Members ATtendance

X	UI: Larry Kirkland, Facilities Engineer (Chair)	X	WSU: Craig Benjamin (Vice-Chair), Assistant Director of Facilities Operations
X	UI: Jay Becker, Assistant Director, Utilities and Engineering		WSU: Robert Hengst, Engineering Services Manager
X	Moscow: Gary Presol, Director of Public Works		Pullman: Mark Workman, Director of Public Works
X	Moscow: Steve Busch, City Council Member	X	Pullman: Sue Hinz, City Council Member
	Latah County: Loreca Stauber, County Commissioner		Whitman County: Les Wigen, County Commissioner
X	Latah County: Tom Townsend, citizen	X	Whitman County: Derek Pohle, County Engineer

VISITORS

Bill French (citizen, Moscow), Helena Gregory (UI student and PBAC Summer Conservation Coordinator)

1. Call to Order AND APPROVAL of APril 20, 2000 Minutes

Chair Larry Kirkland called the meeting to order at 2:35 PM. Minutes were approved with minor editorial changes. D. Pohle motioned to approve the minutes and S. Hinz seconded; motion passed unanimously.

2. DISCUSSION “Tasks, Timeline, and Costs to Stabilize the Grande Ronde Water Levels by 2020”

A timeline of tasks for discussion was distributed to Committee Members and is attached to these minutes. L. Kirkland introduced the timeline as a planning document that can be used to begin to estimate future costs of solving the water supply problem. He acknowledged that the timing of each task is the biggest unknown at this point. He stated that the purpose in preparing such a document is for PBAC to demonstrate to the entities that there is a plan and cost estimates for a sustainable supply of water over time.

C. Benjamin motioned to adopt the timeline as a guidance document that will be periodically revisited and updated; S. Busch seconded.

Discussion followed:

S. Hinz emphasized that PBAC needs to look for grants and other funding sources and begin to show some progress before asking entities for more funds.

J. McKenna stated that an important step to solving the problem is to reduce water use at the residential level, which requires public outreach and education.

C. Benjamin stated that conservation, although a good idea, will not solve the problem and suggested that the greatest incentive for communities and individuals to reduce water use will come when costly capital projects are proposed.

S. Busch echoed this statement, and said that describing the cost and magnitude of the capital projects should be part of the public education process.

Motion passed unanimously.

3. FY 2001 Budget

J. McKenna presented a budget for FY 2001, which is very similar to the FY 00 budget and will meet the minimum current operations costs for the Committee. As previously discussed, there will be a deficit of approximately $7,000 from FY 00. To meet current operations costs, both cities and universities previously agreed to double their annual contributions to $8,000 each for FY 01. While both counties have been invoiced for $4,000, each County has indicated that it will only contribute $2,000. Therefore, expected revenue for FY 01 is $36,000, with a proposed budget of approximately $30,000, leaving $6,000 in reserve.

C. Benjamin motioned to approve the budget and use a portion of the reserve to pay off half of FY 00 deficit (approximately $3,800). J. Becker seconded. Discussion: S. Hinz was concerned that this small amount in reserve will limit PBAC ability to do any extra projects again this year, and suggested budgeting less to pay off debt. L. Kirkland responded that the debt payoff figure is a guideline and PBAC can be flexible with it. Motion passed unanimously.

C. Benjamin pointed out that the original contract signed by all the entities expired in 1998 and it needs to be renewed as part of the Groundwater Management Plan update this year. This will be discussed further at the July 2000 meeting.

4. Election

Nominations for Chair and Vice-Chair were accepted. Typically the positions are filled by one representative from Washington and one from Idaho. As current vice-chair, Craig Benjamin is willing to become Chair. Jay Becker is willing to serve as Vice-Chair, and hopes that by alleviating Larry from the Chair position, Larry will have some time to pursue some additional grants and other activities for PBAC.

Motion to appoint. Seconded by S. Hinz. Discussion: S. Busch expressed his appreciation to Larry Kirkland for his role in leading the Committee this past year. Motion passed unanimously. New terms will begin with the July meeting.

5. REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

a) Reducing Groundwater Demand through Community Education and Simple Conservation (Helena Gregory,)

For her UI Environmental Science senior project, Helena monitored indoor residential water use habits and plumbing fixtures in 6 residences and two 30-unit apartment buildings in Moscow. She measured the flow rate of faucets and shower heads. Using free fixtures provided by the Moscow Water Department, she installed aerators on bathroom faucets that exceeded 1.5 gallons per minute (gpm) and on any kitchen faucets that exceeded 2.5 gpm. She installed “tank banks” in all toilets that used more than 1.6 gallons per flush to reduce each flush by 1 quart of water. At the request of the apartment manager, the City of Moscow provided specially ordered 1.0 gallon aerators for all 60 apartment units. She measured water use weekly for four weeks before and for four weeks after the installations and calculated water use per person per day (accounting for visitors or household residents who were away). Installation of aerators, tank banks, and incidental education accounted for an average of 13 percent (range between 4 and 23 percent) reduction in indoor per capita water use. This translates to a monthly cost savings per household from $0.40 to $2.26 in the winter to $0.50 to $2.80 in the summer.

b) Conservation Coordinator Position for Summer

Helena Gregory has been hired as the Conservation Coordinator for the summer. She presented a list of her proposed activities and a timeline to accomplish them by August 25, 2000, with a cost for materials of approximately $160. Proposed activities include:

1. PBAC Booth at the Moscow Farmer's Market on several Saturdays this summer. The display booth will include posters, brochures, low flow fixtures, children’s activities, and water conservation stickers.

2. Update PBAC Water Conservation Brochure.

3. Meet with City of Moscow to learn about budget and staff for conservation efforts, water audit programs, the biggest water consumers, and the low water use fixture distribution program.

4. Meet with City of Pullman to learn about any conservation programs in place, availability of funds and staff in the future, the biggest water consumers, bill stuffers, and the possibility of initiating water audit and fixture distribution programs.

5. Water audits of major water consumers, including hotels. Prepare recommendations for improving efficiencies that will result in water and cost savings.

6. Prepare school materials for K – 8 to distribute in August this year.

7. Develop water conservation information and distribution plan for new and on-campus students at WSU and UI.

8. Identify internship programs at WSU and UI.

9. Prepare on-campus water audit instruction packets to be used by future WSU and UI interns.

10. Create a sample sprinkler use ordinance

c) Status of funding request from IDWR and US Army Corps of Engineers

COE programs require an entity that can acquire land, negotiate easements, tax, and carry out administrative duties to enter into agreement with the COE. L. Kirkland stated that the PBAC should consider the benefits to becoming a Groundwater Management Agency (GWMA). In the meantime, the City of Moscow has volunteered to sign the letter on behalf of PBAC stating interest in COE assistance. Moscow City Council will be presented with the draft letter at the June 19, 2000 City Council Meeting. J. McKenna provided G. Presol and S. Busch with a draft of the letter that should be sent out on Moscow letterhead. Both Presol and Busch are in favor of signing the letter.

d) Update from entities on water-related projects

J. McKenna will ask for updates on both water and water conservation projects in the future.

· L. Kirkland stated that he has heard some complaints about UI grounds crews watering green areas excessively, or while rain is falling. He has taken up this issue and the crews will be getting the appropriate training.

e) Exposure in the Community

· Pullman Kiwanis Kids Day in the Park scheduled for June 10 was cancelled because of fear of rain. Helena prepared activities and display materials for this event, some of which can be used in the future.

· Of the 4 entities that are required to publish and distribute annual water quality reports (known as Consumer Confidence Reports) to customers, only UI provided space for PBAC to provide information on water use, water conservation, and PBAC background. It is hoped that all entities will include this information next year, given the wide audience that is reached with these reports.

· At the request of Diane French, Juliet McKenna met with Moscow Environment and Health Commission on June 14, 2000 to discuss the role EHC can take in advising the City Council on water conservation issues. Juliet will meet with Pullman’s Environmental Quality Commission in July to review the same material.

· Juliet will be making a presentation to the Latah County Commissioners on Wed. June 21, 2000 to go over the budget request for next year.

6. NEW BUSINESS

None

7. NEXT MEETING DATE AND ADJOURNMENT

July 20, 2000 at 2:30 pm in

McClure Hall Room 411.

The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 4:25 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Juliet M. McKenna

Executive Secretary/Technical Advisor