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CONSIDERATION OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2014-2015 COMCD BUDGET AND DIRECTING THE INCLUSION OF THAT AMOUNT APPLICABLE IN THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2015 CITY OF NORMAN BUDGET.
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The City of Norman is a member city of the Central Oklahoma Master Conservancy District (“COMCD”). COMCD was created as an operational and governing structure for the lake when Lake Thunderbird was built in the 1960’s. Other member cities include Midwest City and Del City. The City of Norman appoints three representatives to the COMCD Board that hires and oversees the General Manager of COMCD. The current General Manager of COMCD is Mr. Randy Worden. Mr. Worden has submitted the Proposed Budget for COMCD for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2014 and ending June 30, 2015.
As pointed out in Mr. Worden’s transmittal letter included in this item, the bottom line of the submitted budget is less than the two previous years. This decrease from last year is due to completion of the surge tank rehabilitation program and suspension of the reserve fund for water from Oklahoma City’s Atoka pipeline. It is the intention of COMCD to reserve water from the Atoka pipeline for use in Lake Thunderbird in the event of an extended drought. However, Oklahoma City is in the midst of a rate study to address the associated meter fees and water costs from the Atoka pipeline which should be completed this summer. Because the COMCD does not know if an agreement can be reached with Oklahoma City to purchase water from the Atoka pipeline, the reserve fee charges and meter fees will be suspended until COMCD has a definitive agreement with Oklahoma City. If the COMCD is unable to reach an agreement with Oklahoma City, then COMCD will credit its member cities for the fees already collected.
Del City and Norman will notice a decrease in the Oklahoma Water Resources Board Loan repayment due to savings from OWRB Financing.
The City of Norman’s portion of total assessments including operations and maintenance are 43.8%. Each City pays the power costs associated with pumping the water to each individual city. Norman’s assessment of the total COMCD budget is $1,273,112.58, a decrease over last year of $261,100.30 or 21%.
The proposed Fiscal Year 2014-2015 Central Oklahoma Master Conservancy District Budget has been submitted to City Council’s consideration at this time.