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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023.02.21 WUCFD Minutes City of Apache Junction Arizona City Council Chambers I � 300 E Superstition Boulevard Meeting Minutes Apache 511Junc9tion,Az Water Utilities Community Facilities www.ajwaterdistriet.org District P:(480)982-6030 Tuesday,February 21,2023 6:00 PM City Council Chambers A. Call to Order Chairperson Wilson called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. B. Roll Call Present 7- Chairperson Wilson,Vice Chair Schroeder, Boardmember Cross, Boardmember Heck, Boardmember Johnson, Boardmember Nesser, and Boardmember Soller Staff in attendance Bryant Powell, District Manager Matt Busby,Assistant District Manager Jennifer Pena, District Clerk Joel Stern, District Legal Counsel Mike Loggins, District Director Charles Briggs, Water District Project Manager Stacy Ramirez, Utility Billing Supervisor Connie Chow, District Controller Evie McKinney, Deputy District Clerk Al Bravo, Public Information Officer C. Agenda Items 1. 23-079 Approval of the meeting minutes of January 17, 2023. Boardmember Heck made a motion to approve the meeting minutes of January 17,2023.Vice Chairperson Schroeder seconded the motion. D. District Manager Report No report. E. District Director Report 2. 23-080 Presentation, discussion, and update on District wide water system. District Director Loggins presented an update on the construction happening on Ironwood Road. About 4,490 feet of the 18,598 feet of 30"water main has been installed. Completion of the installation is expected by the end of April or the beginning of May 2023. Installation of the 24" distribution main is also happening.There is about 1,380 feet of the 8,249 feet installed at this time. Once 2,200 feet of the 24' main is installed, paving of that portion of Ironwood Road will begin on the west side. Mr. Loggins presented a slide showing the area where the mains are City of Apache Junction,Arizona Pagel Water Utilities Community Facilities Meeting Minutes February 21,2023 District being installed and the progress. Mr. Loggins presented an update on the new Water Campus 3 tank.The tank is about 30' deep and the size of a football field. Once the tank is complete, the area will be backfilled and only about 1 foot of the top will be visible.The new booster pumps will be located on top of the tank. 3. 23-081 Presentation, discussion, and update on Central Arizona Project Colorado River Tier 2a shortage for 2023. Mr. Loggins presented and update on Central Arizona Project(CAP). The District received notice for 2023 that Arizona is still in a Tier 2A shortage with no reductions to municipal and industrial water. Reductions to agricultural water are happening currently. He presented a video explaining the current drought and what actions will need to be taken if the water levels do not come back up.The federal government has requested the seven Colorado River Basin states create a plan to leave more water in the river. Six states have worked on the agreement and submitted to the federal government, but they could not get California to join in at this time. California is starting to understand that it is critical for all the states to come to agreement, even though they have senior rights to the water.The burden should not be on the states with junior rights. Hopefully,the states can come to an agreement and the federal government does not have to get involved. District Manager Powell commented that hopefully the states can come together, and the federal government can lean on California. He asked if this is something that should be brought up to our federal legislators. Mr. Loggins believes the legislators are already working with the Department of Water Resources through CAP, and should already be aware of the situation. He believes any help the state can get would be great. Mr. Loggins and some of the board members will be meeting the new CAP Executive Director Brenda Burman. She previously worked for Salt River Project and assisted with some of our agreements. She then worked for the Department of Interior and is now working for CAP. Boardmember Cross asked why California is not cooperating with the other states. Mr. Loggins explained California was granted senior rights and would have zero reductions before any other states and Arizona was granted junior rights.With the current droughts in effect,the other states are standing up and want California to take reductions as well. Current water supplies and demands are different now, so how do we manage it between all the states? District Council Stern explained the water rights were negotiated in 1920-1930, and at that time,Arizona did not want to be part of the agreement. While it is unbalanced, to reverse those agreements will possibly require litigation. Boardmember Soller asked if population is considered when deciding who gets more water, since California's population is declining, and Arizona's is growing. Mr. Loggins explained that majority of water usage is for produce grown in California, and that is why the water is needed. At some point there needs to be a balance between produce and people, and water conservation is needed by everyone. City of Apache Junction,Arizona Page 2 Water Utilities Community Facilities Meeting Minutes February 21,2023 District Boardmember Soller asked about the snowfall from this winter and will it make a difference. Mr. Loggins explained that the snow has helped, but it will not alleviate our current situation. Salt River Project(SRP) is on track to fill their reservoirs.The Colorado snowpack is above average, and Arizona should get some water from that. Now that the ground is saturated,the water will start flowing off the mountains instead of being absorbed into the ground.With additional snowpack, a good monsoon season, and if Arizona receives the same amount going forward, it should take 3-5 years to get back to normal. 4. 23-082 Presentation, discussion, and update on SRP-CAP interconnection facility. District Director Loggins presented an update on the Salt River and Central Arizona Project Interconnect Facility(SCIF).This facility is between the CAP canal and the Salt River. Currently water can be moved from CAP to SRP but cannot be moved the other way at this time.The ability to move water from SRP to CAP will be critical in the future since the District will be purchasing Verde River water stored behind Bartlett Dam.The water will need to be moved from the SRP canal into the CAP canal.The project started about 2 years ago but has been put on hold because of the Bartlett Dam project.The SCIF project is getting started again and how much water will be moved from one facility to another will need to be determined. Mr. Loggins shared a video presentation from SRP on the project. 5. 23-083 Presentation, discussion, and update on 9th Annual Water Festival. Mr. Loggins presented an update on the Apache Junction Water Festival.The festival will be held at Prospector Park on March 2,2023.Volunteers are still needed, and volunteer training will be held on February 23, 2023, at the Multi-Generational Center. F. District Treasurer Report 6. 23-084 Presentation, discussion, and update of District financial report. District Treasurer DeReche is out sick so there is no report.Assistant District Manager Matt Busby added that the comprehensive annual financial report is on the city's website which is inclusive of the Water District's audit. G. Adjournment Chairperson Wilson adjourned the meeting at 6:34 p.m. City of Apache Junction,Arizona Page 3 Water Utilities Community Facilities Meeting Minutes February 21,2023 District ACCEPTED THIS DAY OF 12023, BY THE CHAIR PERSON AND DISTRICT BOARD OF THE WATER UTILITIES COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT, (CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION,ARIZONA). SIGNED AND ATTESTED TO THIS o2"I DAY OF P12464 12023. WALTER"CHIP"WILSON Chairperson ATTEST: JENNIFE ENA 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 o2l day of I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a qu um was present. Dated this : day of � �-- 2023. JENNI E PENA District Clerk City of Apache Junction,Arizona Page 4