The Artesia City Council heard a presentation Tuesday from consultant Scott Verhines, president/CEO of Occam Engineers Inc., on a proposed increase in water rights to accompany implementation of the water ordinance the city passed in 2016.
Under the plan prepared for the city and presented to the council by Verhines, water rates would increase by 40 percent over the 2013 base rate of $.00130 per gallon to $.00182 per gallon, then increase 5 percent more in both 2018 and 2019 for an overall 50-percent increase by 2020.
In addition, sewer rates would increase 20 percent across the board, and two potential surcharges would also be added to citizens’ monthly water bills dependent upon the individual household’s water usage.
The driving motivation behind the city’s intention to raise rates, as Verhines outlined, is conservation. According to data, the city used just under 70 percent of its water rights in 2016 but was in excess of 80 percent in 2013, when the area was in the midst of a serious drought.
“At the time, we weren’t focusing on it too much, and when we realized what it was, it was a little scary,” said Mayor Phillip Burch.
Verhines says the plan is designed to minimally affect low water users, with rates increasing commensurate with usage. The high end of water usage is what the city would consider waste.
Burch pointed out the two ends of the spectrum range from the low user – “in my mind, usually the single person or the elderly person living at home who doesn’t do a lot of yard work or anything” – to the high user – “the person that you just swear walks out in the morning, turns the faucet on, and runs water all day long, and turns it off at night.”
He says efforts were made to protect the low water consumer through the drafting of a usage-based plan.
“What this appears to show is that we’ve really been able to take care of that person who uses the minimum water, and that’s the person we really worry about the most,” said Burch, “and kind of takes the attitude on the high user of, ‘If you want to use your water that way, you just go right ahead, because the city’s going to send you a pretty big bill.’”
“If you also think about it, it’s not only about somebody on a fixed income but maybe somebody who’s an apartment-dweller who doesn’t have a yard or outdoor water use – it’s going to be a pretty stable bill over the course of the year,” said Verhines. “What it does is put the decision in the hands of that consumer on whether they are willing to conserve or continue to do what they’ve been doing.
“As your local conservation officer can attest to, there are some relatively easy things that can be done that you can make your own decisions about your bill, on whether or not to bring it down to closer to what your class average is or ‘I’m happy with that I’ve got and I’m willing to pay to keep it that way.’”
That class average is the basis of the determination of the second potential surcharge citizens could see on their bills: Each water class, or group with similar water usage, would have its usage averaged each month. Those consuming less than the class average would receive no surcharge; those using more would see a surcharge of 20 percent for 100- to 150-percent usage over the class average, 40 percent for 150- to 200-percent, and so on.
The first potential surcharge would involve winter water usage. The individual household’s average winter usage during the months of December, January and February would be averaged, and water usage during the rest of the year would be compared to that “winter mean.” Those consuming less than 150 percent of their winter mean would receive no surcharge; those consuming 150 to 200 percent of the winter mean would receive a 40-percent surcharge, 200 to 300 percent would receive a 60-percent surcharge, and so on.
“In the past three years, we’ve designed and built one additional water tower,” said Burch. “We have another one already designed that we’re going to have to build as soon as we can get the funding for it, and that is to take care of the shift in the population as it heads to the west, and take care of the pressures of the water system itself but also to increase the capacity so you have water available for the residents when they need it.
“Beyond that, the water rights issue, as Scott mentioned, there’s kind of two ways to do it – one is to go out and buy more water rights, but the other one is lower the average consumption so that the water rights you have last longer and serve more people. So that was the whole background of this, and going into it saying, ‘Let’s attack the water needs of the future from several different angles.’”
The council ultimately determined it would hold a public hearing for consideration and possible adoption of the rate increase at its regularly-scheduled meeting Tuesday, Feb. 28, pointing out that previously-held town halls on the subject of the water ordinance and rate increase were sparsely if at all attended by the public.
“Should you adopt this in February, the need to educate the citizens increases, to really ratchet up the education program for what these water rates mean for overall conservation,” said Verhines. “It ultimately is less costly to your citizens to do this tied to the conservation plan than it would have been to go acquire 50 percent more water rights and build the infrastructure to tie that into the system, so the combination of adding to supply and reducing demand is really smart planning by the city.”
One citizen in attendance at the meeting expressed his hope that the city makes a proactive effort to better educate citizens about the proposed rate increase before the February public hearing.
“I think the city should go well out of their way for a campaign to make sure everybody in the city knows about this,” said Sy Cowan. “This is a big deal, and I don’t think it’s fair for you just to do it piecemeal … I think everybody in the community needs to understand what’s going on, and I think you owe it to the community to make a good, concerted effort to spend some money and make sure the public is well-notified of this thing and what’s going on here.”
In other business Tuesday, the council approved the awarding of a bid for Phase III of the Texas Avenue reconstruction from Fourth to Seventh streets and on Sixth Street from Texas Avenue to Main Street.
The renovation, which is also part of Artesia MainStreet’s downtown beautification project, will include potential water line updating, repaving, and installation of medians similar to those already in place on Texas from First to Fourth streets.
The city also approved the listing of surplus properties at 309 Cleveland Ave. and 309 40th St. at a minimum bid of 50 percent of the real estate market’s estimation of the value.
The hiring of Jesse Solano, uncertified firefighter, at a pay rate of $2,482 per month, and Ruben Sanchez, recreation specialist, at a rate of $2,075 per month, and the voluntary demotion of Wesley Green, detention officer, to a rate of $2,129 per month were additionally approved, as was permission to advertise and fill the position of wastewater lead operator.
In final business the council heard from retiring Fire Chief J.D. Hummingbird, who was in attendance Tuesday at his last council meeting.
“I want each of you to know it’s been an honor to serve as your fire chief for the past decade and some months,” said Hummingbird. “It’s been a pleasure working with you and the departments here in Artesia. I hope I’ve made you as proud of the AFD as I am … I sincerely appreciate the vote of confidence, even when I took away your burn barrels.”
Hummingbird also thanked his support staff and team of firefighters, both past and present.
“I can’t thank them enough for what they do day in and day out. They’ve made me very proud,” he said. “I’m sure the other fire officers around the state will be glad I’m gone so they don’t have to hear me bragging anymore. These men and women have made me look good over the past several years, and for that, I’ll be forever in their debt. But make no mistake, they’ve worked very hard for our reputation.
“I will miss being your fire chief and working with everyone. Thank you for allowing me to serve.”
The council also recognized the impending retirement of Assistant City Clerk Lisa Johnston.
“I know my dad, former mayor Manuel Madrid, was proud to have hired you guys and would be proud of the job you’ve done,” said Councilor Manuel Madrid Jr.
“Lisa, you’re invaluable, and we appreciate all you’ve done for us,” said Councilor Kent Bratcher. “JD, we’ll miss you. You’ve done a great job. The department’s in good shape, and we have you to thank for that.”
“From my viewpoint, the City of Artesia has some extremely good employees, and these are two of the best,” said Burch. “You two represent a great deal of knowledge about our community and about what makes things work here, and we totally appreciate both of you. And I truly mean it when I say don’t be a stranger.”
As part of its consent agenda Tuesday, the council also approved:
• permission to set a public hearing for Feb. 28 for consideration of an ordinance for Case No. 1701, Final Plat – Stonegate Subdivision No. 1, zoned “C” Business District and “R-2” General Residential District.
• permission for one police employee to attend mid-management training in Artesia.
• permission for one police employee to attend Conducting Pre-Employment Background Investigation training in Artesia.
• permission for one police employee to attend the Buckle Up 2017 training in Albuquerque.
• permission for one police employee to attend the 2017 CJIS Spring Working Group meeting in San Diego, Calif.
• permission to attend the 2017 Legislative Reception and NMML Municipal Day in Santa Fe.
• permission for one police employee to attend the Continuity of Government Operations Planning course in Santa Fe.
• permission for one police employee to attend the NMML Police Chiefs Association meeting in Santa Fe.
• permission for two fire employees to attend tactical operations for TEMS training in Aztec.
• permission for one fire employee to attend the NMAEMSE Instructor Conference in Ruidoso.
• permission for one fire employee to attend Fire Officer I training in Bernalillo.
• permission for one fire employee to attend Fire Officer III/IV Combo training in Webster, Texas.
• permission for two fire employees to attend the EVDT-Instructor Level training in Silver City.
• permission for two recreation employees to attend the National Swimming Pool Foundation CPO training in Artesia.
• Lodger’s Tax requests totaling $162,100, including: Artesia Invitational baseball tournament, March 16-18, $4,700; New Mexico High School and Junior High Rodeo, March 25-26, $5,000; Main Event Car Show and Cruise, March 31 – April 1, $11,000; Lady ‘Dog Invitational softball tournament, March 31 – April 1, $4,700; Wet ‘n’ Wild Tour, June, $3,500; Smokin’ on the Pecos, June 23-25, $36,150; Eddy County Fair and Rodeo, July 24-29, $18,000; Mack Select Golf Tournament, Aug. 25, $1,000; Red Dirt Black Gold Festival, Aug. 26, $50,250; Clays Crusher Fun Shoot, Sept. 15-16, $16,200; AHS Horse Council High School Rodeo, Sept. 24-25 or Oct. 1-2, $4,100; City of Champions Classic basketball tournament, Dec. 7-8, $7,500.
