CITIZENS’ ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Meeting Minutes

August 17, 2006

 

 

CAC Members in Attendance: Roberta Simonton (Chair), Michael Buchenau, Russell Burton, Larry Keesen, Jim Legas, Myrna Poticha, Deb Pilon, Rick Sackbauer

 

DW Staff:  Marie Bassett, John Wright, and Joe Sloan

 

Guest:  Tim Flynn

 

 

OPENING REMARKS, AGENDA AND MINUTES

 

Minutes and agenda were approved as presented. Roberta thanked Rick for the West Slope tour he organized for the CAC.    

 

DENVER WATER STAFF UPDATE - Marie Bassett, Director of Public Affairs

 

10-Year Conservation Plan (2016) – DW staff has been talking with the City about conservation projects on city owned property.  The City is interested in participating but lacks the resources to fund projects.  Andrew Wallach (Mayor’s Office) briefed the Board on the City’s proposed participation in the 2016 Plan.

 

Sharon Sherman of GBSM also briefed the Board on the launch of the Plan.  Sharon stressed to the Board that once the Plan gets underway, the Board needs to keep the project moving forward. 

 

Costs associated with the 2016 Plan will be phased in over the next few years.  Currently, $6 million is budgeted for 2007.  Staff will continue to revise the Plan and implement projects which offer the most water savings.

 

Notification of water turn-offs – Marie had received copies of e-mails sent to the CAC on the topic of turn-offs.  She distributed a document showing the typical billing cycle.  Customers have 108 days after the billing date before a turn-off occurs.  The customer will receive a minimum of five contacts from Denver Water (bills, delinquent notices, etc ) before the turn-off occurs. Myrna stated the issue from the customer who wrote the e-mails was that Friday turn-offs could result in three days without water.   Marie explained staff scheduling and indicated it would not be cost-effective to eliminate Fridays from the turn-off schedule.  In an effort to reduce overtime costs, field staff are not scheduled for more than 40 hours.  If a true emergency exists, such as an ill person at the residence, staff will be dispatched from another Section (Water Operations) to turn-on the service.  However, Water Operations is on-call for main breaks and only used for turn-ons in emergency situations. 

 

Jim asked for the number of turn offs in a month.   Marie responded there can be as few as 20 and in some cycles as many as 600.  When there are large numbers of turn-offs, staff has to schedule turn-offs on Fridays. Roberta asked if Denver Water has a program to assist those who cannot pay their water bills.  Marie stated there is no program at Denver Water but some social service agencies have assisted customers in the payment of their water bills.  If a customer is making a payment, even a small one each month, a turn-off will not occur.  Marie also explained a new program, “soft reminders”, which are calls placed to those customers who frequently have delinquent accounts.  This has been a good program and has reduced the number of turn-offs in some billing cycles.  However, some customers now state their water cannot be turned-off because they did not receive a reminder call.  Customer Care is doing everything possible to avoid turn-offs.    

 

September CAC Meeting – Marie asked if the CAC would host an evening meeting to receive public comment on the proposed 2007 rate increase.  Roberta agreed and asked Marie to extend an invitation to the Board to attend the meeting on September 21.

 

Joe read an e-mail from Theresa Jehn-Dellaport into the minutes.  Theresa suggested DW revise the wording on the “Oops” card (card left at properties where a first-time water violation occurred) to contain more positive wording.  Joe has forwarded her e-mail to the appropriate staff who are responsible for the cards.    

 

 

DISCUSSION OF WATER BUDGETS  -  John Wright,  Manager of Rates

John gave a presentation on the concept of water budgets which was given to the Board by David LaFrance.  The presentation was used to give background and history on the idea, copies of which were distributed to the members of the CAC.  Larry stated that in his opinion, tap fees need to be included in the discussion.  Properties with large lots pay a higher tap fee and therefore should not have to pay higher usage rates.  Larry thought tap fees should cover the cost to connect to the system but once on the system, large lots should not be penalized. 

Myrna referred to a document from Western Resource Advocates which suggested the issue is more about equity in the rate setting method rather than simply an issue of water budgets.  There can be an unfair water budget system if it is not properly designed, just as there can be unfair block-rate structures.   Water budgets are only as good as the design and policies used to create them.  Myrna asked John if the City Charter would limit the use of water budgets.  John responded he would have to do more research on the topic.  The primary issue is that there can be no preferential treatment of one customer class over another customer class.

 

2006 AD CAMPAIGN

Slides were shown of the 2006 “Use Only What You Need” campaign.  Billboards, yard signs, bus boards, radio spots, a mobile billboard, a stripped-down car and coasters are some of the venues being used in the campaign.  Yard signs were made available to the members of the CAC.   Myrna stated she had noticed the signs across Denver, however, she thought the radio ads were too fast to understand.  Joe explained these ads were a new 5-second spot.  This was new to DW and Joe will share Myrna’s comment with the staff responsible for the ad campaign.

 

CAC BUSINESS 

 

IRP  – Roberta would like the CAC to comment on the IRP.  Comments can occur at any time and do not have to wait until numbers are presented to the CAC.  She thinks the CAC has a responsibility to comment on the important issues in the IRP, such as firm yield and the safety factor.

 

CIS  -  Myrna would like to have regular updates on the new CIS system.  It is frustrating to hear that so many important issues are waiting until a new CIS system is in place.  Joe will ask Marie to add CIS updates to her overall update which is presented at the start of each CAC meeting.

 

Bylaws – Roberta suggested the CAC review the Bylaws prior to the selection of new members for the CAC.  She would like to ensure those applying for the CAC have a constituent base.  Russell suggested the CAC review the Bylaws annually as is done in other organizations.  The other members concurred.  Roberta asked that proposed edits to the Bylaws be sent to Joe prior to the next meeting.  The edits can be reviewed at the September meeting.

 

Future Agenda Items –

            September – Rates, Bylaws and CAC Openings

            October – IRP  

Attendance at Board Meetings

            August 23 – Roberta

            September – Russell, tentative and will confirm his status tomorrow ( 8/18)

 

The meeting was adjourned at 7:05 p.m.