County Supervisors briefed on water and sewer issues; Whole Foods & Trader Joe’s may face added delays due to inadequate sewer capacity

By Sean Tubbs and Brian Wheeler
Charlottesville Tomorrow
Thursday, July 2, 2009

Every three months, the Executive Directors of both the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority (RWSA) and the Albemarle County Service Authority (ACSA) appear before the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors to give an update on current water and sewer issues. Gary Fern, Executive Director of the ACSA, and Tom Frederick, Executive Director of the RWSA, made their latest visit on July 1, 2009, the first day of the new fiscal year. 

One highlight of the meeting was Fern stating that the opening of both Whole Foods and the proposed Trader Joe’s for Albemarle Place may face further delays until the Meadowcreek sewer interceptor is replaced.

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FERN UPDATES BOARD ON THE ACSA

Gary Fern, Executive Director of the ACSA

Gary Fern told the Board that the ACSA implemented a four-tier rate system on July 1st that encourages conservation by only charging the ACSA’s wholesale rate to residential and irrigation customers using less than 3,000 gallons a billing cycle. The second tier charges users at two times the wholesale rate, the third tier charges users at three times the wholesale rate, and the fourth tier charges at four times the wholesale rate. The fourth kicks in after 9,000 gallons are used.

“We hope our customers will understand how we developed the rate,” Fern said. “What we’re trying to do is encourage people to conserve and try to stay in that second-tier and third-tier.” Commercial users will still play a flat-fee for each 1,000 gallons. Apartment complexes also will pay a flat-fee because Fern said it was too complicated to determine individual family amounts in multi-family dwellings.

Supervisor Dennis Rooker (Jack Jouett) questioned whether it was good practice to not charge anything additional to customers who only consume enough water to keep them in the first tier.

“It just seems to me that every tier should contribute something towards administrative overheard,” Rooker said. “You could drive everyone down to the bottom tier and the system would go bankrupt.”

Fern pointed out that all ACSA customers pay a service charge, and administrative costs are included in that fee. He added that ACSA rates have generally been increased to help pay for new infrastructure and maintenance of existing lines.

Supervisor Sally Thomas (Samuel Miller) asked Fern if he was able to balance the ACSA’s budget for FY2010 based on the new rates. He responded affirmatively. 

Supervisor David Slutzky (Rio) asked if there was a way to change the rate structure to make it more affordable for growth area residents who are not currently connected to the ACSA sewer system. Those homes could pay up to $11,200 to be connected under the existing fee structure. Fern said that the ACSA is considering terminating the local facilities charge, which could help reduce the one-time cost for those citizens by $2,500. Fern said the ACSA will hold a public hearing on all of its connection charges in August.

FREDERICK UPDATES BOARD ON THE RWSA

Tom Frederick, Executive Director of the RWSA

Tom Frederick was on hand to update the Board on the status of the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority’s many projects. First, he told Supervisors why the RWSA has decided to hire another firm to design the proposed new dam at the Ragged Mountain Reservoir. The decision is one of the outcomes that stems from the RWSA’s hiring of a panel of dam experts to revisit Gannett Fleming’s original design after its cost estimate more than doubled in September of 2008. He told the Board that he is aware of criticism in the community that, by dropping Gannett Fleming’s services, important data will be lost. Frederick said those fears are unfounded.

“We own all the work that we produce, so we have a right to request it all and we have received everything that we are aware of,” Frederick said. “Nothing has been lost in terms of the data and the information.” He acknowledged that the RWSA will likely have  the new designer provide their own analysis of the data collected by Gannett Fleming.

“We want to have someone who can give us the closest interpretation we can get to a pragmatic viewpoint that recognizes the safety and importance of the structure, but who is also looking for innovative and exciting ways to keep the costs as economical as possible,” Frederick said.

Supervisor Ken Boyd (Rivanna) pointed out that Gannett Fleming’s main role to date has been in leading the public input process that led to the adoption of the 50-year community water supply plan. Frederick said that was true, and added that the consultant also played a role in getting the permits from the Army Core of Engineers and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

“The goal was to get a permit from both the state and federal agencies, something this community had never accomplished before in its previous water planning,” Frederick said. The permitting process began after the City Council and the Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted the plan in June 2006.

Since then, the RWSA has responded to City Council and community interest in revisiting the dredging of the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir as a way to restore water storage capacity. In May 2009, the Board voted to issue an RFP for that purpose, and so far eight proposals have been received. They will be reviewed during a public meeting on Wednesday, July 8, 2009 at the County Office Building South.

Frederick also reported that construction is under way for upgrades at the Moores Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, but he alluded to the possibility of Virginia not meeting the deadline for cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay despite efforts to upgrade treatment plants.  He also said the Meadowcreek sewer interceptor replacement, which is still in the right-of-way acquisition process, could go to bid this fall with construction taking fourteen months after the winning bid is awarded.

Near the end of his briefing, Frederick reported that the RWSA was in the process of conducting a wastewater master plan with the City of Charlottesville and the ACSA. The idea is to better link the approval of new commercial and residential developments to the provision of sewer capacity. Inadequate sewer infrastructure has delayed both the North Pointe and Albemarle Place projects in Albemarle County.  By contrast, subsequent rezonings at Hollymead Town Center and Biscuit Run have included up-front written agreements for the developers to pay for their share of sewer infrastructure upgrades. 

“The idea of the master plan is to plan to get ahead of the process so that things [like this] don’t happen again,” Frederick said. One of the obstacles to developing the plan will be to decide who is responsible for paying for efforts to prevent stormwater from getting into the sewer system, a problem known as inflow and infiltration.  Stormwater entering the sewer system increases the load at water treatment facilities.

Rooker asked what restrictions might be placed on new connections until the Meadowcreek Interceptor is complete. Frederick said that there is no additional capacity available until that project is finished.

“The system works very well under dry periods,” Frederick said. “But it is not always where we need it to be during wet weather periods.”

CAPACITY PROBLEMS FOR TRADER JOE’S AND WHOLE FOODS?

Click for a larger map of the interceptor's alignment

Rooker asked if the new Whole Foods in the City on Hydraulic Road could be connected to the system before the Meadowcreek Interceptor is upgraded. He also mentioned that a Trader’s Joe grocery store is being proposed for Albemarle Place in the County. Gary Fern of the ACSA said if any one new customer submits a connection request to use more than 40,000 gallons a day, the ACSA must request that capacity from the RWSA. Fern said that at this time, that additional capacity is not there.

“At this point in time, if there is not capacity within the Meadowcreek Interceptor, they will not get an approval from the [ACSA],” Fern said. “We don’t want to be put in a position where we would grant approval to a development and then we have no place to put the wastewater.” Fern said grocery stores usually use produce more than 40,000 gallons of wastewater a day.

Rooker asked if Whole Foods, which will be built within Charlottesville’s city limits, would be in the same situation. Fern said he did not know the status of that project. Rooker said he wants to make sure that the County gets equal access to sewer capacity.  The City Planning Commission approved a revised preliminary site plan for the store just last month.

“The City has to go through the same process of requesting [capacity],” Fern said. Fern said he had not seen a site plan for Trader Joe’s yet. Frederick said he was also not aware of any requests from either Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s.

The Supervisors were informed at a briefing in September 2008 that the sewer capacity should be available by December 2009, a schedule that was expected at the time to accommodate the new Albemarle Place development schedule.  The delays in the Meadowcreek Interceptor project mean the sewer capacity will now not be available until late 2010 or early 2011.

TIMELINE FOR PODCAST:

• 01:00 – Introduction from Gary Fern, Executive Director of the ACSA

• 02:30 – Supervisor Rooker asks for clarification on new rate structure
• 05:30 - Supervisor Thomas asks if there is a way to give different rates for those who use garbage disposals
• 06:20 – Supervisor Slutzky asks if the ACSA can change its sewer rate structure to make it easier for growth areas residences on septic fields to connect to the sewer system
• 10:05 – Rooker asks another question about the rate structure
• 13:00 – Supervisor Mallek asks for more information on the tier system
• 15:00 – Rooker hands Fern a quality report from the City of Williamsburg
• 15:20 – Tom Frederick, Executive Director of the RWSA, begins his presentation
• 17:00 -  Frederick begins discussing why the RWSA has opted to hire a new designer for the Ragged Mountain Dam
• 21:45 – Frederick reports on the dredging feasibility study
• 22:20 – Frederick reports on the Moores Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant
• 25:30 – Frederick discusses the possibility of Virginia not making the deadlines for cleaning the Chesapeake Bay
• 29:38 – Slutzky asks Frederick if his trade organizations are weighing in on DCR’s new proposed stormwater regulations
• 30:35 – Frederick briefs Supervisors on the Meadowcreek Interceptor
• 32:12 – Slutzky asks Frederick to reconsider routing the RWSA’s Route 29 pipeline along the alignment for the proposed extension of Berkmar Drive and Berkmar Bridge
• 36:30 – Rooker counters Slutzky and offers a different interpretation
• 38:50 – Frederick briefs Supervisors on a new master plan for wastewater plan being conducted by the ACSA and the City of Charlottesville
• 44:00 – Rooker asks follow-up on Meadowcreek Interceptor, leading to discussion of Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s potential access to that sewer facility
• 48:20 – Frederick updates Supervisors on a Rivanna Solid Waste Authority issue – single-stream recycling
• 51:02 – Boyd, the Board’s RSWA representative, says the Board needs to make a decision about what recycling services it may offer in the future
• 55:30 – Fern asks for more time to mention that all ACSA customers pay a service charge

University of Virginia’s water usage hits 6-year high; Water data adjusted for 2008 meter error

By Brian Wheeler
Charlottesville Tomorrow
Monday, June 29, 2009

The University of Virginia’s rate of public water usage has increased by about 42.1 million gallons from the previous year.  In the fiscal year that ends this week, the University reports that it has used about 511.6 million gallons of water during 2008-09, that is an increase of almost 9% from the 469.5 million gallons used during 2007-08.  The 42.1 million gallons of additional water used would fill a pool the size of a football field to a depth of about 117 feet.

In a November 2008 article, Charlottesville Tomorrow assessed the University’s water usage trends.  This past month, the University provided Charlottesville Tomorrow with updated data covering the past school year.  In their response, the University reported that a meter error had been corrected in fall of 2008 which added another 65.8 million gallons to their water bill from the City of Charlottesville.  According to Ric Barrick, the City’s Director of Communications, Charlottesville collected $167,440 in additional water fees from the University once the discrepancy was resolved.  The adjustment also led the University to restate its FY 2007-08 water usage, increasing the total for that year by 3.89%.

Because the University uses approximately 7 - 8% of the total water distributed by the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority (RWSA), these updated usage estimates are relevant to the ongoing discussion over the 50-year community water supply plan.

The University of Virginia provided the following additional information about water usage in the 2008-09:

• There was approximately 14.8 million gallons of additional water consumption related to newly constructed facilities (3% of the FY 2008-09 total).
• Water usage data for the current and previous fiscal year have been restated after a meter configuration error was detected early in FY 2008-09.  The City of Charlottesville issued a billing correction for approximately 65.8 million gallons of estimated water usage. Part of this correction (approximately 17.6 million gallons) was accounting for consumption that actually occurred in FY 2007-08.
• The corrected water usage total for FY 2007-08 is 469.5 million gallons.
• The University experienced a few water line breaks in FY 2008-09 which resulted in water being lost from the distribution system. The University is still gathering information on these events to estimate the amount of water loss.

RWSA approves decision to begin search for new Ragged Mountain Dam designer

By Julia Glendening
Charlottesville Tomorrow
Friday, June 26, 2009

Tom Frederick, RWSA Executive Director

The Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority (RWSA) announced on June 25, 2009 their plans to hire a new engineering firm to re-start the design work on the new Ragged Mountain Dam. Gannett Fleming was the firm working on the dam design and originally stated the dam would cost $37 million, but in September 2008 raised the cost projection with contingencies to almost $99 million (2010 dollars). The RWSA Board approved a motion to begin searching for a new design firm and a selection is expected later in the summer.  Construction of a larger dam at the existing Ragged Mountain Reservoir is a key component of the 50-year water supply plan.

“We have significant respect for Gannett Fleming, but decided that a new direction on design best serves the current discussions in this community,” stated Mike Gaffney, Chairman of the Board, in a RWSA press release.

Gannett Fleming raised their cost estimate for Ragged Mountain Dam in part due to the discovery of weathered and fractured rock in the area. The RWSA obtained a second opinion from Schnabel Engineering. They said it would be possible for the dam to be built for about $57 million, which was still a 53% increase from the original $37 million estimate.

Tom Frederick, RWSA Executive Director, presented the proposal and said staff recommended selecting a new firm for the design of the dam, but did not state a specific reason for the change.

City Councilor Holly Edwards, who became an RWSA board member in May 2009, asked Frederick about how the timing of the dam construction would be changed. Frederick responded by saying the new firm would be picked no later than September 2009 and hoped to begin reviewing design plans in early 2010, with completion in early 2013. He also assured the Board the new firm would collaborate for a short time period with Gannett Fleming so the process would not be started completely from scratch.

“Our staff will work diligently in the coming weeks to make this as smooth a transition as possible, and we understand and appreciate that Gannett Fleming shares that view,” stated Frederick in a RWSA press release. “A significant amount of work to-date, including the underground geotechnical investigations, is of sound quality and will be a great aid in resuming the design.”

Albemarle County Service Authority approves 2010 water rates; Forty-percent of customers will see lower rates with conservation

By Julia Glendening
Charlottesville Tomorrow
Friday, June 19, 2009

On June 18, 2009, the Albemarle County Service Authority (ACSA) reviewed and approved water and sewer rate increases as part of its FY 2010 budget. The ACSA also unanimously approved the year’s budget. The increased rates will go into effect on July 1, 2009 and were first announced on March 19, 2009.

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Proposed ACSA water/sewer rates for FY 2010

Some of the changes this year include a decreased rate for single-family residential customers who use less than 3,000 gallons a month. The proposed rate is $3.32 per 1,000 gallons, a 14% decrease from the 2009 price of $3.86. The ACSA would not make money from customers who use less than 3,000 because all of their water would be sold at the same amount it is purchased from the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority(RWSA). According to the ACSA Rate Study updated on May 29, 2009, this level will include approximately 40% of customers. 

The ACSA has a tiered rate system. Customers in the second tier will be charged $6.64 for every 1,000 gallons they consume over 3,000 gallons a month.  Customers who consume over 6,000 gallons per cycle will be charged $9.96 for every 1,000 gallons.  This year, the ACSA authorized a fourth level to the system which will charge customers $13.28 for every 1,000 gallons they consume over 9,000 gallons. The idea is to encourage conservation through lower prices for those who save water, with higher rates for those who do not.

The wastewater price will be increased from $7 to $7.21 per 1,000 gallons in 2010 for all customers, a 3% increase from the 2009 rate.

During the public hearing, County resident Fred Weinberg asked the ACSA to explain why rates in the County were higher compared to his research of other counties, especially Fairfax. He expressed the need for a comparison of rates between counties and then a public explanation about the reason for higher rates.

ACSA Board members

“As just a public Mr. Joe, I don’t understand. I don’t understand why our sewer rates are so much higher than others. I don’t understand why our water rates are so much higher,” said Weinberg.

ACSA Board member Jim Colbaugh (Scottsville) said an “exhaustive” study was conducted over the past six to eight months and said he believed the “structure made sense.” Reasons he listed for the 1.3% increase were to try and keep customers conservative with the incentive of a cheaper rate for using less water and to not burden current customers.

“What we’re really trying to do is honestly charge people what in fact the expenses are going to be for the coming year,” said Colbaugh.

ACSA Board member Liz Palmer (Samuel Miller) agreed it would be a good idea to compare counties, especially neighboring counties similar in size to Albemarle. She said Fairfax has lower water rates due to higher connection fees, but the main reason is because Fairfax has a larger number of people on the water system.

Chair Don Wagner (Rio) said a possible explanation for higher rates is because ACSA receives no extra money from the County or State and only receives what is collected from citizens for water use.

Vice Chair Clarence Roberts (Rivanna) expressed his worry that citizens will experience “rate shock” over the next couple years. He stated the rate study predicts an 8% increase in water rates in 2011, while there will only be a 1.3% increase in 2010. He questioned whether the County should borrow less from their reserves and increase 2010 rates in order to mitigate the much greater 2011 rates.

 “I think that the attempt this year was to not burden people because of the economy,” responded Palmer.

TIMELINE FOR PODCAST

• 01:21 - Clarence Roberts comments on future rate increase
• 04:17 - Liz Palmer states a reason for small change in rates
• 08:16 - Fred Weinberg comments on high price of water
• 12:06 - Betty Mooney asks how dam costs will it affect water rates
• 15:09 - Palmer responds to Weinberg
• 16:51 - Don Wagner comments on no excess money for the Service Authority
• 17:49 - Jim Colbaugh states reasons for rate increase
• 24:34 - Palmer comments that the change is relatively small
• 27:00 - John Martin comments on history of Charlottesville water supply
• 30:34 - Roberts asks about management of transfer process
• 31:56 - Colbaugh asks about emergency rates
• 33:04 - Martin suggests change in rates for irrigation
• 34:51 - Colbaugh disagrees with Martin’s suggestion
• 37:10 - Palmer asks if irrigation is in a separate class in other counties
• 40:31 - Richard Carter moves to pass the water rate budget

Supervisor candidate John Lowry announces he is certified for the election and outlines position on the community water supply

By Brian Wheeler
Charlottesville Tomorrow
Wednesday, June 3, 2009

John Lowry (I-Samuel Miller)

On June 3, 2009, outside the Albemarle County Office Building, John Lowry (I) announced he had submitted his paperwork to officially secure a position on the November 3, 2009 ballot in the race for the Samuel Miller District seat on the Board of Supervisors.  Lowry also shared his position on the approved 50-year community water supply plan.  

Lowry will face Madison Cummings (D) and Duane Snow (R) in a three way race to fill the seat currently held by retiring Supervisor Sally Thomas (I).  The last three-way race for Supervisor was in the 2007 election when incumbent Lindsay Dorrier (D) defeated independent challengers Kevin Fletcher and Denny King.

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Running as an independent, Lowry has had to collect on petitions signatures from at least 125 registered voters in the Samuel Miller District.  It is interesting to note that that only 117 voters participated in the Democratic caucus to nominate Cummings and just 74 voters participated in the Republican caucus to nominate Snow.  Thus, since there are about 10,600 registered voters in the district, approximately 3% of the voters have set the ballot for this important County election.

One of the topics that is expected to be discussed by all 2009 candidates for Supervisor and City Council is the 50-year community water supply plan.  The plan, approved unanimously in 2006 by County and City leaders, involves building a new dam at Ragged Mountain Reservoir to increase storage capacity and building a new pipeline to connect the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir to Ragged Mountain.  The pipeline would allow water from the Rivanna River to be pumped and stored for public water needs.  Increased storage capacity is required to accommodate population growth and to prepare for future droughts.

Lowry told a gathering of local reporters that he supported the approved 50-year community water supply plan.  “Prudence tells us that it is time to move forward.  After years of political football, it’s time for responsibility.”

“The dam at Ragged Mountain has structural deficiencies,” said Lowry.  “We either must fix the dam, giving us little or no additional capacity, or build a new one.”  The current Lower Ragged Mountain Dam was built around 1908 and questions about its safety were raised as early as 1913.

Lowry reacted to the story in today’s The Daily Progress which mentioned that the construction schedule of the new dam is now expected to be beyond the 2011 deadline set by state dam safety officials to fix or replace the dam.  “If we do not get started now, we will begin to miss state mandated deadlines,” said Lowry.  “We cannot wait.”

If construction is delayed, the Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority may need to seek another extension to the conditional permit which allows continued use of the reservoir.  After the 2011 deadline, state officials could also force the RWSA to lower the water level as a safety precaution, thus severely impacting the existing water supply.  

Lowry also distanced himself from the positions espoused by Citizens for a Sustainable Water Plan, a group that has advocated dredging and alternatives to construction of a new dam.

“There are those who say that the current Water Plan should be scrapped. They say that conservation, and dredging the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir, is the way forward.  They are both right and wrong.  They are wrong, because the question is ‘What will the our water supply need be fifty years out?’ Will the next generation have safe water to drink? The simple answer is that, in a growing, vibrant community, we must plan for more reservoir capacity.  Fundamentally, the question is not ‘more capacity OR dredging and conservation?’ The answer is ‘more capacity AND dredging AND conservation.’  Where they are right, is that taking better care of our resources is important. That means taking care of what we have.  I have no objections to considering dredging the Rivanna Reservoir, particularly if the goal is to extend its life, but dredging is not the alternative.”

On the matter of cost estimates, Lowry said that his professional background in finance gave him unique qualifications to help plan the financing for the project.

“The reality is we will not actually know what price tags are until the components go to bid,” said Lowry.  “I submit it is better to finance our plan sooner than wait to pass the burden to others. It will almost certainly be cheaper to do it now rather than later.”

See Charlottesville Tomorrow's Election Watch page for complete coverage of the County's 2009 elections.

Albemarle Republicans nominate Snow, Thomas as candidates for Board of Supervisors

 

By Sean Tubbs
Charlottesville Tomorrow
Wednesday, May 27, 2009

At a caucus held underneath a picnic shelter in McIntire Park, the Albemarle County Republican Party chose Duane Snow to be their candidate for the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors from the Samuel Miller District. Rodney Thomas was unopposed for the Republican nomination in the Rio District. 

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Snow’s opponent, Philip Melita, ceded the race after a first count of the ballots showed an overwhelming majority for Snow. While 74 people from the Samuel Miller District registered to vote, the caucus agreed to suspend the rules to allow ballots to be counted by people who had to leave before it came to vote.

Rodney Thomas (R) accepts the Rio District nomination

Seventeen people were on hand from the Rio District to nominate Thomas. His nomination speech was given by former Albemarle County Sheriff Terry Hawkins. Hawkins said he’s known Thomas since they were teenagers, and that Thomas’ decades of public service has prepared him to serve on the Board of the Supervisors.

In his acceptance speech, Thomas pledged to reduce County spending in order to keep the County’s tax rate low, to implement “zero-based budgeting ”, and to complete the Meadowcreek Parkway. Thomas also said he would ensure that the County’s urban water supply was safe.

“This means building a new dam as well as increasing the use of sensible conservation measures,” Thomas said. “It also means taking a hard look at dredging and how that fits into a new 50-year water supply plan.” Thomas also said he would protect the property rights of Albemarle County landowners.

Albemarle County Supervisor Ken Boyd (Rivanna) gave the nominating speech for fellow Republican Duane Snow

After Thomas accepted, it was time for the two candidates in the Samuel Miller District to come forth to give their nominating speeches. Philip Melita’s was given by Charles Rockacy , who said Melita’s leadership had helped out the neighborhood in which they both live. Duane Snow’s speech was given by Rivanna District Supervisor Ken Boyd (R). Boyd said Snow would help protect property rights in Albemarle County.

Melita, who has lived in Albemarle County since 1993, said he became a candidate after becoming concerned that the County’s government spending has increased at a faster rate than its population.
Snow echoed Thomas’ call for zero-based budget, and said his experience running a small business has prepared him to understand how to translate that approach to County government.

“You go in, look at the expenditures, see what you funded in the past, and [ask] are you getting your money’s worth,” Snow explained. “If you’re not getting your money’s worth, then why continue to spend money in that area?”

Duane Snow

Snow also said that he would cut down on what he said was the County’s reliance on conducting studies. He said that thirty years of study have not produced enough results when it comes to transportation and the water supply plan. Snow then called for a full study of dredging to determine whether it can help adjust the water supply plan adopted by the City Council and the Board of Supervisors in July 2006. On the subject of transportation, Snow said the City of Charlottesville has benefited tremendously from the construction of the Route 250 Bypass, despite opposition from nearby landowners at the time.

When it came time to vote, Albemarle County Republican Chairman Christian Schoenwald asked the caucus if they would be willing to suspend the rules to allow people who had to leave early to have their votes counted. The caucus agreed, and at least 12 additional ballots were cast.

The teller on the left holds a stack of votes for Philip Melita. The teller on the right holds a larger stack for Duane Snow

The tellers counted the votes and distributed the votes into two stacks. Charlottesville Tomorrow observed that Snow easily won a majority. Before the official counting was concluded, Melita approached Schoenwald and asked to address the caucus. He made a motion for the caucus to nominate Snow by acclimation, which was approved.

Snow will face two other candidates in the general election to replace outgoing Supervisor Sally Thomas (I) – Independent John Lowry and Democrat Madison Cummings. In the Rio District, Thomas will face incumbent David Slutzky (D). Unless an independent candidate emerges before June 9, 2009, Jack Jouett District Supervisor Dennis Rooker will be unopposed on the November ballot.

See Charlottesville Tomorrow's Election Watch page for complete coverage of the County's 2009 elections.

TIMELINE FOR PODCAST

• 01:00 – Christian Schoenwald introduces mass meeting for Rio District
• 04:45 – Former Albemarle County Sheriff Terry Hawkins gives nominating speech for Rio District
• 07:00 – Acceptance speech from Rodney Thomas
• 17:00 – Christian Schoenwald introduces mass meeting for the the Samuel Miller District
• 20:30 – Nominating speech for Phillip Melita by Charles Rockacy
• 21:30 – Nominating speech for Duane Snow by Albemarle County Supervisor Ken Boyd
• 24:00 – Speech by Phillip Melita
• 27:30 – Speech by Duane Snow
• 35::30 – Schoenwald asks members of the Samuel Miller mass meeting if they will vote to suspend the rules so absentee ballots can be cast

Duane Snow announces campaign for Albemarle Board of Supervisors

By Sean Tubbs
Charlottesville Tomorrow
Thursday, May 21, 2009

Duane Snow has entered the race for the Republican nomination for the Samuel Miller seat on the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors. Flanked by members of his extended family, Snow said he would bring a “common sense approach” to the Board if elected in November.

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Duane Snow was surrounded by family and friends during his campaign announcement

Snow’s grandfather founded a “market garden” in 1912 which eventually grew to become Snow’s Garden Center. In 1970, Duane Snow returned to Charlottesville to work for the family business after graduating from Brigham Young University in Utah.  He retired from the company in 2005 and he and his wife Rena recently completed an 18-month missionary trip to the Phillipines. Snow decided to run shortly after returning home.

Snow thanked outgoing Supervisor Sally Thomas (I-Samuel Miller) for her 16 years of service on the Board. He said he had been approached many times over the years to run against Thomas, but wanted to wait until she left office.

Snow, who will be sixty-four on election day, and his wife have five children, all of whom attended Albemarle County Public Schools. Ten of Snow’s 12 grandchildren were behind him as he read his campaign announcement to the media. 

“As you can see, we have a sizeable investment in Albemarle County,” Snow said. He said he has overwhelming support from his family to run.  Joining Snow’s family on the steps of the County Office Building was childhood friend Rodney Thomas (R-Rio), another candidate for Supervisor, who is challenging incumbent David Slutzky (D-Rio).

Prior public service in the community includes a term on the Architectural Review Board, service on the board of the local chapter of the American Heart Association, as well as ten years on the Virginia State Agricultural Council. He also co-hosts a radio show about gardening and landscaping that airs Saturday mornings on WINA

Snow listed taxes, transportation, education, growth and land use as issues he is concerned about. He said as a Supervisor, he would first listen to his constituents, collect facts, make decisions based on common sense, and then take action. He offered no specific policy recommendations during his speech, but did suggest a position on the water supply plan.

“It is my opinion that we’re moving in the right direction and we don’t need any more studies other than finding out how much water is actually behind the dam,” Snow said.  “I know that we have one dam that is faulty and that dam needs to be fixed as soon as possible. We need to look at additional water supplies. But one thing we need to continue to do is to conserve the water that we have.”

Snow’s opponent for the Republican nomination is Dr. Phillip Melita. The nomination will be decided at a Republican caucus to be held at one of McIntire Park’s picnic shelters on Tuesday, May 26, 2009. The Democratic Party has nominated former School Board member Madison Cummings to run for the seat. Independent John Lowry is also a candidate to replace Thomas.

See Charlottesville Tomorrow's Election Watch page for complete coverage of the County's 2009 elections.

City Council will pay for additional South Fork Reservoir dredging studies

By Sean Tubbs
Charlottesville Tomorrow
Wednesday, May 20, 2009

The City Council has finally prevailed in its quest to get the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority (RWSA) to issue an RFP for a series of dredging feasibility studies that would provide an estimate of how much it would cost to restore the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir to its original water storage capacity for the urban water supply. At their meeting on May 18, 2009, Council voted to pay for several specific studies that the Albemarle County Service Authority (ACSA)  prefers
not to fund.

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The studies include:

•    A pre-dredge survey that would check the reservoir floor for stumps and other obstacles to dredging
•    Analysis of the sediment that has collected in the reservoir since 1966
•    An evaluation of potential disposal sites that would include at least four locations
•    An analysis of dredging alternatives, to include a sequence of events of how dredging would be implemented

Charlottesville City Council

During his report, City Manager and RWSA Board member Gary O’Connell explained to Council that the ACSA was only willing to pay for studies that would pertain to maintenance dredging of the reservoir. These would include a bathymetric study of the reservoir, legal advice on whether wetlands that have formed since 1966 would prevent dredging and analysis of whether forebays would stop sedimentation.
O’Connell said the cost estimate for the full scope of services is $300,000, though an exact cost-share between the City and the ACSA will likely not be worked out until bids are received by the RWSA.

City Councilor Satyendra Huja said he was disappointed that the ACSA was not willing to pay for the full scope of services. Councilor Julian Taliaferro said he was bothered by what he saw as a lack of cooperation. Councilor David Brown, on the other hand, said he thought that the Albemarle County Service Authority was within its rights to refuse to pay for what its Board felt was unnecessary.

“Whether dredging should be considered is controversial in our community,” Brown said. He said he agreed with those who feel dredging the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir is unnecessary for the purposes of the community water supply plan. “But I also think there are a lot of people who erred by not looking seriously at dredging, that the costs were over-inflated.”

After some discussion, Council unanimously voted to approve the conditions under which the RFP will be issued. The RFP will be issued on Wednesday, May 20, 2009, according to Mary Knowles with the RWSA.

Shorty before the discussion, City Attorney Craig Brown explained the paperwork that had to be filed with the State Corporation Commission to allow Edwards to vote. The State Conflict of Interest Act regulates the ability of a city or county employee from voting on matters that they may benefit from. Because Edwards makes over $10,000 as a City Councilor, Brown was concerned she would be disqualified from serving on the RWSA Board under the act.

“There was enough concern that the law was written broad enough that it would apply and preclude the City’s representatives from voting on certain matters that are important to the City that came before [the RWSA],” Brown said. Penalties for violating the Act could include being charged with a misdemeanor or a fine, but Brown said that Albemarle County’s Commonwealth’s Attorney Denise Lunsford has written a legal opinion that says she believes Edwards will act in good faith on the RWSA Board.

TIMELINE FOR PODCAST:

• 01:00 – Mayor Norris introduces the subject
• 02:15 – City Attorney Craig Brown explains the legal circumstances regarding Edwards’ ability to vote on the RWSA Board
• 07:30 – City Manager Gary O’Connell describes what happened at the RWSA meeting regarding the RFP
• 10:30 – City Councilor Satyendra Huja expresses his disappointment with the ACSA
• 11:15 – City Councilor Julian Taliaferro said he is troubled by the lack of cooperation
• 13:00 – City Councilor David Brown defends the stand taken by the ACSA
• 16:20 – City Councilor Holly Edwards explains why she wanted to move ahead by having the studies done under the umbrella of one RFP rather than splitting it up
• 17:30 – Mayor Dave Norris requests that the City select at least half of the selection committee
• 19:45 – O’Connell requests a motion to make sure that Council’s direction is clear

RWSA approves RFP for dredging feasibility studies of South Fork Rivanna Reservoir

By Sean Tubbs
Charlottesville Tomorrow
Tuesday, May 19, 2009

The City's representatives on the RWSA Board are Public Works Director Judith Mueller, City Manager Gary O'Connell and City Councilor Holly Edwards

After nearly a year of discussion, the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority (RWSA) has approved an RFP calling for a series of studies designed to provide a full cost estimate and logistical analysis of a full restorative dredging of the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir. While the Albemarle County Service Authority (ACSA) has announced it will only cover those studies which pertain to maintenance dredging of the reservoir, the Charlottesville City Council has agreed to pay for those that relate to the possibility of dredging the reservoir as an alternative to or an expansion of the adopted community water supply plan.

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Download the draft RFP considered by the RWSA

The discussion and eventual vote spanned two meetings held on May 18, 2009. First, the RWSA took up the RFP at its regular Board meeting. They did so after going into executive session where they received legal advice related to the concern that dredging may interfere with wetlands that have been created due to sedimentation of the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir. That legal opinion was released to the public by vote of the board.

Download the letter from Attorney William Ellis to the RWSA

After RWSA Executive Director Tom Frederick explained the details of the various studies to be called for in the full RFP, ACSA Executive Director Gary Fern explained the ACSA’s willingness to support the RFP, but only to support an analysis of the possibility of installing forebays to stop sedimentation into the reservoir as well a bathymetric study. Shortly thereafter, he made a motion to move forward with the RFP based on the ACSA’s vision of the scope of services.

City Manager Gary O’Connell seconded, but with a comment. He said he was representing the will of the City Council.

City Manager Gary O'Connell

“We come here with Council’s blessing and approval of this RFP, and in the spirit of working together in the community, and my belief that there will be support for us, I’d like to make a motion to amend Mr. Fern’s motion,” O’Connell said. His amendment was to include the City’s requested studies in the RFP and that the City would pay for it. He added a condition that the City’s expenses would be reimbursed if the data returned by the studies resulted in the community water supply plan being amended to include dredging for water capacity.

Fern accepted the amendment. After some discussion, the RWSA voted unanimously to approve the amended motion. Later in the evening, the City Council voted to pay for the studies it requested. Charlottesville Tomorrow will detail those proceedings in an upcoming story.

Several members of the public spoke to encourage the RWSA to approve the RFP. County resident Bernard Williams said that maintaining infrastructure was as important as brushing one’s teeth. Dede Smith of the group Citizens for a Sustainable Water Plan said that the City and ACSA had come to an impasse on the RFP and that the City should proceed without the ACSA’s involvement if that’s what it takes to get the information requested by the City.  Former City Councilor Kevin Lynch agreed with Smith, if only to end what he described as the stalling by the ACSA. However, Lynch called for several amendments. First, he wanted the City to retain full control over the selection committee to pick a vendor. Second, he sought several technical amendments, most notably one to find out if the dredged material could be used to help fill in a runway. Third, he wanted language in the draft to be amended to encourage more contractors to apply.

Richard Collins disagreed with his fellow water activists and insisted that the ACSA should be compelled to pay for the full cost of all the dredging studies.

TIMELINE FOR PODCAST

• 01:00 – Hawes Spencer of the Hook objects to the RWSA entering into executive session
• 02:20 – RWSA takes a roll call vote to approve its going into executive session
• 02:45 – RWSA Legal Counsel Kurt Krueger explains the legal reason why the Board went into executive session
• 03:15 – Judith Mueller explains the contents of why the Board went into executive session and makes a motion releasing the privileged communication to the public
• 04:40 – Executive Director Tom Frederick gives a staff report on the RFP and what it is for
• 09:50 – City Manager Gary O’Connell asks question about what studies are necessary
• 11:00 – ACSA Executive Director Gary Fern gives an outline of the ACSA’s concerns as embodied in the letter sent to City Council
• 12:20 – Supervisor Sally Thomas (Samuel Miller) asks if the bathymetric study to be conducted would also count towards the RWSA’s mandated need to conduct one by the completion of the new dam at the Ragged Mountain Reservoir
• 14:30 – City Manager Gary O’Connell asks about what requirements will be asked of potential firms
• 15:30 – Mueller asks if one firm will be hired, or a team of firms
• 16:30 – City Councilor Holly Edwards asks if one firm will be capable of doing all the studies
• 19:20- Gary Fern makes a motion for the RWSA to move the RFP ahead according to the ACSA’s view of the scope of services
• 28:15 – Motion to approve RFP is voted on unanimously

RWSA adopts FY2010 operating budget with water and sewer rate increase

Most meetings of the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority last under an hour, but the Board of Directors meeting on May 18, 2009 lasted over two hours. The newly-expanded RWSA Board adopted an operational budget for FY2010, approved a wholesale rate increase, and approved the issuing of an RFP for dredging feasibility study on the condition that the Charlottesville City Council pay for studies not supported by the Albemarle County Service Authority (ACSA).

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The RWSA has voted to increase the wholesale water and sewer rates charged to the City of Charlottesville and the Albemarle County Service Authority. The action came as the Board adopted the RWSA’s operating budget for the fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2009.

City water rates will increase from  $2.285 to $2.461 per 1,000 gallons, a 7.7% increase. The County water rates will increase from $2.983 to $3.32 per 1,000 gallons, an 11.3% increase.

The RWSA also increased the wholesale sewer rates. City wastewater rates were raised from $2.466 to $2.784 per 1,000 gallons, a 12.9% increase. County wastewater rates were raised from $2.722 to $3.063 per 1,000 gallons, a 12.53% increase.

The operational budget has been decreased by 3.7% from last year’s level. However, the rates are being raised to support increased debt service to pay for the community water supply plan.

“Future funding needs of the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and existing debt service costs remain a large portion of our total budget at roughly 48%,” staff wrote in the report announcing the budget.

Several members of Citizens for a Sustainable Water Plan called upon the RWSA to keep rates flat so that ratepayers would not be burdened with higher water bills during difficult economic times. Kevin Lynch argued that there was no justification for raising the rates. He claimed that the RWSA has accumulated over $30 million in cash reserves over the past six years by diverting a quarter of its revenues into a fund.

“When I was on Council, we passed a water plan back in 2002,” Lynch said. “We raised rates by 70% over two years to pay for that water plan… and so now you’re sitting on $30 million that another board took the political heat over and you’re planning to spend it on something else, something I believe you don’t need.”

Lonnie Wood, the Director of Finance for the RWSA

RWSA Finance Director Lonnie Wood was asked by RWSA Chair Michael Gaffney to give a summary of how the cash reserves are used. While Wood could not address the specifics without the specific accounts in front of him, he was able to provide a general overview. He said that the RWSA currently has about $50 million in debt that was incurred through the sale of bonds. Woods said that a certain amount of money has to be set aside to guarantee one year’s debt service on those bonds. Right now, the RWSA spends about $5.5 million a year on debt service, requiring an equal match to be held in reserve.

“We can’t touch it,” Wood said. “We can’t even invest it anything reasonable like a local government investment pool.” Additionally, the RWSA has to set aside other $2 million funds to cover principal and interest payments. Wood said the RWSA also has a goal of having at least 60 days of operating funds in reserve to make sure there is sufficient cash flow to pay vendors for large capital projects. Wood said at some point, he would ask the Board for permission to expand that reserve to 90 days. Additionally, the large capital projects called for in the CIP will require the RWSA to expand its debt load, which is why rates are being increased.

ACSA Executive Director Gary Fern

“We’ve got a goal of funding a $150 million CIP with 10% cash, which is $14 million dollars, so we’re kind of trying to give a level rate of increase,” Wood said. He also explained how wholesale rates are much different than retail rates.

ACSA Executive Director Gary Fern said that the average residential customer would see rates increase by about 9% under the ACSA’s proposed budget. Gary O’Connell said the City’s rate increases would look different from the County’s. He also said the RWSA put a rate stabilization measure in place in order to keep rates from escalating sharply in one year.

“This authority a number of years ago put in a rate stablilization in because we saw a huge jump [in 2002],” O’Connell said. “The only way you can do that is to put some reserves up front.”

IN OTHER NEWS:

• The state has agreed to pay for its share of the $40.3 million upgrade to the Moores Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. The DEQ has confirmed that it will subsidize $21.6 million from its Water Quality Improvement Fund. "This construction project will allow us to improve water quality through nutrient treatment technology, enhance odor control, rehabilitate aging plant facilities, and provide co-generation for biogas from biosolids digestion," Frederick wrote in his staff report.
• The RWSA will move its monthly meetings to the Albemarle County Service Authority's headquarters on Spotnaps Road in the Pantops area during the construction of the Moores Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant's upgrade. The meetings will also temporarily move to Tuesdays. During the public comment period, Kevin Lynch called on the RWSA to move its meeting to a location more accessible to the public. 
• The RWSA has entered into an agreement with an energy-management firm called EnerNOC. The idea is to reduce the RWSA's demand for electricity from Dominion Power by switching to generators during certain times over the summer. However, the DEQ must approve the use of the generators before the RWSA can proceed.
• This was the first meeting for new Board members Supervisor Sally Thomas (Samuel Miller) and City Councilor Holly Edwards
• The RWSA Board deferred consideration of a salary survey due to the economic downturn, per the request of Charlottesville Public Works Director Judith Mueller

TIMELINE FOR PODCAST:

• 01:00 – RWSA Chair Mike Gaffney calls meeting to order and RWSA Board quickly adopts minutes
• 02:00 – Executive Director’s report from Tom Frederick
• 05:20 – Public comment from County resident Bernard Williams
• 06:14 – Public comment from County resident Richard Lloyd regarding the 1972 agreement that formed the RWSA and the responsibilities each jurisdiction has in terms of paying for new facilities
• 10:00 – Public comment from Richard Collins who says the ACSA should have to pay for the full scope of services called for in the RFP requested by the City
•  12:00 – Public comment from Dede Smith saying the City should go ahead and pay for the full scope of services if that’s what it takes to get the full information
• 12:40 – Public comment from Kevin Lynch regarding the RFP on the dredging feasibility study
• 17:30 – Public comment from Betty Mooney regarding the RFP on the dredging feasibility study
• 20:00 – Additional public comment from Richard Lloyd
• 21:00 – Consideration of the consent agenda. Charlottesville Public Works Director Judy Mueller pulls several of the items
• 25:45 – Mueller asks for discussion of salary increases to be deferred for the foreseeable future
• 28:00 – Public hearing begins on adoption of FY2010 operating budget
• 29:30 – Public hearing comment on the budget from Colette Hall regarding “stimulus money” for the Moores Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility upgrade
• 32:00 – Public hearing comment on the budget from Kevin Lynch who called on the RWSA to use its cash reserves to keep rates low
• 35:52 – Public hearing comment from Betty Mooney who calls on RWSA to refrain from raising rates
• 39:00 – Public hearing comment from Dede Smith who also encouraged the RWSA to not raise rates
• 40:10 – Public hearing comment from Rich Collins about how dredging feasibility study would be paid for in connection with the budget
• 42:50 – RWSA Executive Director Tom Frederick gives an overview of the budget
• 44:00 – RWSA Finance Director Lonnie Wood gives an overview of how cash reserves are used
• 50:36 – County Executive Bob Tucker asks what the unrestricted amount is in the cash reserves
• 54:30 – ACSA Executive Director Gary Fern describes how ACSA ratepayers rates will increase
• 56:00 – O’Connell explains that the RWSA put a rate stabilization in policy to avoid sharp increases like the one that occurred in 2002
• 01:00:00 – RWSA Board goes into executive session to discuss legal opinion from Kurt Krueger regarding the effect dredging would have on wetlands and thus the existing permit from the Army Corps of Engineers