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8 <br /> 1 would be a good way to address these types of issues, but it would take a legislative act to <br /> 2 achieve this. <br /> 3 Chair Dorosin asked if there is a prohibition on OWASA giving charitable donations, or is <br /> 4 it that there is not an express authorization. <br /> 5 Bob Epting said there is no express or implicit authorization. <br /> 6 Chair Dorosin asked if there is an expressed prohibition. <br /> 7 Bob Epting said no, but there is no way to imply authorization. <br /> 8 Terri Buckner and Barbara Foushee, OWASA Board members, presented the annual <br /> 9 report. <br /> 10 <br /> 11 New water rate for Multi-Family Master-Metered customers <br /> 12 On December 8th, we approved a change in the water rates for Multi-Family Master-Metered <br /> 13 (MFMM) customers, such as apartment complexes. Starting in May 2017, these customers will <br /> 14 pay a year-round water rate of$5.67 per 1,000 gallons instead of the current seasonal water <br /> 15 rates, which are higher from May through September and lower in the other seven months. <br /> 16 <br /> 17 In the past, MFMM residents expressed concern about unexpected increases in private <br /> 18 water/sewer bills with the change to our peak seasonal rate in May, even when a resident's <br /> 19 water use has not increased. About 7,700 households living in approximately 200 apartment <br /> 20 complexes in Chapel Hill and Carrboro receive private water and sewer bills from property <br /> 21 owners. <br /> 22 <br /> 23 Under rules of the NC Utilities Commission, the owners can pass through water/sewer costs to <br /> 24 residents through private sub-metering and billing arrangements. The year-round rate will <br /> 25 eliminate bill fluctuations due to changes in seasonal rates, so private bills should result in fewer <br /> 26 questions and less confusion. <br /> 27 <br /> 28 Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) <br /> 29 We are moving forward with evaluating and identifying a vendor and system for Advanced <br /> 30 Metering Infrastructure (AMI) in our community. AMI is a system that allows for remote meter <br /> 31 reading via radio transmissions, which in turn allows for more frequent meter readings and <br /> 32 faster leak detection. After conducting a feasibility study and engaging the community, the <br /> 33 OWASA Board determined that such a system would be beneficial to the utility and community <br /> 34 and would not require a rate increase. The Board decided to move forward with requesting <br /> 35 proposals. <br /> 36 <br /> 37 In December 2016, staff received and began evaluating proposals. Early in 2017, we will select <br /> 38 a team to provide and install an AMI system. We estimate that installing the new system for all <br /> 39 22,000 meters in our system will take about two years after the vendor begins. We will continue <br /> 40 to inform and engage our customers as we move forward with the installation or consider any <br /> 41 proposed policy changes related to AMI. <br /> 42 <br /> 43 Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) on OWASA land near the Cane Creek Reservoir <br /> 44 On August 25th, we approved conditions for allowing the MST on OWASA land near the Cane <br /> 45 Creek Reservoir. The conditions address water quality protection, risks related to hiking and <br /> 46 ensuring that there will be no costs to OWASA due to the trail. The specific route of the trail on <br /> 47 OWASA land is subject to our future approval. <br /> 48 <br /> 49 They informed stakeholders about our decision and we encourage residents to participate in the <br /> 50 County's process for considering the MST. Letter to the governing boards on August 26th. <br /> 51 <br />