HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010 Annual Report- Utilities Committe\. `\
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°~R SEA 2010 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
UTILITIES COMMITTEE
OF THE
SOUTH BEND COMMON COUNCIL
Pursuant to § 2-10 of the South Bend Municipal Code, the following 2010 Annual
Report of the Utilities Committee is filed with the Office of the City Clerk. It highlights
activities and topics heard by this committee during the 2010 calendar year.
Duties: The Utilities Committee is charged with "overseeing the various
activities of all enterprise entities including but not limited to the Bureau of Waterworks,
Bureau of Sewers and all related entities" pursuant to § 2-10 (i) (10) of the South Bend
Municipal Code.
Members: There are five (5) members on this Committee, namely: Council
Membr Al "Buddy" Kirsits who is the Committee's Vice-Chairperson, Council Member
Ann Puzzello, Council Member Thomas LaFountain, Citizen Member Murray Miller,
and myself as Utilities Committee Chairperson.
Meetings: This year the Utilities Committee held ten (10) Committee meetings.
Highlighted Activities: The Utilities Committee spent many hours in
Committee meetings. Some of the key topics addressed included the following:
• Reviewed Part I proposed Sewer Rate Increase Overview which
addresses EPA mandates and the City's Plan through calendar year
2025 at the February 8, 2010 committee meeting
• Received a Bureau of Water Works update and reviewed Part II of the
Sewer Rate Increase Overview at the March 8, 2010 committee
meeting
• Received a TRANSPO Facility Progress Report at the March 22, 2010
committee meeting
• Received a Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG} update
at the May 10, 2010 committee meeting
• Reviewed and made recommendations on various appropriation
requests which included the Loss Recovery Fund; as well as transfer
requests involving the Water Works Sinking Fund
2010 Utilities Committee Annual Report
Page 2
Reviewed data and held public hearings on Bill No. 26-10 to adjust
Sewer Rates through calendar year 2013 at the June 21, 2010 and June
28, 2010 committee meetings
A wealth of information is available on the City of South Bend's website addressing the
data provided in the various power-point presentations to the Utilities Committee. The
Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Long Term Control Plan; the sewer rate history going
back to 1989, the last year when there was a sewer rate increase; the CSO Long Term
Control Plan (LTCP) and its various phases; the CSOnet which monitors hydraulics and
water quality using a wireless network of control points and sensors; separation projects
in progress; needed upgrades; public education and outreach programs on "green
solutions" are just some of the posted information which the public has the opportunity to
review on-line as a result of this year's Utility Committee meetings.
If I continue to chair the Utilities Committee in 2011, I will continue to maintain the
Common Council's goal of increasing transparency and availability of information to the
public.
I look forward to working with the Council, the City Administration and the public on the
wide variety of issues involving utilities in the new year. Thank you.
Chairperson
cc: The South Bend'Common Council
The Office of the City Clerk
December 2, 2010
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