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03-31-1997 - Special ..." ,...." CITY COUNCIL OF EDGEWATER SPECIAL MEETING KARCH 31, 1997 7:00 P.M. INDIAN RIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MINUTES CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Hayman called the Special Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the cafeteria (Manatee Hall) of the Indian River Elementary School. ROLL CALL: commissioner Jiles smith Commissioner James Burch Commissioner Jeffrey Bracy Vice Mayor Donna Bennett Mayor Toretha Wood Present Present Present Present Present Mayor Jack Hayman Councilman Danny Hatfield Councilwoman Louise Martin Councilman Michael Hays Councilman David Mitchum City Attorney Krista Storey City Manager George McMahon City Clerk Susan Wadsworth Police Chief Lawrence Schumaker Present Present Present Present Arrived at 7:03 p.m. Present Present Present Present MEETING PURPOSE: The purpose of the meeting is to meet jointly with the Mayor and city commissioners of Oak Hill to consider Volusia County's proposed utility systems for Southeast Volusia County. Mayor Wood presented opening remarks. Mayor Hayman presented opening remarks and the background information. He doesn't feel the citizens of Southeast Volusia have been consulted enough about their future and what they are going to do with regards to sewer, water and reuse water. He feels the citizens of Southeast Volusia have been held captive by the County Council staff for many years and they need to take the necessary steps to take charge of the future. Councilman Hays thanked everyone for showing up. He feels it shows everyone is interested and that they need to participate in the planning of the future. Councilman Mitchum apologized for being late. Councilwoman Martin feels the main concern in Edgewater is the expenditure of tax dollars. She spoke about getting no cooperation from the County. Councilman Hatfield thanked the City of Oak Hill for coming. He feels this should be the beginning and they should talk often about the future. Councilman Mitchum feels everyone needs to stick together. The city of Edgewater is willing and able to help our neighbors to the south. He doesn't feel the County needs to be in the utility business. Mayor Hayman spoke about the 201 Facilities Plan. ~ ..., City Manager McMahon spoke about being concerned with the water and wastewater problems. He spoke about meetings that have been held with County staff. He further talked about the reuse water and the water being discharged into the river. Our plant is an advanced wastewater treatment plant. Every drop of the wastewater has to be accounted for. The plant is designed to service the City of Edgewater as well as a substantial number of people beyond the City. We feel we can demonstrate the cost effectiveness of the County working with us to provide wastewater treatment for all the needs of Southeast Volusia County. City Manager McMahon commented on working with the County previously. Assistant City Manager Fred Munoz presented an idea of the figures for the County for utility services. He commented on the gallons available for additional customers to the City's wastewater treatment plant and the upgrading of the plant. The City is confident that it will be the low cost producer. City Manager McMahon commented on the growth in Edgewater over the past ten years. Even with the expected planned development west of the City, that will fit very well within the planned capacity and we will still be able to serve all of Southeast Volusia County. Our rates by comparison with other cities around are very favorable. Councilman Hays spoke about when the wastewater treatment plant was designed, it was new technology. There were projections made on the performance of that plant. The plant has outperformed those projections. The proposal the County has for their plant is a much lower level of treatment and quality. They are using old technology. Gerry Hartman, Hartman & Associates, made a visual presentation by computer regarding Edgewater's Southern Service Area. Dick Jones asked Mr. Hartman to go back to the aerial view of the wastewater plant and explain each building. Councilman Hays stated if the County proceeds with this proposed wastewater treatment plant, he feels the following questions need to be asked: How do you propose to build these customers if the County is only providing wastewater usage, how are they going to provide a bill due to not being able to meter sewers. There are questions the County is not answering. The only way to do it would be to level a flat service fee to all customers in the area. City Manager McMahon stated if you take the existing size of the City of Edgewater and its buildout to about 20,000 people, that might become Southeast Volusia County in several years. We do not have mandated connection outside the City. That is up to the elected officials. vice Mayor Bennett asked how the sludge is disposed of. Mr. Hartman explained the sludge is fully digested. He spoke about the quality of the effluent. A question was asked about there being an odor. He was informed not with the effluent. Mr. Hartman went back to the aerial view and explained the process at the wastewater treatment plant. vice Mayor Bennett asked about the cost of the wastewater plant. City Manager McMahon explained it was approximately $2.2 million. There was further discussion regarding the cost to upgrade the wastewater plant. Page -2- Council Special Meeting March 31, 1997 ..... ...., vice Mayor Bennett questioned if this plant is paid for. City Manager McMahon explained it is paid for by the committed debt service for the City. There was further discussion regarding the debt service, grant money and SRF loan money. vice Mayor Bennett asked if more customers came on, would that lower the cost or would the City continue to maintain the rate already established. Mr. Hartman explained it would depend on the situation and how many more customers were added. City Manager McMahon commented on protecting the interest of the people paying for and benefitting from the system. utilities Director Terry Wadsworth commented on impact fees. Councilman Hays feels the County has not made an honest and conscious effort to present real figures to the City. We have asked for information from the County that we have yet to receive and we have asked questions that haven't been answered. Councilman Hays spoke about the wastewater plant in Bethune Beach and the cost those residents are paying as opposed to the cost the residents of Edgewater are paying for the services received. He feels they paid about 2 ~ times more. He feels if the County continues to compete against the municipalities for utility service, it will amount to a double taxation for anyone who lives in a city. A gentleman spoke about a meeting he attended where the County's presentation was made. He spoke about their costs and figures and the orange groves paying for the operating costs. He spoke about the rates in Hacienda Del Rio increasing since the County bought their water plant from their developer. city Manager McMahon feels they need to be careful that the final decision is based on facts, not just emotions and opinion. The Councils of Edgewater and Oak Hill need to work together. Commissioner Burch asked if the County is offering to the City of Oak Hill to provide sewer service at the same cost as Edgewater residents with no surcharge. City Manager McMahon spoke about the treatment process and the cost of an effective plant. Gary Fox, Resident, South Waterfront Park, questioned the pipes and the collection to move the effluent from their community to the treatment plant. City Manager McMahon and Mr. Hartman elaborated on Mr. Fox's concerns. Mr. Fox asked if the City has any plans on how specifically the effluent will be collected and moved to the plant. Mr. Hartman explained once you get to u.S. #1 corridor, the transmission facilities we have are almost large enough to take everything for buildout. Mr. Fox asked if the City has looked into specifically the plans of how the pipes would be laid, where they would be laid, and the type of lift stations that would be necessary, if they were to get the go ahead to put the systems in tomorrow. Mr. Hartman stated they have not put in detailed plans like that. The City has looked at where the plans for piping are presently. Mr. Fox asked how the City is planning to get the effluent treated by the City of Edgewater and how the City is going to convince the County they are making a foolish decision. Councilman Mitchum feels they need to soul search and decide which is the best route to go and they need to combine their efforts and contact the County elected officials. He further spoke about the 201 Master Plan and Chapter 180 Reserve Area. We are in the utility business and we want to sell water. Page -3- Council Special Meeting March 31, 1997 ~ ..., Mayor Hayman went over the four objectives addressed in the resolution. We have spoken to the County Council representatives and many of them previously have not been able to answer the questions and have not been well informed. Councilman Hays explained they have not invested money for engineering south of Edgewater because it would be foolish to spend the money until there is a commitment. He feels they need to work together for what is best for the people of Southeast Volusia County. Jim Ward, County Council District 2 Representative, explained he has asked the County to do another cost analysis to see where it stands. If we can use Edgewater's plant and help out the residents and save the County people money, that is what we ought to be doing. He feels they need to get the County Council and see what level of participation they are going to do. Everyone needs to get together to see what level of participation is wanted. Mr. Ward stated approximately $200,000 has been put into this so far. Mr. Fox asked what the unincorporated County residents can do. Mr. Ward addressed Mr. Fox's concerns. There was a discussion regarding South Waterfront Park. commissioner Bracy spoke about there being a problem with communication. They need to talk to people before getting involved. A gentleman spoke about studies he has received from the EPA regarding the Spruce Creek plant and the plant at the Ag Center. City Manager McMahon thanked Jim Ward for attending the meeting. vice Mayor Bennett stated she is proud to have the opportunity to be at the meeting. She feels they are all in this together and they need to look out what is in the best interest of the people. She hopes this is the beginning of communications and they can all start working together. Mayor Wood thanked the City of Edgewater for having them. She commented on an article in the newspaper that misinterpreted what she said. She agreed to discuss with her colleagues the matters that were discussed. City Manager McMahon requested anyone with questions to direct them to the Commission in Oak Hill or direct them to the Edgewater city Council. Mayor Hayman feels they need to have a clear understanding of what the next step is. He is pleased Jim Ward was present and is taking the leadership role for the district he represents in Southeast Volusia. He informed the public of who to contact with questions. city Manager McMahon recommended questions be addressed to the Mayor. A gentleman asked if the resolution would be voted on. Mayor Hayman informed him it would not be appropriate to ask Oak Hill to vote on the same resolution as Edgewater. AJDOURNMENT: There being no further business to discuss, a motion to adjourn was made. The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m. Minutes submitted by: Lisa Kruckmeyer Page -4- Council special Meeting March 31, 1997