HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 08/14/1995 3103
CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
Port Angeles, Washington
August 14, 1995
CALL TO ORDER- The joint meeting between the Port Angeles City Council and the Utility Advisory
SPECIAL MEETING: Committee was called to order by Mayor Sargent at 4:40 p.m.. The joint meeting was held
for the purpose of listening to a presentation by the Public Works Department regarding
stormwater issues, and a special workshop on utility issues presented by the Light
Department.
ROLL CALL: CouncilMembers Present: Mayor Sargent, Councilmembers Braun (also UAC),
Doyle (UAC alternate), Hulett, McKeown (also
UAC), Ostrowski, and Schueler (also UAC).
Council Members Absent: None.
UACMembers Absent: Joe Michalczik and Bill Myers.
Staff Present: Manager Pomeranz, Senior Assistant Attorney
Dickson, Deputy Clerk Hagar, K. Godbey, J. Pittis,
B. Titus, D. Sawyer, S. McLain, and K. Maike.
APPROVAL OF Councilmember McKeown moved to approve the minutes of the July 10, 1995,
MINUTES: meeting of the Utility Advisory Committee. Councilman Doyle seconded the motion,
which carried unanimously.
Presentation of Stormwater Issues
Public Works Director Pittis stated that the Department of Ecology provided the City with
a 50% grant to perform stormwater management planning. He reviewed the history of
stormwater problems and the work involved in solving them. He advised the Council that
this information will also be given to the DOE in regards to the grant, stormwater
regulations will be reviewed, and it will be determined what must be done to bring the
regulations up to date. The City's stormwater deficiencies are addressed in the packet
supplied by the Public Works Department in conjunction with the Consultants.
At this point, it was noted that one of the things needed for stormwater management was
a funding source, or a stormwater utility. This can be accomplished by creating a separate
stormwater utility or combining it with the water/wastewater utility. Director Pittis then
summarized the Council's options on this issue, and stated that the Consultants were
present to address any concerns the Council might have.
At the request of Councilman Braun, Director Pittis explained the stormwater program
funding levels and rates, and then deferred to Dick Warren ofKato & Warren to address
some of the Council's questions.
Mr. Warren felt that the best way to handle the problem of stormwater management was
to form a utility. He recounted how rates were arrived at, and stated they could be tiered,
or based on lot size. Lengthy discussion followed, and it was generally felt by the Council
· that the rate payers were already heavily burdened.
Manager Pomeranz expressed concern that setting up a new utility would lead to hiring of
additional personnel, and eventually forming a whole new department, which would greatly
increase budgetary needs. It was the general consensus of the Council that they would like
to see other options explored before making a decision of this magnitude. The Council
requested that staff join the consultants in coming up with options for raising revenues for
stormwater management, and these be brought back for discussion during the budgeting
process.
There was no action taken.
Break The meeting recessed for a break at 6:05 p.m., and reconvened at 6:23 p.m.
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3104
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
August 14, 1995
Special Workshop on Utility Issues
Light Director Tiros advised the Council that there are a number of electric utility issues
forthcoming, which will be of greater potential magnitude than the stormwater issue.
Making the right decisions could save utility customers tens of millions of dollars.
Using the overhead projector, Director Titus reviewed terminology, background on some
of the issues the utility goes through, and the Northwest Power Act, which dictates terms
to the utilities in the area. He further went on to explain the deregulation of the electric
utility and the competition present in the marketplace. Director Titus briefed the Council
on the issues that affect the utilities, the Bonneville rate case, and the new Bonneville
contracts which will be negotiated soon and require Council input. He then introduced
Scott McLam, Power Manager.
Mr. McLain informed the Council that the City receives less than 5% of its power from
sources other than Bonneville. As a reSUlt, Bonneville is required to serve the City's load
growth, and is responsible for finding new sources of power for the City. He went on to
describe where Bonneville power comes from, its capacity, its method of transmission and
displayed a cost comparison of resources. Mr. McLain then revieWed the 1996 rate
proposals and explained the cost components of the proposed rate.
Ken Maike, Conservation Manager, was then introduced, and gave a brief presentation to
the Council on conservation. Bonneville will not fund the conservation program after
October 1996. This has been a very successfid program in the past, and Mr. Maike
reviewed possible City-sponsored conservation measures.
Director Titus thanked the Council for their time and attention to this matter, and offered
to answer.any questions it wished to pose.
There was no action taken.
ADJouRNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Deputy City Clerk, (~/~//7
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