News 12-14-98

Bulletin Board

Public Utilities Advisory Committee

December 14, 1998

The Public Utilities Advisory Committee ("PUAC") was formed by ordinance in 1979 to provide citizen’s overview and make recommendations to the Mayor and City Council on Public Utilities’ programs. Since the PUAC’s inception, it has provided Salt Lake City countless hours of public service and invaluable advice and recommendations.

The PUAC consists of nine appointed voting members, with the mayor, the public utilities director and the city attorney ex officio, nonvoting members. Six members are appointed from within the corporate limits of Salt Lake City, and 3 members appointed from the City’s unincorporated Salt Lake County service area.

Under City Ordinance Section 2.40.110, the Powers and Duties of the PUAC are as follows:

To annually review the department’s water and sewer system capital improvement program;

To review annually the department’s operations and maintenance budget and expenditures;

Annually review the water and sewer revenue requirements and recommend to the mayor any rate adjustments they deem necessary;

Review and make recommendations on proposed legislation relating to water and sewer;

Consult with the mayor relative to water resources and sewage reclamation requirements;

The power to determine and establish such rules and regulations for the conduct of the committee as the members shall deem advisable; provided however, that such rules and regulations shall not be in conflict with this chapter or any other city, state or federal law;

To adopt and alter all rules and regulations which it shall from time to time deem in the public interest and most likely to advance, enhance, foster and promote the public utility systems of the city for the purpose of carrying out the objects of this chapter, but such rules and regulations shall not be in conflict with the terms of this or any other city ordinance, state or federal law;

Assist the public utilities director in every way possible for the continuing orderly development and operation of the public utilities system of the city in order to best serve the users thereof.

The Early Years 1980-1985

The PUAC has tackled numerous difficult assignments, beginning with developing the City’s EPA 201 Facilities Plan. In 1979, the City’s sewage collection and reclamation division was transferred to the Department of Public Utilities and made an enterprise fund. The PUAC was assigned the task of recommending a plan of improvements and a financial system to fund the improvements to the sewer system and treatment plant. Besides conducting the Facilities Plan the PUAC made recommendations on user rates and connection fees. The results of the PUAC’s efforts were realized on December 7, 1982, when the City Council adopted the 20-year Facilities Plan and companion financial plan. A major issue during this period was to bond or not to bond for the improvements. Interest rates at the time were in double-digit figures. At the request of PUAC Member Roger Boyer, staff was requested to prepare a cash flow pay-as-you-go financial plan. The advantages to the cash flow alternative were it avoided the high bonding interest rate and provided flexibility in future decisions; however, the disadvantage was the need for initially higher rate increases to fund the program. Ultimately, the PUAC recommended and the City Council adopted the pay-as-you-go financial plan that saved millions of dollars in interest rates, and provided the flexibility to reduce rates during the life of the plan. Mayor Ted Wilson was the first to testify to the City Council, recommending the approval of the Plan. City Council Member Ron Whitehead and PUAC Member Ralph Steenblik, both residents living near the wastewater treatment plant, were tireless in their efforts to improve the treatment plant and develop a long-range plan for sewage collection and treatment.

Other issues the PUAC acted on during the early 1980s included a recommendation in 1982 to place a moratorium on new water sales agreements in the Wasatch Canyon Watersheds that would last for 10 years; a recommendation to issue a $30 million bond for short term improvements to the wastewater treatment plant and drinking water projects to bring additional water supply to Salt Lake City; programs for sludge disposal; and regulations governing industrial discharges to the wastewater treatment plant (pretreatment program).

Other issues that the PUAC acted on during this period were master planning the Northwest Quadrant, the proposed Little Dell Project and the completion of the Central Utah Project.

Also during this period, the water and sewer infrastructure became a major issue. Emmanuel A. Floor, the first Chairperson of PUAC was concerned with the out-of-sight-out-of-mind apathy regarding these underground utility works. He championed the issue at every opportunity. Upon completing his term he stated metaphorically, "If I have been able to increase the public’s awareness of the infrastructure, the maze of pipes beneath the earth, buried from sight, by bringing them to the surface for all to see, then I have made my contribution to the city’s future."

The Years 1985 – 1990

In 1988, the PUAC completed a major task when it recommended the adoption of the "Salt Lake City Canyon Watershed Master Plan." The Plan is a guide for the City in managing its 185 square miles of watershed in the Wasatch Canyons east of Salt Lake City. W. Marvin Tuddenham was Chairperson of the PUAC during this period. A major initiative in the Master Plan was the recommendation of the "Watershed Property and Water Rights Purchase Fund." The PUAC recommended and the City Council approved a $0.25 surcharge on each water bill to finance the fund. Over 1,000 acres of watershed property has been purchased since the fund was authorized.

The approval of the Little Dell Project occurred in 1986, when the Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake City ("MWDSLC"), Salt Lake County and the USCOE signed an agreement for the construction of this 20,500 acre-foot dam. Salt Lake City donated the land for the project. The PUAC strongly supported the project.

As part of the PUAC's recommendations to support the Central Utah Project and the MWDSLC's 20,000 acre-foot petition for project water, Salt Lake City was allocated two-fifths the capacity in the Jordan Valley Water Treatment Plant and Jordan Aqueduct. Projects funded by the $30 million bond distributed water from the aqueduct to the Northwest Quadrant and downtown business district.

The Years 1990 –1995

Sandy City was annexed into the MWDSLC in 1990. As part of the buy-in cost, Sandy City paid for the expansion costs of the Parleys Water Treatment Plant. Design and construction began in the fall of 1990 increasing the capacity from 28 mgd to 45 mgd.

In 1990, the City’s drainage division was transferred from general government to Public Utilities and made an enterprise fund. The PUAC worked with a 20-member citizens committee to develop and recommended ordinances to form the stormwater utility, established a fee system to finance it and a capital improvement program to improve drainage. PUAC Member Vaughn Wonnacott chaired the citizen’s committee during this process.

Under the leadership of Chairperson Tomas Berggren, in 1991 the Canyon Water Sales Ordinance was passed by the City Council. This ordinance established the policy that the City would limit the sale of water within the canyons to certain springs and set the policy that the canyon waters were needed to serve the urban development within Salt Lake County.

In the early 1990s, water rates and conservation were major issues. A resolution for water use ethic was passed by the PUAC on January 28, 1993. Replacing an aging infrastructure became a major issue. These issues carried through most of this period. Subsequently, the PUAC recommended capital improvement programs to begin replacing aging facilities and to implement a peaking water rate to defer the need for new treatment and conveyance systems. A peaking rate structure was approved by the City Council in 1995.

In 1992, at the urging of Chairperson Lon Richardson, the PUAC began scoping meetings to develop a recreation plan for the Little Dell Project in Dell Fork, Parleys Canyon. Recreation had been deleted from the original project, and a modest environmentally sound plan was developed with a strong public participation process. Subsequently, the recreation would be re-programmed into the project. MWDSLC was successful in having recreation put back into the project, and with the new cost allocation with recreation included received payments back from the federal government. The PUAC was involved in the final design of the recreation facilities. Public Utilities will operate and maintain the facilities under agreement with the MWDSLC.

1996 - Present

During this period, the department completed its master plans for both water and sewer improvements through the year 2025. In 1997, the City Council adopted a 5-year $45.5 million capital improvement program to begin replacing the aging water system.

After ten years, in 1998 the PUAC again looked at the Canyon Master Plan. The updated plan will be forwarded to the Mayor and City Council for action.

The Central Utah Project Completion Act, Impact fees, Pretreatment Ordinance, Ground Water Source Protection Ordinance and watershed property purchases have been agenda items during the past two years. The City's litigation over water rights has been a major topic for which the PUAC has given advice and encouragement.

In December 1998, the MWDSLC completed its master plan of improvements to deliver water to the year 2025. The plan, costing over $200,000,000 will be a major issue during 1999.

Water Connections

The PUAC members have a wide range of backgrounds including business people, attorneys, bankers, neighborhood activists, geologist, architect, chemist and civic leaders. Four members have historic ties to water. Lon Richardson is the great grandson of Blair Richardson, the first chairman of the Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake City and Paul Keyser, the great grandson of City Comissioner George Keyser, who was over the water department and a member of the Board of Director's of MWDSLC. According to history the two elders didn't always agree; but both their prodigy provided outstanding service to the Department of Public Utilities.

Grant M. Burbidge was a City Commissioner, over the Water Department during the late 40s and 50s. During his terms in office, along with Charles W. Wilson he advanced the City's water program with the construction water treatment plants, reservoirs and other water facilities. Charlie, who initiated the formation of the PUAC before his retirement in 1980, attended most of the PUAC meetings until he passed away in 1997.

Vaughn Wonnacott was the General Manager of the MWDSLC. He was the first Manager of the Little Cottonwood Water Treatment Plant and later became the General Manager of the District.

Conclusion

The members of the PUAC perform an outstanding public service. Unpaid, they devote untold hours of their personal time to serve on this citizens' committee. Besides the monthly meeting, beginning at 7:00 am every fourth Thursday, they serve on sub-committees, attend public hearings and City Council meetings.

"Over the 20 years that we have worked together on issues, I can't think of a time that the outcome didn't improve after the Advisory Committee worked through it," says Public Utilities Director LeRoy W. Hooton, Jr. He continues, "I believe having citizen's involvement provides a perspective that strengthens municipal government's effectiveness in providing services. There have been more instances than I can count, that my position changed after the Advisory Committee worked through an issue. I am deeply grateful for all of the men and women who have served on the Committee. Furthermore," he adds, "I think that the department's credibility with the Mayor and City Council is greatly enhanced when the Advisory Committee makes a recommendation. They are respected for their careful study of utility issues and independent recommendations."

Public Utilities Advisory Committee Members 1980 -1998

Left to Right - Top to Bottom:

Raymond L. Arnold, Clifford L. Ashton, Genevieve Atwood, Mark Bauer, Tomas Berggren, John S. Bonnett, H. Roger Boyer;

Grant M. Burbidge, Richard Chong, Elliot Christensen, J. Howard Dunn, Stephen E. Featherstone, Emmanuel A. Floor, Louis Frank;

David T. Handley, Paul B. Keyser, William H. Kibbie, Virginia Lee, James Matheson, Robert Rice, Patricia A. Richards;

Lon Richardson, F.R. Bunk Robinson, Ralph Steenblik, Marvin Tuddenham, Pieter vander Have, Sharon Walkington, Vaughn Wonnacott Missing, Kathy Loveless, Joan DeGiorgio, Ken Bullock and Barbara Ishimatsu

Final PUAC4


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