Board recognizes 35th anniversary of the first water delivery and approves 2021-2026 Water Rate Schedule and CAGRD Rate Schedule for 2020/21 – 2025/26
The Central Arizona Water Conservation District Board of Directors (CAWCD) convened telephonically today for its May 2020 meeting. CAWCD Board President Lisa Atkins chaired the meeting from the headquarters board room, while wearing a face covering, but all other board members participated via WebEx, in accordance with the state’s current Stay at Home Order, related to COVID-19. The public was invited to watch the livestream and to provide public comment via the Board’s online “Blue Card.”
The meeting began with a special video, “1985-2020: 35 Years of Delivering Colorado River Water Supplies.” The video celebrates 35 years since the first CAP water delivery to the Harquahala Valley Irrigation District and features quotes from several U.S. Bureau of Reclamation employees, past and present, who contributed greatly to this first delivery becoming a reality. The video can be found here.
Julia Novak of the Novak Consulting Group updated the board remotely regarding the schedule for the CAWCD Board strategic plan process, which includes a Strategic Planning Board Retreat on June 3 to develop a preliminary vision statement and Key Result Areas; additional stakeholder outreach to begin in late July; and a final Strategic Planning Board Retreat on Sept. 2.
Board actions included:
- Revised separate reserve targets of $153 million for Strategic Reserves and $51 million for Working Capital Reserves
- Approved 2021-2026 Water Rate Schedule as recommended by the Finance Audit Power Committee
- Fixed the General Ad Valorem at $0.10 Tax Rate Pursuant to A.R.S. 48-3715, Subsection A and the Water Storage at $0.04 Tax Rate Pursuant to A.R.S. 48-3715.02, Subsection B and Adopted a Resolution Regarding the Use of Water Storage Tax, Pursuant to A.R.S. 48-3715.02, Subsection B and C
- Authorized the Collection of CAGRD Annual Membership Dues During Tax Year 2020/21
- Approved a Preliminary CAGRD Rate Schedule for 2020/21 through 2025/26
- Approved a Preliminary Underground Water Storage 2021-2026 Water Rate Schedule
The Board approved several items on the Consent Agenda, including:
- Construction Contract for Circuit Breaker Replacement at Mark Wilmer Pumping Plant
- Water Storage Agreements for the City of Scottsdale at the Hieroglyphic Mountains Recharge Project and the Agua Fria Recharge Project
- Intergovernmental Agreement with Pinal County for Election Services
Staff provided updates regarding:
- ICS Delivery Agreements Between the United States and CAWCD
- Colorado River Conditions – Lake Mead was reported at elevation 1097’, which is 44 percent capacity
- Report on Water Operations and Distribution of Unexpected Available Supply
- Status on Indian Water Rights Settlements in Arizona
The CAWCD Board of Directors is a popularly elected, 15-member board. Ten members are from Maricopa County, four from Pima County and one from Pinal. Members serve six-year, unpaid terms. The board typically meets publicly the first Thursday of each month to establish policy and set rates and taxes for CAP.
For additional details on the May board meeting, take a look at the agenda and packet. Board minutes and video will be posted here.
