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City consolidates water units and advances meter, lead-line and DWSRF/CWSRF projects
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Summary
Staff said water-related budget units were consolidated under one department, presented salaries (~$1.67M), described DWSRF/CWSRF‑funded projects (meter replacements, lead-pipe work), and noted FEMA and other grants will offset most project costs (some city share required).
City staff presented the consolidated water & sewer budget and capital plans, saying several previously separate budget units were combined into a single water department (536) for simplicity and to centralize funding and operations.
Personnel and operations: staff presented consolidated salaries at approximately $1,669,000 and noted retirement payout estimates; overtime remains high because emergency water-main breaks can require unscheduled response. To curb overtime, the department plans to reassign three meter‑reader positions into field roles (heavy equipment operators or laborers) so more staff are available to address main breaks during regular hours.
Capital projects and grants: staff outlined several funded projects, including DWSRF and CWSRF projects (meter replacement, water-main replacement, lead pipe replacement) that will be offset by loans and grants; FEMA reimbursements were noted as 90/10 in one instance. Staff stressed that exact expenditures for these projects will be finalized after year‑end accounting and presented to council in July for inclusion in next year’s budget.
Operating and pass‑through charges were explained: the department pays for water purchases from GLWA and sewage disposal to downstream authorities; a stated administrative charge from the water department to the general fund was cited (about $900,000) to cover shared costs.
