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UTILITIES APRIL 27, 2015 4:50 P.M. <br />Committee Members Present: Dr. David Varner, Gavin Ferlic, Oliver Davis (XAB), <br />Dr. Fred Ferlic <br />Citizen Members Present: Kathleen Pettijean (AB) <br />Other Council Present: Tim Scott (XAB), Henry Davis, Valerie Schey, Karen White, <br />Derek Dieter <br />Others Present: Kathy Cekanski - Farrand <br />Agenda: Update & Discussion of CSO Project <br />Dr. David Varner, Chair of the Utilities Committee, continued a series of status updates from the <br />Department of Public Works regarding the (CSO) Combined Sewer Operation project. <br />The CSO project represents the city's plan to comply with the strictures of the EPA Clean Water Act. This <br />federally mandated clean water standard requires the separation of the now combined storm and <br />sanitary sewer systems. The projected cost to ratepayers is expected to exceed $600 million. <br />To a number of councilmembers the overall cost of compliance has been seen as imposing a far too <br />heavy burden on the ratepayers. The Council has asked the city administration to look for a lower cost <br />alternative fix. Then hopefully the city could renegotiate the consent degree that Mayor Luecke agreed <br />to with the EPA. Current Mayor Buttigieg had already been working on finding economies in a revised <br />approach opening the door to renegotiating the consent decree he inherited. <br />Dr. Varner and Dr. Ferlic, both of whom have pushed for lowering the costs of compliance have asked <br />for regular updates from Eric Horvath. <br />To drive home the unaffordability of the current plan Dr. Varner provided a handout (attached) <br />illustrating how given an annual 9% increase in sewer charges currently proposed. Dr. Varner and Dr. <br />Ferlic both feel this rate projection would not only put an unfair burden on residential taxpayers; but <br />also discourage new business investment. <br />Brief discussion among Council members followed before Dr. Varner adjourned the meeting at 5:13 p.m. <br />Respectfully Submitted, <br />4�- I', d,lal� <br />Dr. David Varner, Chairperson <br />Utilities Committee <br />