Study Session - 2/7/2023 5:45:00 PM

can I have everyone's attention if we
could I'll give you the 30 second
warning if you could please take your
seats
good evening everyone welcome to the
Gilbert Council study session for
February 7th 2023. I'm going to call the
meeting to order and we have one item on
our agenda this evening it's a
presentation and discussion from Warren
Tenney the executive director of the
Arizona Municipal Water users
Association otherwise known as amwa that
we refer to all the time thanks for
joining us tonight Warren come on up to
the podium and we look forward to
hearing this discussion
foreign
thank you madam mayor and members of the
Town Council thank you for this
opportunity to come to talk with you
about our most important resource water
I have been working in water for 30
years but since I was
raised in Arizona
and family is from Arizona it was
instilled a long time ago the importance
of squeezing every drop of water and
making every drop of water count and
appreciate the opportunity to share with
you about the Arizona Municipal Water
users Association
so amwa was established over 50 years
ago
it was seen as a as it was brought
together
due to the foresight of city leaders
here in the valley that recognize that
water does not flow according to
political jurisdiction and it would be a
lot better to work together on water
policies and Water Resource issues
and so today amwa collectively uh I'm
sorry Amos members consist of ten uh 10
members today
in addition to Gilbert we have Chandler
Mesa Tempe Scottsdale Phoenix
Glendale Peoria Avondale and Goodyear
collectively those 10 cities provide
water to 3.7 million residents more than
half of the state's population
as well as provide water to the
businesses and industries that are key
to the state and National economies
amwa over those 50 years has a history
to be proud of
we have been engaged in water issues
through the decades and have worked to
bring make sure that in Arizona our
water is well managed and to make sure
that each of our members water resources
are safeguarded and protected
one of the key things that we worked on
was in 1980 the groundwater management
act which I know you are familiar with
and that
was something that we were
actively engaged in
and we have stayed engaged in various
water policy issues including last year
the
water infrastructure financing Authority
legislation and worth and when the state
then invested
1.4 billion dollars towards
augmentation efforts re reuse and
conservation
so what I think is the most important
thing about amwa is that we facilitate
discussion among our members
it is
quite unique
here in not just for Arizona but
Nationwide to have such a large
metropolitan area bringing together
the 10 major cities to talk about water
and we do this at all levels we have an
elected board of directors that is
comprised of either the mayor or a
council member from each of Our member
municipalities
we were fortunate to have council member
Scott Anderson serve on that board
and he is also currently serving as our
as the board secretary treasurer
the um
it's very positive to have this board of
directors because it means that we have
elected officials who understand are
engaged and in well informed about water
policy and Water Resource issues we also
have a management board of directors
that's comprised of
the water service or utility directors
we have Jessica Marlow is a member of
the management board and actually we
have a meeting tomorrow and we discuss
the current water issues they make
recommendations then to the board of
directors
we also meet regularly actually twice a
month with your Water Resource advisors
and
this is really where a lot of the work
of amwa takes place the Water Resources
advisors are the troops on the ground
they're the ones that are facing and
dealing with water issues every day and
making sure that water resources are
protected and looking at making sure
that all of the resources are there for
you to be able to meet the demands of
your customers
and so we as I mentioned they meet twice
a month and we have very
um in depth and
sometimes very robust conversations
and we appreciate being able to have
Lauren Hixson and Stefan Watson on the
uh
in those meetings to always present and
represent Gilbert's uh thoughts on water
conservation we have a conservation
group where we meet with your
conservation staffs they meet regularly
and they it's an opportunity for them to
share and compare notes and then we also
frequently meet with Communications
staff so that we can be coordinating a
conservation on communication message
messages
that relate to water
as well as should have had on here also
your
intergovernmental staffs during the
legislative session we're actively
meeting with them
so from this facilitating the
discussions
there's a lot of collaboration that goes
on and we look to see what
what
issues we can really identify and
prioritize and strategize about and how
what are the ones that are we can work
together and collectively agree on we're
looking at local issues Regional issues
as well as National issues when we're
we're identifying and prioritizing and
strategizing on those about water
after we collaborate and come to some
agreement on those issues that we can
agree on we are then advocating and amwa
is actively advocating with one voice
for our members
this is that time of year when we are
extremely active at the State
Legislature
and we are reviewing all of the water
legislation that comes through looking
at what bills are going to be positive
for our members are what could be
problematic we discuss those at all of
those levels that I just mentioned as
well including with the board of
directors and we take positions so that
we can
um
make clear what is important to our
members
we also
sometimes get involved with Federal
legislation and look at that we last
week had an opportunity to have a
meeting with Senator Cinema with
representatives from all of the amwa
cities to talk about Federal
legislation that is has been important
in investing into infrastructure
uh we also advocate for our members with
the uh various stakeholders here in the
state including the Arizona Department
of Water Resources central Arizona
Project Salt River Project and while our
main focus is with our members here in
the valley we are also looking at water
issues throughout the state why because
a problem whether it be maybe down in
southeast Arizona or out in Northwest
Arizona it can have a ripple effect and
so we want to make sure that we're also
working with the water Community
throughout the state
educating is an important role for amwa
also we attend all of the stakeholder
meetings
and we are providing them summaries to
our members so that so that each of the
amwa municipalities are aware of the
various issues that are happening
we also believe it's really important to
convey
the municipal perspective on water
we are trying to outreach to not just
the public but also the media so that
they have a better understanding about
the municipal positions
and perspective
as well as to reach out to decision
makers and Business Leaders
we want to stay in front of the water
issues and so we have worked really hard
with our messaging and coordinating the
messaging among all of the members
this has been in particularly of
importance during this time of the
Colorado River situation becoming more
serious
to make sure that there's a consistent
coordinated message throughout this
Valley in regards to what is happening
on the Colorado River
we also do a weekly blog
it's a Time intensive effort but we've
make sure that we get out through that
Weekly blog to be able to communicate on
the municipal perspective when it comes
to water
one of amwa's most important air
achievements over the last four decades
has been working on conservation
we work with your staffs as I mentioned
earlier
and
through the effort over this over the
last 40 years
we have made a really steady progress
here in the valley to cultivate a
conservation culture
and all of the amwa municipalities have
created very proactive programs
and Gilbert has been a leader in with
the conservation program that you have
you have built a very robust program and
one feature of it that I think has been
very valuable is that you
quantify
each of the programs and projects that
you work on to make sure that they're to
see what water savings you are gaining
from them that is really important so
that you know which programs to continue
to invest in and to promote
we are seeing
the results of working on conservation
over the last four decades because we
see throughout this Valley
that folks are more attuned to water
there is more of a conservation ethic
and it can be seen in that collectively
among the Amos cities
we are roughly using the same amount of
drinking water that we did in the year
2000 even though we have added one
million residents since then
the amwa cities also collectively
Implement 106 Common Sense ordinances
from Plumbing efficiency requirements to
Water waste prohibitions all of this is
important
and it's going to become even more
important as we move forward because
water is going to continue to be a
challenge for us
why because cities run on water it is a
necessity never a luxury
and
you all know that
a municipality is in the forever
business
there is no option to follow a
neighborhood
and you always are having to look at how
to best Safeguard your water resources
and one thing that is really important
that we're very Vigilant on down at the
legislature is to make sure that we're
protecting
the groundwater management act and its
Hundred Year assured water supply
program
it is
that hundred year assured water supply
program
has been is a platinum standard for
water management it is why
of guilt sorry Gilbert and the nine
other amwa cities each can demonstrate a
hundred year assured water supply that
has been the reason why you and all of
the other amwa cities have been able to
thrive here in this Valley
and so we are always looking to make
sure that that consumer protection that
is provided by the assured water supply
program is protected
and so when we hear that there might be
some folks that think oh 100 years is
too much and we need to reduce that we
are quickly pushing back on that idea
because it is so important that we
continue to demonstrate that we have
water first and then development
the Colorado River shortage is serious
and it's going to be an impact
throughout this Valley whether you have
a small or large allocation of Colorado
River water
it's been quite a challenge as we've
been working on the Colorado River
situation and by we I mean the whole
state all stakeholders in working on
that
especially considering how quickly the
situation has escalated from bad to
worse it is rapidly
becoming very problematic and that we
are seeing a river just not producing
any longer the amount of water that we
had been used to for so long this is due
to a combination of a
historic drought the worst drought in 1
200 years along with a warming and drier
climate along with a river that's
already been over allocated
the Bureau of Reclamation is working to
take action we expect that by August of
this year we will know what action
they're going to take for the year 2024
and we know that we we the amwa cities
will be having significantly Less
Colorado River water at that time
because we know that the demand overall
Demand on that River needs to be reduced
by all users in all sectors in all of
the Basin States
I mentioned earlier that I've worked in
water for a long time and I'll have to
admit this is a situation that I never
imagined that we would see ourselves in
and so it is all the more important that
we
demonstrate
that to our residents how that we are
planning to be able to rely on Less
Colorado River water in the future this
is a certainly an opportunity for
leadership at this time
and to
convey to our members that are to convey
to Residents that are that the situation
is serious
um it's better to be looking at this
with wise our eyes wide open
and that
in there there are opportunities and
that we can still demonstrate that we
can Thrive here in the desert
investing in resources and
infrastructure are going to be extremely
important going forward especially if
we're going to rely
Less on Colorado River water and look to
other ways of meeting our demand so
those investments will always bring a
large return back but that means
Investments which is always a difficulty
for for cities and towns
also
it's important to look for enhanced
conservation opportunities
and by this I'm not necessarily
suggesting that you need a new a new
conservation project or program here you
have a really good one
what and conservation is a very time
intensive very labor-intensive and often
what is needed is actually just more
bodies and so it's providing uh the
funds so that the conservation program
can carry forth all of its objectives
but what is really can send a
clear message to
residents and businesses about that we
are planning to we're taking this
seriously is to look at ordinances that
can
truly reduce outdoor water use
they might not seem popular initially
but it's one way to bring about and
demonstrate our signal to the community
that we are going to be relying on Less
Colorado River water
as well as another clear signal is to be
able to show that
are to look at moving into another stage
of your drought plans
again these are all
difficult things to be pers considering
but it's important for us to seize this
moment face the reality
you know as water has become much more
in the headlines I am sometimes asked
well Warren are we going to run out of
water
and my response is
no we will not run out of water
um as long as we continue to plan and
manage and invest in our water resources
and infrastructure
and so collaboration among the amwa
municipalities is going to be even more
important as we go forward there are
opportunities of working with neighbors
as well as collectively making sure that
we are
coordinating messages
as well as looking for regional
water opportunities
so as I've noted earlier and we'll
emphasize again this is an opportunity
to seize the moment
I know it is a serious time but I like
to always look at things optimistically
we have been through Arizona's met
challenges in the past and I am
confident that the amwa members can work
together and seize this moment and
ensure that we continue to thrive here
in the in the desert not just now but
for generations to come
and I would be happy to answer any
questions
and thank you again for this opportunity
thank you Warren any comments or
questions for Warren
councilmember Anderson do you want to
add anything
no I just I and how
a bit of a job that Warren does for us
on our behalf and for all the amwa
municipalities one thing you might
explain more is that because people have
asked me at times how do you become a
member of amwa because there are some
cities that are not members and there
are reasons for that could you explain
to the council that
uh thank you mayor and councilmember
Anderson
so a court per our bylaws that we have
it's a each member is to have a m i
subcontract for Colorado River water
also be receiving or in the service area
of the Salt River Project
have a population of more than 50 000
which isn't too hard to do nowadays but
also be able to have a water treatment
plant as well as a wastewater treatment
plant
it's really important among the members
we are each of the 10 municipalities are
very unique they have their own
characteristics and their own water
portfolios but we also have quite a bit
in common and that's the thing that we
look at along with as I mentioned
earlier each have a hundred year assured
water supply designation so that
commonality really helps when you're
working on a complex issue as water
one other thing that Warren talked about
was are our different portfolios and the
different municipalities and ours is
different than others our we our
portfolio is about a third dependent on
the Colorado River and I know some other
municipalities it goes as high as I
believe 70 percent or somewhere in that
neighborhood
um so with that in mind I was going to
ask Lauren if you could describe Lauren
to the council actions we're taking now
because as you said Warren we need to be
proactive now
uh and plan for the future and our Water
Resources people are doing an excellent
job which I know you you know already
and planning and to take action uh Now
versus waiting till later so
Lauren could you explain some of those
sure mayor and Lauren
they sound very similar
yeah Lauren the Lauren and Warren show
good evening mayor and council member
our Council Lauren Hixson water
resources manager
um yes I often sometimes get confused
with Lauren and Warren especially on
Zoom meetings so
um but happy to answer the question
about what we're doing internally
um you know as this situation has
intensified and over the last year and a
half it's really ramped up
um you know last summer we started
planning internally with with our water
department on re-prioritizing some of
our well projects that have been in our
long-term capital Improvement program
but we're not planning to have started
as soon as we really need to in order to
address what's going on on the Colorado
River
situation and re-prioritizing those
Wells does have large Financial impacts
but it allows us to access those
groundwater supplies that we have have
for our long-term savings to help
mitigate the impacts of of drought but
on the conservation side we entered into
stage one of our local drought plan last
June and we've been implementing new
rebate programs we have a smart
irrigation controller rebate program
that can save you know up to an average
of about forty thousand gallons for a
resident per year and we've had about 70
applicants for that thus far since
launching that in September we're also
looking to launch a non-residential Turf
conversion program starting in April but
we're also internally we've started our
shortage management team which includes
departments from all well all
departments within the town discussing
how this impacts everybody from water to
development services to Economic
Development to have that robust
conversation of how this all affects
everyone here and then we are soon to
launch our external stakeholder
engagement team a community shortage
response team to help get input from the
community on what they can do to
increase water savings so those are just
a few of the things we're we're working
on
thank you Lauren I'm sure that this
weighs heavy on you every single day
because this is a difficult topic right
now in the history of Arizona and so
just know that I appreciate everything
that you do and how you do it so thank
you
I appreciate that um I think council
member Torgeson had a comment or
question for Mr Tenney
yes Mr Tenney
I'm just curious as to the impact that
Litchfield Park and Buckeye could have
since they are empirical care they're
growing rapidly
what would the impact be positive or
negative towards us as a group
mayor and council member Torgeson uh
I think the
in looking at Buckeye and Litchfield
Park they certainly are growing
they're looking at different ways to
meet the water demands that they are
projecting
currently they do not have an assured
water supply
and recently the Department of Water
Resources released some modeling
that they have done out in on that area
in the Hacienda area
and it's showing that it's going to be
very difficult to obtain certificates
for assured water supply as well as a
designation for assured water supply and
that's a lot because the the demands
exceed what the physical availability of
groundwater is out there
they will certainly need to bring in
another supply of water they cannot rely
just on groundwater in the same way that
Gilbert and other Valley Cities have
invested in other water resources and
the infrastructure to put those to use
so it's
I think that's all another reason why
it's really important that we continue
to emphasize the importance of the
assured water supply program
uh the Hundred Year assured water supply
program for
both as a consumer protection for
residents as well as a way to encourage
businesses the to have confidence in
coming to Arizona
or to stay in Arizona
I hope that answered your question
council member Bon Giovanni yeah Warren
are there similar organizations in
California and if so any communication
between you guys and them
so mayor and council member Bon Jovani
we
Emma is pretty unique in the way that
it's structured and and how it's
established in California there is the
Metropolitan water district of Southern
California a much more
formal organization that actually then
also works as a wholesale provider to
its members
so there is a lot of communication there
we do not have
we're not currently having any regular
dialogue with other folks outside of
Arizona
we're always open to it
thanks any other comments questions
thank you we appreciate you coming out
and doing this presentation this evening
I think it's great to remind us all how
Anwar works why we are members of it and
I thank you for all of the work that
you're doing in the state right now and
especially on our behalf in the other
nine cities too
thank you very much thanks Warren have a
great night
that is the only item that we have on
this agenda so I will go ahead and
adjourn our study session and we have a
few minutes before we can start our
regular meeting at 6 30.