HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Utilities Committee 2007-08-16RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town of Estes Park,Larimer County,Colorado,August 16,2007.
Minutes of a Regular meeting of the UTILITIES COMMITTEE of the
Town of Estes Park,Larimer County,Colorado.Meeting held in the
Town Hall in said Town of Estes Park on the 16th day of August 2007.
Committee:Chairman Homeier,Trustees Newsom and Pinkham
Attending:All
Also Attending:Administrator Repola,Deputy Administrator Halburnt,
Utilities Director Goehring,Finance Director McFarland,
Superintendent Mahany,Deputy Town Clerk Deats
Absent:None
Chairman Homeler called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Michael Dzik,Sustainable Mountain Living (SML)Group,read a statement from fellow
SML member,Tom Street,indicating that the minutes from the July Utilities Committee
meeting did not reflect comments made by Utility Director Goehring in regard to net
metering.The Sustainable Mountain Living Group made a presentation at the July
meeting,after which Dir.Goehring stated that the Utilities Department would come back
to Committee in either September or October with a more complete report addressing
net metering,credits,and incentives.Chairman Homeier acknowledged that the Town
realizes that the SML Group is eager to pursue this topic and that information regarding
net metering credits and incentives will need to be studied due to their budgetary
implications.
LIGHT &POWER DEPARTMENT
BUCKET TRUCK REPLACEMENT (VEHICLE 93325A)—REQUEST APPROVAL.
The 2007 Light &Power Department budget includes $260,000 for the replacement of
Bucket Truck 93325A,a 1996 International 4900 Series 4x2 truck,equipped with a bucket
aerial device which is used by the line crew for aerial line and transformer repairs.The
vehicle is 11 years old with 7,850 hours and 67,540 miles.(Replacement Type 13 Policy —
8,500-9,000 hours or 12 years;this vehicle is not included in the replacement fund.)The
Light &Power Department requests the purchase of a 4x4 vehicle with a similar aerial
device.The choice of aerial devices is limited by the storage building door height of 12’
and the taller truck chassis due to Tier Ill emissions.Bids were solicited with the following
results:
Altec Industries —Denver,Colorado/St.Joseph,Missouri
Meets specification (Height 1 i’ll”)
2007 International 7400-4x4 w/Altec AM855 Series Aerial Bucket $226,451
Trade-in:Equipment #93325A $15,000
Bid Price:$211,451
Terex Utilities —Denver,Colorado/Watertown,South Dakota
Vehicle did not meet specifications (Height 12’3”)
2007 International 7400-4x4 w/Hi-Ranger HRX55 Series Aerial Bucket $221,017
Trade-in:Equipment #93325A $15,000
Bid Price:$206,017
Versalift Utilities —Colorado Springs,Colorado/Waco,Texas DECLINED TO BID
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Utilities Committee —August 16,2007-Page 3
Staff requests approval to accept the Water Utility Financial Plan,dated March 2007,by
HDR Engineering,and recommends increasing the water rates by a 5.6%each year for
2008,2009,and 2010;with an update to the Water Utility Financial Plan in 2010 and a
reevaluation and recalculation of any additional rate increases.
The Committee discussed the financial plans for both utilities,noting that they are
similar with the differences being the capital projects involved.Dir.Goehring indicated
that public hearings will be held on October 9th for Water and October 23rd for Light &
Power to comply with requirements for notification of rate increases to utility customers
and allow for public input on the mailer.The Committee requested the rate increases
for both utilities be included as action items on the Town Board agenda,and that a
budget study session related to Utilities be held prior to the October 231c Town Board
meeting.
Discussion followed and included:transfer of funds from Utilities to the General Fund;
reduction of the percentage of this transfer to the General Fund;items expensed to the
Utilities Department;budget to reflect the cost of doing business;request for an annual
summary of debt service;the monitoring of financial reserves;water accounts have
minimum monthly charge with no minimum usage to encourage conservation;water
customers have been using less water as a possible result of more second homes in
the area.
The Committee recommends approval to accept both the Section 3 Light &Power
Financial Plan,and the Section 2 Water Utility Financial Plan,compiled by HDR
Engineering,dated March 2007,as follows:
1)a recommendation to increase the electric rates by 2.5%each year 2008,
2009,and 2010;with an update of the Light &Power Financial Plan in 2010,
and a reassessment and recalculation of any additional rate increases;and
2)a recommendation to increase the water rates by a 5.6%each year for
2008,2009,and 2010;with an update to the Water Utility Financial Plan in
2010 and a reassessment and recalculation of any additional rate increases.
REPORTS
LIGHT &POWER
1.Financial Reports —Dir.McFarland reviewed the report.
WATER
1.Water Financial Reports —Dir.McFarland reviewed the report.
The Committee discussed the financial reports including the following topics:budgeting
processes,revenue projections,capital projects and bonding,depreciation,sole
sourcing as it relates to water plant membrane treatment system;and a timeline for
bond market announcements.The Committee requested that Dir.McFarland bring an
approximate bond market timeline to the September Utilities Committee meeting.
There being no further business,Chairman Homeier adjourned the meeting at 9:04 a.m.
a Th
________________________
Cynthia .Deats,Deputy Town Clerk
APPROVED
E AUG 26
20071
TOWN OF ESTES PARK
BOARD OF TRUSTEES