HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015 Annual Report - Utilities 2015 *Are
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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:
2015 Annual Report of Utilities Committee
November 20,2015
Page 2
• Receiving updates from Public Works Director Eric Horvath on the topic of re-evaluating the
LTCP
• An advisory committee consisting of concerned citizens who are volunteering their time and
engineering/accounting and other talents are meeting on a regular basis to explore viable
alternatives which are substantially less costly to the city and the rate payers to address the CSO
and LTCP. Dr. Ferlic and Dr. Varner are a part of this group which will continue meeting
throughout 2016
• Discussions on the City's sewer insurance program. Bill No.24-15 has been continued indefinitely
in light of the many questions which are to be addressed by the administration
• Discussed a Resolution which was adopted by the SBCC calling for the Board of Public Works to
update its policies and procedures related to the Sewer Insurance Program and regularly report to
the SBCC [Bill No. 15-64] in the interest of better accountability and transparency
In light of rate payers having their costs increased for sewer services by 24% in 2003, 29% in 2005, 15%
in 2007, 11 % in 2009 and 9% each year thereafter, and with additional rate increases projected, there is
an ongoing challenge for all hands on deck" with regard to closely monitoring and exploring all feasible
alternatives with regard to the City's enterprise operations.
Since last year, there have been discussions and meetings addressing the reassessment of the LTCP in
order to significantly reduce the cost to rate payers and the city. On February 10,2015 the Board of Public
Works entered into a contract with MWH Americas,Inc. for$2 million of professional services to formally
re-evaluate the LTCP so that "significant cost-savings to the City" would result. Documents from the
Advisory Committee meetings of April 22, 2015, July 8, 2015, August 5, 2015 and November 12, 20015
may be accessed at www.ci.south-bend.in.us/.../combined-sewer-overflow-cso
Thank you.
Respectfully submitted,
Dr. David Varner, Chairperson
5th District Council Member
Utilities Committee