HomeMy WebLinkAboutUAC 11142023 Agenda Packet
NOVEMBER 14, 2023
City of Port Angeles UTILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE Agenda
This meeting will be conducted as a hybrid meeting. In hybrid meetings, members of the public, Council
members, and City staff have the option to attend the meeting in person, in Council chambers at City Hall
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located at 321 East 5 Street, Port Angeles, or remotely via telephone or video link.
The Chair may determine the order of business for a particular UAC meeting. The agenda should be arranged
to best serve the needs and/or convenience of the UAC and the public. The Chair will determine time of break.
Hearing devices are available for those needing assistance. The items of business for regular UAC meetings
may include the following:
A.Call to Order – Regular Meeting at 3:00 p.m.
B.Public Comment
The Utility Advisory Committee (UAC) desires to allow the opportunity for Public Comment. However, the
business of the City must proceed in an orderly and timely manner. Visit https://www.cityofpa.us/Live-Virtual-
Meetings to learn how to participate during public comment and or watch the meeting live. Written public
comments can be submitted to: gking@cityofpa.us, comments will not be read aloud but will be made part of
the record. Comments should be received by 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 14, 2023.
For audio only please call: 1-844-992-4726
Use access code: 2552 125 8034
Password: YDdpxkMf222 (93379563 from phones and video systems)
Once connected, press *3 to raise your virtual hand if you wish to make a comment or public testimony. You
will be notified when it is your turn to speak. This access code is good for the November 14, 2023 meeting
only.
If you are joining in through the WebEx link:
https://cityofpa.webex.com/cityofpa/j.php?MTID=m3172364e24773821020c63b25ee65626 and wish to
make a comment or public testimony, please use the “raise your hand” feature in WebEx. You will be notified
when it is your turn to speak.
Members of the public may address the UAC at the beginning of any Regular Meeting under "Public
Comment." The UAC desires to allow the opportunity for Public Comment. However, the business of the City
must proceed in an orderly, timely manner. At any time, the presiding officer, in the presiding officer's sole
discretion, may set such reasonable limits as are necessary to prevent disruption of other necessary business. At
its most restrictive, Public Comment shall be limited to a total of 15 minutes for the Public Comment period.
Individuals may speak for three (3) minutes or less, depending on the number of people wishing to speak. If
more than 20 people are signed up to speak each speaker may be allocated two (2) minutes.
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Individuals who are residents of the City or own businesses within the City will be called to speak first, with
preference given to those who wish to speak to an item on the meeting’s agenda. If time remains, the presiding
officer will call other individuals wishing to speak, generally in the order in which they have signed in. If time
is available, the presiding officer may call for additional unsigned speakers.
Persons speaking shall state their name, whether they reside within the City limits, whether they have any other
pertinent connection to the City, and whether they are appearing as the representative of an organization.
Excerpts: Council Rules of Procedure Section 12
C. Late Items
To be placed on this or future agendas, including any executive session needed during or at the end of the meeting.
D. Minutes October 10, 2023 | Approve
E.Solid Waste Review/Presentation byMike Healy, Director Public Works and Utilities and
Gregg King, Power Resource Manager
F. Electric Utility Updates/Presentation by Gregg King, Power Resource Manager
BPA Contract update
Energy Northwest small nuclear project
2023 North Olympic Peninsula Energy Futures overview
City Hall EV charger update
G. Various Utility Updates by Mike Healy, Director Public Works and Utilities
H. Future UAC TopicsRobust Discussion, Members
+ Christmas Holiday UAC meeting discussion
I. Next Meeting December 12, 2023
Adjournment
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UTILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEEMEETING
Hybrid Meeting
Port Angeles, WA 98362
October10, 2023
3:00 p.m.
I.A. Call to Order
Chair Mattias Järvegren called the meeting to order at 3:02 pm.
B.Roll Call
UAC Assigned
Councilmembers Present:Mayor Kate Dexter, Councilmember Amy Miller and Councilmember Lindsey
Schromen-Wawrin
UAC Members Present:Chair Mattias Järvegren, Terry Nishimoto and Richard French (Excused late arrival at
3:07)
UAC Members Absent: Laura Dodd.
Staff Present: Public Works and Utilities Director Mike Healy, Power Resources Manager Gregg
King, City Engineer Jonathan Boehme, Finance Director Sarina Carrizosa, Cost and
Capital Accountant MarySue French, Cost Accountant Jason Jones, Systems
Network Analyst Daniel Harris, Public Works Management Assistant Jessica Toth,
and City Attorney William Bloor.
II.Public Comment The public is invited to provide written comments via e-mail prior to the meeting, call-
in and via WebEx.
There was no public comment.
III.Late Items
There were no late items.
IV.Approval of Minutes
Councilmember Miller moved to approve the September 12, 2023, minutes. Mayor Dexter second the
motion.
Chair Järvegren asked if there was unanimous consent, hearing no opposition, the motioncarried
5-0.
V.Cost of Service Studies and 2024-2025 Rates for Electric, Solid Waste, and Stormwater Utilities
Finance Director Sarina Carrizosa and Cost and Capital Accountant MarySue French presented the 2024
Cost of Service Analysis for the purpose of utility rate change review and the City’s methodology. City
staff reviewed rate changes for the following utilities: electric rate, solid waste collections and transfer
station rates and stormwater rates.
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Electric Utility rates discussed.
A $1.7 Million dollar increase or 6.4% increase to electric plans in 2024 include the following:
Personnel costs – 10.5% increase includes City Electrician
Supplies – 5.6% increase includes BPA payments
The Electric Utility phase in approach is continued with an increase in Base rates and a decrease in
variable rates.
This approach does not have an overall change in rates and is expected to be cost
neutral.
This was made possible by savings from an approximately $3.0Million credit from BPA in
2023.
Solid Waste rates discussed.
A 3.8 Million dollar increase or 29.7% increase to solid waste plans in 2024 include the following:
Personnel costs 9.8% increase
Other services 31.7% increase (including $1.0Million settlement payment)
Debt payments 75% increase (including payments to the Water division for the Staff
recommendation of a $1.5 Million interfund loan from the water division.
Chair Järvegren questioned the $1.5Million settlement payment.
Director of Public Works and Utilities Healy explained that the transfer of responsibility between Waste
Connections and the City, at the end of their contract, there were monies in dispute which were then
settled through litigation.
Councilmember Schromen-Wawrin did not agree with the response.
Director of Finance Carrizosa clarified further that the settlement was 1.9Million dollars to be paid in four
quarters or one half of 1Million dollars paid every six months were the terms of the settlement.
Stormwater rates discussed.
A $261,000 increase or 8.2% increase to the stormwater plans in 2024 include the following:
Personnel costs – 6.8% increase – includes additional utility worker per State Mandates
for NPDES requirements.
Capital Transfers – 9.1% increase
Staff is asking the Utility Advisory Committee to forward a favorable recommendation for the Staff
Recommended 2024-2025 Electric, Solid Waste and Stormwater rates to City Council.
Discussion followed.
Member French asked a general question.
Mayor Dexter called a point of order and asked that general questions are held until the COSA discussion
was complete.
Member French moved to make a favorable recommendation for the Staff recommended 2024-2025
Electric, Solid Waste and Stormwater rates to City Council.
Mayor Dexter seconded the motion.
Councilmember Schromen-Wawrin responded that the response about the solid waste cost was not
adequate. Except for the City Council Members, this committee did not get information during the entire
process with Waste Connections and severing the contract with them and with the explanation given, will
not vote yes.
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Director of Public Works and Utilities Healy suggested that if this committee still has questions regarding
the settlement, Staff from the Legal department can give a presentation at the next meeting to further
explain.
Councilmember Schromen-Wawrin moved to table this motion until the next meeting.
Director of Finance Sarina Carrizosa explained there is a 75-day requirement for solid waste rates to take
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effect. And if the intent is to make rates effective January 1, 2024, staff would need a 75-day notice to
the Utility Transmission Committee (UTC).
Mayor Dexter stated that the motion dies for lack of a second. The current motion is whether we are
going to vote on this.
Further discussion followed.
Councilmember Schromen-Wawrin moved to amend the motion to add a recommendation to present the
larger context of solid waste costs to City Council and UAC.
Mayor Dexter seconded the motion.
Chair Järvegren asked if there was unanimous consent; hearing opposition, the motion went to a
vote, the motion carried 5-1.
Further discussion followed.
Councilmember Schromen-Wawrin moved to amend the main motion to include the presentation to
JSWAP in addition to Utility Advisory Committee and City Council.
Mayor Dexter seconded the motion.
Chair Järvegren asked if there was unanimous consent, hearing opposition, the motion went to a
vote, the motion carried 5-1.
Forward a favorable recommendation for the Staff Recommended 2024 -2025 Electric, Solid Waste and
Stormwater rates to City Council and direct staff to provide a presentation about the history of Solid
Waste transition of transfer station services to City Council and the Utility Advisory Committee and
JSWAP.
Chair Järvegren asked if there was unanimous consent in regard to the amended original motion,
hearing opposition, the motion went to a vote, the motion carried 5-1.
VI. Calendar of Actions & Meetings
Update on BPA contract negotiations.
Chair Järvegren asked to continue speaking on the additional item Member French brought up earlier.
Member French asked for the Water and Wastewater rate presentations. Director of Finance Sarina
Carrizosa explained that those COSAs occurred last fall for a two-year period. For 2024, the rates will
stay the same.
Member French made a general statement about the deer in the City and that no one can do anything
about the increase in population.
Member French made a general statement about the City streets and many citizens are unsatisfied with
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street, I street, and Marine Drive road construction projects.
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Discussion followed.
Councilmember Miller asked Staff to include, for a future meeting, a discussion or presentation on the
cost for developers regarding utilities.
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VII. Next Meeting Date: November 14, 2023
VIII. Adjournment: 4:12 p.m.
______________________________________ ________________________________________
Chair Mattias Järvegren Jessica Toth,
Public Works Management Assistant
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E. Solid Waste Review
Presentation by Mike Healy, Director Public Works and Utilities
Gregg King, Power Resource Manager
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SOLID WASTE
SOLID WASTE
SOLID WASTE
CONCLUSION
F. Electric Utility Update
Presentation by Gregg King, Power Resource Manager
BPA Contract update
Energy Northwest small nuclear project
2023 North Olympic Peninsula Energy Futures overview
City Hall EV charger update
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G. Various Utility Updates
Presentation by Mike Healy, Director Public Works and Utilities
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H. Calendar of Actions and Meetings
• 2024 Budget
• Cost of Service Studies – Electric, Storm Water, and Solid Waste
• Utility Rates – as needed
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Next UAC Meeting
December 12, 2023
3:00 –5:00 PM
This meeting will be conducted as a hybrid meeting.
November 14, 2023 Port Angeles UAC Meeting Page 11