HomeMy Public PortalAboutCouncil Minutes 1998 01/10City of McCall
Minutes
McCall City Council, Special Meeting,
Saturday, January 10,1998
Minutes, McCall City Council
Special Meeting, Saturday, January 10, 1998
Call to Order and Roll Call
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kirk Eimers at 10:05 A.M. Ms. Arp, Messrs.
Colton, Muller, Venable and Eimers answered the roll call. A quorum was present. City
Manager Brian Olson, City Clerk -Treasurer James Henderson and City Attorney Edward
G. Burton of the city staff were also present.
Public Hearing on Water Rates
Mr. Olson gave an introductory report. Duane Smith of the Ad Hoc Committee on Water
Rates gave a report on rate calculations. Scotty Davenport of the Ad Hoc Committee on
Water Rates gave a report on the rate structure. Mr. Smith then gave some closing
remarks and introduced the members of the committee. Mr. Olson then concluded the
staff report with remarks conceming efforts to obtain relief from future obligations.
The mayor then opened the hearing to public testimony. The following were heard:
1. ' Ms. Elaine Ambrose who objected to the proposed water rates
2. Mr. Clayton Rudd who was a member of the committee and pointed out the need
to educate the public.
3. Mr. Dean Martens who objected to the concept of apportioning the fixed and debt
service costs on the basis of customer not usage. He suggested 4 to 6 tiers
based on historical consumption.
4. Mr. Chris Keith who agreed with Mr. Martens.
5. Ms. Julie Eddins who suggested that the public be given more information. She
also pointed out that contractors' water trucks were extracting large amounts of
water for construction.
6. Mr. Curt Spaulding who disagreed with the proposal.
7. , Mr. Ed Allen who disagreed with the proposal. He that the rate structure favored
large consumers and did not adequately address conservation.
8. Mr. Judson Zenzic who disagreed with the proposal. He felt that the proposed
rates did not address affordability and that the debt service costs should not be
separated from operating costs. He suggested that the major portion of the costs
should be allocated on the basis of consumption.
9. Mr. Jim Arp who suggested that the current structure be adjusted but not changed
for the next six to eight months.
10. Ms. Alana Shoemaker who stated that the rate structure should not penalize
families who must use a lot of water. She felt that it was not right for the golf
course to be able to use millions of gallons of water when the supply is finite.
11. Mr. Mike McCoy who disagreed with the proposed rate and pointed out that his
family averaged about 7,500 gallons per month. He stated that he didn't see a lot
of faimess in the proposed system.
12. Mr. Rick Fereday who suggested that the city bring more pressure to bear on
federal regulators through our congressional delegation. He suggested a 10%
reduction in the proposed rate structure and include 7,000 gallons in the minimum
and a 10% reduction in the per gallon charge. He also requested that the mayor
excuse himself from the deliberations on this matter as he was financially
connected with one of the large water users.
13. Mr. Gary Eckhert who disagreed with the proposed rate and stated that it did not
encourage conservation. He suggested that the base rate be kept as low as
possible, should reward conservation and should promote equity.
14. Mr. David Kistner who reported that as a result of his billing corrected some leaks
and reduce his consumption from 16,000 gallons per month to 3,000 or 4,000
gallons per month.
15. Mr. David Simmonds who reported that conservation was an issue but one
shouldn't have to pay a fortune to keep a lawn.
16. Mr. Bill Killen who suggested that the council not get hung up on finding a perfect
solution but should consider altematives and select the best one.
17. Mr. Peter Bach who stated that customers should pay for what they use.
18. Mr. John Rygh who felt that the rate structure required small users to subsidize
large users.
19. Ms. Laurie Pillers who stated that the plant size was based on total consumption
not on number of connections and the bond repayment should be allocated on
consumption as well.
20. Mr. Bob Snyder who pointed out that other utilities such as Idaho Power and
Intermountain gas do not itemize bills for debt service, fixed costs, or variable
costs and that the base charge with no use is very minimal.
21. Mr. Jim Pfeifer who stated that 2nd homeowners did not seem to be adequately
considered. He pointed out that the city needs to get elected representatives on
board in getting relief from the clean water act standards. He stated that there
should be no rate class distinction and that if there is a base charge, customers
ought to be able to build a bank of unused credits during low usage months.
22. Ms. Sondra Skinner who stated that she was the operator of a motel which used a
lot of water. She pointed out that as a commercial user there wasn't a lot that
could be done to reduce consumption and all costs simply could not be passed on
to the customer.
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Comprehensive Plan.
Ms. Arp pointed out that the city had been working with our congressional delegate for
relief from the Surface Water Treatment Rule. She further pointed out that there was
some indicates that the source water is not as pristine as we believe.
Mr. Venable thanked the committee for its work and pointed out that the rate is either fair
or it is not, that we pay the bond or we don't.
Mr. Muller stated that he wanted to digest the information received and that he would
render a decision taking into consideration everyone's interest.
Mr. Eimers pointed out that the current rate structure would not meet the revenue
covenants of the Water Revenue Bond.
After further discussion, Mr. Olson recommend that the staff be directed to (1) Evaluate
altematives, (2) Prepare a newletter to be mailed to all water customers and (3) to set a
second hearing for February 21, 1998. The council by consensus so directed the staff.
Adjournment
Without further business, Mr. Muller moved to adjoum. Mr. Colton seconded and the
motion carried unanimously. The council adjoumed at 1:10 P.M.
ATTEST:
James H. Henderson. City Clerk
3
IGrk L. Eimers, Mayor