HomeMy WebLinkAboutSSN102510CITY OF CENTRAL POINT
City Council Study Session
October 25, 2010
I. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
Mayor Williams called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
II. ATTENDEES Mayor: Hank Williams
Council Members: Bruce Dingier, Matt Stephenson, Allen
Broderick, Carol Fischer, and Kay Harrison were present. Mike
Quilty was absent.
City Administrator Phil Messina; Interim Parks and Public Works
Director Matt Samitore; Assistant City Administrator Chris
Clayton; and Planning Secretary Didi Thomas were also present.
Guests: Larry Rains, Manager, Medford Water Commission; Don
Skundrick, Board Member, Medford Water Commission; and
Laura Hodnett, Operation Officer, Medford Water Commission
were present.
III. BUSINESS
A. Medford Water Commission -New Rates Presentation
Larry Rains, Manager of the Medford Water Commission, explained that the purpose of
their visit this evening was to inform and update Council members on the future water
needs for the Rogue Valley and the need for an additional treatment facility on the Rogue
River for water delivery to customers in the future. The Water Commission, he stated,
would like to start planning now for the future. Mr. Rains presented an historical
chronology of the plans that have been prepared by CH2M (master plan, water
distribution plan, Duff facility plan, water management conservation plan) as well as the
water rights master plan prepared by GSI in 2010. Mr. Rains then explained current and
future winter-summer usage graphs, pointing out that the goal was to maintain the actual
and projected peak summer usage between the capacity of the treatment plant and the
combined capacity of the treatment plant and the daily water inflow from Big Butte
Springs.
The anticipated cost of Duff II (new treatment plant) is estimated to be approximately
$70 million today and the Board of Commissioners would like to stay debt free for the
construction of the project. The goal would be to earn enough money to commence
construction on Duff II starting in 2024 by raising rates now. These rates will be
reviewed and adjusted every year.
Laura Hodnett made a presentation concerning changes to the current rate structure. Peak
summer day use was a key issue, and it is hoped that with an increase in summer rates
and a reduction in winter rates, conservation would be encouraged. Proposed rate
adjustments for Medford and other cities in the valley were reviewed and Ms. Hodnett
assured that the impacts from rate increases would be minimal, provided that customers
were diligent about water use.
Don Skundrick assured Council that the commissioners for the Water District were very
conservative and consequently did not want to sell bonds and are consequently looking
for the least painful way to raise money for a new treatment plant. Mr. Skundrick stated
that cammissioners were very conscious of the economy but added that there was never a
good time to get started (raising rates). Existing rate structures are so low that it is
difficult to get people to use less water.
Councilors were concerned with the timing of a another rate increase as Central Point just
raised their rates a few months ago and the economy is still doing poorly. In addition,
concerns were expressed about how to explain to customers why they would be paying
for something whose benefit they would not see for 20 years.
Other concerns mentioned were where the money would come from if there was a
shortfall in the amount saved, assurances that the money would go where it was supposed
to, the effect of increased densities with growth in the area and other criteria that might
have an impact on the water commission's master plan aside from just historical data.
Conclusion: Mayor Williams thanked Councilors, staff, and guests from the Medford
Water Commission for attending the study session and for presenting information and
answering questions.
IV. ADJOURNMENT
The Study Session for October 25, 2010, was adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
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