HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Packet 02/11/2014
Utility Advisory Committee
Council Chambers
Port Angeles, WA 98362
February 11, 2014
SPECIAL MEETING – 2:00 p.m.
REGULAR MEETING - 3:00 p.m.
AGENDA
I.Call To Order – Special Meeting at 2:00 p.m.
II.Roll Call
III.Conduct Utility Advisory Committee Member Interviews:
2:10 p.m. - Betsy Wharton - Community Representative
2:25 p.m. - Lynn Bedford - CommunityRepresentative
2:40 p.m. - Paul Elliott - Industrial TransmissionRepresentative
IV.Discuss qualifications of applicants / determine recommendation to City Council for a
community representative member of the Utility Advisory Committee
V.Call To Order – Regular Meeting at 3:00 p.m.
VI.Roll Call
VII.Approval Of Minutes For January 14, 2014
VIII.Late Items
IX.Discussion Items:
A. Recommendation of Community and Industrial Transmission Representatives
B.Ranney Well Professional Services Agreement Amendment #1
C. Cable Television Franchise Renewal Professional Services Agreement
D. Morse Creek Hydroelectric Facility
X.Information Only Items:
A.Advanced Metering Infrastructure System Meter Radio-Frequency Emissions Update
B.Energy Northwest Power and Future Fuel Costs
XI. Next Meeting Date: March 11, 2014
XII.Adjournment
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IntroductoryStatement
TheUtilityAdvisoryCommittee(UAC)isamechanismfortheCityCouncilofPortAngelesto
obtainthebenefitsofrecommendations,adviceandopinionsonthosemattersaffectingCity
utilitypolicyandoperations,whichmaydevotethenecessarystudytocarefulconsiderationsof
suchmattersandwhichwillincreasecitizenparticipationandinputtolocalgovernment.
PossibleQuestionsforCandidates:
WhatisyourunderstandingofthedutiesandresponsibilitiesoftheUAC?
WhyareyouinterestedinservingasthecommunityrepresentativeontheUAC?
Pleasedescribeyourbackground,qualificationsandexperiencerelatedtoutilitypolicy
andoperations?
Whatarethemostpressingissuesfacingthe/źƷǤƭutilities?
Areyouabletobeimpartialonvariousutilityrelatedissues?
Canyoucommittoservingtheentirefouryearterm?
Joint Council/Utility Advisory Committee
Council Chambers
Port Angeles, WA 98362
January 14, 2014
3:00 p.m.
I.Call To Order
Vice Chairman Dean Reed called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.
II.Roll Call
UAC Assigned
Councilmembers Present: Cherie Kidd, Lee Whetham
Other Councilmembers
Present: Dan Gase, Patrick Downie
Other Councilmembers
Absent: Dan Di Guilio, Sissi Bruch, Brad Collins
Utility Advisory
Committee Members
Present: Paul Elliott, Dean Reed, Lynn Bedford
Utility Advisory
Committee Members
Absent: John LeClerc
Staff Present: Dan McKeen, (3:07) Craig Fulton, Mike Puntenney, Byron Olson,
Phil Lusk, Sondya Wray, Bill Bloor, Maher Abed, (3:04) Kathryn
Neal (3:04)
Others Present: Jeremy Schwartz – PDN
III.Approval Of Minutes
Vice Chairman Dean Reed asked if there were any corrections to the minutes of December 10, 2013. Dean
moved to approve the minutes. Lee Whetham seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
IV.Late Items:
Morse Creek Hydroelectric Project Recommendation Update – Information Only Item
V.Discussion Items:
A.Landfill Bluff Cell Stabilization – Phase I, Project SW02-2012, Professional Services
Agreement with Herrera Environmental Consultants, Amendment 6
Kathryn Neal, Engineering Manager discussed that the Landfill Bluff Cell Stabilization project is about 90%
completed. They are moving to the construction side while still in the design stage because of the costs
savings it is going to create. Permitting and design issues are needed to be addressed for the shoreline work
at the seawall and at Dry Creek, and groundwater investigations within the east 304 waste cell. An
amendment is needed to add scope and budget to the agreement with Herrera. A brief discussion followed.
Paul Elliot moved to recommend City Council to authorize City Manager to sign Amendment 6 to the
Professional Services Agreement with Herrera Environmental Consultants in an amount not to exceed
$156,731, which will increase the contract amount to $2,938,057, and to make minor modifications to
the agreement, if necessary. Lynn Bedford seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
B.Landfill Post-Closure Professional Services Agreement – Contract Extension
Kathryn Neal, Engineering Manager reviewed the permit, plan, and seawall inspections with the Landfill
Post-Closure project. A two year extension is needed for the landfill post-closure professional services with
Aspect Consulting. Funding is available in the Solid Waste budget. There was a lengthy discussion.
Cherie Kidd moved to recommend City Council to authorize the City Manager to sign a two year
extension to the Professional Services Agreement with Aspect Consulting for landfill engineering
services in an amount not to exceed $194,528.92, and to make minor modifications to the agreement, if
necessary. Paul Elliot seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
VI.Information Only Items
A.Utility Advisory Committee Citizen-At-Large and Industrial Transmission
Representative Appointments (verbal report only)
Information only. No action taken.
B.2013 Electric Utility Strategic Planning Session (verbal report only)
Information only. No action taken.
C.Morse Creek Hydroelectric Project Recommendation Update (verbal report only)
Information only. No action taken.
February 11, 2014
VII. Next Meeting Dates:
3:40 p.m.
VIII. Adjournment:
______________________________ ___________________________________
Dan DiGuilio, Mayor Sondya Wray, Administrative Specialist
C C M
I T YO U N C I LE M O
D:
February 11, 2014
ATE
T:UAC
OTILITY DVISORY OMMITTEE
F: JB,CE
ROMAMESURKE ASSISTANT IVIL NGINEER
S: Ranney Well Performance Testing, Project WA-13-023, Professional Services
UBJECT
Agreement with Layne Christensen, Inc.- Amendment No. 1
Summary:
In July 2013, the City entered into an agreement with Layne Christensen, Inc. to
provide professional engineering services to evaluate the operating performance of the Ranney
Well. Staff is proposing Amendment 1 to the Layne Christensen, Inc. Professional Service
Agreement to continue to evaluate the performance of the Ranney Well as sediment from behind
the dams continues to wash down the Elwha River.
Recommendation: Forward a favorable recommendation to City Council to approve and
authorize the City Manager to sign an amendment to the professional services agreement
with Layne Christensen, Inc. of Columbus, Ohio in an amount not to exceed $21,130, which
will increase the contract amount to $71,130.00, and to make minor modifications to the
agreement, if necessary.
Background / Analysis:
The City’s primary drinking water source comes from a sixty (60) foot deep Ranney well, located
next to the Elwha River, originally designed to be capable of delivering 11.1 million gallons per
day (mgd) of raw water. As a result of deconstruction of the Elwha and Glines Canyon Dams,
sediment that was stored behind the dams is currently washing down the river and re-depositing
within the river’s channel throughout its length. The deposition of sediment in the vicinity of the
Ranney well has the potential to impact its productivity and service life and restrict the recharge
of river water into the aquifer that the Ranney well relies on.
As a result of an agreement signed on September 16, 2013, the National Park Service (NPS)
agreed to pay for an initial contract with Layne Engineering to evaluate the Ranney Collector, in
an not-to-exceed amount of $56,000. The initial contract was awarded with Layne for $50,000.
Layne completed their evaluation and submitted the final report on December 13, 2013. This
evaluation included a review of operational data for the Ranney well, installation of two (2)
observation wells to facilitate the measurement of water levels within the aquifer and performance
testing of the Ranney well.
N:\\UAC\\MEETINGS\\UAC2014\\UAC021114\\Ranney Well Performance Testing Project WA-13-023 Professional
UAC).docx
Services Agreement (
February 11, 2014 UAC
Re: Ranney Well Performance Testing, Project WA-13-023, Layne Christensen, Inc., Amendment No. 1
Page 2
Performance testing of the Ranney well indicated that the well is operating relatively efficiently
and the lateral screens are not significantly clogged. The well appears to be producing most of the
water available and any redevelopment efforts would not result in a substantial increase in
production at this time.
In addition to the minor loss in well efficiency since the well was installed, the well has been
impacted by river migration, river channel sedimentation and interference from the Department of
Fish and Wildlife (F&W) wells. The Ranney well is currently estimated to be capable of producing
about 6.7 MGD on a continual basis, while maintaining water levels above the low water cut off
point. The migration of the main river channel to the far side of the valley has effectively moved
the recharge source farther from the well resulting in decreased yields due to the additional
drawdown caused by the increased time to reach stabilization.
Present impacts in the river channel related to sedimentation appear to be the accumulation of
material that 1) prevents water from flowing through the side and sub channels adjacent to the
Ranney well and that 2) increases the thickness and changes the character of streambed materials.
This increase in thickness and changed character probably causes reduced streambed leakance
(recharge) resulting in more drawdown in the collector well and less capacity.
The degree to which this sediment has impacted the performance of the Ranney well to date is
difficult to quantify, given the limited data set prior to dam removal activities. To more thoroughly
evaluate sedimentation impacts, it would have been necessary to develop a longer baseline period
and survey prior to dam removal to allow future comparisons. The recent evaluation has provided
a valuable baseline for the Ranney well to compare future results to as the sediment stored behind
the dams continues to wash down the Elwha River valley and be re-deposited along its length.
In order to continue to record water level trends within the aquifer over the course of dam removal
and the sediment impact period, Layne recommended that water level recorders be installed on the
two observation wells and a direct read graduated staff gauge be installed at the upstream concrete
intake structure. They also recommended that a 24 to 48 hour constant rate pump test of the
Ranney well be conducted at a lower rate to observe the drawdown trend at the end of the test and
better define the current capacity of the well and that similar performance testing to that recently
completed (excluding the underwater inspection) be conducted every six months for a period of
one year and annually thereafter, while the sediment from behind the removed dams continues to
wash down the Elwha River. This additional testing will allow the performance trend of the
Ranney well to be determined from the initial baseline testing that has already occurred.
To accomplish this, the Layne Christensen, Inc. will be assisted by the City’s Water Utility crew to
perform this work. The tasks for this amendment are summarized in the table below:
Table 1: Task and Amounts
Tasks Budget
Task 4 - Installation of Monitoring of Level Recorders in $6,390
Observation Wells 1-13 and 2-13 and Gauge.
Task 5- 24 to 48 Hour Constant-Rate Test of the Collector Well $14,740
Total$21,130
Funding for the proposed amendment is available from the 2014 Water Utility fund in the amount
of $25,000.
It is recommended that the Utilities Advisory Committee forward a favorable recommendation to
City Council to approve and authorize the City Manager to sign an amendment to the professional
services agreement with Layne Christensen, Inc. of Columbus, Ohio in an amount not to exceed
$21,130, which will increase the contract amount to $71,130.00, and to make minor modifications
to the agreement, if necessary.
N:\\UAC\\MEETINGS\\UAC2014\\UAC021114\\Ranney Well Performance Testing Project WA-13-023 Professional
UAC).docx
Services Agreement (
OW #2
Sublet Channel
OW #1
Utility Advisory Committee Memo
Date:
February11, 2014
To: Utility Advisory Committee
From:
Gregg King, Power Resource Manager
Subject: Cable Television Franchise Renewal Professional Services Agreement
Summary:
The City wants to retain Columbia Telecommunications Corporation (CTC) using a professional
services agreement to provide the technical support services necessary for the City to successfully complete the
upcoming Cable Television (CATV) Franchise renewal process with WAVE Broadband. CTC has a history of
working with the City on telecommunications projects, including finalizing the previous CATV franchise renewal.
CTC has many years experience working on cable television franchise renewals, are reasonably priced, and they
have current knowledge regarding the City’s telecommunications agreements and infrastructure.
Recommendation: Forward a favorable recommendation to City Council to approve and authorize the City
Manager to sign the CATV Franchise Renewal Professional Services Agreement with Columbia
Telecommunications Corporation in an amount not to exceed $76,850 and to make minor modifications to
the agreement, if necessary.
Background/Analysis:
In May 2002, the City approved a 15 year Cable Television (CATV) franchise under the
federal Cable Television Act, which is scheduled to end in May 2017. Under the federal Cable Television Act, a CATV
franchise renewal may take up to 36 months to complete. Therefore, the City needs to start its renewal process beginning
in May 2014. Renewing the franchise will lock the City into a 17 year relationship, and complications may occur if the
City’s interests are not adequately addressed during the renewal process. The City wants to retain Columbia
Telecommunications Corporation (CTC) to help the City successfully navigate through the franchise renewal process.
CTC has a history of working with the City on its telecommunications projects, including the previous CATV franchise
renewal agreement. CTC has many years of experience in working on CATV franchise renewals and know the City’s
current telecommunications agreements and infrastructure.
Because City staff will perform some of the tasks previously handled by consultants, CTC’s proposal for the CATV
franchise renewal is $76,850. This is a cost savings of between $73,000 and $123,000 when compared to the initial
estimated consulting services budget estimate of $150,000 - $200,000. This proposed fee is also significantly lower than
what other comparable municipalities have spent on their franchise renewals. Some examples include Bellingham, WA
($125,000) and Richland, WA ($100,000 so far and additional costs are anticipated).
Under this contract CTC will, with the assistance and oversight of City staff, review the current cable provider’s past
performance under the franchise agreement, perform a technical review of the cable infrastructure, conduct community
survey’s to obtain an understanding of the needs and wants of the City and its citizens, negotiate the new franchise
agreement, and assist staff in drafting any needed Ordinances. The City Attorney has reviewed the proposed Agreement.
Staff therefore asks that the Utility Advisory Committee forward a favorable recommendation to City Council to approve
and authorize the City Manager to sign the CATV Franchise Renewal Professional Services Agreement with Columbia
Telecommunications Corporation in an amount not to exceed $76,850 and to make minor modifications to the agreement,
if necessary.
N:\\UAC\\Original\\Cable TV Franchise Renewal Professional Services Agreement 11FEB14 UAC.doc
Utility Advisory Committee Memo
Date:
February 11, 2014
To: Utility Advisory Committee
From:
Phil Lusk, Deputy Director of Power and Telecommunications Systems
Subject:
Morse Creek Hydroelectric Project Recommendation
Summary:
Staff is seeking a recommendation from the Utility Advisory Committee to the City
Council to determine the permanent future of the Morse Creek hydroelectric project.
Recommendation:Provide a recommendation to City Council to proceed with one of the two
following options related to the Morse Creek hydroelectric project:
1. Retire the project after surrendering the operating license to the Federal Energy
Regulatory Committee and maintain ownership, or
2. Sell the project and property in their present condition, after declaring them to be surplus
to the City’s needs.
Background/Analysis:
On June 12, 2012, staff updated the Utility Advisory Committee
(UAC) on the cost of operating and maintaining the Morse Creek hydroelectric project. This is
slightly after the time it was discovered that the generator bearings require replacement. On July
10, 2012, staff shared that a $100,000 cost estimate was received for the generator repairs
necessary to enable operation. Due to the repair costs and future operating risk, staff
recommended that the retirement or sale of the project and property be considered. Staff notified
stakeholders about possible retirement of the project and requested they share their needs and
interests. On August 14, 2012, staff summarized the stakeholder responses received, and the UAC
asked staff to complete an economic analysis. On November 13, 2012, staff presented the results
of the economic analysis, which determined that the costs of operating the project would be
significantly higher than purchasing additional wholesale power from the Bonneville Power
Administration. The UAC then recommended to the City Council that it consider options for the
project other than continued operation. On November 20, 2012, City Council directed that the
project be placed in standby mode to minimize costs, and to return later to the City Council with
additional information. On January 7, 2014, staff received a letter from the Federal Energy
Regulatory Committee (FERC) requesting the City’s plan and schedule for either: 1) Repairing the
generator; 2) Selling the project, or 3) Surrendering the operating license issued by them.
The risk factors that could increase the City’s financial exposure continue to exist. As the
generator repair cannot be justified on an economic basis, staff recommends that one of the
recommendations listed above be forwarded to City Council. The financial information regarding
the Morse Creek Hydroelectric Project is provided below. Because all of the equipment has been
N:\\UAC\\MEETINGS\\UAC2014\\UAC021114\\Morse Creek Hydroelectric Facility 2014 Recommendation.docx
Morse Creek Hydroelectric Project Recommendation
February 11, 2014
Page 2
fully depreciated, the only value is for the land, which is estimated to be $100,000.
Asset
ID# ` Value Depreciation Net Value
370 Morse Creek Dam 29,220 29,220 - Fully depreciated
511 Morse Creek tailrace 20,649 20,649 - Fully depreciated
461 SCADA repeater station 7,750 7,750 - Fully depreciated
462 SCADA Additions 79,434 79,434 - Fully depreciated
371 Generator set 20KW diesel 12,595 12,595 - Fully depreciated
512 Hydro Plant Facility 1,621,074 1,621,074 - Fully depreciated
69 Land- Morse Creek Hydro 100,000 - 100,000 Land - no depreciation
Totals 1,870,722 1,770,722 100,000
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PORT ANGELES AMI
SYSTEM RF EMISSION
CONSIDERATIONS
Utility Advisory Committee
11 February 2014
Philip D. Lusk
Deputy Director of Power & Telecommunications Systems
360.417.4703
plusk@cityofpa.us
RF-EMF?
RF-EMF
•
Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Field
•
Frequencies from 50 MHz to 3.5 GHz
•
Measured as Power Density
•
•Microwatts/square meter or centimeter (µW/m 2 or µW/cm 2)
•Decibels/milliwatt(dBm)
Smart meter RF-EMF has been measured
•
The City’s smart meters are operating at levels about 1,000 to 100,000
•
lower than the current federal threshold, depending upon the distance
What Levels of RF-EMF will Smart
Meters Add to the Environment?
Smart meters use wireless signals in the 900 MHz range
•
that are similar to:
Cordless phones, cellphones, wireless routers and laptops, baby
•
monitors, microwave ovens, radios and televisions, pagers, garage-
door openers, touch lamps, and walkie-talkies
What Levels of RF-EMF will Smart
Meters Add to the Environment?
Transmitter output power is very low
•
Signal level decreases substantially with meter distance
•
(“Inverse-Square Law”)
Specifically, if you double the distance from the source, the
•
2
intensity will decrease to 25% of its original amount (1/2=1/4).
Typical RF Power levels
Guideline Standards
•National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) requires the Federal
Government to evaluate and set standards
•FCC has been assigned the responsibility to set standards for human
exposure to RF energy emitted by FCC regulated equipment
•FCC adopted first set of guidelines in 1985
•Current FCC guidelines a set in OET Bulletin 65 Edition 97-01
•GAO in report dated July 2012 to Congress and the FCC (GAO-12-771)
requested that FCC re-examine radiation impact of closely held cell phones
How were the Standards derived ?
Expert Professional:
•
National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurement
•
Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE)
•
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
•
Comments to the FCC public rule-making Proceeding
•
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
•
Food ands Drug Administration (FDA)
•
Federal Safety and Heath Agencies
•
Others
•
FCC Compliance Standards
What are the AMI System Requirements?
Criteria is set based on Radio Frequency (MHz) and Application (duration)
For Port Angeles:
System operates in the 908 –928 MHz range
Transmits only once daily
Duration of transmission is one second or less
FCC sets a maximum safe power density level for 30 minutes of continuous
exposure.
Port Angeles expose time is less than 1/1800 of the FCC recommend exposure
period ( 1/ ( 30 minutes x 60 seconds))
Calculated Exposure Based on FCC Criteria
for Port Angeles AMI System
Spectrum
Analyzer
Measurement
Example of test
measurement data
Measurement taken with
antenna probe touching
meter face.
Van Burton Gym
Equipment closet
Field Measurements
( FCC max 17.2 dBm)
Location On Meter3 Ft. Away
Van Burton Gym2.1 dBm-30 dBm
707 “I” St.-9.9 dBm-32 dBm
City Hall Garden13.0 dBm-23 dBm
Summary of Findings with Regard to FCC Criteria
The strongest signal measured (Garden Area) touching
•
the meter is ¼ of the FCC threshold level
At a distance of 3 ft., from the meter the signal is at least
•
1/1,000 of the FCC threshold level
The transmission duration is at least 1/1000 of the FCC
•
standard of 30 minutes
Miniscule RF contribution either on a time or amplitude
•
basis to specific 900 MHz frequency or to the entire RF
spectrum
SOURCE: http://www.naperville.il.us/emplibrary/Smart_Grid/NSGI-HealthSafety-ExposureLevels-lg.jpg