HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 08/30/1993August 30, 1993
i MINUTES OF A REGULAR ADJOURNED MEETING
z PETALUMA CITY COUNCIL
3 MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 1993
4
s PRESENT: Nelson, Sobel, Hamilton, Barlas, Shea, Vice Mayor Read,
6 Mayor Hilligoss
7 ABSENT: None
Vol. 28, Page 21
ROLL CALL
s BUDGET
9 The Council continued consideration of the budget by discussing the Enterprise Funds and
io Self Insurance.
i i WATER UTILITY
i2 Lou Hodge, Water Superintendent, presented the overview. It was noted the reasons for
13 the proposal to drill new wells are: (1) although all the water is delivered through the
is Russian River - Cotati Intertie Aqueduct, there may be an interruption of service for one
~s reason or another, and (2) the Lawler Reservoir is being taken out of service due to the
is high costs of newly established regulations for monitoring analysis. However, should
~~ there be a need to utilize the well water, the Council was assured that the costly
is monitoring analysis would be utilized.
19 The majority of the Water Utility employee time is devoted to "transmission and
Zo maintenance" . Another part of this division is "cross connection" control. There are
Zt 1,150 back-flow devices in the City which must be inspected periodically by the
Za department. The cross connection portion of the Water Utility division is concerned with
i3 preventing outside infiltration of contaminants into the potable water system. The
za department reads 92,000 meters a year. It was also noted that they have had to "hang"
Zs 8,000 late payment notices on front doors this last year. This has been done at no extra
26 cost to the customer who is late in paying his water/sewer bill. The department is
2~ looking at the possibility of adding that cost to the tardy payee.
Zs Water use is distributed as follows: 63 % to residences, 22 % to businesses, 2 % to
29 industry, 8 % to multi-units such as condominiums and apartment complexes, and 6 % to
3o public agencies. Rate increases over the next several years are recommended by the
3 t Finance Director as follows: 10 % in 1993-94, 7 % in 1994-95, 3 % in each of the
32 subsequent 3 years 1995-96, 1996-97, and 1997-98.
33
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
3a Pat Miller, Director of Public Works, reviewed the sewer collection system. He
3s described how the various pieces of equipment work to keep the sanitary sewer lines
36 clear. They use everything from a television camera to high pressure water jet cleaner
37 vacuum to accomplish the task of keeping the wastewater on its way to its treatment
3s destination at the corporation yard. Their responsibility includes all of the 297+ miles of
39 sewer .lines with the exception of the private "laterals" that connect buildings to the City'
ao sewer lines which bring the wastewater to the sewer treatment plant. The department has
ai found a biodegradable herbicide to help reduce the root intrusion into the mains.
a2 Tom Hargis, City Engineer, discussed the sewer treatment plant. There is a Regional
43 Water Quality Control (RWCQ) requirement that the City not dispose of any kind of
44 effluent water into the Petaluma River during certain times of the year.
Page 22, Vol. 28
August 30, 1993
In that regard, the Council heard that seven, {7) farms plus one golf course use wastewater
effluent for imgation. At the present time the City plans to irrigate the new municipal
golf course, near the airport, which is currently in the .planning stage. The annual cost to
keep the effluent from. going into the Petaluma River is $850,000. The income from the
farmers utilizing the treated wastewater equals $15/acre/year or about $39,5.00: One of
the major costs m this RWCQ approved effluent disposal system is the cost of electricity
to pump the effluent to the farms.
s The on-going industrial monitoring of the composition of the waste disposed by
9 individual businesses is accomplished approximately four times each year per business.
io The operators of the wastewater treatment plant schedule these monitorings on as quiet a
i i basis as they can in order to obtain true readings :of the heavy metals and other chemicals
i2 that are contained in the companys' wastewater outflow. Where problems are found with
13 the effluent, the monitoring is done more often and as inconspicuously as possible.
is In response to a Council question, it was noted. that the information gleaned by both the
is Fire Department inspections and the wastewater :inspections is shared in 'the City's
is computerized geo-base system. The Finance Director's recommended increases in sewer
i~ fees are 15.4 % in .1993-94, 15 % in 1994-95, 15 % in 1995-96, 20 % in 1996-97 and 15
is in 1997-98. !~ o~
19 Council Request - It was suggested the 1985 Sewer Rate study recommendations be
Zo reissued to this Council.
Zi The estimated average of combined sewer and water rates for the future years are as
22 follows. 1993 - $28.82, 1994 - $32..11, 1995 - $35.35, 1996 - $38.40, 1997 - $42.87,
23 1998 - $47.00.
as Billing of .the Combination of Water .and Sewer. Rates -The -Council expressed concern
zs that the combination of water and sewer rates will cause the customers to seek. monthly
26 billings rather than bimonthly billings.
a~ There was .some Council discussion about imposing a rate which takes into consideration
Za the water intake and the wastewater outflow so .that people who save water and reduce
29 their wastewater outflow would benefit.
3o RECESS 8:55 p.m. to 9:05 p.m.
31 PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
32 Assistant City Manager Gene Beatty reviewed the Fixed Route and ..Para-Transit (demand)
33 operations. Currently there are three {3) bus routes which are handled by five (5) buses.
3a The two sides of the freeway are connected through each of the three (3) routes.
3s He advised the Council that beginning January 1, 1994., the Fixed Route and. the Para-
36 Transit operations must operate during the same hours, which will significantly increase
37 the cost of the Para-Transit portion 'of the system. The 1980 Transportation Development
3a Act (TDA) required the rate of fare box revenue for the Petaluma Fixed Route is 14.76%
39 and for the Demand system is 10%. That means that 14.76% and 10%, respectively, of
ao the cost of the system must be paid for- out of that specific percentage of transit fare
ai revenues. (The remainder of the co"st comes from TDA.)
August 30, 1993
Vol. 28, Page 23
i Although the ridership has increased, at this time the Fixed Route. is falling somewhat
2 short of the requirement by 2.01 %, and the difference is made up through a General
3 Fund contribution. It is hoped that the amount of money generated from the Council
a approved Gannett Bus Stop -Advertising contract will go far towards supplementing the
s General Fund contribution.
6 The ridership by each portion of route is reflected as follows: 11 % from the Cherry
~ Valley Route 1 and 19% from the South McDowell Route 1, 16% from the Westridge
s Route 2 and 18 % from the North McDowell Route 2, and 36 % from the Ely Blvd. Route
9 3.
io Petaluma was one of the first cities in the United States to utilize the small Orion II buses
i i for local transit. The system has been quite satisfactory.
i2 AIRPORT
13 City Manager John Scharer advised that the Airport Commission has approved the
is proposed Airport budget. This enterprise division has a positive cash flow and is in the
is process of placement of new hangars and taxiways in the Spring of 1994. The hangar
~6 fees will be increased in September. An executive airplane sales building will also be
i~ constructed in the Spring.
i s AMBULANCE
19 The ambulances are stationed at the D Street Main Station and at Station 3 on South
Zo McDowell. The ambulances respond to calls from a 160 square mile area. Eighty (80%)
Zi percent of the calls originate inside the City and twenty (20%) percent of the calls are
22 from outside the City. Of the ambulance calls, 53 % of them are on the western side of
z3 the City (both inside and outside of City limits). The Fire Department has reduced the
Za amount of write-off to bad debt on the Medicare and Medicaid calls through Fire
Zs Department efforts in dealing with Medicare and Medicaid.
26 MARINA
2~ Parks and Recreation Director Jim Can reviewed this enterprise fund. Wayne Kipp was
zs hired recently to run the Marina. He staffs the Marina from Tuesday through Sunday as
i9 well as holidays. The Marina has published a Tide Book with local advertising, and the
3o department is becoming more and more aggressive in promoting the Marina. It was
31 suggested the City look at the possibility of renting a limited number of slips to
32 houseboats, if sewage, water and other necessary requirements could be met.
33 Council Request The Council would like to see monthly reports on Marina activity.
34 SELF-INSURANCE
3s Michael Acorne reviewed the Self Insurance programs, which are Liability, Property,
36 Workers' Compensation, Dental, and Unemployment.
37 Il~'ORMATI®N SERVICES
3s The Information Services portion of the Internal Service Funds will be presented at a later
39 meeting.
:~~ ~4G~.
Page 24, Vol. 28
August 30, 1993
i CAPITAL IlVIPROVEMENT' PROGRAMS
~Zi~.:~t~li~'M1i-
a Staff anticipates having the Council review the 1993-94 Capital Improvement .Programs
s (CIP) to determine whether or not there is a desire to make. any modifications. During
a the first quarter of 1994, all the S-Year CIP budgets will be brought back to the Council
s for updating.
6 JOINT MEETING
~ PLANNING COMMISSION, SPARC
a The ,Council, Planning Commission and SPARC will .meet at 7:00 p.m. on Monday,
s September 13, at the Lucchesi Community Center to discuss various items. The Council
io was asked ~to .forward any particular subjects they wish to have discussed at that meeting
i ~ to either Assistant City Manager Warren Salmons or Planning Director Pamela Tuft.
~2 JOINT MEETING
is OTHER COMMISSIONS
is Joint meetings with the other Commissions will be scheduled at a later time.
u GOAL SETTING MEETING
~6 The Council will hold a Goal Setting meeting at a later date.
i~ AGENDA ITEM
is At Council request, there will be a future agenda item on discussion and input on the
i9 format of the budget.
Zo ADJOURN
Zi At 10:15 p.m., the meeting. was adjourned ~ // D / ,
22 M. Patricia Hlligoss, Mayor
Zs ATTEST:
-~
za Patricia E. Bernard, City Clerk