CITIZENS’ ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Meeting Minutes

September 21, 2006

 

 

CAC Members in Attendance: Roberta Simonton (Chair), Michael Buchenau, Russell Burton, Theresa Jehn-Dellaport, Larry Keesen, Jim Legas, Deb Pilon

 

DW Staff:  David LaFrance, John Wright, Rick Wirth,  Stacey Renouf and Joe Sloan

 

Guest:  Kevin Iverson, Commissioner Tate, Eleana Tate, and following neighbors of Dunes Reservoir; Alden Snow, Joe Munoz, Lu Munoz, Jack Paska, Kathleen Ludwig, Dolores Larson, Lance, Amy Sears 

 

 

OPENING REMARKS, AGENDA AND MINUTES

 

The agenda was approved as presented.  The minutes where approved after corrections were made to page 3.  The corrected sentence is “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.”    

 

 

COMMENT FROM THE PUBLIC

 

Alden Snow spoke on behalf of the neighbors of Dunes Reservoir.  Neighbors would like to know which entity will be in charge of the site.  Further, if Denver Water is responsible for the site would it allow recreation on the reservoir.  Mr. Snow explained the issues for the neighbors and asked the CAC to further their request, for recreation at the site, to staff and the Board.   Roberta stated the CAC was not aware of the Dunes area but knew of the gravel pits sites in Adams County.  Roberta requested the CAC be kept informed on the status of the site.  Russell offered to research the developer for the site through his contacts at the HBA.  Joe collected contact information from the Dunes neighbors.  He offered to set up a meeting with the neighbors, DW staff and staff from South Adams County W & S.  He will inform the CAC once a date for the meeting has been set.

 

 

CAC BYLAWS & OPENINGS ON THE CAC

 

Roberta asked if members of the CAC had an opportunity to review the Bylaws.  Any suggested changes to the Bylaws could be sent to Joe.  Joe will collect the suggested changes and include them in the next packet.   Roberta suggested the CAC set a timeline to fill the open positions at the October CAC meeting.  CAC members should contact interested organizations or individuals and encouraged then to apply. 

 

 

PROPOSED 2007 RATE INCREASE -  John Wright,  Manager of Rates

John provided handouts with the options for 2007 rate increases.  There were several options presented and John explained the Board would select one option or a combination of options at the September workshop.  Larry stated none of the opinions presented addressed one of his reoccurring issues, HOA bills.  Several taps on a single HOA should be averaged and not read separately.  David LaFrance responded that DW assumes HOAs divide the bill among all the residents.  Larry contents it is still unfair because HOAs move into high blocks due to one meter running faster than another meter.  He realizes this issue goes back to how developers installed taps but Denver Water approved the taps and should be a part of fixing the bill inequities. 

The documents show a 186 million dollar income from residential customers.  Kevin Iverson asked how income from residential breaks out among customers classes.  David did not have the exact numbers.  However for the large users, about one-half percent of DW customers, they use 8% of the water and produce 10% of the total income.  David offered to get additional information to Kevin.

Kevin asked how DW gets information out about the rate increase and usage.  Stacey Renouf explained DW uses mailings, the web site, press releases and mail inserts to inform customers on usage and rates.  Kevin research usage on DW web site and found usage is less in 2005 than in 1981.   Customers are led to believe they need to conserve when they already have, yet rates continue to rise.  He believes the CAC should push DW to get this information out to customers.  He believes strongly in conservation but also in getting the truth out and letting customers give input on how to manage water and revenue.  Conservation should be based on a choice not through rates. Kevin asked if reservoirs are spilling and water is lost downstream should there still be the push to conserve.  The role of the CAC should be to get all facts to the customers. 

Roberta encouraged Kevin to get the information to DW staff and Stacey agreed to discuss the information with Kevin.   Theresa stated conservation is needed as we look to the future.  It maybe wet this year but droughts will occur.  Commissioner Tate concurred that DW has to look at the water situation in broader terms.  There is uncertainty in predicting the amount of water coming into the reservoirs each year.  Kevin is right, DW needs to inform the customers, and that should include information on issues of climate change, water rights and interstate water agreements.   

Roberta asked the members to give their individual input on the proposed rate options. Larry favors pro-conservation rates but would like to see the Board address the issue of HOAs being over-charged for water.  Many HOAs have several taps and instead of averaging the taps each is billed separately.  This results in higher overall bills than in any other customer class.   In regards to the proposed residential rates, in favor of a 3:1 or 4:1 steepness.  Theresa favors a 4:1 steepness in residential rates.  Deb prefers the service charge as it benefits the small user.  In agreement with Larry that HOA issue should be addressed in the rates.  Jim favors a 3:1 steepness in residential rates.  He would also like to see the HOA issue addressed in the rates.  He is not convinced DW has enough storage and does not want conservation-based rates to be the answer to future water needs.  DW must continue to develop additional storage.  Michael favors a 3:1 or 4:1 steepness in residential rates.  We live in a high-desert and must continue to do everything possible to conserve.  Russell prefers the service charge model.  Favors a 3:1 or 4:1 steepness in residential rates, the 5:1 appears to be almost a penalty.  Some large lots have code requirement to landscape with turf.  Until those codes or HOA requirements are changed there should not be a 5:1.  Roberta stated there appeared to be an endorsement for a 3:1 or 4:1 steepness in the residential rates.  There does not appear to be consensus on service charge models.     

 

Roberta suggested the CAC discuss the issue of the HOA billing at a future meeting.

 

CAC BUSINESS

 

Future Agenda Items –

            October & November – Bylaws and CAC Openings

            HOA Billing, IRP

 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.