PRESENT:

James Dunn, Chair Michael Gardner, Vice Chair Ralph Stein, Commissioner

 

EXCUSED:

George Glos, Commissioner Leo Leonhart, Commissioner

No speakers.

 

MOTION:  A motion was made by Commissioner Stein and seconded by Vice Chair Gardner to approve the March 19, 2009 meeting.  Motion carried, 3-0.

 

Chair Dunn moved Item 6 forward to be folllow by Item 5.

There were no applications submitted for the month of May.

 

Staff reported that Member Glos would not be eligible to renew his membership at the end of his term, which expires on June 30, 2009.  Chairman Dunn stated that he has contacted Member Glos and he had not planned to renew his membership.  Staff is currently accepting applications for the opening and the Town Clerk’s Office is advertising the Stormwater Utility Commission Member position online and in the Explorer Newspaper.

 

  Staff reviewed the proposed 2009/2010 budget.
 

--There are no significant changes from last year’s budget except for the Town Wide Drainage line which has increased from $1.2 million this year to $2 million next year. This increase is a rollover of the requirement from this year to next since the project will not get started until next year and the project scope was increased by FEMA.

Staff reported that the Stormwater Fee process is running smoothly.  The collection of delinquent accounts through the Legal Department and Municipal Court has been successful.  Of the 8 accounts who were summoned to appear in Court, 6 have paid and the remaining 2 did not show up to court but did pay their fees including Court costs after the hearing date. 

 

Staff is creating a draft Standard Operating Procedure on "Stormwater Utility Fee Billing Policies and Procedures" which will be submitted to the Commission for review and approval.  This document will allow continuity and formal structure to the lessons learned over the last year since the fee was established.

 

Staff reviewed the following projects:

--The Stormwater Utility Map is progressing very well.  Staff will provide the Commission a presentation during the summer on the map application. The map currently contains outfalls, culverts, detention basins and inlets.  The Stormwater Utility Map utilizes both the GIS application and the Cartegraph Asset Management system.
-- The development of watercourse vegetation management guidelines is almost complete.  A presentation to Town Management is scheduled for June 2^nd and a presentation to Town staff will be given at the next Utility Commission Meeting.

--Vice Chair Gardner suggested incorporating this information into the Cartegraph System for easy access and for historical purposes. This will be investigated with the contractor.

-- Outfall inspections for the spring are complete and no discharges have been found.  This is a regulatory requirement of our State Stormwater Permit. 

 

Updates were provided on the following construction projects to include:
--Lomas Del Oro Wash Improvements
--Oro Valley Estates Phase II
--Repair of 2 culvert head wall at Tangerine Road
--Tangerine Road spillway at Copper Springs Trail
--Mountain Laurel detention basin improvements
--Pistachio/Pecan drainage way improvements

Staff is developing a Stormwater Utility Commission Annual Report.  This report will be submitted to the Commission for review in June.

 

Staff reported that after attending a PAG/ADEQ meeting, that the State of Arizona is drafting a revised Industrial permit, which is an operational permit based upon the industrial code of the business. There are potentially some businesses that will require the new Industrial Stormwater Permit and Staff will keep the Commission informed about the details. The State will contact cities and towns about the new permit when the revisions are complete.
-- Chairman Dunn discussed whether or not a motion should be made to recommend to the Staff/Council that a third full time position be added to the Utility paid from the funds budgeted in the professional services and stormwater maintenance lines.  The Utility is already using Engineering and Development Services personnel for design and construction management of Stormwater Projects so why not make this a permanent task.  These projects will continue indefinitely and funds will be budgeted every year for outside AE support if the current staffing level in the utility is maintained.

The Commission agreed with the idea of adding a third position; but, Mr. Carter, Council Member Liaison, suggested that instead of a motion that he could address this recommendation directly with the Town Manager.  The Commission agreed with Mr. Carter’s recommendation.

Council Member Carter reported that Commissioner Leonhart set up a meeting with some University of Arizona Professors to discuss grants for potential Stormwater opportunities.

 

The next meeting is scheduled for June 22, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. and will be located at 11000 North La Canada Drive in the Community Development Building Hopi Room .

 

-Approval of May 21, 2009 Minutes
-Watercourse Vegetation Mangement Presentatioin
-Review Annual Report Comments

 

 

MOTION:  A motion was made by Vice Chair Gardner and seconded by Commission Stein to adjourn the meeting at 5:14 p.m.  Motion carried, 3-0.

Prepared by:

Linda Hersha, Senior Office Assistant