Citizens' Advisory Committee
Meeting Minutes
July 27, 2005

CAC Members in Attendance: Myrna Poticha (Chair), Michael Buchenau, Theresa Jehn-Dellaport, Larry Keesen, Jim Legas, Rick Sackbauer, and Roberta Simonton
DW Staff: Liz Gardener, Kerry Kuykendoll, Margaret Medellin, David Allen, Ken Lykens and Joe Sloan
Speaker: Bill Maddaus

The CAC members attended the Board workshop prior to the meeting on the morning of July 27, 2005.

Agenda & Minutes

Minutes – Minutes of June 16, 2005 were approved as presented.

Business

Irrigation Rates – Larry requested the CAC address the inconsistencies in the rates structure between, single family, HOAs and multi-family properties. All water turf and open space but depending on how they are classified (commercial or residential) the rates can be very different.

Kerry responded that the rate classification (commercial or residential) is based on the primary use of the property. DW has studied an irrigation-only rate. However, an irrigation rate could create new inconsistencies. Kerry offered to look at specific account examples and discuss the issue at a future meeting.

Maddaus Report – Bill Maddaus answered questions from the members of the CAC. His report was given during the Board workshop. In response to Larry's request above, Bill stated that in his report he suggested ways to improve DW tracking of conservation efforts. One suggestion is to increase the number of classification within the customer service data base. Not necessarily a rate for each group but create a category for town homes, trailer parks, apartments, condos, etc within the classification of multi-family. This would allow for a better understanding of trends in water use instead of lumping all into a single category.

Roberta asked for Bill's opinion on what DW could change in the rate structure to encourage conservation. Bill responded DW could change the current block structure. There has not been a change to the current block structure in 10 years however water use during that same 10 years has changed significantly.

In response to a question about rebates Bill responded that some utilities earmark a percentage of a rate increase for rebates or grants. This concept is explained when the proposed increase is announced and has been well received by customers.

CAC Business

Agenda of Future CAC Meetings – The CAC will discuss if an August meeting will be necessary once the proposed 2006 rates have been discussed by the Board.

The tour of Cheesman is scheduled for August 17, 2005. Please RSVP by August 8th.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 11:45 a.m.