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VIII. ACTION: RESOLUTION TO RATIFY FY00 METROPOLITAN WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT COMMISSION BUDGET Susie Smith, City of Springfield Environmental Services Manager, provided the report, noting that the proposed budget was very similar to last year's budget. She pointed out that the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission (MWMC) has maintained the same rates for the last five years. Ms. Smith indicated that the commission was operating with a discharge permit that expired in 1997 and explained that until the Department of Environmental Quality dealt with the current application, the commission would continue to operate under the current permit. She said the council should be very proud of City staff for its effort in operations and maintenance under the Intergovernmental Agreement. She praised the effort and highlighted the following: the Eugene-Springfield Pretreatment Program received the 1998 National Excellence Award from the Environmental Protection Agency; in 1998 the Wastewater Division received the American AMSA Platinum Award; and finally, the biosolids have been categorized as "exceptional quality" by federal standards. Peter Ruffler, Wastewater Division Director, reviewed the meeting material on the commission's capital program. Bob Duey, Springfield Finance Director, noted that the City of Springfield has moved from a cash basis accounting system to a modified accrual basis. He explained that effective July 1, 2000, the accrual process would be implemented and for FY99-00, staff will have to recognize 13 months worth of revenues and expenditures. Mr. Duey described the change as "simply an accounting change" that will require the staff to produce a "fair representation" of expenses incurred in June but paid for in July (the year 2000). He said there is a history of this accounting process as the audit reports require this form of accounting. Addressing a question from Mr. Meisner, Mr. Johnson said that the cost of living (COLA) differences for the two staffs had to do with the bargaining units. In response to a question from Mr. Pap6, Mr. Johnson said the City does not treat the wastewater to tertiary standards. Addressing a follow-up question, Ms. Smith said the reason the budget reflects a $10 million expenditure in one year is because the commission is in the process of building a major biosolid de-watering facility so the expenditure creates a blip in that one year. She confirmed that the commission has sufficient reserves to cover maintenance and other capital improvements. Mr. Lee said he was very impressed with the budget, noting the low administration costs. Addressing a question from Mr. Rayor, Mr. Ruffler said the question of capacity of the current plant was complex. He said a 1997 master plan projected sufficient dry weather capacity to about 2015, given the anticipated growth: however, wet weather capacity was expected to start being a Minutes--Eugene City Council May 10, 1999 Page 7 7:30 p.m.