Ashland Water Advisory Ad-Hoc Committee

The Ashland Water Advisory Committee (AWAC) was formed in April of 2008 to provide public input and advice to City staff and its Consultant, Carollo Engineers.

The Ashland Water Advisory Ad Hoc Committee (AWAC) has studied our water treatment and distribution systems including multiple sources of water, long term water supply, redundancy, watershed health, conservation and stream health.  Following two years of study, their findings were presented during a forum that was sponsored by the Ashland Chamber of Commerce, the City of Ashland and Southern Oregon University.  
 

• What are our water treatment and distribution vulnerabilities?
• Why are we at risk?
• Why have we not addressed the problems previously?
• What are the four AWAC propoals?
• What are the costs? 

AWAC Recommendation
Click on this link to read a summary of the AWAC recommendations. 

Water Form Presentation
Click here to view the presentation. 

Questions Asked at the Water Forum
A number of questions were asked about the AWAC recommendation.  Please click here to view the answers.


PURPOSE: 

Ashland is committed to undertaking an integrated Water Reuse and Conservation Study and Water Master Plan (Water Program) to address long-term water supply including climate change issues, security and redundancy, watershed health, conservation and reuse, and stream health.  The Water Program will address Ashland’s multiple water sources & multiple options for combining them to meet demands while considering climate change, improving reliability of supply and increasing environmental stewardship.  The purpose of the Ashland Water Advisory Committee is to provide a link with the community and to involve impacted persons and interest groups with Ashland’s Water Supply Planning Program and Utility.  The Advisory Committee will provide critical local input to the planning and policies that will guide the Water Supply Utility to defining goals, objectives and rate structure. 

DUTIES:

1.     Identify and prioritize community issues, goals, and concerns related to the Water Master Plan including water conservation, water recycling, public health protection, water supply reliability, and water quality. 

2.     Work with City staff, the Technical Review Committee, and the consultant team to adopt level of service goals for the Water Master Plan.

3.     Review planning alternatives and planning recommendations and comment on their ability to satisfy the established level of service goals and address other identified community goals, issues, and concerns.  .

4.     Assist in gaining community input into the planning process and educating the community about water planning issues.

AUTHORITY:

The Ashland Water Advisory Committee (AWAC) is to be established in accordance with Ashland’s committee policies and will be in existence throughout development and implementa­tion of the program.  The purpose of this Committee is to serve as an advisory group to the City and its water staff.  As such, its authority will be limited to collecting information, conducting analyses and making recommendations.  All position state­ments or recommendations of the Committee will be transmitted by its Chairman to the City Council.

ORGANIZATION:

The AWAC will be chaired by a person [appointed by the Mayor or] selected by fellow Task Force members.  The Chairperson will establish the rules of order and conduct all meetings.  Each member will have one vote except for the Chairperson who will serve as a non-voting member except in the case of ties.  City staff will provide direct support to the Committee and its Chairperson.

A Technical Review Committee consisting of the Director of the Talent Irrigation District, the Ashland Water Department Project Manager, Treatment Plant Operator, Distribution System Operator and Water Conservation Officer will provide technical support, input and oversight to the AWAC.

MEETINGS:

It is anticipated that the Committee will meet approximately eight times over the next 12 months.  The day of week and time for meetings will be established by the Task Force at its initial meeting.  The actual date of each meeting will be set by the Chairperson. As the program takes shape additional meetings or subcommittee meetings may be requested by the Chairperson.  An initial schedule suggesting Thursday committee meetings with suggested agendas is attached.

The agenda for each meeting will be established by the Chairperson and distributed to each member prior to the meeting.  Suggestions for agenda items may be made to the Chairperson by any member.  A majority of the total number of Task Force members may amend the agenda at any meeting.

Position statements regarding issue papers must be approved by a majority of the total number of Committee members.

The Chairperson will document issues raised by the Committee as well as any recom­mendations from the Committee and transmit them to the City.  Meeting summaries will be kept by City staff and transmitted with the agenda and supporting materials to each member prior to the subsequent meeting.  All summaries or other written communi­cations from the Committee may be amended with approval of a majority of the total number of Committee members.

Members of the Committee will not be compensated for their services or the expense of attending meetings.

REPRESENTATION: (suggested)

City Council Member; Neighborhood/Community Group(s); School District Committee; Ashland Downtown Association; Chamber of Commerce, Home Builders Association; Ashland Hospital, Ashland Fire Department; WISE Project, Ashland Coalition, Utility System Development Charges (SDC) Committee, League of Women Voters, Environmental Group(s), others. 

Suggested Committee size is 11.

PROPOSED MEETING SCHEDULE/TOPIC: (suggested)

·  April 15 – Kick-off, Intro to Program and background, Intro to Level of Service Goals

·  May 20 – Finalize Level of Service Goals

·  June 17 – Water Rights, Environmental Impacts, Climate Change

·  September 9 – Supply Alternatives

·  October 21 – Alternatives Analysis and Selection Workshop

·  December 16 – Draft Water Reuse and Conservation Study

·  February 10 – Draft Master Plan and SDC/Rates

·  April 21 – Final Meeting

PROPOSED ASSOCIATED MEETINGS: (suggested)

·  May – Public Hearing (Program Intro and Public Listening Session)

·  June – Report to City Council

·  September – Public Hearing (Program Update and Listening Session)

·  November – Report to City Council

·  April – Final Report to City Council