CITIZENS’ ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Meeting Minutes

August 21, 2008

Members in attendance: Mel Rettig, David Spector, Becky Long, Deborrah Pilon, Phil Lidov, Myrna Poticha, Jason Randall, Rick Sackbauer, Steve Ormiston.

Guests: Michael Smith and Grace Wilcox

Minutes were approved for the July meeting with the recommended edits.

Public Comments - None

Strategic Plan (Michael Smith & Grace Wilcox)

• A new Strategic Plan is being created to replace the plan from 1997. Focus groups are being used to provide the Strategic Planning committee with employee feedback. All PR that explains the plan will be done by Community Relations. The purpose of the Strategic Plan is to create a vision, with goals, that will move towards completion in a reasonable time frame. Using a group process allows for a situational analysis that focused on four key questions for Denver Water:
  • What are Denver Water’s strengths?
  • What are Denver Water’s weaknesses?
  • What internal/external threats should be focused on?
  • What new, emerging opportunities should Denver Water involve itself in?
• Mike asked the CAC what they saw as important issues for Denver Water, and their responses were:

Becky Long – Denver Water should look at how water usage is changing, find ways to keep a sustainable staff, and engage new technologies to improve customer service.

Myrna Poticha – As a representative for the environmental community, Denver Water should learn to overcome its negative perception of being a monolithic organization, have better communication with the public, and entertain new ideas from other water companies.

Mike asked the group if there have been any changes since the last Strategic Plan, and the members advised him that certain things have gotten worse, such as none of the Board members attending the CAC meetings, despite repeated invitations, zero communication between the Board members and the CAC.

Steve Ormiston – Denver Water needs to provide leadership and cooperate in projects with other water providers to help mentor them in providing better water to their customers.

David Spector – There should be more interaction and communication with rate payers, letting customers know all about Denver Water through an identification campaign.

Jason Randall – Suggests having elected officials on the Water Board so there is more accountability for their actions. Jason said he is frustrated be on the CAC and not do anything. Perhaps changing the structure of the Water Board to have a combination of appointees and elected officials would be better.

Phil Lidov – Phil questioned how the changes in climate and our forests will affect our water supply.

Deb Pilon – Different conservation plans are needed for the city and the suburbs. Mike noted that this issue came up at the Distributors meeting he attended recently.

Mel Rettig – His concern is about the West Slope negotiations. He is also concerned about the rates changes, as a tiered system is currently used and the rates are high.

Rick Sackbauer – The Summit County issue is a priority – Denver Water needs to work on their trust and make their presence as a human organization more visible. Rick is also worried about the loss of employees due to retirement should be focused on. Rick does not believe taking West Slope water is a good idea, and that Denver Water should not go into Douglas County. Denver Water needs to improve its image so the community will trust it again.

Grace Wilcox asked the group if they had any positive comments – Rick thought that the “Use Only What You Need Campaign” was great, Myrna complimented the Water Quality district engineers for their public relations with the customers in the region, David noted that rates for water are very fair, and Becky added that Denver Water has a great rate structure.

Marie Bassett (Denver Water, Public Affairs)

• Rick Sackbauer attended a meeting with approximately 40 citizens in Summit County to discuss the Dillon dam road. The citizens are looking forward to a resolution with this issue.
• Brian Good will meet with the Sheriff of Dillon to show him the layouts of the physical barriers. The current agreement with Summit County to keep the Dillon Dam road open will expire soon so an extension will be required.
• The new IRP will involve the assets of the Strategic Plan and the future of Denver Water.
• The Water Board will hear about the new rate increases, involving four years of 9 and 10% increases. The Board will vote on the increases on their second meeting of September.
• The CAC would like to make the issue of their relationship with the Board an agenda item.

CAC Business

After the meeting, the CAC visited the Southern and Northern Gravel Pit Systems and the Recycle Plant, with Tom Walker, John Bambei and Russell Plakke as guides.