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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin 10-17-07 joint mtg w/ UVSDCITY OF UKIAH Minutes SPECIAL JOINT MEETING OF THE UKIAH CITY COUNCIL AND UKIAH VALLEY SANITATION DISTRICT CIVIC CENTER COUNCIL CHAMBERS 300 Seminary Avenue Ukiah, CA 95482 October 17, 2007 4: The Ukiah City Council met at a Special Joint Meeting with the Ukiah Valley Sanitation District on October 17, 2007, the notice for which being legally noticed on October 12, 2007. Mayor Rodin called the meeting to order at 4:04 p.m. Roll was taken with the following Councilmembers present: Thomas, Crane, McCowen, Baldwin, and Mayor Rodin. Absent: None. Staff present: City Manager Horsley, City Attorney Rapport, City Clerk Brown. Also present representing the Ukiah Valley Sanitation District were Directors Wattenburger, Delbar, Crane, as well as Paul Cayler, County Counsel Jeanine Nadel, and Recording Secretary Kristy Furman. Consultants present: Mary Grace Pawson, Charley Gordon, Winzler & Kelley. Also present was LAFCO Executive Officer Frank McMichael. 2. ITEMS OF DISCUSSION a. Discussion and Po, City Manager Horsley presented the item and briefly commented: • There are associated timelines for completion of MSRs for the UVSD and City. • LAFCO is unable to assist with the process. • A possible option would be for the UVSD and the City's sewer portion of the MSR to be worked on as a joint project/effort with the City putting out an RFP allowing a consultant to complete the work. • The product once approved by the UVSD board and City can be submitted to LAFCO for review as a draft MSR. • Consultant Winzler & Kelley has completed MSRs for other agencies. Mary Grace Pawson from Winzler & Kelley summarized the details of the proposed option: • Winzler & Kelley is experienced with formulating technical analyses including MSRs and if hired, can complete MSRs for the UVSD and the City, as a shared project. • The mandated MSR is 'service specific.' • The document is similar to crafting a Sewer System Master Plan where a MSR is more accessible to decision makers, land use planners, and to the public than the typical a Sewer Master Plan that is directed towards a more technical audience. While the MSR is not a land use plan, it must effectively correlate with the City and County General Plan land use visions/goals and policies. • The document will contain findings and determinations that are required in the analysis, as well as other related technical sources of information to correspond with the intensive sewer plant upgrade to maximize efficiency. The challenge will be to present the technical information within the context of LAFCO's requirements/framework and to work with their needs. • The needs and deficiencies, available options, including growth and population projections, Minutes of Special Joint Meeting October 17, 2007 Ukiah City Council & Ukiah Valley Sanitation District Page 1 potential financial constraints/opportunities, opportunities for rate restructuring, City's financial status, level of service that can be provided, bond ratings, cost of service allocation information for the different user groups, staffing of the facility, and/or other relative information required by the MSR concerning the sewer system infrastructure will be specifically addressed in the analysis. The strategy involves the accumulation of pertinent information and extracting the most relative data into one well-packaged MSR for ease of accessibility and understanding. Likely the most complicated portion of the MSR for the UVSD and the City is related to government structure options, public policies as to coordination of rates and other issues, and the evaluation of management efficiencies as a service provider, since the UVSD and City have boundary issues in terms of properties that were annexed to the City and not 'de-annexed' from the UVSD. The MSR process is a LAFCO process and it is this agency's responsibility to conduct the reviews, which must be made clear in the RFP's. The City's information would be presented as the joint operator for both the City and UVSD. Mary Grace Pawson supports the use of the 1995 General Plan document since it has been through the CEQA review process as a relevant basis for the MSR. It was noted the MSRs and Sphere of Influence are synonymous, and in order to produce effective documents the area examined must be clearly defined. City Attorney Rapport stated the areas have to be identified for the growth and population projections, which for the City might be a projected sphere of influence. Mary Grace Pawson commented the boundaries established by the Sphere must be able to support the existing infrastructure, and therefore, research into possible modification of the City's sphere may be necessary. • LAFCO Executive Director McMichael stated the draft MSR is first reviewed by the public/affected agencies and subsequently followed by a public hearing where updates to the Sphere of Influence are initiated before the MSR can be finalized. He clarified there is nothing in the statute requiring the City and other agencies to go through these processes, but LAFCO policy presumes that it will work in cooperation with the relevant agencies to accomplish the processes consistent with State regulations. • Councilmember McCowen commented the process would be simplified if the City agrees that approval is based on the 1995 Sphere of Influence as identified in the 1995 General Plan for the waste water/sewer MSR, the water MSR, and the general service review. • Councilmember Crane stated we are meeting today because the UVSD contends/supports that the City and District work to together to complete the MSR process. • Councilmember Baldwin inquired whether LAFCO has the staff and time to provide the oversight necessary if the two agencies were to fund a consultant. Public Comment Opened: 4:58: l0 PM Public speaking to the item: Lee Howard, and Frank McMichael. Public Comment Closed: 5:28 p.m. Mayor Rodin recommended staff draft a letter to LAFCO expressing the City's desire/willingness to cooperate with LAFCO on moving forvvard with completion of the MSR. Mary Grace Pawson suggested the proposed letter also maintain that the City will assist with the funding of a consultant. Director Wattenburger supports taking action for the hiring of a consultant and proceeding with the process as a joint effort. Minutes of Special Joint Meeting October 17, 2007 Ukiah City Council 8 Ukiah Valley Sanitation District Page 2 Councilmember Crane supports moving forward Director Delbar agrees the decision-making process needs to move forward and anticipates that clear direction be given so that the matter can be agendized for the next LAFCO meeting whereby the LAFCO Commission can approve the RFP. Councilmember McCowen commented both the District and City could designate a member who, in addition to staff, would be involved in the discussions with the Executive Director of LAFCO. Director Delbar concurred Mayor Rodin agreed that Sphere boundaries must be identified before MSRs can be completed Councilmember Thomas recommends Councilmember McCowen serve as the designated member to participate in the discussion with LAFCO concerning meeting the State deadline of providing a MSR. Mayor Rodin supports establishing at least the minimum requirements necessary for a MSR, which can be accomplished in the RFP process for LAFCO to review before it is sent out. Director Wattenburger will be out of State and recommended Director Crane be his representative relative to a joint meeting. City Attorney Rapport agreed Councilmember/Director Crane could participate as a representative in joint meetings. Councilmember McCowen stated funding can come from the Fund 612, Joint Operating Account, if we are proceeding as a joint venture. City Attorney Rapport summarized the goal is clear and the directive by general consent of the City Council is to draft an RFP to present to LAFCO within three weeks; and, if it is necessary for the District Board and Council to meet again before then, to call a special meeting. 3. a. The next joint meeting was scheduled for October 25, 2007. 4. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:30:59 PM. --- ~- ~ ~__ Linda Brown, City er a Cathy awadly, Tra criptionist Minutes of Special Joint Meeting October 17, 2007 Ukiah City Council & Ukiah Valley Sanitation District Page 3