HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-02-14 WUCFD MINUTESDISTRICT BOARD OF THE
WATER UTILITIES COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT
(APACHE JUNCTION WATER COMPANY)
CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION,ARIZONA
REGULAR MEETING
FEBRUARY 14,2000
The regular meeting of the District Board of the Water Utilities Community
Facilities District (Apache Junction Water Company),City of Apache Junction,
Arizona,was held on February 14,2000,at the Apache Junction City Council
Chambers pursuant to the notice required by law.
CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Coleman called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Board Members Present:Chairperson Douglas Coleman
Vice Chairperson Anne Surra
Mr.Joe Durbala
Mr.R.E.Eck
Ms.Carol Urich
Mr.John Insalaco
Mr.Rick Dietz
Staff Present:
Others Present:
Curtis Shook,District Manager
Keith Lewis,District Finance Manager
Kathleen Connelly,District Clerk
Doug Dobson,District Operations Manager
John White,District Accountant
Jim Cowles,Water Superintendent
Bill Farrell,District Counsel
George Hoffman,Assistant City Manager
Glen Van Nimwegen,City Development Svcs.Director
Bill Allen,District Water Operator
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF DECEMBER 6,1999 )
Water Utilities Community Facilities District
Meeting Minutes of February 14,2000
Page 1 of 12
) Ms.Urich MOVED THAT THE MINUTES OF
DECEMBER 6,1999 BE APPROVED.
Mr.Dietz SECONDED THE MOTION.
VOTE:Unanimous.
The motion carried.
RESOLUTION NO.2000-001:AUTHORIZING THE
TRANSFER OF APPROXIMATELY 0.2 ACRES OF
LAND OWNED BY THE DISTRICT TO THE CITY OF
APACHE JUNCTION,ARIZONA
) District Counsel Bill Farrell briefed
the board on the item.He stated this has been requested by the city to
facilitate the conclusion of a development that the city is doing in the
industrial park area.The land will be used to develop a street right-of-way to
enhance district property and adjacent properties.He urged approval of the
item.
Vice Chairperson Surra asked what the
city is giving the district in return.
District Counsel Bill Farrell stated
the consideration will be determined at a later date.
Chairperson Coleman believed it would
be a nominal consideration,the real value will be in the increase to the rest
of the district's property.
District Counsel Bill Farrell stated
that is correct as neither parcel has significant value independently due to
their sizes.
Vice Chairperson Surra stated it is
really an improvement in the means of getting to the parcel.
District Counsel Bill Farrell stated
it may also encourage economic development of the adjacent properties.
Water Utilities Community Facilities District
Meeting Minutes of February 14,2000
Page 2 of 12
District Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated
she believed the consideration would be referenced by the city council when they
take their action.
Chairperson Coleman closed the
discussion and called for a motion.
Mr.Dietz MOVED THAT WE ADOPT
RESOLUTION NO.2000-001 AUTHORIZING THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD,DISTRICT MANAGER,
DISTRICT CLERK AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY TO DO ALL ACTS NECESSARY TO TRANSFER 0.2
ACRES OF DISTRICT OWNED PROPERTY TO THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION.
Vice Chairperson Surra SECONDED THE
MOTION.
VOTE:Unanimous.
The motion carried.
AUTHORIZATION TO PURCHASE TWO -WHEEL DRIVE
LOADER/EXTENDABLE BACKHOE,BID WW 2000-
001,FROM FALCON POWER IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT
OF $55,579.55,INCLUDING A BUCKET
ATTACHMENT
)Water Superintendent Jim Cowles
briefed the board on this item.This will replace a John Deere backhoe currently
being utilized by the district.This is a budget item that was approved last
year.The 4 in 1 bucket has been recommended by Public Works to assist the
district in street clean-ups.He urged the board to award the bid to Falcon
Power.
Mr.Eck asked if this is a backhoe.
Water Superintendent Jim Cowles stated
it is an extendable backhoe.
Mr.Eck asked what make it is.
Water Superintendent Jim Cowles stated
it is a Case 580.
Water Utilities Community Facilities District
Meeting Minutes of February 14,2000
Page 3 of 12
Chairperson Coleman closed the
discussion and called for a motion.
Mr.Insalaco MOVED THAT THE AWARD OF
BID FOR BID WW -2000-01, TWO -WHEEL DRIVE LOADER/EXTENDABLE BACKHOE,BE AWARDED TO
FALCON POWER IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $55,579.55,INCLUDING BUCKET ATTACHMENT,BE
APPROVED.
Ms.Urich SECONDED THE MOTION.
VOTE:Unanimous.
The motion carried.
DISCUSSION ON AND POSSIBLE DIRECTION TO
STAFF REGARDING WATER SUPPLY STUDY )
) Mr.Eck briefed the council on this
item.He commented the district needs to find another water source due to
ongoing water problems.Staff has already looked at a number of possibilities,
he believes the district is at a point where it needs to hire an expert in the
field of doing water system supply studies.There are engineering companies out
there that will do everything the district is looking for,including looking at
the well and determining the arsenic level,determining proper treatment for it,
looking at the feasibility of tying into the Mesa water supply with its actual
figures and costs,and determining if the district would be better off building
its own water treatment plant.The district can determine what information it
would like back.He urged for this to be put out to bid.
Mr.Durbala commented they might want
to look at buying the reverse osmosis to put in at the plant.The cost may be
high,but the purification plant will not be built for a few more years.The
equipment could be used as a back up system on the purification plant.
Mr.Eck stated he hoped the engineers
would be able to make a determination on that also.He had talked to one firm
and they stated they could do the study in a matter of weeks.The board would
have the information back in a couple of weeks to a couple of months.An easier
solution suggested was tying in at the tank site with Arizona Water, wherein each
could serve the other's water i f need be.However,he would like to get a
recommendation from someone who does this all the time.
Water Utilities Community Facilities District
Meeting Minutes of February 14,2000
Page 4 of 12
Mr. Durbala stated he would like to see
the district tie into something as soon as possible.He added the perception
that the water is bad can be worse than the actual situation, which is the water
is not bad.He is concerned about losing a lot of water over the next couple of
years,so he would like the reverse osmosis alternative to be looked at.
Mr.Eck repeated that is what he is
hoping to get out of the study.
Chairperson Coleman suggested they may
have some possible short term and long term solutions.
Vice Chairperson Surra stated someone
will have to write up the specifics of the bid;the expectations of the services
should be included.
District Manager Curtis Shook stated
staff can plot out what the concerns are and put together a proposal reflecting
the components of a more strategic plan for water supply and scheduled
maintenance,and to build a model on how the utility is going to grow.
Ms.Urich commented she would like to
see the feasibility of the water treatment plant.
Mr.Eck commented staff has been
working on this but he would like to see someone work on it who does it all the
time.
Mr.Durbala commented people are
concerned about the parts per billion of arsenic level.If one looks at a 16,000
gallon pool,the arsenic level would be less than 1/50th of an ounce out of the
16,000 gallons.The public should be aware of the size of the number.
Chairperson Coleman closed the
discussion and called for a motion.
Mr.Eck MOVED TO HAVE STAFF COMPRISE
A WATER SUPPLY STUDY PROGRAM;DRAFT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL TO COME BACK TO THE
BOARD WITHIN 30 DAYS;TO INCLUDE SHORT AND LONG TERM SOLUTIONS AND TREATMENT
PLANS.
Water Utilities Community Facilities District
Meeting Minutes of February 14,2000
Page 5 of 12
Mr.Dietz SECONDED THE MOTION.
VOTE:Unanimous.
The motion carried.
DISTRICT WATER SUPERINTENDENT REPORT:
Water Superintendent Jim Cowles commented Well W5 is currently down and
completion of the final repair is anticipated at 6:00 p.m.tonight.The well
should start to be reinstalled;they have been contracted to work all night and
through tomorrow.The well should be back on line tomorrow evening.
Vice Chairperson Surra commented this had been a planned down time for repair.
She asked how much more time the well was down than had been estimated.
Water Superintendent Jim Cowles stated the initial column pipe coming out of the
well had a severe crack at the top,allowing a severe amount of water leakage to
run down the casing of the pipe,causing excessive corrosion the length of the
pipe.The entire well structure had to be replaced.
Vice Chairperson Surra commented the replacement of the pipe is what extended the
length of time that the well was down.
Water Superintendent Jim Cowles stated that is correct.It was originally bid
for a down time of 48 hours.
Mr.Dietz asked when they started working on Well W5.
Water Superintendent Jim Cowles stated it was shut down on February 5.
Mr.Dietz asked when the district started getting water from Arizona Water
Company.
Water Superintendent Jim Cowles stated that was also February 5.
Mr.Dietz asked i f the district had been receiving water on January 31 and
through that week.
Water Superintendent Jim Cowles stated he was not aware of that.
Water Utilities Community Facilities District
Meeting Minutes of February 14,2000
Page 6 of 12
Mr. Dietz asked if the district was still receiving water from Arizona Water last
week.
Water Superintendent Jim Cowles stated the district was still receiving water as
of last week.
Mr.Dietz commented he understood the district had received 6,000,000 gallons as
of February 7 at a cost of $15,000,and the water was supposed to have started
on January 31.
Water Superintendent Jim Cowles stated he would have to check his records,but
he did not think they had started receiving water until February 5.
District Water Operator Bill Allen stated they shut the well down on the night
of February 4 and they did not receive any water from Arizona Water until
February 5.There was water already in the tank to cover the initial down time.
Water Superintendent Jim Cowles agreed.He added when the tank levels started
dropping down they contacted Arizona Water for use of their water.
Mr.Dietz asked how much water they had used as of today.
Water Superintendent Jim Cowles stated he was not sure,he would have to check
the read on their meter.
Mr.Dietz repeated he had been told the district had been using the water since
January 31,which he thought was odd,as he had been told the water would be shut
down for three to five days the following week.According to Arizona Water,as
of this morning the district has used 12,000,000 gallons at a cost of $30,000.
Water Superintendent Jim Cowles commented the well had been shut down for two
days for a chemical treatment,which started on February 4,and the first time
they asked for Arizona Water to turn the taps on was on February 5.He has the
current read for when they started the water.
Mr. Dietz stated he talked to Arizona Water on February 2 and they confirmed that
the district has used 1,000,000 gallons on January 31.
Water Superintendent Jim Cowles stated he was not aware of that.
Water Utilities Community Facilities District
Meeting Minutes of February 14,2000
Page 7 of 12
Mr.Dietz stated it was supposed to be running through the 2" at 16th and the 4"
off of Royal Palm.This is why he thought it was odd because they had been told
the district would not use Arizona Water until the week of February 7.
District Manager Curtis Shook stated they could check and get them day by days.
He had conveyed what he had been told by the superintendent.
Water Superintendent Jim Cowles stated he will get daily usage on that as the
meter was read daily.He will give the information to the district manager.
Mr.Dietz asked how the water is blended for Wells #5 and #6.
Water Superintendent Jim Cowles stated they do points blending.One point is the
2"supply tanks at 16th Avenue and Buena Vista.Once the tanks are pumped into
the system,it blends with the 4"in supplying the system.Both wells are
currently pumped into the tanks at 16th Avenue and Buena Vista.The water goes
into the tanks and it is distributed through the system.
Mr.Dietz asked if Well #6 continues to run if Well #5 is down.
Water Superintendent Jim Cowles stated it does not,it will only run when Well
#5 is running.
Mr.Dietz asked if the district uses Arizona Water solely if Wells #5 and A are
down.
Water Superintendent Jim Cowles stated they cannot take enough water from Arizona
Water to run the entire system.They have to run Well #6 to offset the extra
demand.
Mr.Dietz asked how they could run Well #6 with Well #5 down.
Water Superintendent Jim Cowles stated they can bypass the wiring.Continuing
with his report,he has applied for recovery well permits from Arizona Department
of Water Resources which will allow the district to draw from the groundwater
credits.He had to go to Arizona Water for permission on Well #5 to be used as
a recovery well as it falls within their district boundaries.He has sent a
letter asking for permission to allow the district to withdraw water recharge in
that well,but he has not heard back from Arizona Water yet.The district is
talking to Mesa about an interconnection at two possible points,one at Signal
Water Utilities Community Facilities District
Meeting Minutes of February 14,2000
Page 8 of 12
Butte and Guadalupe and the other at Baseline and Signal Butte.They have had
a few meetings and they are going to supply the district with a model to
determine how much water they can actually supply and where the best point to tie
in would be.They have also given the district the option of tying into their
treatment plant.
Mr.Dietz asked how much water they were looking at getting from Mesa.
Water Superintendent Jim Cowles stated they would start with about 725,000
gallons a day and possibly go up to 5,000,000 gallons per day.
Mr.Dietz asked if this would be on a continuous basis.
Water Superintendent Jim Cowles stated it will first be on an emergency basis,
but as the demand grows and the district has no other alternative sources of
water,it will be utilized.
Mr.Durbala asked if a chemical analysis had been made of that well.
Water Superintendent Jim Cowles stated they had not done one yet,but according
to their manager it is the best water they have in their system;they bottle that
water.
Mr.Durbala requested that a chemical analysis be done.
Water Superintendent Jim Cowles stated they would do that prior to any tie in.
The City of Mesa is offering the district a deal on a conservation program;
information on the program was distributed with the meeting packets.The only
cost would be the design of the logo and flyer,as Mesa is funding the other
costs.The next consumer confidence report will be in July and he requested the
board advise him if they would like any changes or additions made to it.
DISTRICT MANAGER REPORT:
District Manager Curtis Shook stated he had nothing other than what the water
superintendent reported.He was glad to hear the well would be up sooner than
what was thought.
Mr.Dietz asked if the district had enough funds to take care of the costs
relating to Well #5,if,in fact,the district did use $30,000 of water from
Water Utilities Community Facilities District
Meeting Minutes of February 14,2000
Page 9 of 12
Arizona Water.
District Manager Curtis Shook stated they would have to find it in other places
in the budget.
Water Superintendent Jim Cowles stated there is $60,000 in the contingency fund.
District Manager Curtis Shook stated there are funds within the operating budget
for contingencies like this.
Mr.Eck asked if there were any safety problems during these repairs.
District Manager Curtis Shook stated there were none.
DISTRICT TREASURER REPORT:
District Finance Manager Keith Lewis stated they are getting back on line and the
board should be getting a January report by the tenth of next month.Future
reports will be on time.There has been a 16% increase over last year at this
time in our revenues,not including the capital facilities fee.The operating
expenditures are up 1.6% over last year,and there is money to cover the Arizona
Water expenses,both budgeted and funds.
Mr.Dietz commented they would not have to go into the capital facilities funds.
District Finance Manager Keith Lewis stated that was correct.
District Manager Curtis Shook commented the district is showing cash on hand of
about $227,000,a capital account of about $275,000,and a capital hook in
account of about $165,000.This gives the district about $650,000 in cash
reserves,committed or uncommitted.
DISTRICT COUNSEL REPORT:
District Counsel Bill Farrell stated there is no litigation or pending claims
against the district.There have been talks with the attorney representing the
Superstition Mountain Community Facilities District regarding the possibility of
joint use of facilities and joint cooperation on wells and well sites for
recharging projects and for effluent recapture.The program may be ready by
budget time.
Water Utilities Community Facilities District
Meeting Minutes of February 14,2000
Page 10 of 12
SELECTION OF DATE,TIME,LOCATION FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR PERFORMANCE
EVALUATION FOR DISTRICT MANAGER.
Vice Chairperson Surra asked when this
would have to be completed.
District Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated
there is no reference for the district manager.They did not really do one last
year.
Vice Chairperson Surra suggested
starting it in conjunction with the next scheduled meeting if there is not too
much on the agenda so they can figure out what criteria to use.
District Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated
they would be looking at March dates of the 6th,7th,or the 20th.
Vice Chairperson Surra stated she would
rather have i t the later date.She moved THAT WE USE THE MARCH 20TH,MONDAY
EVENING DATE,AT 5:30 AS AN EXECUTIVE SESSION PRIOR TO A WATER BOARD MEETING AT
6:00.
VOTE:Unanimous.
The motion carried.
ADJOURNMENT
meeting at 6:35 p.m.
Ms.Urich SECONDED THE MOTION.
)Chairperson Coleman adjourned the
ACCEPTED THIS 15TH DAY OF MAY ,2000,BY THE CHAIRPERSON AND
DISTRICT BOARD OF THE WATER UTILITIES COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT (APACHE
JUNCTION WATER COMPANY),CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION,ARIZONA.
SIGNED AND ATTESTED TO THIS 15TH DAY OF MAY ,2000.
Water Utilities Community Facilities District
Meeting Minutes of February 14,2000
Page 11 of 12
Douglas Cohman
Chairperson
ATTEST:
Kathleen Connelly
District Clerk
WATER UTILITIES COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT MINUTES
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the
minutes of the regular meeting of the Water Utilities Community Facilities
District of the City of Apache Junction,Arizona,held on the 14th day of
February,2000.I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and
that a quorum was present.
Dated this 23rd day of February,2000.
Kathleen Connelly
District Clerk
Water Utilities Community Facilities District
Meeting Minutes of February 14,2000
Page 12 of 12