05/08/2002 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 5/8/2002 spends $31 million while North Olmsted spends $44 million. On the state "report ,~,, card," North Royalton scored 27 out of 27 while North Olmsted scored 21 out of 27. Mr. O'Grady said that North Olmsted's spending is in the bottom one-third of all the schools in the county. However, the scoring of 21 out of 27 is in the top one-third. We have much to be proud of. • Mr. Miller noted that Mr. Pangrac had previously come to Council with concerns regarding the cost of water and had asked how can water on the shores of Lake Erie cost so much more than water in the deserts of Arizona? He could not answer that question, so he contacted Julius Ciaccia, the Commissioner of Water for the City of Cleveland. Mr. Ciaccia responded with a letter which reads in part: "First of all, while Arizona is largely an and climate, Phoenix gets its water supply from three separate river sources and does not seem to have significant water shortage issues. in fact, they discount their summer rates to accommodate high water consuming air conditioning units. 5o the fact that this is a desert environment, currently water supply is not an issue. In comparing the suburban rates of the two systems we compazed them on the basis of a typical customer that uses 7,480 gallons of water a month, which we then looked at over a yeaz period. This showed that the typical Cleveland customer in North Olmsted paid $295.04 a yeaz for water while a similar customer in Phoenix would pay $172.40. So indeed applying all the variables of the Phoenix rate, their water would in fact seem cheaper. Please keep in mind this is not an in-depth analysis. It's understandable that the initial reaction is how can a desert community have cheaper water? I believe I responded to the fact that they appear to have ample supply. However, there are significant other factors that are at play. First, Cleveland is chazged with maintaining a system that is 150 yeazs old compared to the newer Phoenix system. This in itself logically dictates that we will carry much higher maintenance costs. Secondly, Phoenix's land azea is flat, while Cleveland's water system must pump upwards from 575 feet above sea level at Lake Erie to an elevation of 1,300 feet in the far reaches of the system. This requires mare pumping equipment, electrical costs and staffing. Indeed, Cleveland's costs aze minimal for accessing and producing potable water, but all of ow major costs are in operations and maintenance of an aging and complex delivery system. Sincerely, Julius Ciaccia, Jr., Commissioner" (A copy of the letter will be provided to Mr. Pangrac.) Mr. Pangrac said, in light of that information, he would ask that North Olmsted look for another water source and suggested the City of Avon. Ann Whitney, 4540 Carsten Lane, wanted to know the status of the light at Driscoll. Mayor Musial said the contract should be let very shortly. The difficulties with that particular system is that the poles that hang over the street must be engineered and constructed based upon the utilization and locality where they are to be positioned. We aze hoping to have the light put in before the start of the school year. Also, the monies will not be available until the first week of June. We are moving forward. Finance Director Copfer explained the note borrowings were passed by Council at a special meeting on April 30. By law, they have to sit for 30 days before the borrowing can occur. The city will go out to the market on Monday, June 3. At that point, the contracts will be ready to be signed. The administration is working towazd that date to then be able to move forward. Mrs. Whitney asked who would be the person overseeing the 8