CUAC Draft Minutes March 2025
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D R A F T MINUTES CITIZENS UTILITY ADVISORY COMMISSION OASIS WATER CAMPUS 7070 NORTHERN AVE. GLENDALE, ARIZONA 85303 MARCH 26, 2025 6:00 P.M. 1. CALL TO ORDER Vice Chair Ford called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL Present: Amber Ford, Chair Scott Scherer, Vice Chair Dr. Kerry Duskin, Commissioner Srikanth Grandhi, Commissioner Attendees: Ron Serio, P.E., Director, Water Services Katrina Alberty, Deputy Director, Water Services Mark Roye, Deputy Director, Water Services Megan Sheldon, Deputy Director, Water Services Lisa Esquivel, Administrator Department Support Services, Water Services Dan Hatch, Administrator Financial Programs, Water Services Michelle Woytenko, Director, Field Operations Michael Carr, Deputy Director, Field Operations Kimberly Mackert, Administrator Financial Programs, Field Operations Anna Guerrero, Account Specialist, Field Operations 3. CITIZEN COMMENTS None. 4. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES a. APPROVAL OF THE JANUARY 8, 2025 CITIZENS UTILITY ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Motioned by Vice Chair Scott Scherer, seconded by Commissioner Srikanth Grandhi to approve the minutes of the January 8, 2025 meeting. AYE: Chair Amber Ford Vice Chair Scott Scherer Commissioner Dr. Kerry Duskin Commissioner Srikanth Grandhi Passed 5. WATER SERVICES FIVE-YEAR FORECAST & SERVICES RATE REVIEW a. INFORMATION, DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION Mr. Serio presented information on the Water Services 5-year financial forecast, rate study for water, sewer, stormwater, and urban irrigation rates, and public outreach regarding rate increases. The Commission discussed the Council consensus for water and sewer rates, stormwater fee options, and proposed urban irrigation rates. Motioned by Vice Chair Scott Scherer, seconded by Commissioner Dr. Kerry Duskin to concur with Council consensus for Option 2B rates. AYE: Chair Amber Ford Vice Chair Scott Scherer Commissioner Dr. Kerry Duskin Commissioner Srikanth Grandhi Passed Motioned by Vice Chair Scott Scherer, seconded by Commissioner Srikanth Grandhi to recommend Stormwater Fee Option S2 to the City Council. AYE: Chair Amber Ford Vice Chair Scott Scherer Commissioner Dr. Kerry Duskin Commissioner Srikanth Grandhi Passed Motioned by Commissioner Srikanth Grandhi, seconded by Commissioner Dr. Kerry Duskin to concur with the Urban Irrigation rates for April 2026 and April 2027. AYE: Chair Amber Ford Vice Chair Scott Scherer Commissioner Dr. Kerry Duskin Commissioner Srikanth Grandhi Passed 6. LANDFILL RATES DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION a. INFORMATION, DISCUSSION, AND ACTION Mr. Carr presented information on the recommended increases to the landfill rate and fees. Motioned by Chair Amber Ford, seconded by Vice Chair Scott Scherer to adjust the rate to the current market rate in July 2025 and adopting the five year rate adjustments. AYE: Chair Amber Ford Vice Chair Scott Scherer Commissioner Dr. Kerry Duskin Commissioner Srikanth Grandhi Passed 7. 2025 COMMISSION CALENDAR AND AGENDA TOPICS a. INFORMATION, DISCUSSION, AND ACTION Ms. Esquivel provided the final 2025 Commission Calendar and Agenda Topics. Motioned by Vice Chair Scott Scherer, seconded by Commissioner Dr. Kerry Duskin to finalize the 2025 commission calendar and agenda topics. AYE: Chair Amber Ford Vice Chair Scott Scherer Commissioner Dr. Kerry Duskin Commissioner Srikanth Grandhi Passed 8. STAFF UPDATES a. Mr. Carr provided an update regarding the bulk trash performance audit. The auditor commended the staff for their strong commitment to customer service, consistently prioritizing responsiveness to customer needs, emphasis on customer education, and promoting customer awareness. The auditor made some recommendations, such as switching to appointment-based bulk trash pickup, which staff is reviewing. Mr. Serio informed the Commission that Commissioners Berryhill and Hand have vacated their positions. The City Clerk’s Office is working on filling the three vacancies. Kudos to the Conservation and Sustainable Living Division for being an Arizona Forward award finalist for the City’s Drought Conservation Program. The rate increase posters from the public meetings are in the hallway. 9. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS Commissioner Srikanth Grandhi recommended a Commissioner tour of the City’s landfill. Vice Chair Scott Scherer would like to see the results of the new rate increases reflected in the November financial presentations. 10. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS a. Future Agenda Items for May 7, 2025: 1. Water Services Financial Update 2. Solid Waste/Landfill Financial Update 3. Water Resources Update 11. NEXT MEETING The next regular meeting of the Citizens Utility Advisory Commission will be held on May 7, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., at the Oasis Water Campus, 7070 W. Northern Ave., Glendale, Arizona, 85303. 12. ADJOURNMENT Chair Ford adjourned the meeting at 7:25 p.m. The Citizens Utility Advisory Commission meeting minutes of March 26, 2025, were submitted and approved this 07 day of May, 2025. ____________________________________ Lisa Esquivel Recording Secretary