12/14/2011 - Packet Intergovernmental Water Board Agenda
SERVING TIGARD, KING CITY,DURHAM AND TIGARD WATER DISTRICT
MEETING DATE: Wednesday, December 14, 2011, 5:30 p.m.
MEETING LOCATION: Tigard Public Works Building
8777 SW Burnham Street
Tigard, OR 97223
1. Call to Order, Roll Call and Introductions
2. Approval of Minutes —November 9, 2011
Action: Motion to approve the November 9, 2011 minutes.
3. Public Comments
Call for comments from the public.
4. Water Supply Update -John Goodrich
5. Briefing on West Linn Emergency Water Proposal—Dennis Koellermeier
Action: Informational, no action required.
6. Briefing on 5-Year Strategic Plan for the Regional Water Providers Consortium —Tigard Staff
Action: Informational, no action required.
7. Discussion Regarding the Member-At-Large Position
8. Informational Items
■ Update from Commissioner Buehner on Lake Oswego/City of Tigard Oversight Committee
activities.
9. Non-Agenda Items
Call for non-agenda items from the Board.
10. Next Meeting:
■ January 11, 2012 at 5:30 p.m.
Public Works Auditorium, 8777 SW Burnham Street, Tigard, Oregon
11. Adjournment
Action: Motion for adjournment.
INTERGOVERNMENTAL WATER BOARD AGENDA— December 14, 2011
City of Tigard 13125 SW Hall Blvd.,Tigard,OR 97223 1 503-718-2591 1 www.tigard-or.gov I Page 1 of2
Executive Session
The Intergovernmental Water Board may go into Executive Session. If an Executive Session is called to
order, the appropriate ORS citation will be announced identifying the applicable statute. All discussions
are confidential and those present may disclose nothing from the Session. Representatives of the news
media are allowed to attend Executive Sessions, as provided by ORS 192.660(4), but must not disclose
any information discussed. No Executive Session may be held for the purpose of taking any final action or
making any final decision. Executive Sessions are closed to the public.
INTERGOVERNMENTAL WATER BOARD AGENDA— December 14, 2011
City of Tigard 1 13125 SW Hall Blvd.,Tigard,OR 97223 1 503-718-2591 1 www.tigard-or.gov I Page 2 oft
Agenda Item No.: Z
IWB Meeting Date: l�ri'. 1 410.1-b/l
Intergovernmental Water Board Minutes
in I
SERVING TIGARD,KING CITY,DURHAM AND TIGARD WATER DISTRICT
MEETING DATE: Wednesday, November 9, 2011, 5:30 p.m.
MEETING LOCATION: Tigard Public Works Building
8777 SW Burnham Street
Tigard, OR 97223
Members Present:
Gretchen Buehner Representing the City of Tigard
Ken Henschel Representing the Tigard Water District
Keith Jehnke Representing the City of Durham
Dick Winn Representing the City of King City
Mike Stone Member-At-Large
Members Absent: None
City of Tigard Staff Present:
John Goodrich Utility Division Manager
Greer Gaston Intergovernmental Water Board (IWB) Recorder
1. Call to Order, Roll Call and Introductions
Commissioner Winn called the meeting to order at 5:31 p.m.
2. Approval of Minutes — September 14, 2011
Commissioner Buehner moved to approve the September 14, 2011 minutes.
Commissioner Stone seconded the motion. The motion passed by unanimous vote of
the Commissioners present, with Commissioners Buehner, Henschel,Jehnke, Stone and
Winn voting yes.
3. Public Comments
There were no comments from the public.
4. Water Supply Update
Mr. Goodrich reported:
■ Average water use for the month of October was about 4.1 million gallons per
day (mgd). This is 1 mgd less than the 10-year average for the month of October
and .6 mgd less than October 2010 demand.
■ Average water use for the first week-and-a half of November was about 3.9 mgd.
■ Approximately 173 million gallons of water is stored in aquifer storage and
recovery (ASR) wells. A small amount of ASR water was used this year. Limited
injection of water into the ASR wells will occur in the upcoming months.
■ This fall, Tigard had not experienced any water quality issues with the Portland
water supply. Water quality issues will likely arise as the rainy season gets
underway.
5. Extra Storage Space Credit for Leak Request
Mr. Goodrich provided background information on this credit for leak request for
$1,929.78. Credits over $500 must be approved by the board.
Commissioner Buehner moved to approve the credit. Commissioner Henschel seconded
the motion. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the commissioners present, with
Commissioners Buehner, Henschel,Jehnke, Stone and Winn voting yes.
6. Briefing on Water Sales
Mr. Goodrich reported, via Tigard's 18,000 service connections, that the city sold 1.9
billion gallons of water to water customers in fiscal year 2010-2011. Sales were
comparable to those in fiscal year 1994-1995 when the City of Tigard supplied water to
about 11,000 service connections.
He advised the Water Financial Plan assumed the average household would consume 9
ccf per month (one ccf equals 100 cubic feet, or 748 gallons, of water). However, actual
demand is more like 7.4 ccf per month; this is 18 percent lower than expected. Mr.
Goodrich attributed the decrease to wetter, cooler summers, which reduced demand.
The board discussed how the decrease in water sales might affect revenues, especially as
they pertain to the Lake Oswego-Tigard Water Partnership. Commissioner Buehner
noted there was a "cushion" in the new rate model. Despite decreased usage, the rate
model has generated more revenue. Mr. Goodrich added that the water division
remained on target with its financial forecasting, budgeting and expenditures.
7. Briefing on the Addition of 3/4-Inch Diameter Water Meters
Mr. Goodrich briefed the board on the addition of a3/4-inch diameter water meter as
outlined in the memo included in IWB packet materials.
8. Briefing on Communication for Upcoming Water Rate Increase
Mr. Goodrich distributed a bill stuffer and the winter edition of KnowH20; both
communication pieces inform the public of the January 1, 2012 water rate increase. The
commissioners discussed the future rate increase structure and comments they have
received from constituents.
9. Discuss the Selection of a Member-At-Large
Commissioner Winn asked the board to consider appointing Commissioner Stone to
another term as the member-at-large. The board discussed:
■ Whether to open the position to the public.
■ How the reappointment of Commissioner Stone would maintain continuity on
the board.
■ Commissioner Stone's expertise and how it benefits the board.
Commissioner Stone agreed to serve another term.
Commissioner Buehner motioned to appoint Commissioner Stone to another term as
the member-at-large. Commissioner Henschel seconded the motion. The motion passed
by unanimous vote of the commissioners present, with Commissioners Buehner,
Henschel,Jehnke, Stone and Winn voting yes.
10. Informational Items
■ Update from Commissioner Buehner on Lake Oswego/City of Tigard Oversight
Committee activities.
— The project manager was authorized to approve change orders up to $1
million in order prevent delays; delays could cost $500,000 to $1 million
per day.
— Commissioner Buehner encouraged the commissioners to attend an
upcoming tour of the pilot water treatment plant. Three treatment
processes will be tested. Depending upon how these various processes
perform, the partnership may be able to reduce the treatment plant
footprint and save up to $3 million in costs.
— First quarter projections indicate the water partnership budget is on target.
— The Gladstone planning commission has approved the raw water intake.
— Commissioner Buehner discussed possible ways to route the transmission
pipeline once it crosses the Willamette River. The preferred route travels
underground through a small portion of a West Linn park. West Linn's
charter does not allow the pipeline to be routed through the park without
the approval of its citizenry. An alternative route, that avoids the park,
could add an additional $7 or $8 million.
— A joint meeting between Tigard and Lake Oswego City Councils will take
place Monday, November 14 at 6:30 p.m. Commissioner Buehner invited
the commissioners to the meeting.
— Public outreach meetings are taking place with neighborhood
associations/groups regarding the construction of the finished water
pipeline. Meetings are also taking place with county commissioners and
legislators representing West Linn, Lake Oswego and Gladstone.
— Commissioner Buehner explained the timeline related to the WaterWatch
appeal; action on the appeal will likely take place this summer.
— State law requires 1.5 percent of water treatment plant project costs be
spent on energy savings/conservation. Commissioner Stone said
Wilsonville had challenged this requirement and suggested the partnership
might consider doing the same.
11. Non-Agenda Items
Commissioners Henschel,Jehnke and Winn indicated they would like to attend the pilot
water treatment plant tour on Monday, November 21.
Commissioner Henschel asked if board would like to move IWB meetings to a later time
since dinner is no longer being served as a part of the meeting. Commissioner Buehner
said she had another meeting immediately following the IWB meeting; a later meeting
time would create a conflict for her. The board decided not to change the meeting time.
Commissioner Henschel noted that four IWB meetings had been cancelled in 2011. He
said Tigard Water District (TWD) commissioners wanted to know why so many
meetings had been cancelled. Commissioner Winn said he and Mr. Koellermeier typically
discuss the agenda and whether there is enough business to merit holding the meeting.
Commissioner Henschel expressed concern that some meetings were cancelled, because
staff members were unavailable and that those who have something to bring before the
board, such as the public or TWD commissioners, were not afforded the opportunity to
do so. Commissioner Henschel said the IWB had cancelled too many meetings.
Commissioner Winn said if the IWB doesn't have any business to conduct, it doesn't
make sense to hold a meeting just for the sake of holding a meeting. Commissioner
Stone concurred. Commissioner Henschel countered that the TWD might have an issue
it wanted to bring forward to the IWB. Other commissioners said, in that case,
Commissioner Henschel should contact Mr. Koellermeier to get the issue on the agenda.
Commissioner Stone noted the public rarely attended IWB meetings, and there did not
seem to be much public interest in the board's business.
12. Next Meeting
December 14, 2011 at 5:30 p.m.
Public Works Auditorium, 8777 SW Burnham Street, Tigard, Oregon
13. Adjournment
At 6:38 p.m. Commissioner Stone moved to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner
Buehner seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned by unanimous vote of the
commissioners present,with Commissioners Buehner, Henschel,Jehnke, Stone and
Winn voting yes.
Dick Winn, IWB Chair Greer Gaston, IWB Recorder
Date: Date:
Submitted at the IWB Meeting
By: J)ENNIS RhEL.L.NEMP-L&R,
Date: /2-/4'1 1 Agenda Item No.: J--
0 R.DAN RAMI S Pc
ATTORNEYS AT L A W
Two Centerpointe Dr 6th Fl Phone: (503)598-7070
Lake Oswego OR 97035 Toll Free: (888)598-7070
www.jordanratnis.com Fax: (503)598-7373
LEGAL MEMORANDUM
TO: Dennis Koellermeier
FROM: Tim Ramis
DATE: December 14, 2011
RE: IWB At-Large Member Issue
City of Tigard—Public Works/Engineering
File No. 50014-36792
Background:
Michael Stone currently serves as the at-large member of the Intergovernmental Water Board
("IWB"). The at-large member is the only one of the five voting members of the IWB that is not
appointed by the governing body of the local jurisdictions that are parties to the IWB IGA.
Instead, the at-large member is selected by majority vote of the other four members.
Since being selected as the at-large member, Mr. Stone has accepted employment with the City
of Tigard ("City"), which is a party to the IWB IGA. Based on Mr. Stone's new employment
situation, you have requested that I review the IWB IGA and provide advice as to legal and
practical issues pertinent to the IWB at-large member being an employee of a party to the IWB
IGA.
Discussion:
The IWB IGA does not prescribe any limitations on eligibility for at-large membership.
However, legal standards pertinent to decision making by public bodies do apply to the IWB and
its members. Oregon's government ethics standards prohibit a party with a conflict of interest
from participating in decision making on an issue. ORS 244.102(2)(a)(A). Therefore, when an
IWB decision is of a nature that creates a conflict of interest for Mr. Stone by virtue of his
employment by the City, he must refrain from participation.
Not all IWB decisions will necessarily result in a conflict of interest for Mr. Stone. However,
when a decision or recommendation of the IWB would result in a financial benefit or detriment
to the City, Mr. Stone would have a conflict of interest and is required to recuse himself from
proceedings on the matter.
50014-36792392322 1.DOCXCED112/1 d/201
The frequency of such recusal depends on how often the IWB makes decisions that will have a
financial impact to the City. Due to the interrelated interests of the parties to the IWB IGA, it is
likely that many IWB decisions can at least be argued to have an impact on City finances. As a
result, doubt can arise related to Mr. Stone's participation, as well as the potential for personal
liability should the matter not be closely monitored.
Furthermore, frequent recusal results in the practical effect that any two members of the IWB
have an effective veto power. The IWB IGA requires a majority of members to pass a motion or
take other action. Should the number of participating members be limited to four due to recusal
by the at-large member,two votes in opposition automatically carry the day, whereas it would
take three such votes should the entire membership participate in the vote.
Conclusion:
Mr. Stone's employment by the City does not prohibit his continued role as at-large IWB
member. However,conflicts of interest will almost certainly arise that require Mr. Stone not to
participate in IWB proceedings. Non-participation can directly impact the efficacy of the IWB
to establish a majority to make decisions and take action.
50014-36792392322 I.DOCXCED/12/1 d/2011
J a R.DAN RAM I s PC
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
Two Centerpointe Dr 6th Fl Phone: (503)598-7070
Lake Oswego OR 97035 Toll Free: (888)598-7070
www.jordanramis.com Fax: (503)598-7373
LEGAL MEMORANDUM
TO: Dennis Koellermeier
FROM: Tim Ramis
DATE: December 14, 2011
RE: IWB At-Large Member Issue
City of Tigard—Public Works/Engineering
File No. 50014-36792
Background:
Michael Stone currently serves as the at-large member of the Intergovernmental Water Board
("IWB"). The at-large member is the only one of the five voting members of the IWB that is not
appointed by the governing body of the local jurisdictions that are parties to the IWB IGA.
Instead,the at-large member is selected by majority vote of the other four members.
Since being selected as the at-large member, Mr. Stone has accepted employment with the City
of Tigard("City"), which is a party to the IWB IGA. Based on Mr. Stone's new employment
situation, you have requested that I review the IWB IGA and provide advice as to legal and
practical issues pertinent to the IWB at-large member being an employee of a party to the IWB
IGA.
Discussion:
The IWB IGA does not prescribe any limitations on eligibility for at-large membership.
However, legal standards pertinent to decision making by public bodies do apply to the IWB and
its members. Oregon's government ethics standards prohibit a party with a conflict of interest
from participating in decision making on an issue. ORS 244.102(2)(a)(A). Therefore, when an
IWB decision is of a nature that creates a conflict of interest for Mr. Stone by virtue of his
employment by the City, he must refrain from participation.
Not all IWB decisions will necessarily result in a conflict of interest for Mr. Stone. However,
when a decision or recommendation of the IWB would result in a financial benefit or detriment
to the City, Mr. Stone would have a conflict of interest and is required to recuse himself from
proceedings on the matter.
50014-36792 392322 LDOCXCED/12/14/2011
The frequency of such recusal depends on how often the IWB makes decisions that will have a
financial impact to the City. Due to the interrelated interests of the parties to the IWB IGA, it is
likely that many IWB decisions can at least be argued to have an impact on City finances. As a
result, doubt can arise related to Mr. Stone's participation, as well as the potential for personal
liability should the matter not be closely monitored.
Furthermore, frequent recusal results in the practical effect that any two members of the IWB
have an effective veto power. The IWB IGA requires a majority of members to pass a motion or
take other action. Should the number of participating members be limited to four due to recusal
by the at-large member,two votes in opposition automatically carry the day, whereas it would
take three such votes should the entire membership participate in the vote.
Conclusion:
Mr. Stone's employment by the City does not prohibit his continued role as at-large IWB
member. However, conflicts of interest will almost certainly arise that require Mr. Stone not to
participate in IWB proceedings. Non-participation can directly impact the efficacy of the IWB
to establish a majority to make decisions and take action.
50014-36792 392322 1.DOCX C&'Di12.'14�2011
■ j t ■ FYI from Commissioner Winn
12/7/11
Distributed to IWB Members 12-8-1/
Via: --]E-.mail 'Mail �j In-person at meeting
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that brought together four experts on water
policy.From left:Heidi Cullen is a correspondent
for Climate Central,a nonprofit that reports ongi
climate science.Former New Mexico governor
Bill Richardson is a board member of the World _;, ` '
Resources Institute,an environmental think tank.
Grady Gammage Jr,is a practicing attorney and
a senior scholar at the ASU Global Institute of
Sustainability.Pat Mulroy is general manager
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THEFUTUREDFWATER
Climate change and population growth are both stressing the planet's freshwater supply.
Our experts debate the tough choices scientists,politicians,and the general public will have to
make to adapt to a world where water could outstrip fuel as the most prized commodity.
HIS YEAR,TEXAS SUFFERED THROUGH THE WORST ONE- town hall meeting that explored the impact of climate change on
year drought in its history,while states along the Missis- our freshwater resources.Experts Heidi Cullen,Grady Gammage Jr.,
sippi River endured record flooding.Shifting climate pat- Pat Mulroy,and ex-governor Bill Richardson joined Anne Thomp-
terns mean these radical disruptions could be a harbinger of things son,NBC's chief environmental affairs correspondent,for a spirited
to come.DISCOVER recently partnered with NBC Learn,the Nation- discussion about the challenges of managing the water supply of a
al Science Foundation,and Arizona State University to convene a growing nation in a warming world.
Water cov- ' Look at Somalia,where there is adjoining Israel. If we're talk- water doesn't come out. We
ers more than 70 percent of the a famine caused by a drought ing about human beings dying have too robust a water sys-
earth, but only 2.5 percent of it and then militants preventing because of water resources, tem and too good a political
is freshwater.And two-thirds of people from getting water and because of famine,it's Africa. system.But we're going to have
that is locked up in ice caps and food.In a country like Bangla- to decide how important it is to
glaciers.Freshwater accessible desh,where most people live in Is climate change keep growing,which is how we
in lakes, rivers, and streams is coastal areas, the opposite is the main reason we are hav- define success. Should every-
just six-thousandths of one per- true—there's too much water, ing trouble with freshwater in body have a private swimming
cent of the world's total water. and sometime in this century this world? pool?Or should we do the kind
With that in mind, what is the some of those coastal cities of things that Pat [Mulroy]
status of freshwater around the will disappear. CULLEN: It's part of an entire did in Las Vegas when she got
world today? orchestra of different issues people to rip out the grass from
i*I iw Heidi, what areas playing out.Population growth their lawns?
HEIDI CULLEN: Freshwater are at greatest risk for climate is definitely a really big player.
around the world is definitely change affecting freshwater And keep in mind that cli- Water is an
stressed, and climate change resources? mate has always changed. In issue that requires as to work
is the great exacerbation.With the Southwest, paleoclimate together. We're in Arizona,which
water,the rich get richer glob- CULLEN:When we look out to records tell us that we have is one of the seven states that
ally, and the poor get poorer. the middle of the century,the seen tremendous droughts— share the Colorado River and
Places that tend toward models show that the Mediter- megadroughts—in the past. play by the rules set out in the
drought are going to see it ranean and the Middle East are When you put climate change 1922 Colorado Compact. Pat
more.The subtropical drought going to see trouble. Here in on top of that,it just stresses Mulroy,you're responsible for
regions will expand. And in the American Southwest, the everything more. getting water to some 2 million
places like Asia,the monsoon models seem to agree that we Las Vegas residents, and 90
system is expected to intensify. are creeping up on a drier andHere in Phoenix, percent of that comes out of the
It's a problem of greater uncer- drier climate. one of every three homes has Colorado River via Lake Mead.
tainty, greater variability, and a pool, and up to 70 percent of Can you explain how this kind of
more stress overall. Governor Richard- the water is used outside. Water consensus works?
son,do you agree with the idea here is cheap. You're all saying
THOMPSON:Governor Richard- that the wars of the 21st century we have to think about water MULROY:At the end of the day,
son,do you see water scarcity as will be fought over water? differently and make some dif- the Colorado Compact is an
a source ofglobal crisis? ficult choices. Grady, what are agreement that allows seven
RICHARDSON: Yeah, I think those choices? states to do whatever seven
GOVERNOR BILL RICHARD- they will be. We're facing a states can agree to do,but no
SON:It is a huge international growing water crisis in the Mid- GRADY GAMMAGE JR.:It's not one state can rule its neighbors
issue about to explode,and in dle East, especially in Jordan that there's going to be a day no matter how big it is.That's
some areas it's already a crisis. and in some of the Arab areas when you turn on the tap and the beauty of the compact.As it
50
DISCOVER
stands now,we move the Colo- climate lens on top of that,we its water use slowly for a lon- been in a drought for nearly a
rado River across the Continen- made some really key decisions ger period of time. The city of decade,hits elevations of 1,075
tal Divide through the Rocky in the 1900s when we decided Phoenix today uses about the feet or, God forbid, 1,025 feet,
Mountains to Colorado's front what the normal water flow same amount of water as a where is southern Nevada's
range to the Kansas-Nebraska was for the Colorado River,and decade ago because of per cap- water going to come from?
watershed.In New Mexico,we normal was 17 million acre-feet ita reductions.We took water It is impossible to conserve
move that water to Albuquer- in a year. During the drought away from farming in times of 90 percent of your water sup-
que into the Rio Grande water- from 2001 to 2006,it was actu- drought,and we urbanized land ply.There has to be a pressure
shed.In Utah,we move it across ally 11 million acre-feet.And in and water at the same time, release valve, and that's what
the Utah desert to the Wasatch 2002 it was as low as 6 million It's been a fairly orderly transi- we're asking for.
Front. Here in the middle of acre-feet.So what was normal tion without doing some of the
Arizona, we're moving Colo- in the 1900s is not normal now. draconian things that Pat did in CULLEW I want to add that the
rado River water along a mas- Las Vegas. Colorado Compact was estab-
sive aqueduct.California moves Pat, what kind lished in 1922,a relatively wet
the water 400 miles through an of stress is population growth What about build- period.The Colorado Compact
aqueduct to the coastal cities.It putting on your freshwater ing big water infrastructure as a was a really long-term decision
goes on and on and on.We're all resources? way to solve waterproblems? made on a short record.Now,
interconnected. in the Midwest, we're feeling
MULRU'f:Ten years ago I would GAMMAGE: I have this sense that all these flooding events
GAMMAGE: Water is the ulti- have said that population that we have lost our collective we're seeing are the new nor-
mate tribal commodity.Water growth is putting a tremendous will to build things:pipelines, mal and will continue to hap-
defines our tribe—those with stress on it. But in Las Vegas the Central Arizona Project pen.The climate is shifting and
whom we share water are as. we had so much pressure when canal,Hoover Dam,those kinds we have to adapt.
Those who are trying to take the drought hit that we became of things.
it away are them. And the big extremely aggressive about AUDIENCE MEMBER: We know
them in the Southwest is Cali- conservation.We reduced the Pat,the state engi- that the 20th century was the
fornia.We needed to be allies amount of water southern neer is supposed to rule by the era of big dams, big infrastruc-
to deal with California. And Nevada was using by one-third end of next January on one of ture projects. Considering cli-
Arizona and Nevada have been since then,despite the fact that your big initiatives,your request mate change and population
pretty good allies. we increased our population to bring 65 billion gallons of growth,what is the next wave in
by 400,000. water from northern Nevada to developing our water resources?
MULRDY: You can't push at Las Vegas.Do you see this issue
one end of this system and not GAMMAGE: The remarkable as a rural versus cityfight? RICHARDSON,You can't have
feel the effects in another part thing about Las Vegas is how sensible water policies with-
of the system. quickly they were able—led MULROY: No, I don't.We filed out taking climate change and
by Pat—to make this change. for unappropriated, unused renewable energy and what
CULLEN: If I can just put the Arizona has been decreasing water.If Lake Mead,which has we use into consideration.My
Climate models predict that as global temperatures rise over the next seven decades,subtropical regions
like the American Southwest will get drier,while more northern areas,including much of Canada,will get
wetter.But for the rest of North America the 2080 water forecast is mixed.The Northeast and the Pacific
Northwest may see only a slight increase in annual precipitation,maybe one or two percent,but storms are
likely to become more intense.Seasonal variation is likely to increase as well,leading to wetter winters and *,
drier summers that could disrupt local water supplies.
People living near the Cascades will be among the first to see a difference.They rely on melting mountain
snowpack for their water in the parched summer months."The snow acts like a water tower,storing water in
the winter and then delivering it in the summer,"says University of Washington hydrologist Alan Hamlet.As
the planet heats up,much of that snow may fall as rain instead."The Cascades could see a 50 percent loss
of snowpack,which could translate into a large reduction in summer water,"says Hamlet. ''X`' "
In the Northeast,too,the water supply may undergo drastic changes even as total precipitation stays about the
same.A warmer atmosphere will hold more moisture,unleashing intense but less frequent rainstorms.Droughts
could become more common,but so could storms like Hurricane Irene,which caused record flooding in the region
this August."Water suppliers should be thinking hard about managing these extremes,"says water resources engi-
neer Casey Brown of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst."it will only get worse." GILLIAN CONAHAN
51
12.2011
THEFUTUREOFWATER
state is an oil and gas state,and decisions in many places, GAMMAGE:There is a percep- We asked our audi-
the oil guys don't like me too examining the decisions from tion on many people's parts that ence what they think the priority
much because what I've been multiple perspectives.A water moving water a long distance of water allocation should be,
saying is that we have to shift czar might make a big mis- is a bad thing. It's not. And and they answered, cities and
from fossil fuels to renewable take, and I think it would be water is one of the essential suburbs.I don't think that any
energy—solar,wind,biomass, exceedingly difficult to get the commodities for life that you big surprise.
et cetera. Renewable energy states to agree to that level of actually can move. Cities, by
uses less water.We need a dra- federal involvement. definition,draw on a larger area MULRGY:Asking that question
matic reduction of man-made of resources to support them- is the root problem.
greenhouse gas emissions. MULROY.The federal govern- selves.No city has enough rain-
ment needs to echo what fall for its whole water supply to CULLEN:I agree.
MULRGY: You're going to do comes from the state so that be completely sustainable.
everything—increased effi- the message is the same. MULRGY:We have to have cit-
ciency, conservation regu- CULLEN:Unless you're Chicago. ies and manufacturing and
lations, recycled water, R!C14ARI:tL°;024.When I ran for farming. And there's the envi-
desalination, and more. president I also said, ox,who M!.lLROYa Yes, unless you sit ronment. We've got to find a
There's no silver bullet solu- has water in this country?The on Lake Michigan. New York fulcrum that respects all four of
tion anymore. It's a mosaic. Great Lakes states,right?Mich- City brings water in from those needs and can change all
And it's going to depend on igan,Wisconsin.So why don't the Catskills. San Francisco the time to adapt to conditions
where you are. Singapore has we look at some relationship, brings water in from the Hetch as they emerge.
a water supply that is leaning some compacts, where when Hetchy reservoir right next If food production has to go
toward reuse and ocean desali- we have these water shortages, to Yosemite,and they move it up by 50 percent in the next
nation.They just build one big our brother states can help us. across the state of California. 20 years,how are you going do
plant after another. that?Will you shut down the
In this country, and in the Imperial Irrigation District in
world, actually, water use fordd southeastern California,which
purposes of energy generation No city has enough provides 11 percent of the
is approaching or surpassing country's fresh winter fruits
water use for agriculture. It's rainfall for its whole water and vegetables? There are no
power,and there are limits.So supply t o b e completely easy answers out there.
the next wave has to be every-
thing, starting with much less sustainable. AUDIENCE MEMBER:How do we
demand by our customers. implement farm efficiency mea-
sures without limiting our access
GAMMAGE:It's hard to get the to highly nutritious and cheap
public to understand all those produce?
things. It's a harder message MULRGY;I've actually,believe ;'z' People in Detroit
than"Let's build an interstate it or not,embraced this idea in and Chicago might tell you GAMMAGE:We have made the
highway system" a way. Look at the Mississippi you're living somewhere you're cost of farming and growing
watershed and the massive not supposed to—the desert. food an incredibly compli-
PICH KJSON:You remember amount of flooding that's been Why should we give up our cated,government-subsidized
when I ran for president?It was occurring there year after year waterfor you guys? system.And one of the strug-
short-lived.Water didn't help after year. With that resource gles we have in much of the
me because I proposed a solu- you can recharge the depleted GAMMAGE:I would argue that American West—
tion that many,including Pat, Ogallala Aquifer under the Great the desert is a good place to
didn't like. But I said that in Plains and fuel agricultural areas live. It's a great place to grow MULRGY:You're a lousy politi-
this country we need federal on the eastern side of the Colo- crops.It is,perhaps,the birth- cian[laughs].
water leadership,and we don't rado River Basin,all while pro- place of civilization.The desert
have it.Maybe we need a water tecting the transportation net- is where we first learned to get GAMMAGE: I'm not running
czar of some kind. work of the Mississippi,which is along and create governments for office.In the West it's been
the number one use of the Mis- in order to build water systems hard to sell the idea of renew-
GAMMAGE:I'm not convinced sissippi River [see "Westward to make the desert operate. able water supplies to farm-
that's a good idea.In Arizona, H2O!"opposite].You could flood- We need to get past territorial ers when groundwater,which
we have made multiple water proof the communities there. approaches to water. needs to be pumped,is so heav-
52
DISCOVER
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The Southwest is struggling with drought.The Midwest is soaking
ily subsidized. In Arizona we every single sprinkler head is under floodwaters.And there maybe one solution to both
created programs to make sur- monitored and controlled by problems:Shift the floodwaters of the Mississippi 1,000 miles
face water more readily avail- a computer with a sensor in west to the Navajo River,a tributary of the Colorado River.
able to farmers.It gets farmers the ground that is related to The engineering firm Black&Veatch has developed a plan
off the groundwater pump, it that sprinkler head.They con- that would siphon off 1,000 cubic feet of water per second
saves groundwater,and it uses stantly adjust how much water from the Mississippi and move it across the Great Plains and
surface water that we keep is delivered to the golf course, over the Rockies to southwestern Colorado.The concept calls
for transferring that gush of water(twice as much as Nevada's
away from California.There's a and that results in significant yearly allotment from the Colorado River,shown above)through
theme here. water savings. Another com- 775 miles of pipe,110 miles of canals,85 miles of tunnels,and
pany is engaged in water reuse, seven pumping stations that would lift the water as high as 7,500
CULLEN:Keep in mind that for in dual plumbing systems for feet.Basin transfer projects are common in the western United
every 1 degree Centigrade (1.8 subdivisions. Industry is dis- States,but"there's nothing in operation anywhere in the world on
degrees Fahrenheit)the planet covering that there are entre- this scale,"says engineer Bruce Moore of the Southern Nevada
warms up,we see a 10 percent preneurial opportunities in the Water Authority,which has explored the idea.The price tag is an
estimated$11.37 billion.
drop in crop yield. The whole water arena.Market functions Opponents say improved water efficiency and conservation are
notion that the economy should do respond to needs. much cheaper ways to safeguard the Southwest's water supply.
be pitted against the environ- Hydroclimatologist Peter Gleick of the Pacific Institute in Oakland,
ment is a completely false choice. CULLEN:The thing is,though, California,calls the proposal"foolhardy and irresponsible
that industry needs market economically,politically,and environmentally."But the Southern
AUDIENCE MEMBER: What role signals to respond to.And that Nevada Water Authority is still considering it,says spokesman J.
do industry and business have requires federal leadership, C.Davis.The first big hurdle?"Getting people to stop laughing
in facilitating a new approach to state leadership,so that those long enough to ask if it could work." JULIAN SMITH
using water? market signals are in place.Pol-
icy uncertainty is hindering the ways we got our message out coming from the scientific
GAMMAGE: We've got pretty innovation that we desperately on water conservation was by community and from the
good examples here in Ari need.[Applause] going directly to industry.The elected leadership. Industry
zona.There are industries that business community isn't just can depoliticize it and make
have developed much more MULP01Y`But there's one other there to help innovate,though water conservation a real
efficient ways of watering golf role for industry:a leadership that's critical.It can comple- issue.They have an enormous
courses, for example—where role.One of the most effective ment the message that's voice in that.J
53
12.2011
Intergovernmental Water Board Minutes
SERVING TIGARD, KING CITY,DURHAM AND TIGARD WATER DISTRICT
MEETING DATE: Wednesday, December 14, 2011, 5:30 p.m.
MEETING LOCATION: Tigard Public Works Building
8777 SW Burnham Street
Tigard, OR 97223
Members Present:
Gretchen Buchner Representing the City of Tigard (Arrived 5:37 p.m.)
Ken Henschel Representing the Tigard Water District
Keith Jehnke Representing the City of Durham
Dick Winn Representing the City of King City
Mike Stone Member-At-Large
Members Absent: None
City of Tigard Staff Present:
Dennis Koellermeier Public Works Director
John Goodrich Utility Division Manager
Greer Gaston Intergovernmental Water Board (IWB) Recorder
1. Call to Order, Roll Call and Introductions
Commissioner Winn called the meeting to order at 5:34 p.m.
2. Approval of Minutes —November 9, 2011
Commissioner Henschel moved to approve the November 9, 2011 minutes.
Commissioner Stone seconded the motion. The motion passed by unanimous vote of
the Commissioners present, with Commissioners Henschel,Jehnke, Stone and Winn
voting yes.
3. Public Comments
Bradley Anderson, 13788 SW Fernridge Terrace, Tigard, complained about the water rate
structure, advocating it should be based more on consumption and less on capacity, i.e.
the size of water meter. Mr. Anderson acknowledged he had already discussed the rate
structure with Mr. Goodrich.
Commissioner Buchner arrived at 5:37 p.m.
Mr. Anderson asserted the rate structure created an unfair burden on water customers
who have meters larger than the standard 5/8-inch meter.
The commissioners and staff made the following comments in response to Mr.
Anderson's complaint.
■ The rate structure is the same for all water customers within the Tigard Water
Service Area.
■ The rate structure was prepared by experts to meet bonding requirements and
generate revenue to pay for Tigard's share of projects resulting from the Tigard-
Lake Oswego Water Partnership.
■ There are approximately 1,000 1-inch water meters served by Tigard. This makes
up seven-percent of Tigard's residential customers.
■ The 1-inch meter is sized appropriately for the number of fixtures in Mr.
Anderson's home.
■ Meter size is dictated by the number of fixture units the meter serves and reflects
the ability to consume based on the maximum demand for the structure.
■ One-inch meter rates were determined using an equivalency calculation based on
the standard 5/8-inch meter.
■ Sixty percent of water revenue is generated by fixed charges; forty percent is
generated by consumption. In placing a greater emphasis on fixed charges,
revenue is more predictable.
4. Water Supply Update
Mr. Goodrich reported:
■ Average water use for the month of November was about 3.87 million gallons
per day (mgd). This is .1 mgd less than November 2010 demand.
■ Currently, 48 million gallons are stored aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) well 1
and 128 million gallons are stored in ASR well 2. Injection will begin in January
to ASR well 2.
■ Tigard doesn't anticipate any water quality issues with the Portland water supply.
Mr. Koellermeier discussed weather patterns and how they might affect the quality of
Portland water and Portland's use of its wells.
5. Briefing on West Linn Emergency Water Proposal
Mr. Koellermeier updated the board on the Tigard-Lake Oswego Water Partnership's
siting of a pipeline and water treatment plant in West Linn. The partnership has
experienced some resistance from the West Linn community regarding these projects.
West Linn's water treatment plant is located in Oregon City. Water is transmitted from
Oregon City to West Linn via a line under the Highway 205 bridge. West Linn's
reservoir, constructed in 1918, is nearing the end of its useful life. Given the route of the
supply line and the aging reservoir, West Linn's water supply is somewhat vulnerable.
The partnership expects to have some extra capacity in its new water system and may
offer this capacity to West Linn in the form of an emergency back-up supply, should the
West Linn system fail. The extra capacity would be available until such time as Tigard or
Lake Oswego need the water, and West Linn would pay for any water used. This would
enable West Linn to delay millions of dollars in upgrades to its water system.
Representatives from the partnership presented this proposal to West Linn's Utility
Advisory Board at a recent meeting. The board was receptive to the proposal. Mayors
from Tigard and Lake Oswego will soon brief the West Linn City Council on the
proposal.
Since West Linn stands to benefit from partnership projects, Mr. Koellermeier said he
hoped the West Linn community will look more favorably on the siting of the pipeline
and water treatment plant.
6. Briefing on 5-Year Strategic Plan for the Regional Water Providers Consortium
Mr. Koellermeier informed the board that Tigard was a member of the Regional Water
Providers Consortium. The consortium heads up the region's water conservation plan.
Consortium members, including Tigard, are in the process of developing a 5-Year
Strategic Plan. A draft of the plan is on file in the IWB packet.
Tigard City Councilor Nick Wilson represents Tigard's interests on the consortium. He
advocated a change to the consortium's messaging by placing a greater emphasis on
peaking and water conservation in summer and the overall value of water at other times
of the year. Councilor Wilson's suggestions have been incorporated into the plan.
7. Discussion Regarding the Member-At-Large Position
Mr. Koellermeier reported that the IWB's member-at-large, Mike Stone, had been hired
as the Tigard's city engineer. Mr. Koellermeier provided the board with a legal memo
regarding the possible ramifications of Mr. Stone remaining on the board, given his
employment with the City of Tigard.
Despite the expertise Mr. Stone brought to the board, Commissioner Winn
acknowledged the possible ethical conflicts noted in the memo. He suggested the board
should accept Mr. Stone's resignation. The board discussed ways in which Mr. Stone
could continue to work with the board; it was suggested he could serve as an ex officio
member with no voting privileges.
The board discussed how it wanted to advertise and recruit for the member-at-large
position. Rather than wait for the spring edition of Know H2O, the board directed staff
to recruit candidates through a press release sent to local newspapers, citizen
participation organizations. The press release will also be sent to various I"
jurisdictions to post on their respective web sites. Board members will subsequently
review and rank member-at-large applications individually and provide their rankings to
staff. Staff will arrange for top candidates to be interviewed at an IWB meeting.
8. Informational Items
■ Update from Commissioner Buehner on Lake Oswego/City of Tigard Oversight
Committee activities.
— Commissioner Buehner and Tigard Mayor Dirksen meet with state
legislators and Clackamas County commissioners to promote Lake
Oswego-Tigard Water Partnership projects.
— As mentioned under agenda item 5, there is a meeting with the West Linn
City Council next Monday at 6 p.m.
— A joint meeting between Tigard and Lake Oswego City Councils occurred
last month.Joint meetings will occur more frequently as partnership
projects get underway.
— Design is underway on partnership projects such as the raw water intake,
raw water pipeline, treatment plant, finished water pipeline, reservoir and
Bonita pump station. Designs should be at 30 percent by March 2012. This
will allow better cost estimates to be prepared.
— Tigard is proceeding with a resolution of necessity in the event it needs to
condemn property for the Bonita pump station.
— Project designs need to be between 10- and 30-percent complete in order
for them to be submitted for federal permitting.
— The committee is addressing issues related to energy conservation and art.
— The committee will begin reviewing the fiscal year 2012-2013 budget in
January.
9. Non-Agenda Items
There were no non-agenda items.
10. Next Meeting
January 11, 2012 at 5:30 p.m.
Public Works Auditorium, 8777 SW Burnham Street, Tigard, Oregon
11. Adjournment
At 6:39 p.m. Commissioner Henschel moved to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner
Buehner seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned by unanimous vote of the
commissioners present, with Commissioners Buehner, Henschel,Jehnke, Stone and
Winn voting yes.
Dick Winn, lWWB`Chair Greer Gaston, IWB Recorder
Date: / o Date: f0I3. 61le Z412—