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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-SJC-2019-09-18MN-SJC-2019-09-18.doc 1 SJC MEETING September 18, 2019 SJC Members Staff Cynthia Brock, Chair Erik Whitney Ray Burger (Dryden Alternate) CJ Kilgore Rich DePaolo Scott Gibson Supervisor Bill Goodman Laura Lewis Tee-Ann Hunter Dave Warden Guests Absent Brian Davis Dan Lamb (Dryden Alternate) Supervisor Jason Liefer Cynthia called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. Laura MOVED to accept the August 21st minutes with corrections. Seconded by Tee-Ann. Approved 6 - 0. Financial Report – Steve Thayer submitted a financial report of activity narrative through August 31st in his absence. Revenues – We have collected $2,330,000.00 of our budgeted revenues to date. All owners’ third quarter payments have been received. Dryden has prepaid their fourth quarter. Septage revenue to date is $183,000.00 - running a little under budget due to timing. Debt Service will be invoiced in November. Expenses – We have expended $2,989,000.00 - most accounts look pretty good. We will be adjusting the 120 salary line for the intern for the remainder of the year. We will continue to monitor treatment supplies and sludge disposal fees - they will need to be increased for the 2020 budget. Health insurance expense is always one month ahead of schedule with employee contributions booked at year end. Our current deficit is $659,000 - we budgeted for a deficit of $250,000.00. Capital Project 414J – Flow Meters – no activity. Capital Project 422J – Plant Improvements – no activity. Our 2018 fund balance dropped to $1,859,144.00 - we are slowly approaching our agreement percentage of 20% of our activity. 2020 Budget Activity – Steve’s narrative included the 2020 budget submission to the City. The Mayor’s budget should be released October 2nd. MN-SJC-2019-09-18.doc 2 The results of the financial audit of the City should be available within a month. Operations and Engineering Report – CJ Kilgore 1. Plant Maintenance & Operations a. Facilities Maintenance & Operations – Our Emergency Generator repair is taking place now. CJ hopes to be on line early next week - so we can return the rented one. b. Acti-flow – The Acti-flow phosphorous removal process is off line. The necessary parts should arrive on the 25th. CJ hopes the repair will be completed in October - we remain in compliance. 2. Facilities Maintenance & Operations a. Monitoring Stations – we have resolved the problems with the functionality of the website and responsiveness of the company. Another (a third) station should be on line before the October SJC meeting. b. Grit Removal and Misc. Improvements – we are still waiting for DEC approval. CJ hopes to be able to go out to bid shortly. 3. Staff Management – Bill Rypkema has been promoted to Senior Operator. CJ plans to hire an operator/operator trainee shortly. Cynthia added that the CSEA contract expires December 2019. Negotiations will begin in October – they hope to have a contract in place before the end of the year. The 2020 contingency account should cover any contract increases. 4. Reporting – 5. Business, Long Term development – 6. Energy Production Statistics – provided by CJ. Presentation/Discussion Items a. Right to IAWWTF Disclosure Ordinance – At the August SJC meeting the Mayor outlined three options/strategies for moving forward: 1 – to revise the ordinance by softening the language. 2 – the Mayor and the Director of Planning were going to research another strategy – something as official as an ordinance that would involve education of future tenants in proximity to the plant – possibly through site plan review. 3 – the plant could engage in annual educational outreach programs – to educate the community as to all the good and essential work that the facility engages in on behalf of our community and the environment. MN-SJC-2019-09-18.doc 3 Cynthia thanked Ray and Rich for putting together a revised draft ordinance for the members to consider. Rich offered that the submission is a starting point based on the conversation at the last meeting. Tee-Ann commented that she thought it was a good softening of the language. Laura said the draft is both clearer and more balanced. It informs the public of the range of work and attributes that the plant brings to bear. She added that she felt it would be helpful for all of the new development that will be occurring to have not only something written but to also do something that is really proactive (education programs, open houses, something that creates good neighbors). Cynthia would like to incorporate education as part of our plant operations. Cynthia recommended changes to the draft ordinance. Section 1B – to replace “actively engage the public regarding the” with “inform the public of the existence of, and the” essential and beneficial nature of IAWWTF, Section 2A2 – to reduce the setback zone to (within a number of feet to be determined) rather than 1,200 feet of the property boundary. Erik offered to have the City GIS folks draw up a few scenarios for the next meeting. Cynthia agreed to bring this back next month. Section 2A3 – insert the words “plant operations” after activity normally associated with wastewater treatment. Change wording in the statement of disclosure notice from “Its operation helps keep the water of southern Cayuga Lake drinkable for over 30,000” to “ Its operation helps keep the water of Cayuga Lake drinkable for tens of thousands” The members discussed reordering sections of the disclosure notice. Cynthia will shift things around and bring the revisions to the October meeting for review. Erik asked that instead of using 30 million dollars as invested use the figure of the total of the capital projects to date. b. Declaration of Available Capacity - Ray spoke of the 60,720 gallon design flow for the proposed new development project. The Town of Dryden has 259,000 gallon capacity and are presently at 171,000 gallons. The proposed Trinitas development brings them very close to their committed capacity. Ray said that the Town of Dryden is addressing some of their I/I and is replacing and upgrading portions of their sewer that they have determined are leaking. Cynthia reminded the members that we need to get our calculations together for the sale of excess capacity numbers finalized. She reviewed past potable water data and sewage received data (this includes I/I) and pointed out that the percentage of potable water treated is shrinking as a percentage of the total we are treating. Bill asked about the necessity of a will serve letter. MN-SJC-2019-09-18.doc 4 Erik explained that the DEC and the DOH require a certification from the receiving treatment facility and from the municipality (in this case the Town of Dryden) to insure that it is part of a legitimate sewer (sewer district). Bill expressed concerns regarding the upgrades to the Thurston Avenue interceptor. Erik said that Cornell will pay for the upsizing necessary to suit their needs. He added that additional increases in pipe sizing for future expansion is being discussed. Ray MOVED to Accept the Declaration of Available Capacity Resolution as AMENDED. Seconded by Dave. All in favor 7 – 0. Passes Unanimously. Declaration of Available Capacity – Proposed Townhomes at Dryden, Trinitas Ventures, LLC, Town of Dryden – Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility (IAWWTF) WHEREAS, the Townhomes at Dryden is a proposed development in the Town of Dryden that will include approximately 552 bedrooms, a restaurant and pool with a clubhouse, and WHEREAS, The Town of Dryden, as joint owner of the IAWWTF, is in need of a capacity “will serve” resolution for sewer service to the Townhomes at Dryden, and WHEREAS, the IAWWTF has a SPDES permitted capacity of 13.1 MGD, and WHEREAS, the average daily flow five year average of IAWWTF is 6.3 MGD, and WHEREAS, the combined phases of the Townhomes at Dryden proposes a future demand of 0.0622 MGD, now therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Special Joint Committee of the IAWWTF, certifies that there is available capacity for the proposed sewer service to the Townhomes at Dryden. Voting Items – Announcements / Other Business - there will be a meeting with City Harbor regarding the effluent heating agreement. Rich MOVED to adjourn. Seconded by Laura. All were in favor. Approved 7-0. Meeting was adjourned @ 2:29 p.m. The Next Meeting will be October 16th, 2019, 1:00 pm.