Carson City supervisors to discuss proposed water rate hike, vehicle purchases and more

The next Carson City Board of Supervisors meeting will be Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020 beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Bob Boldrick Theater at the Carson City Community Center located at 851 E. William Street.

On the agenda for discussion includes an increase in water rates, the replacement of 32 city vehicles, water purchases and more.

— A discussion and possible action will be held regarding the purchase of 32 vehicles for several departments throughout the city, utilizing the State of Nevada’s competitive bid list and cooperative purchasing agreement for a total not to exceed $2,594,450.39.

According to the agenda, multiple city departments are looking to replace vehicles due to age and/or the condition of vehicles. The vehicles being replaced are at the end of their useful lives and it is not cost-effective to continue to maintain these vehicles.

Staff is seeking approval for a total of 32 vehicles to be replaced. It is noted that the requested purchases were planned for and are funded as part of the approved fiscal year 2021 Capital Improvement Vehicle Replacement Program or funded by grants/donations.

— A discussion and possible action will be held regarding a proposed Utility Rate Schedule to become effective Jan. 1, 2021 to increase existing water rates by 3 percent, and the wastewater rates by 3.5 percent; storm water rates are based on square footage of structures on single-family properties and the impervious area for all other properties as provided in the Rate Schedule.

If this item is approved and adopted, the Utility Rate Schedule will be as follows:

Water Service Charge will increase by 3 percent on Jan. 1, 2021, July 1, 2021, July 1, 2022, July 1, 2023, and July 1, 2024.

Wastewater Service Charges will increase by 3.5 percent on Jan. 1, 2021, July 1, 2021, July 1, 2022, July 1, 2023 and July 1, 2024.

Storm water restructure rates and increase of the storm water service charges will begin on Jan. 1, 2021, Jan 1., 2022, Jan. 1, 2023 and Jan. 1, 2024.

If adopted an additional Utility Ratepayer Assistance Program will be established and will authorize up to $10,000 annually in funding from each of the utility funds.

— A discussion and possible action will be held authorizing $2.7 million to be used to purchase water from the Marlette Lake Water System in the fiscal years 2022 and 2023.

The City's negotiations with the State are still ongoing for a long-term agreement concerning the Marlette Lake Water System. At this time, the State has engaged in a rate study and the City has engaged in a Marlette Lake Water System present and future demand study. The City and State are awaiting the outcomes of both studies. However, in the interim, City and State staff propose an interim contract for FY 2022 and 2023 for the City to purchase water from the Marlette Lake Water System.

Through the Agreement, the City agrees to pay for the ongoing bond service, approximately $50,000 per month, a monthly charge for operation and maintenance fees of $12,099 per month, and to pay for raw water at the rate of $0.75 per thousand gallons.

The City's payments for the operation and maintenance fee and for the raw water, combined, are capped at $550,000 in both FY 2022 and 2023. Thus, the City's yearly payments are subject to a cap of approximately $1.15 million per year (approximately $600,000 in bond payments and $550,000 for operation and maintenance fees and for raw water).

The City also pledges to make reasonable, good-faith efforts to purchase additional raw water if the water, and the City's funding, is available.

— A discussion and possible action regarding a final appropriation for the Community Support Services 5-Year Grant funding for fiscal years (FY) 2022 to 2026 will be held.

The CSSG total funding for this program for FY 2022 to FY 2026 is $572,500. Staff recommends $114,500 be awarded each year for the general non-competitive program. The start and end dates for the 5-year non-competitive program are July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2026.

The decision to allocate CSSG funding to Carson City non-profit organizations is in accordance with the recommendation of the Application Review Work Group (ARWG). The ARWG is a community-based group that reviewed and scored the applications on November 17, 2020, for recommendation to the Board of Supervisors. The ARWG took into consideration the application score, the amount requested, the ability for the agency to obtain other funding and the critical need requirement.

— A discussion and possible action will be held regarding a determination that LP Insurance Services Inc. is the lowest bidder for an insurance contract. The annual amount is $35,000 through Dec. 31, 2025 for a total contract amount of $175,000 to be funded from the Group Medical Insurance Professional Services Account.

— A discussion and possible action will be held regarding the appointment of two members to the 9-1-1 Surcharge Advisory Committee, each for a term ending in December of 2022.

The six-person advisory committee is in charge of developing a plan to enhance or improve the telephone system for reporting emergencies in Carson City, and to oversee any money allocated to that purpose.

Denise Stewart and Daniel Mckeehan have applied for reappointment.

— A discussion and possible action will be held regarding the appointment of three members to the Audit Committee, two for a full term ending in December of 2022 and one to fill an unexpired term ending in December of 2021.

The five-person Audit Committee consists of one member of the Board of Supervisors and four members from the public as citizens-at-large. There are two vacancies due to expiration of terms and one vacancy due to a resignation.

Ernie Mayhorn and Stephen Ferguson are seeking reappointment.

James Wells is applying to fill the remainder of the unexpired term.

— A discussion and possible action will be held regarding a proposed grant of non-exclusive easement from the State of Nevada, Division of State Lands to Carson City for $250 per year for five years, for a total of $1,250.

The fee will then be subject to a possible fee adjustment, unless terminated by either party, for production well no. 50 and a waterline connection from the well to the city water system located at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center.

The easement is for an existing production well and waterline connection located at the NNCC on Bigelow Drive. The city entered into an agreement on Aug. 11, 2009 with the state to provide water service to NNCC with the provision that the state make available sufficient water rights to meet the needs of NNCC, and grant the necessary authorizations and easements to the city for the purpose of drilling, constructing and operating production well no. 50.

— A discussion and possible action regarding a contract between the city and Atkins, which provides on-call Geographic Information System (GIS) services.

An increase in the amount paid to Atkins is being requested in the amount of $50,000, which will increase the total contract amount to $99,999 through June 30, 2021, which will be funded from the General Fund / GIS-Professional Services Account.

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC:
The State of Nevada and Carson City are currently in a declared State of Emergency in response to the global pandemic caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) infectious disease outbreak. In accordance with the Governor’s Declaration of Emergency Directive 006, which has suspended the provisions of NRS 241.020 requiring the designation of a physical location for meetings of public bodies where members of the public are permitted to attend and participate, public meetings of Carson City will NOT have a physical location open to the public until such time this Directive is removed.

• Members of the public who wish only to view the meeting but do NOT plan to make public comment may watch the livestream of the Board of Supervisors meeting at www.carson.org/granicus and by clicking on “In progress” next to the meeting date, or by tuning in to cable channel 191.
• The public may provide public comment in advance of a meeting by written submission to the following email address: publiccomment@carson.org. For inclusion or reference in the minutes of the meeting, your public comment must include your full name and be submitted via email by not later than 3:00 p.m. the day before the meeting.
• Members of the public who wish to provide live public comment may do so during the designated public comment periods, indicated on the agenda, via telephonic appearance by dialing the numbers listed below. Please do NOT join by phone if you do not wish to make public comment.

Join by phone:
Phone Number: +1-408-418-9388
Meeting Number: 146 539 0794