05/05/2009 MinutesCITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA
MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
May 5, 2009
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a Study Session of the City Council of the City of Grand
Island, Nebraska was conducted in the Community Meeting Room of City Hall, 100 East First Street,
on May 5, 2009. Notice of the meeting was given in the Grand Island Independent on April 29,
2009.
Mayor Margaret Hornady called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following Councilmember's
were present: Gericke, Nickerson, Ramsey, Zapata, Carney, Haase, Niemann, and Meyer.
Councilmember's Gilbert and Dugan were absent. The following City Officials were present: City
Administrator Jeff Pederson, City Clerk RaNae Edwards, City Attorney Dale Shotkoski, Public
Works Director Steve Riehle, and Finance Director David Springer.
INVOCATION was given by Mayor Margaret Hornady followed by the PLEDGE OF
ALLEGIANCE.
MAYOR COMMUNICATION: Mayor Hornady mentioned meetings last week with Former Park the
State Fair Board and architects to discuss the State Fair.
Presentation on Waste Water Capital Improvement Plan and Cost-of-Service Based Rate Study.
Steve Riehle, Public Works Director reported that Black & Veatch had been hired for engineering
consulting services related to a digester complex. Capital improvement projects budgeted through
2013 was collection system, lift stations, and waste water treatment plant. Mr. Riehle introduced Bill
Stoner with Black & Veatch to update the council concerning the digester project, options, costs, and
rate study.
The following major projects in the Capital Improvement Plan were presented for 2009 - 2010:
• Digester Complex
• Additional Final Clarifier
• Aeration Basin Improvements
Mr. Riehle gave a PowerPoint presentation concerning background of the Digestion Project. The
following advantages for anaerobic digestion were presented:
• Reliable and consistent process -widely used with successful track record
• Lowest O&M costs
• Major reduction in solids
• Pathogen reduction (Class B) allow immediate land application
• Improved de-watering ability of solids
• Enclosed to control odors
• Potential beneficial use of digester gas
JBS Concerns presented were:
• Ammonia -Insufficient aeration capacity to treat ammonia in the summer
• Sulfides -Odors and solids production associated with treatment process
Page 2, City Council Study Session, May 5, 2009
Derek Cambridge with Black & Veatch presented the following Digestion Project update:
• Six options and costs developed
• Focused on capacity of the existing liquid treatment process based on Capacity Analysis
• Reviewed with City staff in November Workshop
• Digester project on-hold following November Workshop until rate study approved
Black and Veatch recommended Option 2A at a cost of $19.6 million which provided redundancy
with capacity for 100% expansion of the liquid process. 'This option would allow a digester building
area of 12,000 sq ft. Option 2A was the most cost effective.
Anna White with Black & Veatch presented the following information on the Rate Study:
• Maintain Revenue Adequacy
• Use Fair and Equitable Cost Allocations
• Use Practical Rate and Billing Formats
• Minimize Customer Impacts
• Maximize Customer Understanding and Acceptance
The focus of the Cost of Service was to match the costs of providing service to individual customer
classes and to design rates to equitably recover costs. It was recommended that the City reevaluate
rates at least every 3 years. Projected revenue for 2010 was $8,730,500 with requirements of
$9,341,600.
The following Rate Design Methodology -Process was used:
• Review Suitability of Existing Rate Structure
• Examine Alternative Structures
Design Cost of Service Rates
Examine impact of Rates on Individual Customers and Classes
The following was presented for Typical Residential Bills:
Residential Existing Rates 2010 2011 2012 2013
Small $15.09 $15.49 $16.64 $17.64 $18.89
Medium 17.83 18.39 20.00 21.40 23.15
Large 28.79 29.99 33.44 36.44 40.19
The following recommendations were made:
• Approve moving forward with Option 2A for the Digesters
• Approve moving forward with finalizing the Rate Study recommending the proposed rates
presented
Discussion was held concerning the timeframe of the project with the digester to be completed by
2013. Finance Director David Springer stated cash reserves were currently $10.8 million. Thirty year
bonds were mentioned for this project.
JBS volume charges were discussed relating to the more you use the less you pay. Ms. White
explained the structure of rates for JBS and surcharge rates. The difference between flat rates and
cost of service rates were explained. John Henderson, Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent
answered questions concerning the sulfide trend of JBS.
Page 3, City Council Study Session, May 5, 2009
Lewis Kent, 624 E. Meves Avenue and Paul Wieck, 319 Cardnial spoke concerning the cost of this
project.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
RaNae Edwards
City Clerk