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2015 *Are Utilities Committee Annual Report ,,,,,,,e - F: South Bend Common Council ' T rw, •OVA ['J` VP' �� Date: November 20, 2015 To: The South Bend Common Council The Office of the City Clerk From: Council Member Dr. David Varner Utilities Committee Chairperson Pursuant to the requirements set forth in § 2-10 (i) of the South Bend Municipal Code, I am filing this 2015 Utilities Committee Annual Report which summarizes some of its activities this year. Duties: The Utilities Committee is charged with `overseeing the many activities of all enterprise entities including but not limited to the Bureau of Waterworks, Bureau of Sewers and all related matters". Members: The following individuals served on this Standing Committee in 2015, namely: Council Member Dr. David Varner, Chairperson Council Member Dr. Fred Ferlic, Vice-Chairperson Council Member Derek D. Dieter, Member Council Member Gavin Ferlic, Member Kathleen Petitjean, Citizen member Meetings: Including next Monday's Utilities Committee meeting which is scheduled to meet at 4:00 pm, this committee will have met fifteen (15) times this year. Next Monday's meeting will address four (4) proposed ordinances addressing new rules, regulations and service charges for permits connected with Storm Water Control and Construction in right of ways, yard waste removal regulations, and drain and downspout disconnection regulations. Summary of 2015 Committee Activities: This year's key topics and discussions are briefly summarized below. Discussions began with an Organizational Committee meeting which focused on the federal Department of Justice (DOJ) and federal Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) mandate addressed in a 2011 federal consent decree mandating improvements to the city's combined sewer system (CSO) which are estimated to cost at least $667 million. The Committee stressed that the rate increases for residential and commercial payers would be excessive and places an unfair burden on the rate payers and the city. Projected service fees needed to pay for the long term control plan (LTCP) would also be a disincentive to attract new businesses, as well as for business expansions. The Committee pledged to explore all alternatives collaboratively with the City Administration so that the federal mandates would be either met and/or judicially modified. Some of the key topics included: