- Anita Strong comes forward at Public Inquiries to enquire about public participation on water meter issue. Asks Council to postpone decision on meters until further public consultation is conducted.
- Diane Czyweski now making public enquiry about pesticides. Mayor Milobar asks her not to make preamble, short back and forth. Question is whether council could ask pesticide applicators to use non pesticide products and, short of that, to advertise what types of products they are using. She is becoming quite a bee in the bonnet, but is also quite charming in her willful ignorance of the procedural rules.
- Jan Greenwood now making public enquiry on water meters and Mayor says she can't make statements. She asks again whether will council will delay in making decision until further public consultation.
- 10% increase in commercial garbage pickup rates : Denis Walsh asks about increase in user fees (w/ garbage). Mayor Peter Milobar counters that council tried to make people aware in any user fee increases.
- water meter presentation starts by David Duckworth making statement that the only reason to make this presentation is to save water utility money. Shows various charts showing comparative water usage. says universal water metering will deter or eliminate project water infrastructure upgrades. key reasons to consider universal metering: 1. user pay / 2. financial inventive / 3. educate people / 4. leak detection / 5. reduction of peak day demands. How to finance: implementation funded by federal funds and by water utility reserve. Proposed rate structure: principles - revenue same as now, encourage conversation, consistency with existing rate structure. includes fix base capital charge (as now), fixed base consumption charge, new variable consumption charge. MORE ALLOWANCE FOR WATER USAGE IN SUMMER. 60% of households will pay less or equal to what they pay now. 25% of households will save about $100 a year. Administration recommends installation of universal water metering over three year period.
- Jim Harker: what happens if we don't hit 20% reduction in water use? Duckworth: picked low end target based on experience on other communities.
why billing 4 times a year? Duckworth: gives people more information on usage
Harker moves motion to approve universal water metering
- Denis Walsh asks about making a tabling motion. Mayor Milobar advises no discussion on such motion, just straight vote. Walsh: asks about the 20% reduction figure and how it was calculated? Duckworth: agrees residential water target ( +/- 33%) will have to be higher because commercial already on meters.Walsh: overall increase in operating cost, Duckworth: $30000. Walsh: opportunity cost of using gas tax money. Edwards: money in city gas tax reserve, have tough time using money because it has to be for "green" projects.
- Tina Lange: plan is briliant, especially rate structure because of summer time increased allowance and base block rate. We will save money on electricity and really great to be able to detect leaks. Tells story of broken valve in her restaurant detected by water meter.
- John De Cicco: in my shop people asking, will people be charged from first glass of water to last? Duckworth: base rate allows people certain base allottment of water, not charged per litre within base allottment. De Cicco: will odd and even day restriction remain? Duckworth: recommend yes
- Nancy Bepple: what would happen if everybody reduced their water to fit within the base consumption charge. If people use a huge amount less water, will rates have to go up? Duckworth: modeled on best available information, but yes would have to increase rates, sounds like he thinks it will not happen based on research and modeling. Bepple: but have you covered your base costs with your base rates? Duckworth: 80% or so from base rate. Milobar says only $100 less than current base, some people will pay more because of usage. Duckworth: 50% of reason is old pipes, 50% because of growth(?)
- Denis Walsh: will there be shortfall in revenue? Duckworth: not according to our research and projections.Walsh and Milobar have different views on uncertainty in report (Walsh thinks there is a lot, Milobar says there is not much) Denis Walsh: asks about 3 day watering schedule? Duckworth: peak days the problem so scheduling little impact, has no track record in other communities, and people will water more on days they are allowed if only in 3 days (could increase peak day because people feel need to catch up). Marsteller: data shows people water more when restrictions in place. did test if Kamloops of similar Aug and Sept days. Aug restrictions. Sept no restrictions. August day greater water use.
- John O Fee: speaking to the motion, getting people to conserve water, looked at other communities, not in the dark, not about charging people more, no rational reason to think we will be different than other communities, think Councillor Walsh may be sincere but fact is Kamloopsians use water too much. We need incentive to conserve. We are the exception, not the rule.
- Marg Spina: biggest concern heard about meters is seniors and low income paying more, but thinks base rate is a lot of water. Also, happy that we don't have to pay totally out of tax dollars / user fees and that gas tax money is welcome. Also, asked metered people their experiences - they see meters are great and would pay less in meter system. what about hooking up people who already have meters right way to metered payment? Duckworth: will ask contractor if they can do this and at what added cost if any?
- Pat Wallace: disappointed that we couldnt have found a way to encourage people to use water at night. has served with six different Mayors and people want us to stop talking meters or get on with it. Duckworth and staff have done tremendous work, but feels duty bound to support results of referendum that happened while she was on council earlier - without casting aspersions at any of her colleagues.
- Jim Harker: can we minimize leakage? Duckworth: with meters, much easier.
Nancy Bepple: are people allowed to irrigate hay fields with city treated water? Marsteller: no restrictions, but encourage people not to do so. Bepple: should we have an upper limit? Duckworth: havent contemplated that yet, could do so in the future. Bepple: will people get chart with historical water usage compared to current? Duckworth: we can definitely do that, my intent to do that.
Marg Spina: if we did not do this, what would be utility increase? Duckworth: spending $60 to $70 more on utility bill.
Peter Milobar: when is first billing cycle? Duckworth: first areas: jan 2012. milobar numbers have not changed in 11 years, dosent see why we would table. fails to see how keeping overall costs low is a bad thing, people will have lots of time to adjust. every household should not pay, should be user pay. won't be popular for some, will be very popular for some. I guarantee I will pay you for more, but this is fair and equitable.
Proclamations:
- Kamloops Immigrant Services asks week to end racial discrimination proclamation.
Delegations
- presentation on National Winter Lights and Communities in Blooms Awards for Kamloops
- Downtown Parking Corporation Strategic Plan.
Mayor and Council Reports
- Mayor Milobar asks for letter to province for earlier opening of air tanker base
- Councillor Bepple asks about report on pesticide bylaw monitoring and about youth involvement in winter lights committes.
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