CITIZENS’ ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Minutes of the Meeting of May 15, 2003

CAC Members in Attendance:  Theresa Worsham (Chair), Russell Burton (Vice-Chair), Jodi Adkins, Tim Flynn, Larry Keesen,  Myrna Poticha, Mary Vodneck and Gayle Weinstein

Guests:  George Kerber

Staff:  Marie Bassett and Joe Sloan

Agenda & Minutes

The Agenda and Minutes of April 17, 2003 were approved as presented.

Public Comments

Mr. George Kerber spoke to the CAC as a homeowner concerned about Denver Water’s restrictions and how those restrictions effect homeowners.  Golf Courses, Parks, and large businesses get to use 70% of their historical use the way they want to and at any time.  Homeowners have to follow restrictions and cannot decide how to use their water.  Mr. Kerber asked the CAC to encourage the Board to change restrictions so that they are fair to all users. Further, Denver Water does not enforce their own restrictions.  Mr. Kerber distributed photos of water waste which he said he has reported numerous times and the waste continues.  He suggested Denver Water create a water allotment system that would allow homeowners to choose how they want to use their water.  He stated he was a computer programmer and that it would not be difficult to create such a system.  Denver Water’s web site currently allows customers to see past use.  It should be easy to use the existing information to create an allotment system.  Jodi Adkins responded that the restrictions are not fair but that she believes the Board is looking at the best ways to manage the water currently in the reservoirs.  She suggested Mr. Kerber attend Drought Task Force meetings to hear from other water users.  Many feel they too are not treated fairly by Denver Water.  Larry Keesen & Russell Burton stated that while homeowners were effected by the restrictions the green industry, landscape companies and new home owners who can’t plant sod or grass are in more difficult situations than the average home owner.  Theresa Worsham thanked Mr. Kerber for attending the meeting and for his efforts to report water waste.  The CAC decided not to recommend an allotment system to the Board.   

Staff Update

Marie Bassett, Acting Director of Public Affairs, reported the following:

Restrictions Changes – The Board has changed the restrictions to allow golf courses to use 70% of historical use.  The restriction had allowed for 50% of historic use.   The Board did not make any other changes but have instructed staff to get public input on the proposed changes to the number of zones that can be watered and on the allowance of extra water days to establish sod.

Surcharges – If the reservoirs reach 80% the surcharge will come off.  The issue before the Board is how to take the surcharges off so that all customers are effected equally.  Because of billing cycles at Denver Water, some customers could be effected more than others if the surcharges are lifted at the same time.  No decisions have been made but this topic will be discussed at future meetings.   

Athletic Fields – Schools have asked if they can lay sod on athletic fields.  Currently athletic fields can be watered more frequently than other areas of a school’s landscaped areas.  The current rules allow for six days of watering for athletic fields.  This would be enough days to establish sod.  Therefore DW expects several schools will be putting in sod at athletic fields.  Tim Flynn stated that this will create problems for the Master Meter customers.  If a school puts in new sod and uses a good amount of water the master meter, which serves the district, will face higher surcharges.  Tim suggested Denver Water should be allowing Mater Meter districts to decide if new sod on athletic fields should be allowed.

Itron – The Itron Company has developed a test- nit that can send a reading from the meter to the residence.  This will allow customers to see how much water is being used.  Marie had asked for volunteers at the April CAC meeting to study what type of unit would be best for Denver Water.  However, Itron has already developed a test-unit and by July Marie believes Denver Water can install 40 to 50 of these test units.   The test group will have to meet some criteria such as a residential customer, an AMR unit on the meter, and test group participants live in close proximity to allow for ease in data collection. 

Myrna Poticha suggested that Denver Water should seek some publicity for the study to demonstrate DW is working on this issue.  Larry Keesen suggested DW seek publicity for the work being done with ET (evapotranspiration) control units.   He also suggested Denver Water include some type of subsurface irrigation products as part of the proposed summer water saving rebates.  Many HOAs are looking at redoing existing irrigation system and DW should be encouraging the use of subsurface irrigation.  Larry also suggested that DW keep the winter rebate program for toilets that a list of acceptable toilets be included as is done with the list of acceptable washing machines.  Gayle Weinstein stated that all of these topics go back to the need for DW to do more, more, more education.  The rebate programs, studies, Xeriscape, etc. need to be shown to the customers.  Change in water use will come with education. 

Tim Flynn asked Marie if any of the proposed supply projects are being accelerated.  Marie responded there is a proposal to accelerate the north end supply projects and the Recycled Water system.  The Board has been presented with the projected costs to accelerate both of these projects.  If both are accelerated the need to increase rates at a higher level will occur.  The Board will decide which (or both) of these projects to accelerate in light of the costs.

Video – “Colorado River Diversions, Where West Meets East”   

Theresa Worsham showed a video produced by NWCCOG entitled, Colorado River Diversions, Where West Meets East.  The other members of the CAC said it was good to see the West Slope perspective and encouraged Theresa to distribute additional information on West Slope water issues.

CAC Business

The CAC discussed the proposed changes to the current restrictions and drafted a letter to the Board.  The draft will be sent to the members via e-mail for corrections and changes.  Myrna Poticha stated she would attend the next Board meeting. 

Jodi Adkins requested information on a new type of grass that was developed at CSU which uses one fifth the amount of water needed by other types of grass.

Mary Vodneck requested information on the rate study that will look at how Denver Water sets suburban rates.  Tim Flynn stated the distributors are seeking a consultant to work with Denver Water on such a study.  Tim anticipates seven or eight of the distributors will take part and will pay for the work done by the consultant.  Mary would like to get updates on this study.

Theresa Worsham suggested the next CAC meeting be devoted to planning future meetings.  She would like to see the CAC focus on a few keys issues.  The other members of the CAC concurred.    

Next Meeting

The next regular meeting of the Citizens' Advisory Committee will be held on Thursday, June 19, 2003 at 5:00 p.m., in the third floor Board Room at Denver Water, 1600 W. 12^th Avenue.  The meeting was adjourned at 7:10 p.m.