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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Comment Barbara Cahill From: Steven Poncelet Sent: Wednesday, August 05, 2009 2:59 PM To: Bryan Loomas Cc: Barbara Cahill Subject: RE: Water Rate Structure Dear Bryan, Thank you for the input on the water rate workshops. The District's water rate consultant has been looking at our fixed and variable costs and this is being considered in the setting of the new rates. Also, California Proposition 218 requires that water rates be based on cost of delivering the service. FYI,the District's cost structure is—85%fixed (we don't pay for water since we pump from the aquifer) and —15%variable (driven mostly by pumping/energy charges). Consequently,this is the type of structure that the Board is considering. The input from the public, to date, has been for a inclining block rate structure for residential accounts. You can always view a board meeting on streaming video (www.tdpud.org) and we do archive the meetings a few working days after they occur. The June 3rd meeting had a bunch of information/discussion and we hope for more tonight. Feel free to contact me if I can be of further assistance. Regards, Steven Poncelet Truckee Donner PUD 530-583-3951 From: Bryan Loomas [mailto:bryan_loomas@yahoo.com] Sent: Monday, August 03, 2009 5:31 PM To: Steven Poncelet Subject: Water Rate Structure Hi, Steven. I am a homeowner in the Tahoe Donner subdivision and wanted to make a comment on the design of the water rate structure now being discussed. Unfortunately, I cannot be at the August 5 meeting, so I thought I would write you a quick note. As background, I have owned a second home in Tahoe Donner for 12 years and am mostly a weekend user of this home. As a result, I do not use much water. My yard is natural and lawn-free with no watering any time during the year. Additionally, as much as I would like to spend more time in Truckee, I sometimes go months without getting up there O. As you might imagine, I am happy to see water meters go in since I assume this will lower the water portion of my bill. Here is my recommendation on a water rate structure: Calculate what costs are fixed and what costs are variable/dependent on the amount of water used. Divide the fixed costs by all water-enabled dwellings and businesses and make all variable costs paid based on usage. By fixed costs, I mean costs which are incurred no matter how much water moves through the pipes. Examples of fixed costs include: i I am a homeowner in the Tahoe Donner subdivision and wanted to make a comment on the design of the water rate structure now being discussed. Unfortunately, I cannot be at the August 5 meeting, so I thought I would write you a quick note. As background, I have owned a second home in Tahoe Donner for 12 years and am mostly a weekend user of this home. As a result, I do not use much water. My yard is natural and lawn-free with no watering any time during the year. Additionally, as much as I would like to spend more time in Truckee, 1 sometimes go months without getting up there O. As you might imagine, I am happy to see water meters go in since I assume this will lower the water portion of my bill. Here is my recommendation on a water rate structure: Calculate what costs are fixed and what costs are variable/dependent on the amount of water used. Divide the fixed costs by all water-enabled dwellings and businesses and make all variable costs paid based on usage. By fixed costs, I mean costs which are incurred no matter how much water moves through the pipes. Examples of fixed costs include: - Staff of TDPUD including field and in-house personnel (probably the most expensive element in the system) - Maintenance and installation of water pipes Examples of variable costs: - Direct cost of water when purchased - Water purification costs such as chemicals and electricity - Pumping costs such as electricity to move the water - Maintenance of equipment which is "used up" more quickly as more water is pumped, such as the water pumps themselves. As a homeowner, I sure love to turn on the faucet and have nice, clean water come out, so I am willing to pay my fair share. It does bug me, however, to pay so much for water and drive by the houses and businesses who pay the same while maintaining a lush and very water-consumptive lawn. I am sure there are other signs which I do not see, but that one in particularly grabs me. Thanks for listening and good luck distilling all of the different opinions out there! Bryan Loomas 14324 Glacier View Drive Truckee z Barbara Cahill From: Steven Poncelet Sent: Wednesday, August 05, 2009 3:12 PM To: K. Valerie Green Cc: Barbara Cahill Subject: RE:water rates Dear Valerie, Thanks you for the e-mail and inputs. Please note that you can watch the Board meeting on streaming video (www.tdpud.org) and we do have archived meetings on the web a few working days after the Board meeting. Also,the TDPUD is working on a Water Wise Demonstration Garden which we hope to complete later this year(stay tuned). The goal is to help our customers who wish to keep nice landscaping but minimize water usage. We will also be implementing other water conservation programs as well. Feel free to contact me if I can be of further assistance and thanks again for your inputs. Regards, Steven Poncelet Truckee Donner PUD 530-583-3951 From: K. Valerie Green [mailto:val.green@prurealty.com] Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 2009 9:45 AM To: Steven Poncelet Subject: water rates Dear Steven, I am not able to attend the meeting on August 5th as I will be out of town but wanted to offer my view of the rate increase. Please share this email with your Board. I own the commercial property in Glenshire which is serviced by TDPUD. At this time, I pay over$100 per month for one common area toilet at the Glenshire Center. The tenant's all pay their own water for each unit. Knight's Crossing, which has more landscaping, mandated by the Town of Truckee when constructed, cost between $200-300 per month for irrigation. I am not able to increase rents in today's economy and have had to restructure some rents and take IOUs in order to not lose tenants and keep the center full and a viable part of the community. When we bought in 1985 most of the units were boarded up and it was a blight on the Glenshire neighborhood. I don't want to see that happen again but the constant increase in fees is making it exceedingly difficult for everyone. I feel that the district should find other ways to cut costs rather than consistently looking to the community to fund increases. Thank you for your time and consideration of my input. Sincerely, Valerie Green, Owner/Manager Glenshire Center and Knight's Crossing 530-587-0822 i