HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025 01.21 WUCFD Minutes City Council Chambers
City of Apache Junction, Arizona 300 E Superstition
Boulevard
Meeting Minutes Apache Junction,AZ
Im 85119
Water Utilities Community Facilities www.ajwaterdistriet.org
District P:(480)982-6030
Doors are open to the public at least 15 minutes prior to the
posted meeting start time.
Tuesday,January 21,2025 6:00 PM City Council Chambers
A. Call to Order
Chairperson Wilson called the meeting to order at 6:27 p.m.
B Roll Call
Present 7- Chairperson Wilson,Vice Chair Schroeder, Boardmember Cross, Boardmember
Soifer,Vice Chair Johnson,Vice Chair Heck,and Vice Chair Nesser
Staff in attendance,
Bryant Powell, District Manager
Matt Busby,Assistant District Manager
Yvette McKinney, Interim District Clerk
Joel Stern, District Legal Counsel
Mike Loggins, District Director
Charles Briggs, Water District Project Manager
Stacy Ramirez, District Billing Supervisor
Angelie Hawley, District Treasurer
Connie Chow, District Controller
Kayla Fulmer, Director of Marketing and Communications
Eli Richardson, Management Analyst
Robert Wider, Management Analyst
C. Agenda Items
1. 25-007 Approval of minutes of the November 19, 2024 meeting.
Boardmember Cross made a motion to approve the special meeting minutes of the November 19,
2024,meeting.Boardmember Nesser seconded the motion.
D. District Manager Report
No report,
E. District Director Report
2. 25-008 Presentation and discussion of backwash tank recta nog at Well 6
ArsenicTreatment Facility and Superstition Area Water Plant.
District Director Mike Loggins presented an update on the backwash tank recoating at Well 6
Arsenic Treatment Facility and Superstition Area Water Plant, The tank at Well 6 is
approximately 20 years old and after years of use, sludge builds up in the bottom and over time
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Water Utilities Community Facilities Meeting Minutes January 21,2025
District
the coating on the tank wears out. In addition to the tank coating,a beam needed to be replaced,
At the Superstition Area Water Plant, expansion is currently going on and changes need to be
made to the tank,While this expansion work is being completed,the District decided to recoat
the exterior and interior to the tank. The coatings last approximately 7-10 years,
3. 25-009 Presentation, discussion and update on District wide water system,
Mr. Loggins presented an update on the Salt River Project(SRP)and Central Arizona Project
(CAP) Interconnect Facility(SCIF),At a meeting with Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner
Camille Calimlim Toulon, SRP General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Jim Pratt, and
Central Arizona Water Conservation District Board President Terry Goddard, an announcement
was made by the Bureau of Reclamation that they will be funding$154 million of the project, Mr.
Loggins stated he was unsure what would happen to the money that has already been collected
for the project and there will be meetings to discuss how this would affect the overall budget.
4. 25-025 Discussion with Fire Chief John Whitney regarding Water Availability and
Firefighting Preparedness.
Mr, Loggins presented information regarding water availability and firefighting preparedness in
the city of Apache Junction. Mr, Loggins explained the basics of how water systems are
designed based on average day demands,This is calculated by multiplying the average
person's usage per day, the number of homes and how many people live in the home. Max day
demands are calculated, with items including things like irrigation systems, pools, etc. Then
peak hour demands are calculated; these hours tend to be between 6:00-8,00 a,m, when people
are getting ready for school and work and between 5:00-6:00 p.m,when people are getting
home from work. Fire flows are then added to this, including how much production and how
much water storage is needed in case of a fire. Storage is then based off whichever is higher,
max day demand plus fire-flow or peak hour demand,
Mr, Loggins introduced Fire Chief John Whitney from Superstition Fire and Medical District and
Vice President Engineering Andy Haas from Arizona Water Company who provided additional
information and answered questions from the Board.
Boardmember Johnson asked about new construction requirements, Mr. Loggins and Mr. Haas
explained that there are requirements before development and construction begins to ensure
there is enough pressure and flow,
Boardmember Soifer asked where the city is at with fire preparedness and what can be done to
ensure fires like in California do not occur, Fire Chief Whitney explained that the fires in
California were very complex,The Fire District continues to take proactive steps, including
meeting with homeowners'associations and community members and discussing wildfire
preparedness.At such meetings emphasis is given to the importance of ensuring areas around
homes and communities are clear of potential fuel sources.
Boardmember Cross asked about the lack of fire hydrants, especially in the rural areas, Fire
Chief Whitney explained that the Fire District has standard operating guidelines that address
scenarios like this, If a fire occurs in a rural area, the Fire District already knows what areas do
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Water Utilities Community Facilities Meeting Minutes January 21,2025
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not have fire hydrants and will require a tender shuttle to assist with water supply,
District Legal Counsel Joel Stern inquired of Chief Whitney if the Fire District followed the
International Fire Code, and if fire hydrants were required to be tested and if the testing included
pressure testing. Chief Whitney confirmed testing is required annually, If pressure is low,the
water provider would be notified, If the Fire District were to run into an issue while fighting a fire,
they connect a truck to the hydrant to get the supply of water and a second truck pumps it to
pressurize the water. If the volume of water is adequate, by doing this they can satisfy the
pressure issue,
Boardmember Heck asked Chief Whitney to let his employees know the city and
boardmernbers appreciate their professionalism and to thank them for the job they do to protect
the city,
F. District Treasurer Report
No report,
G. Adjournment
Chairperson Wilson adjourned the special meeting at 6:56 p.m.
ACCEPTED THIS Pa 41, DAY OF 61 -ar C, , 2025, BY THE CHAIR
PERSON AND DISTRICT BOARD OF THE WATER UTILITIES COMMUNITY FACILITIES
DISTRICT, (CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION,ARIZONA),
SIGNED AND ATTESTED TO THIS DAY OF M 2025.
WALTER"CHIP"WILSON
Chairperson
ATTEST:
_U
EVIE MCKINNEY
District Clerk
City of Apache Junction,Arizona Page 3