WATER/WASTEWATER TASK FORCE MEETING

MINUTES

(APPROVED AT TASK FORCE MEETING OF OCTOBER 28, 1999)

September 23, 1999

11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Salem Public Library - Anderson Auditorium

1) CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by Councilor Ann Gavin Sample, as Chairperson Councilor Paul Wulf would be arriving to the meeting later.

2) INTRODUCTIONS

Introductions were made. Members, staff, and citizens were in attendance as noted below.

Draft Task Force Policy Recommendation

Stakeholder Review
of Draft Task Force Policy Recommendation

Task Force Review of Stakeholder Comments

Final Task Force Policy Recommendation to City Council

Councilor Scott requested a copy of the draft Policy Recommendation before the December meeting. He suggested that before we start talking to neighborhood associations, etc., that the Task Force needs to come up with up some sort of scenario such as: This is the kind of I&I we think is a realistic target that we can reduce under this and that means that we are looking at delaying this part of a billion dollar investment however big a portion of that is Willow Lakes by 5 or 10 years or whatever scenario that plays out, so that we have some thing we can talk about in fairly specific terms. This committee pretty well agrees that this probably is a worthwhile goal, but until we actually we do some “what-if-ing” through this, we should take some time to go through this.

Mike Gotterba asked if the inspection finds that there is a lateral problem in City's right-of-way, what happens? Diane Dennis discussed that this is a judgement call of the severity of the problem in the right-of-way. If it can be delayed until a sewer main R&R project, we would delay it. Problems requiring repair or replacement in the right-of-way under the joint responsibility scenario the would be the City's responsibility.

Discussion focused on owner vs. owner-occupied in limiting the program. The focus is equity. John Russell stated that Salem has a very high rate of single- family homes that are rentals. JB Summers stated that the use of a low income test to get the low interest may resolve the equity issue and suggested not requiring owner occupancy as a limit to the program.

Councilor Scott stated that if we are talking about a scenario where the City is fully paid back for its costs, why not expand to all homeowners? As long as the City is not out funds, I do not understand the rationale for not simply making the program available for everybody that is in need of the work being done.

John Russell explained the administration and coverage by CDBG grant funding is limited in focus. Sewer rates could be used in lieu of CDBG for non low income homeowners.

Councilor Wulf, Chairperson, instructed that members should call Diane Dennis if something comes to mind in the next 30 days regarding the issues discussed.

At this time, there is a quorum of the members and a vote was taken on the minutes. The minutes were approved and passed unanimously as written.

8) OTHER

No other discussion.

Next meeting will be October 28, Anderson Auditorium, 11:30-1:30.
Proposed new water and sewer rates.

9) ADJOURN

Meeting adjourned at 1:00 p.m.

These minutes are transcribed from notes and the tape recording of the Task Force meeting on September 23, 1999, as an overview of the meeting. They are not verbatim. The tape recorded meeting is available for review in the Office of the Public Works Director. The attachments are to the file copy only. Copies of the attachments were distributed at the meeting and by mail to those unable to attend the meeting.



Linda Nelson, Staff Assistant II
September 27, 1999

Attachments:
Attendance Sheet (file copy only)
Presentation Materials (file copy only)