HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023.12.19 WUCFD Minutes City Council Chambers
AIDCity of Apache Junction, Arizona 300 E Superstition
Boulevard
Meeting Minutes Apache Junction,AZ
85119
Water Utilities Community Facilities www.ajwaterdistrict.org
District P:(480)982-6030
Tuesday,December 19,2023 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
Stacy Ramirez, Utility Billing Supervisor
Charles Briggs, Water District Project Manager
Rita Vineyard, Senior Administrative Assistant
Leslie DeReche, District Treasurer
Connie Chow, District Controller
Evie McKinney, Deputy District Clerk
Al Bravo, Public Information Officer
Robert Wisler, Management Analyst
Eli Richardson, Management Analyst
C. Agenda Items
1. 23-689 Approval of meeting minutes of October 17,2023.
Boardmember Cross made a motion to approve the meeting minutes of the October 17,2023,
meeting.Boardmember Nesser seconded the motion.
Yes: 7- Chairperson Wilson,Vice Chair Schroeder, Boardmember Cross, Boardmember
Heck, Boardmember Johnson, Boardmember Nesser and Boardmember Soller
No: 0
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Water Utilities Community Facilities Meeting Minutes December 19,2023
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2. 23-690 Presentation, discussion, and consideration of Resolution No. 2023-006,
requesting a portion of the public utility easement located at 1363 North Plaza
Drive,Apache Junction,Arizona, be extinguished and is no longer necessary
for public use as a public utility easement.
Boardmemeber Heck made a motion that Resolution No.2023-006,a resolution of the Board of
Directors of the Water Utilities Community Facilities District(City of Apache Junction,Arizona)
declaring a portion of the public utility easements located at 1363 North Plaza Drive,Apache
Junction,Arizona is no longer necessary for public use as a utility easement and is hereby
extinguished be approved.Boardmember Schroeder seconded.
Yes: 7- Chairperson Wilson,Vice Chair Schroeder, Boardmember Cross, Boardmember
Heck, Boardmember Johnson, Boardmember Nesser and Boardmember Soller
No: 0
District Director Mike Loggins presented an overview of Resolution No. 2023-006, a request to
extinguish the water utility easement and declaring a portion of the public utility easement
located at 1363 North Plaza Drive,Apache Junction,Arizona is no longer necessary for public
use as public utility easement. Mr. Loggins advised that this location is in Arizona Water's
service area and the District has no plans on utilizing this easement.
3. 23-691 Presentation, discussion, and consideration of Resolution No. 2023-008,
requesting a portion of the public utility easement located at 597 East Old
West Highway,Apache Junction,Arizona, be extinguished and is no longer
necessary for public use as a public utility easement.
Boardmember Soller made a motion that Resolution No.2023-008,a resolution of the Board of
Directors of the Water Utilities Community Facilities District(City of Apache Junction,Arizona)
declaring a portion of the public utility easements located at 597 East Old West Highway,Apache
Junction,Arizona is no longer necessary for public use as a utility easement and is hereby
extinguished be approved.Boardmember Nesser seconded.
Yes: 7- Chairperson Wilson,Vice Chair Schroeder, Boardmember Cross, Boardmember
Heck, Boardmember Johnson, Boardmember Nesser and Boardmember Soller
No: 0
District Director Mike Loggins presented an overview of Resolution No. 2023-008, a request to
extinguish the water utility easement and declaring a portion of the public utility easement
located at 597 East Old West Highway,Apache Junction,Arizona is no longer necessary for
public use as public utility easement.
4. 23-692 Presentation of results and recommendations of the compensation study.
This study was included in the 2023-2024 fiscal year budget.
Human Resources Director Anna McCray presented the results and recommendations of the
market compensation study which was included in the fiscal year 2023-2024 budget and
included Apache Junction Water District("District") personnel. Public Sector Personnel
Consultants were selected to conduct the study. They conducted an analysis of wages for
similar positions in our market comparators.All District positions were part of the study, and the
goal was to keep wages at the mid-market level. Public Sector Personnel Consultants
recommended a timely implementation to include placing employees in their earned step within
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Water Utilities Community Facilities Meeting Minutes December 19,2023
District
their new salary range and/or a model that best matches the District's budget. The cost of the
mid-fiscal year salary adjustments to implement compensation study results is$120,000.00.A
resolution with amended fiscal year 2023-2024 classification and compensation plan may be
scheduled for the January 16, 2024 Water Board meeting for consideration.
D. District Manager Report
No report.
E. District Director Report
5. 23-693 Presentation and discussion of Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of
Arizona Aquifer Storage and Recovery Well Grant.
Mr. Loggins presented an update on the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority(WIFA) of
Arizona Water Conservation Grant.The District was awarded a grant for$1 million.The
agreement with WIFA has been completed and the project will start in 2024.
The District applied for an Aquifer Storage and Recovery Well Grant with WIFA in the amount of
$3 million.This grant would be used for future water supplies by taking water from Central
Arizona Project(CAP) and treating it.The potable water would be stored in the ground by
pumping it directly into the District's well and stored in an underground aquifer.The District will
earn credits for storing the water and when the water is needed it will be pumped out of the
ground.The project is approximately$4.5 million.
6. 23-694 Presentation, discussion, and update on Verde River Sediment Mitigation
Study.
Mr. Loggins presented an update on the Verde River Sediment Mitigation Study. The committee
and subcommittee agreed upon the seven guiding principles on how they want to divide the
water saved behind the dam.A needs assessment was completed, and the water will be
divided based on these principles.The committee temporarily approved the District will be
allotted 2% or 7,413 acre-feet of water available every 3.5 years.The committee will present
their proposal to the Bureau of Reclamation who will make the final decision on the allocations.
Mr. Loggins presented a video from Salt River Project on"How pumped storage generates
hydropower".
7. 23-704 Presentation and discussion of purchase of Underground Storage Facility
water credits from Apache Junction Sewer District.
Mr. Loggins presented an update on the purchase of Underground Storage Facility water credits
from Apache Junction Sewer District("AJSD").The District signed an agreement with Central
Arizona Water Conservation District("CAWCD")to conserve 1000 acre-feet of water behind the
dams along the Colorado River. CAWCD paid the District approximately$300,000.00 for the
water. The District will use the money to purchase 1,000 acre-feet of long-term storage credits
from AJSD.
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Water Utilities Community Facilities Meeting Minutes December 19,2023
District
8. 23-695 Presentation, discussion, and update on District wide water system.
Mr. Loggins presented an update on the water treatment plant.A second treatment train has
been installed and the District will be doing the start up in January 2024. This new treatment
train will take the plant from its current capacity of 2 million gallons per day(MGD)to 4 million
MGD. Expansion of the plant continues and phase one is expected to be completed in
December 2024. If growth in the State Land area continues at the pace it is going,the next
phase, expanding the plant to 10 million MGD, is anticipated to start once the first phase is
completed.
A non-potable water tank is under construction and is expected to be completed in May 2024.
The effluent water will be used for landscaping and will offset the current demand for potable
water currently being used in the new development located in the State Land area. The 24"
non-potable line which will be used to transport the water is expected to be completed in April of
2024.As backup,the 16" bi-directional line that was installed will also be used to transport raw
Central Arizona Project water for irrigation usage if needed.
The Water Campus 3 is currently under construction. The 3.2 MGD potable storage tank has
been completed and the booster pumps are waiting on electricity from Salt River Project(SRP)
which should be available by the end of December 2023.Additional electrical equipment that is
also required is expected to arrive in May 2024. Until that time, the District will do a temporary
start up using generators starting January 1, 2024 for approximately six months. Completion of
Water Campus 3 is expected to be in May or June 2024.
F. District Treasurer Report
No report.
G. Adjournment
Chairperson Wilson adjourned the meeting at 6:36 p.m.
ACCEPTED THIS 11g _DAY OF _�AArr V , 202f. BY THE CHAIR
PERSON AND DISTRICT BOARD OF THE WATER UTILITIES COMMUNITY FACILITIES
DISTRICT, (CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION,ARIZONA).
SIGNED AND ATTESTED TO THIS It. DAY OF 30-n uarci 12024.
WALTER"CHIP"WILS N
Chairperson
ATTEST:
calla,,
Jil FER PE A
District Clerk
City of Apache Junction,Arizona Page 4
Water Utilities Community Facilities Meeting Minutes December 19,2023
District
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 t q day of � Mp6e r-, Z4 Z,3
I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present.
Dated this day of -i.nl(j w. , 2024.
JENNI PENA
District Clerk
City of Apache Junction,Arizona page 5