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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 01/12/2000 UTILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE Port Angeles, Washington January 12, 2000 L Call to Order: Chairman Campbell called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. IL Roll Call: Members Present: Councilmen Campbell, Doyle, and Williams Members Absent: Bill Myers and Dean Read. Staff Present: Manager Quinn, Attorney Knutson, G. Cutler, C. Hagar, T. McCabe, G. Kenworthy, and K. Ridout. III. Approval of Minutes: Councilman Doyle moved to approve the minutes of the December 13, 1999, meeting. Councilman Williams seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. IV. Election of New Chair and Vice Chair Mayor Doyle moved to nominate Councilman Campbell as Chairman. Councilman Williams seconded the motion. There being no further nominations, a vote was taken on the motion, which carried unanimously. Mayor Doyle moved to nominate Councilman Williams as Vice Chair. Councilman Williams seconded the motion. There being no further nominations, a vote was taken on the motion, which carried unanimously. V. Discussion Items: A. Private Hauler Contracts Director Cutler reviewed the information contained in the packet. Councilman Campbell asked if any conditions in the new contract were substantially different from the previous contracts. Tom McCabe, Solid Waste Collections Supervisor, stated the only change in conditions is to ask haulers to arrive at the landfill no later than 4:30 p.m. which will allow staff to perform daily cover by closing time to avoid overtime costs by the City. Also, in the past each hauler had a separate contract and some of them were difficult to read. This contract allows for a Waste Acceptance Policy which will apply to all haulers. Mr. McCabe responded to questions and provided clarification. Councilman Williams asked if the City had received its new permit from the County to operate the landfill. Director Cutler stated staff is in the process ofreapplying and the County has intimated it is considering a five-year permit for the landfill. After further discussion and clarification, it was suggested staff work with Attorney Knutson to add a clause to the contract as to what happens if the landfill permit is not granted. Councilman Williams moved to recommend the City Council approve the private haulers contract with the changes as noted. Mayor Doyle seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. B. Summary of Fiber Optics Feasibility Study Director Cutler explained that Scott McLain, Power Manager, has been working on this issue but he is out ill today. An electronic report has been sent by Power Engineers, Inc. and it will be copied and distributed to the City Council and City Attorney for review. Brief discussion followed regarding the upcoming visit of Senator Patty Murray and the possibility of federal fimds for installing for fiber optic facilities. No action was taken. C. Electric Utility Financial Review Director Curler stated that Scott McLain was also going to give this presentation. However, he did inform the Committee that the Revenue Requirements Review would be done in-house this year. He felt the City was in good financial shape and this review would go along with the fiber optic study. In the event of a proposal on these issues, the UAC and Council will have a good picture of the City's financial situation for decision making purposes. No action was taken. VI. Information Only Items: A. Water Supply Mitigation Councilman Campbell asked Director Cutler to give a brief report on the meeting with the Park Service on water supply mitigation. Director Cutler stated it was a second meeting with the Park Service, Tribe, Dry Creek, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of Interior, Elwha Home Owners Association, and consultants. They discussed a Memorandum of Understanding, and have started looking into what mitigation facilities need to be constructed due to dam removal. Director Cutler felt good progress was being made and there was a good cooperative effort among all parties. The next meeting is scheduled for February 18, 2000. The Departments of Health and Ecology will also be requested to assist in this process and contact will be made with the National Marine Fisheries Service and Fish and Wildlife to see how those organizations relate to the permitting process. Attomey Knutson gave a review of some of the challenges and potential pitfalls. With the assistance of Senator Gorton and Congressman Dicks, the City had succeeded in getting a provision in this year's appropriations Bill which allows the City to get reimbursed up to $500,000 for costs related to water mitigation due to the removal of the dams. The Park Service announced that its policies and regulations would allow for reimbursement only if there was already a contract in place, so they will attempt to work around it. Attorney Knutson reviewed the discussion of the Endangered Species Act which also took place at that meeting. Lengthy discussion took place. No action was taken. VI. Late Items: A. Phase H- Downtown Watermain Project Director Cutler announced that the process had begun for design of the Phase II of Watermain and Sidewalk Replacement Project in the downtown area. Staffwill meet first, and then hold discussions with downtown businesses and organizations. Letters have gone out to various agencies and individuals asking for any knowledge of historic structures or murals in the project area. The area affected by this project is the south side of Front Street from Lincoln to Oak Street. Brief discussion followed. No action was taken. B. Future Landfill Possibilities. Tom McCabe distributed copies of an article from the November issue of Waste News regarding a shopping mall in Elizabeth, New Jersey, which had been erected on an abandoned municipal landfill. This was for information only. No action taken. C. Oak Street Ken Ridout, Deputy Director of Permits and Utilities, announced that Oak Street between First and Front would be closed on Wednesday, January 12, 2000, and preparatory to being reopened as a two- way street. VII. Next Meeting: The next meeting will be held February 8, 2000. VIII. Adjournment: Orvilie~am~--bell,/Chairman Carol A. Hagar, Dep~fi)/Clerk