BOARD MEETING AGENDA, January 25, 2025

The meeting will be a hybrid format, both in person at the DWA building and online via Zoom. All shareholders are invited to attend.

Link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5160276420 Meeting ID 516 027 6420.

Call To Order:

Welcome

Present/Quorum

Consent Items:

Approve: Contents and order of this Agenda

Approve: Minutes of previous meeting (https://www.docktonwater.org/2025/01/05/board-meeting-minutes-december-7th-2024-draft/).

Information Items:

• This meeting is being recorded on Zoom. The recording will be made available on the DWA website so Shareholders who cannot attend the meeting may hear the presentation from King County Parks and subsequent discussion.
• Please keep mics muted unless speaking. Be aware of camera’s on/off status.
• Very full agenda.
• Everyone is invited to ask questions but comments should be brief and relevant to the discussion. Speakers may be asked to conclude remarks so that all may participate and keep the meeting moving in a timely manner. Please be courteous and maintain civil discourse.

Guest Speakers comments (if any):

Board Member comments (if any):

President’s Report:

• Discussion with King County Parks representative re: offer to purchase a conservation easement on DWA’s property on SW 268th St, near Hake Rd SW, adjacent to the recently designated Manzanita Natural Area.
  • Based upon responses to survey, Shareholder questions for King County Parks have a few major themes:
    • Why this property?
    • What are the plans for property? What would be the impact of the easement?
    • Will the public have access to the property? If so, what infrastructure will be built (parking lots, trails, etc.)?
  • For reference, details of offer:
    • Offer amount for conservation easement is $590,000
    • Offer expiration date is June 30, 2025
    • Appraisal by CBRE values property at $689,360; value after easement (if granted) is $100,000; offer covers difference
    • Site size: 24.62 acres (1,072,477 sq. ft.)
    • Conservation easement would transfer all residential development rights to King County. Therefore, no future residential development would be permitted on the property.
• Update on survey:
  • Based upon previously available information, shareholders are in favor of selling the conservation easement. This was not an official vote, but is an indication of current inclination. Seven responses were opposed or strongly opposed, nine were neutral, and 41 supported or strongly supported.
  • Shareholders indicated it was very important to retain the right to install a well, restrict residential development and protect green space/natural area. Maintaining DWA ownership of the property was mixed. The least important considerations are to get the highest price and provide public access. Here’s the breakdown (not all equal 100% due to blanks/other responses):
    • Retain right to install well: 85% very important, 12% somewhat important, 3% not important
    • Maintain DWA ownership: 55% very important, 24% somewhat important, 17% not important 
    • Maximize financial yield: 35% very important, 36% somewhat important, 24% not important
    • Protect green space: 67% very important, 26% somewhat important, 7% not important
    • Provide public access: 20% very important, 41% somewhat important, 36% not important
    • Restrict residential development: 75% very important, 11% somewhat important, 12% not important
  • Shareholders’ questions for the Board primarily are about how the funds will be used and whether/how rates will be reduced. Other repeated comments/questions reiterate the importance of being able to install a well, protecting clean water source, and wondering why we’re considering/discussing this easement now. 

Manager/Operator Report:

Water Production Committee:

CIP Planning Committee:

Finance Committee:

• Financial summary reports for Q2 and First Half ’24-’25
  • Q2 vs Prior Year:
    • Overall, our revenue got back on track (there was very low water usage in Q1).
    • However high utility costs and Unscheduled Maintenance costs took some of the shine off.
  • First Half – ’24-’25 vs Prior Year
    • It would be good to promote the Good Neighbor Fund, again, to recruit more donors, or higher donation amounts.
    • We end the half with quite a bit more money in the bank than last year as we continue to rebuild our capital funds.
  • First Half ’24-’25 vs Budget
    • Impact of delayed price increase will be about $10,000 — we can manage that AND it means shareholders kept a bit more in their pockets.
    • We will go somewhat over budget (negative) for Operations, but we’ll be under budget for capital projects.
    • Note bottom line that we already, at 6 months, have more money in the bank than expected at the end of June.
    • As we get into budget season we’ll put out a Forecast for the year.

Community Outreach Committee:

Old Business / Carryover Items:

• Idea for possible new By-Law (which will ultimately require vote of membership) that defines a new “Legacy Fund” (to operate as a “Quasi Endowment”) that will define restrictions on the management of a “windfall” from any transaction (sale, lease, etc…) related to 268th/Hake Springs property. (Todd)

New Business / Discussion Items:

Other Business:

What Did We Decide?

• APRIL:
• DARTON:
• DAVE:
• PATRICK:
• PAUL:
• SAM:
• SUSAN:
• TODD:

Next Board Meeting: Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025

Board meetings are usually held on the fourth Saturday of the month at 10:00 AM. The November and December meetings are often combined into a single meeting in early December to avoid conflicts with holidays. Upcoming meeting dates are: February 22, March 22 and April 26.