needed, rebated when overcharged. He provided the example of the West Valley Water District who did such a rebate in the past. Discussion within the committee and attending public proceeded. The issue of clarity regarding the monies and their use should may be part of the recommendation. Communication will be key, as pointed out by committee members. The committee discussed what and if there should be a recommendation from the committee regarding this issue. Minutes of the Ad Hoc Citizens Advisory Committee Meeting Held April 13, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. 2 Mr. Ben Parker presented a rate review and his point regarding over-charge with the rate adjustments over the last two years. Committee agreed to move the discussion to the next agenda item for a potential recommendation. Member of the public asked the committee to not focus on the small amount of potential rebate and invest in the system with any potential extra money. 5.3. Outline, Format and Process for Committee’s Recommendation to the Board of Directors The committee discussed next steps toward advancing recommendations to the Board. The committee brainstormed a set of broad topics for further discussion and action on recommendations to be agendized in the remaining meetings, which included the following:  Rate structure  R & R policies  Surplus/reconciliation/refund (to include past year, current year, and processes moving forward)  Reserves  Communications and transparency  Conservation reserve/penalties  implementation (of our recommendations) 5.4. Future Meeting Schedule and Agenda Items The next meeting is set for April 20, 2017 at 6:00 pm, and the committee tentatively agreed to begin both discussion and action on recommendations to the Board at the next meeting. The committee expressed a preference to deploy the remainder of the facilitator contract at the latter-most of the remaining meetings, to the extent possible, so as to assist with meeting the committee’s recommendation deadline. 6. ADJOURNMENT 6.1. The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m. BI/MM Minutes of the Ad Hoc Citizens Advisory Committee Meeting Held April 13, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. 3