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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-07-11 WUCFD MINUTESWATER UTILITIES COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT (APACHE JUNCTION WATER COMPANY) CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION,ARIZONA REGULAR MEETING JULY 11,2000 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 July 11,2000,at the Apache Junction City Council Chambers pursuant to the notice required by law. CALL TO ORDER Vice Chairperson Surra called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Board Members Present:Vice Chairperson Anne Surra Mr.Joe Durbala Mr.John Insalaco Ms.Carol Urich Staff Present: Chairperson Doug Coleman was absent. Mr.Rick Dietz was absent. Mr.R.E.Eck was absent Curtis Shook,District Manager Kathleen Connelly,District Clerk George Hoffman,Assistant City Manager Keith Lewis,District Finance Manager John White,District Accountant William Farrell,District Counsel Others Present:Peter Plante,Public Works Manager APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MAY 2,2000,MAY 15, 2000,AND JUNE 20,2000 )Mr.Durbala MOVED THAT THE MINUTES OF MAY 2,2000,MAY 15,2000 AND JUNE 20,2000 BE APPROVED. Water Utilities Community Facilities District Meeting Minutes of July 11,2000 Page 1 of 7 Ms.Urich SECONDED THE MOTION. VOTE:Unanimous. The motion carried. DISCUSSION ON PROPOSED DISTRICT BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2000-2001 AND/OR SELECTION OF DATE.TIME AND LOCATION FOR DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED BUDGET )District Manager Curtis Shook briefed the board on the item.The numbers in the budget are just numbers; what they mean,what the work plan is.what staff intends to accomplish,the values and philosophy of management and the board are reflected in the budget message.The budget calls for appropriate staff to maintain and operate the utility at a good level.I t allows for improvements where there are downsized,older or polypipe that are breaking and need to be replaced.They will continue to upgrade the capital facilities,tools and equipment.They are requesting to add three positions;a meter reader and two maintenance people.This would allow the district to keep up with leaks,cleanups associated with them,and replace large amounts of pipe.There is money for a complete change out in the Palm Springs area.They intend to increase the water supplies by hooking into the Mesa system and change out the pipe connection with Arizona Water to make it larger.Lines will be upgraded on Broadway prior to the expansion of the roadway. Ms.Urich commented she was concerned about the water loss and unaccounted water,as it appears to be increasing to the point where i t is near a fifth of the water supply. District Manager Curtis Shook stated i t is not increasing;it has been lowered by two to three percent.However, that is not good enough. Ms.Urich restated the report shows that it is increasing. District Manager Curtis Shook stated last year showed 18%. Water Utilities Community Facilities District Meeting Minutes of July 11,2000 Page 2 of 7 Ms.Urich stated it was 16.41 in 1998.It states the problem appears to be getting worse,not better. District Manager Curtis Shook stated they are moving to new meters and lines.They are adding personnel to fix leaks quicker,and they are not sure how much is actual theft. Ms.Urich commented that was her second thought. District Manager Curtis Shook stated they took a hard line where they caught some people,but the legal system does not appear to have the same amount of concern over this.In one case they were only fined $50,another is still pending. Ms.Urich asked if there will be a process put into effect to avoid some of the theft. District Manager Curtis Shook stated they continually watch the fire plugs,which is where most of the theft occurs.However,the theft is easy to do.They do the best they can.As the district did come down on it,he believes there will be second thoughts on the marginal person committing theft of service. Ms.Urich commented those are the two areas she is concerned about. District Manager Curtis Shook stated they are concerned about them also.They are moving to a different meter for this area that will be top of the line.Personnel will be added to get to leaks quicker so the water loss should go down. Vice Chairperson Surra asked if the percentage of water loss went up, because of the excessive amount of leakage from broken pipes.It could have overbalanced any of the improvements that were being made. District Manager Curtis Shook stated there are a number of things that have been discovered.They previously were not informed when there were fire exercises and the fire district would use a Water Utilities Community Facilities District Meeting Minutes of July 11,2000 Page 3 of 7 plug for their exercises but that water used for the exercise was not being recorded.Now the fire district calls ahead to let our district know of any exercises or hydrants that will be blown.There should be a significant decrease in water loss over the next year. Mr.Insalaco commented others are stealing from the plugs besides the fire district. District Manager Curtis Shook stated they have caught three so far.They go to the hydrant,pull the cover off, attach a fire hose to their tanker truck and have 3,000 gallons of water in five minutes.They caught one group that they estimated took over 1,000,000 gallons and they have had to pay the district almost $2,000.They still prosecuted.They had three incidents in less than two months. Vice Chairperson Surra asked if there were any other comments on the preliminary report or any of the individual items.She commented everything seemed very clear and in line with what everyone wanted to see. District Finance Manager Keith Lewis stated Page 15,Item 34,Other Services,needs to be changed.This is where we charge the water district for services of city personnel.Last year they charged them rent at $12,000 and he neglected to do that.The line should therefore read $21,000.This affects the street department and HURF money: most of this money went to HURF last year.He added John White's time will be going down with this budget year,and they will figure that in at the end of the year as i t is not something they do monthly. Ms.Urich asked if it was hard to keep track of if they do i t at the end of the year. District Finance Manager Keith Lewis stated they use a percentage.The employee estimates the time used as it can be hard to get an employee to write down their time. District Manager Curtis Shook stated they are looking at tentative budget approval tonight but the final budget does not have to be approved until October 1.He commented the finance director is recommending that they raise the expenditure ceiling by $10,000. Water Utilities Community Facilities District Meeting Minutes of July 11,2000 Page 4 of 7 District Accountant John White stated he had neglected to look at what last year's figure was and he just estimated what was needed. Vice Chairperson Surra closed the discussion. RESOLUTION NO.2000-001, A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE WATER UTILITIES COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT (CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION,ARIZONA) PURSUANT TO A.R.S.§48-716 ADOPTING A PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1,2000 AND ENDING ON JUNE 30,2001;ESTABLISHING A PUBLIC HEARING AND DESIGNATING DATE,TIME AND LOCATION FOR PUBLIC HEARING FOR FINAL BUDGET ADOPTION )Mr.Durbala MOVED THAT RESOLUTION NO.2000-001,A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE WATER UTILITIES COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT (CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION,ARIZONA)PURSUANT TO A.R.S.§48-716 ADOPTING A PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1,2000 AND ENDING ON JUNE 30,2001;ESTABLISHING A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET;DIRECTING DISTRICT STAFF TO SOLICIT COMMENTS FROM THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION ON THE PROPOSED ANNUAL BUDGET;RATIFYING THE RE -ADOPTING ALL EXISTING RATES AND CHARGES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR DESCRIBED HEREIN,BE APPROVED AND DESIGNATING THAT THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR FINAL BUDGET ADOPTION BE HELD ON AUGUST 31,2000 AT 6:00 P.M.IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS. There was general discussion as to when the public hearing should be held. Mr.Durbala amended his motion to read DESIGNATING THAT THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR FINAL BUDGET ADOPTION BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 18,2000 AT 6:00 P.M.IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS. Mr.Insalaco seconded the motion. VOTE:Unanimous. Water Utilities Community Facilities District Meeting Minutes of July 11,2000 Page 5 of 7 The motion carried. DISTRICT MANAGER REPORT None. DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT REPORT District Manager Curtis Shook stated they gave an oral interview to one of the candidates on Friday.The interview panel unanimously indicated that an offer be extended to that individual.He has been advised that the individual has accepted the position pending the passing of a drug test to be taken today. He hopes he will be able to name the individual tomorrow.He is extremely well -qualified. DISTRICT TREASURER REPORT None. DISTRICT COUNSEL REPORT District Counsel William Farrell stated the agenda will be changing a little, especially on the reports in the future.He commended the district on the goals that have been accomplished since 1995 without having to increase rates or break any verbal promises that were made.He also commended the staff for the public hearing on June 28 shortly after the last interruption in service. Every member of staff was in the audience that evening to assist at the hearing.Many suggestions on notifying the customers were obtained. ADJOURNMENT )Vice Chairperson Surra adjourned the meeting at 6:33 p.m. ACCEPTED THIS 18TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER , 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 18TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER , 2000. Water Utilities Community Facilities District Meeting Minutes of July 11,2000 Page 6 of 7 Douglas Ileman 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 11th day of July,2000.I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present. Dated this 17th day of July,2000. /4 / Kathleen Connelly District Clerk Water Utilities Community Facilities District Meeting Minutes of July 11,2000 Page 7 of 7