2015-04-28 Water Board Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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The Department's FY2016 Operating Budget, totaling $53,174,000, and 5 -Year CIP Budget for FY2016-2020, have been distributed for the Board's review and advertised for the public's review. The Manager -Chief Engineer recommended that the Water Board approve the Department's FY 2016 Operating budget and 5 -year C.I.P. budgets for Fiscal Years 2016-2020 on this second of two readings. ACTION: Mr. Uyeda moved to approve; seconded by Ms. Lee Loy, and carried unanimously by voice vote. E. POWER COST CHARGE: Departmental power costs have declined as a result of a decline in HELCO billings for electricity for the Department's wells and pumps. The Department proposes reducing the Power Cost Charge from $2.35 to $2.32 per thousand gallons to reflect this decline. A Public Hearing to accept testimony on this change will have been held just prior to the regular meeting. The Manager -Chief Engineer recommended that the Board approve the reduction of the Power Cost Charge from $2.35 to $2.32, effective May 1, 2015. ACTION: Ms. Lee Loy moved to approve; seconded by Mr. Balog, and carried unanimously by voice vote. F. UPDATE RE: NATIONAL PARKS SERVICE'S PETITION TO DESIGNATE KEAUHOU AOUIFER AS A GROUND WATER MANAGEMENT AREA: The Deputy reported that DWS and the NPS staff met twice in March, and also did a "sweat equity session" on Saturday, April 18, which involved clearing an area of haole koa and kiawe. It was a good effort and a very good day, he said. DWS and NPS continue to commit to further discussions and further efforts to work together, the Deputy said. Chairperson Pro Tem Arikawa asked if the Board needed to go into Executive Session. Ms. Garson said she did not see a need for Executive Session. She noted a letter that NPS sent to CWRM, in which it filed a petition for a declaratory order; NPS wants CWRM to decide whether or not an area smaller than an aquifer could be designated. That matter is pending, she said. She asked Ms. Tammy Duchesne, the Superintendent of the Kaloko-Honok6hau National Historical Park, if CWRM had acted on the petition for a declaratory order. Ms. Duchesne said she had not heard anything yet. She noted that there is a CWRM meeting on Kauai tomorrow, but the matter is not agendized. Ms. Garson confirmed that it had not been agendized. Ms. Duchesne reiterated that she had not heard back on it. Ms. Lee Loy asked if this petition for a declaratory order is in lieu of the petition to designate Keauhou Aquifer; she asked if NPS was pulling the petition to designate Keauhou. Ms. Duchesne said that NPS had filed the declaratory order to be able to explore alternative paths; therefore, NPS needs to know what CWRM will say. NPS is not necessarily saying that they will pull the petition to designate if the petition for a declaratory order gets approved. However, the more options that NPS has, the better, she said. NPS is looking forward to what CWRM has to say. Page 12 of 15 Water Board Minutes 4-28-15 js