MINUTES WORK SESSION MARCH 21, 2017 CALL1 TO ORDER:  CARBONDALE BOARD OF TRUSTEES  Mayor Dan Richardson called the Board of Trustees Work Session to order on February  21,2017 at 6:02 p.m. in the Town Hall meeting room. The following members were present:  Mayor Trustees Staff Present Town Manager Clerk Utilities Director Finance Director Public Works Director  Dan Richardson Katrina Byars Heather Henry Marty Silverstein Jay Harrington Angie Sprang Mark O'Meara Renae Gustine Kevin Schorzman  ENVIRONMENTAL CHARTER STRATEGIC PLANNING  The Board met with Scott Mills and Patrick Hunter, members of the Carbondale Environmental Commission and discussed environmental charter strategic planning. The board plans to expand on the idea of creating an environmental charter, and plans create a set of environmental guiding principles" that will impact more than just environmentally related decisions or serve as just an ecological mission. The board would like the environmental guiding principles to impact financial, social, and environmental decisions of the Town and serve as a guide impacting all decisions. The This item is reserved fori further discussion, from which guiding principles are to be  principals will be referenced in the Town's mission statement.  created.  BUDGET DISCUSSION  The Board met with Renae Gustine, Finance Director, regarding the annual budget. The board would like the budget to tell a story of the town, not just in numbers. The evolutionary budget process takes 6 months of the year, and audits take place the other 6 months of the year. During the budget building process the Finance Director provides budget updates to the board. The budget is a complex, with many funds, and    Trustee Meeting Minutes January 17, 2017 too consolidate funds this year.  Page 2  can be difficult for the lay person to understand. The audits are looking for opportunities Per the board request Renae Gustine, Finance Director, will provide some educational materials to the board to help them better understand the budget process and the Town  budget.  WATER RATES & TAP FEES  The Board met with Kevin Schorzman, Public Works Director, and Mark O'Meara,  Utilities Director, to discuss water rates and tap fees.  The following points were made:  $34 million invested in water, including 3 treatment plants & 40 miles of pipe, which needs to be properly maintained. With the current rate and tap fee structure, the funds will not be available when needed. Carbondale needs to grow capital funds for upcoming replacements. There are fixed costs regardless of use, and the present rating and tap fee structure doesn't cover fixed costs. Funds are being depleted. An enterprise versus tax model was discussed, and the consensus was that an enterprise system meets Carbondale's needs better than a tax model. The board is open to financing plant replacement, but would like to steer away The board would like a fee assistance program for low income families in  from any financing of repairs and maintenance. The board recognizes a need to increase the rates. Carbondale, such as Holy Cross or Lift Up.  This item is reserved for later discussion at the May 23, 2017 board meeting. Kevin Schorzman and Mark O'Meara will continue research and retum to the board with a proposed fee structure. Jay Harrington will explore options for a low income fee  assistance program. ADJOURNMENT  The March 21, 2017 work session adjourned at 8:47 p.m. The next regular scheduled  meeting will be held on March 28, 2017, at 6:00 p.m.  APPROVED/ ANDAÇCEPTED S  ATTEST: htR8 Angie Sprang, Clerk Assistant  SEAL CID