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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 03/08/1993UTILITY ADVISORY COMMITYEE Port Angeles, Washington March 8, 1993 Call to Order: Chairman Hallett called the meeting to order at 4:45 p.m. II. Roll Ca!!' Members Present: Jim Hallett, Gary Braun, Joe Michalczik, Richard Wight and Thomas Hunt, also present was Councilman Larry Schueler. Members Absent: None. Staff Present: J. Pomeranz, C. Knutson, C. Hagar, B. Titus, R. Ellsworth, J. Pittis, K. Godbey, B. Jones, D. McGinley and G. Kenworthy. Guests Present: Reese Clark of Total Energy System. III. Approval of Minutes: Thomas Hunt moved to approve the minutes of the February 8, 1993, meeting as written. The motion was seconded by Joe Michalczik and carried by a majority vote with Thomas Hunt abstaining. IV. Discussion Items: A. City Light Information Items City Light Director Titus reported that, due to the fact that the Pacific Northwest is experiencing it's second two-year drought in seven years, the Bonneville Power Administration is experiencing some real difficulties in meeting the power demand. The BPA's financial reserves have dropped from more than $800 million two years ago, to less than $200 million at the end of the 1993 fiscal year. There is a very real possibility that Bonneville will not be able to make. its Treasury payment this year. Bonneville will have to increase rates, possibly as much as 25% within the next 18 months in order to stay solvent. The increase for 1993 looks like 15% right now, which means the City of Port Angeles will have to raise rates by an additional 9% this year, as rates have already recently been raised by 6.5%. Director Titus also reported that the City Light Centennial will be celebrated in -1- Utility Advisory Committee March 8, 1993 June of this year. The City of Port Angeles has the second oldest Light Utility in the State. There will be a display in the lobby of City Hall depicting the differences between 1893 and 1993 with regard to electrical appliances and the cost of electricity. A small booklet with a short history of City Light is also being published for distribution during the Centennial celebration. Director Titus also provided information on the downtown pedestrian lights and waterfront trail lighting. Hopefully, both of these projects will go forward this Fall. B. Extension of P.U.D. #1 Water Contract Director of Public Works Pittis asked the Committee to forward the contract extension to Council with a favorable recommendation. The new contract would expire April 1, 1994, which is about the same time that the City and P.U.D. #1 Comprehensive Plans will be completed. This will be a good opportunity to get to some solutions to the water supply issues. Councilman Braun moved that the Committee forward a favorable recommendation to the City Council on renewing the Extension of the P.U.D. Water Contract to April 1, 1994. Thomas Hunt seconded the motion. A brief discussion followed. A vote was taken on the motion, which carried unanimously. C. Solid Waste - ~e Distillation Discussion Director of Public Works Pittis explained that over the last few months Public Works has been looking at various alternatives to deal with refuse, if indeed the City has to vacate the landfill. A firm by the name of Total Energy Systems has met with Staff on several occasions to discuss destructive distillation. Staff felt it was appropriate to provide the Committee with that information and to invite a member of that firm to address the Committee and provide information concerning their method of destruction. Mr. Reese Clark was introduced by Director Pittis hnd distributed a pamphlet that explained their process of waste destruction and contained a sketch of the equipment. The Total Energy System (TES) heats the waste which then distills into a clean gas, and a sterile char. Part of the gas which is produced is used to fuel the system, but the majority of it can be used commercially for heating, processing, refrigeration or generation of electricity. A 200 ton per day refinery can generate approximately 4 megawatts of electricity. The sterile char which is produced can be safely put into a landfill and is of such a nature that it will not attract birds. This could conceivably extend the life of our landfill. -2- Utility Advisory Committee March 8, 1993 There was extensive discussion on this presentation. The Committee directed Director Pittis to gather more information on this form of destructive distillation and report back at a later date. D. Solid Waste - Recycling Report Director of Public Works Pittis gave the 1992 year end recycling report comparing what the City of Port Angeles has recycled compared to the total tons delivered to the landfill, to show what the City is doing to increase the life of the landfill. Director Pittis also asked for the Committee's input on the Recycle Report of December 22, 1992. There were nine recommendations by the Committee. "Recycler of the Month" is being done. $5000.00 has been added to the 1993 budget for advertising. A Recycle Coordinator has not been added yet, but grants are being sought. Improved signage at the landfill is included in the budget for 1993. An Ordinance has been drafted banning yard debris from collection containers. Input from the Committee is needed on that. $10,000.00 has been included in the budget to at least start to add apartment collections to the curbside recycling program. City Manager Pomeranz suggested that something ~o out in the next newsletter or in utility bills to the citizens, answering their most often asked questions on the recycling issues. This was agreed on by the Committee. City Manager Pomeranz also pointed out that although the landfill is also used by the County residents, the City residents are bearing the burden of expense of the landfill. E. Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations - Request for Proposals Director of Public Works Pittis asked that the Committee review and approve the proposal so that it can be submitted to the City Council for approval to advertise. Director Pittis asked that it be acted on today so that it can be submitted to Council at its meeting of March 16, 1993. The City will be a proposer on the contract. The Statutes say that the City must give the other proposers the City's numbers and that they must demonstrate that they can provide a better deal to the City, than if the City did the job itself. The Cities of Bremerton and Vancouver have been doing this for years. -3- Utility Advisory Committee March 8, 1993 If another bidder gets the contract, they must accommodate the three City employees at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Mr. Michalczik moved that the Committee forward the Request for Proposals to the City Council with a favorable recommendation. Councilman Braun seconded the motion. A brief discussion followed. Doyle McGinley, who is a representative of Local 1617 as well as Wastewater Pre-treatment Coordinator, advised the Committee that the three employees who might possibly be affected by this Request for Proposals prefer to remain in the employ of the City. If the City does not win its own bid, there will probably be more input on this from the Union. A vote was taken on the motion, which carried unanimously. VI. V. Next Meeting: The next meeting of the Utility Advisory Committee will be held on Monday, April 12, 1993, at 4:30 p.m. ~4~joumm~t: The meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m. ~ Ci~ Cle~x~k / -4-