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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021.1012.JWSFHSD.Minutes TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS MINUTES OF THE JOINT WORK SESSION OF THE FOUNTAIN HILLS TOWN COUNCIL AND THE FOUNTAIN HILLS SANITARY DISTRICT BOARD OCTOBER 12, 2021 1. CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE —Mayor Dickey Mayor Dickey called the Joint Work Session of October 12, 2021, to order at 5:30 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL—Mayor Dickey Present: Mayor Ginny Dickey; Councilmember Mike Scharnow; Councilmember Gerry Friedel; Councilmember Sharron Grzybowski; Councilmember Peggy McMahon Absent: Vice Mayor Alan Magazine; Councilmember David Spelich Staff Town Manager Grady Miller; Town Attorney Aaron Arnson; Acting Town Clerk Present: Angela Padgett-Espiritu Fountain Hills Sanitary District Board Members Present: Vice Chairman Bob Thomson, Board Member Tammy Bell, Board Member Jerry Butler Fountain Hills Sanitary District Board Members Absent: Chairman Michael Maroon and Board Member Gregg Dudash Fountain Hills Sanitary District Staff Present: District Manager Dana Trompke, P.E. and District Attorney Dan Jones. 3. DISCUSSION regarding Value of Intergovernmental Agreement between Town of Fountain Hills and Fountain Hills Sanitary District. Mr. Miller said that he had included a copy of the current Intergovernmental Agreement for everyone's information. Mayor Dickey said that there has been some questions in the past, but they are all serving the same constituents. Mr. Miller and Ms. Trompke briefly reviewed the agreement. Mayor Dickey asked if either side was looking to make changes. Mr. Miller said that since they have had the restroom facilities built at Fountain Park, the Town is paying the cost of operations and maintenance. Ms. Trompke noted some quick figures, such as the District provides sewer service for 12 different buildings/services at an approximate expense of$10,600 per year. They provide reclaimed water delivery of an average of 110,000,000 gallons per year, or approximately $125,000 per year. This is all a total cost savings of$135,600 per year. Mr. Miller review some examples of unmeasurqable efforts involving coordination and working well together: reclaimed water delivery and timing at three parks, overseeding, etc.; Coordinating repair activities at well facilities within Fountain Park; Collection system staff Joint Work Session of October 12, 2021 2 of 5 and Public Works/Streets staff fen coordinate on construction activities in ROWs, sewer service repairs and major roadway repairs; Coordination of wash cleaning and repair activities; and District staff euqipment helping clean up clogged storm draings in a pinch and used a crane to life statues. 4. DISCUSSION regarding joint District-Council working group to develop strategies to reduce sodium pollution. Member Butler said that his comments are he has not shared them with anyone. He first wanted to recognize Mayor Dickey and Chairman Maroon for creating the committee, stating it was a long time coming. He thanked the members of the Committee, Board Member Tammy Bell and Councilmembers Sharron Grzybowski and Mike Scharnow, along with the Town Manager and Dana Trompke. He said that they have had two previous meetings at which time discussion was held on possibly having the District buy potassium chloride in bulk to sell to residents needing to replace their systems. He said that the issue is that the Town has hard drinking water, so there are a lot of water softeners. The sodium chloride used in those softeners causes the sodium levels to shoot up in the wastewater. During their meetings that discussed how to reduce the sodium chloride, perhaps through a rebate program or banning the use of it. However, "mandate" is not a nice word for many residents. From those discussions the Town's PIO created an article, similar to what was included in the Town's newsletter. At their third meeting, they were going to review public comment, but the public did not speak up. Some letters went to Fountain Hills Times and Facebook, but, to date, the District has not received any phone calls. As a retired engineer, he said that 85% of the drinking water in the US is considered hard water. Drinking water begins with an amount of sodium around 100 ppm. After everyone disposes of their waste, once it gets to the Sanitary District, it contains around 250 ppm. They estimate that 70% of all water softeners use sodium chloride. Each 40 pound bag of sodium chloride contains 15 pounds of salt. The wastewater is used primarily for golf courses and parks. The bottom line is that the sodium in the wastewater is not a town hall problem, nor is it the Sanitary District's problem; it is a community problem. He said that there is technology to correct this, but it is very expensive ($20 million) and would increase operations and maintenance by 10%. The money to pay for such equipment would have to come from the residents. He said that it is clear that residents want soft water and sodium chloride is their choice. Hopefully over time people will switch. Councilmember Scharnow said that was a good summation. It is not a simple solution. He said that he is all in favor of a public awareness campaign, but unless people are directly impact, he would still like to consider a rebate program. Councilmember Grzybowski said that last week in the Leadership Academy after the tour of the sanitary district, they were dumbfounded. Mayor Dickey said that it is not just the Town's issue; it's everywhere. She said, only half kiddingly, that they need some potassium chloride lobbyists. Member Butler said that they did not talk about going to the legislature because of the word "mandate." Councilmember McMahon said that pollution is a strong word. They are educating the community, but perhaps they should encourage the realtors and builders to change their Joint Work Session of October 12, 2021 3 of 5 systems. They should have multiple campaigns. Member Butler said that he thought it would take time, through word of mouth. Member Bell said that they have seen in the history of Fountain Hills the impact of volunteers. She would like to see the residents get more involved, and get a larger committee going, expanding their efforts. Councilmember Friedel said that he liked the idea of a rebate. He asked if they had any way to gauge how many systems have been switched over. Member Butler said that he did not know of any recording of that information. Councilmember Scharnow asked if MAG (Maricopa Association of Governments)was tapping into this issue some. Mr. Miller said that there has been some talk, but it has not gone anywhere. He did think it will come up with them when they are discussing water quality. Councilmember Scharnow said that he thought it would be a good idea for MAG to take this on. Councilmember Scharnow said that they were trying to spread a similar message of not flushing unused medicines into the system. He said that their campaign has been working to reduce the amounts. 1 Member Bell said that they have never required permits for water softeners. The only way to acquire that information would have been through a permitting process. Mayor Dickey said that they should set a goal. She asked about encouraging the use of potassium chloride. She said that it is not the cure-all, but it is a step in the right direction. 5. DISCUSSION regarding Well 1 control building location and improvements at Fountain Park. Ms. Trompke said that they recently installed the two restroom facilities at Fountain Park, which also housed the District's equipment. They need to do the same thing with Well 1 which is located in the Great Lawn area where a lot of activities take place. She said that they do not need a bathroom and do not want a building. They want to be able to get vehicles in to the site without having to cross major pedestrian routes. She is working with Town staff to find the best approach. Mr. Miller said that he was very appreciative of Ms. Trompke. He was concerned with the location as well. The Town is willing to do what they can to help. Member Thomson said that he appreciated that help. 6. DISCUSSION regarding proposed Fountain Lake improvement projects and future timing. Mr. Miller said that he had included a copy of the Black & Veatch report for information only. He said that it indicates that they may have another five to ten years left on the liner, but they wanted to let the District be aware that this project will be programmed in the future. He said that Black &Veatch reached out to Ms. Trompke and her staff, and they were able to provide some good information. He said that at one point he and Ms. Trompke had discussed a storage system, and they are now looking to have that in place within two years. Joint Work Session of October 12, 2021 4 of 5 Mayor Dickey said that she appreciate all of their work, and with the Rescue funds the Town has been able to put some funds away to help fund these improvements. Mr. Miller said that the storage system would be treated water from the Sanitary District, but it would not have the build up of sodium that occurs over time. Councilmember Grzybowski asked about chemicals used to treat the water and its impact on fish and birds. Mr. Miller said that the chemicals are used to stop algae. They would be consulting with engineers. Councilmember Grzybrowski that is important to residents. Member Butler directed a comment to Mr. Burns, noting that he had made a comment that the drinking water in Fountain Hills has about 100 ppm, the wastewater has about 250 ppm and the lake has around 600 ppm. But, it all varies; those numbers are not set in concrete. 7. DISCUSSION regarding coordination of wash maintenance in areas of District utility easements. Mr. Miller said that this issue has come up in the past--brought up by both Councilmember Friedel and Councilmember Spelich. He said that he and Ms. Trompke have addressed it, and he believes that the District is doing the best it can that the vegetation is not eliminated. It did happen, and some of it was bottlebrush. They do a lot of organization between staff and the District, but a lot of the utility easements are right in the washes. Ms. Trompke said that the original planner constructed a sewer system that was cost-effective. There are 209 miles of gravity sewer lines, but only 9 miles are located in washes. The rest are in right-of-way or other utility easements. She said that they do have to get in and have to clean quickly. Her understanding is that they do not remove large trees. They generally have an easement and do coordinate. Mr. Miller said that while vegetation is important, the bigger issue is the long-term parts of the stormwater system, where homes are getting dangerously close to the washes. He said that the Maricopa County Flood Control District currently has a study going on to evaluate all washes and dams. They will be working with the Public Works Director to ensure they have a presentation before Council. He said that they have just started seeing some of the underlying issues with the past storm season. Ms. Trompke noted that there is balance between keeping vegetationiand fire hazards. Councilmember Friedel said that in the past the road and wall was seeded to help keep them in place. The wash is now seven feet closer to his house. He believes that the neighborhood is being put at risk. Mr. Miller said that the Town will continue to work with the District and bring something to Council shortly. Councilmember Scharnow said that the Flood Control Study will be great; there is a constant battle between maintenance and fire mitigation. Councilmember Friedel noted, going back to the sodium issue, that perhaps they should be letting the public know when the numbers go down, to show the public that they are working on the issue. Member Butler said that the numbers vary monthly. Mr. Trompke said that it is Joint Work Session of October 12, 2021 5 of 5 something they measure regularly, but it would be very slow. 8. ADJOURNMENT MOVED BY Councilmember Sharron Grzybowski, SECONDED BY Councilmember Gerry Friedel to adjourn. Vote: 5 - 0 Passed - Unanimously The Joint Meeting of the Fountain Hills Town Council and Fountain Hills Sanitary District Board held October 12, 2021, adjourned at 6:38 p.m. TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS 61' Ginn ickey, Mayor ATTEST AND PREPARED BY: Eli abe . Klein, Town Cler