Utility Management Policy Workshop -
Finding the Right Policies to Meeting Your Utility’s Financial & Strategic Objectives
March 1, 2007 - Herb Young Community Center, Cary, NC

This event was co-sponsored by the NC AWWA-WEA Finance and Management Committee and the Environmental Finance Center.

Objectives

• Provided participants with an overview of policy considerations and tools for addressing five key utility management topics: Service Provision Partnerships, Billing and Customer Service, Financial Performance Goals and Benchmarks, Annexation and Service Provision and Proactively Managing the Service Areas
• Provided utility professionals with example policies, agreements and ordinances to help them design their own policies

Agenda: (Click for PDF version)

8:00	Registration
8:30	Introduction
	Presentation of workshop objectives and key issues- Moderator, Dianne Mills
8:45	Local Government Partnerships       Click here for presentation - Jerry Pierce, Public Utilities Department, County of Brunswick Session will include: City & County service partnerships: County manages City facilities, City provides services to County, City operates facilities on County’s behalf, etc. Bulk service agreements Shared capacity facilities Long term service agreements
9:45	Billing / Customer Service Policies       Click here for presentation - Steve Smith, Town Manager/Town Clerk, Town of Yanceyville Deposits, Delinquency Policies, Account Receivable Aging, Account Write-offs, Cut-off dates, Flexible payment/ bill affordability programs, Billing and account administration protocol
10:45	BREAK
11:00	S&P Median Data       Click here for presentation - Dianne Mills Financial Management Consultant, CDM Session will include: Brief summary of recently released data from S&P Use of Rating parameters in Financial Policy Goals
11:30	Open Discussion with Panel
12:00	Lunch
12:45	Internal Financial Goals / Policies       Click here for presentation - Alexis Warmath, Raftelis Financial Consultants, Inc. Rules of thumb for revenues and fund balances Asset Management related policies Debt limits / leveraging Reserve Funds vs. Debt Funds Pay-as-you-go
1:45	Annexation Requirements       Click here for presentation – David M. Lawrence, William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Public Law and Government, UNC School of Government Session will include: Legal Considerations of Service Provision and Annexation
2:30	Break
2:45	Service Area Policies       Click here for presentation - Stephen Swartz, Swartz Engineering Economics, Inc. Annexation Policies Service Area Agreements System Development Charges (incl. discussion of when to charge) Developer Agreements Service Area Disputes or “How to avoid legal fees for S.A.D.”
3:45	Wrap-up and Adjournment

Supporting Documents for Local Government Partnerships:

Exhibit A: Capital Charge Repayment Schedule

Exhibit B: West Brunswick Project Description

Exhibit C: Proposal Concept Agreement

Coastal Communities Sewer Service Agreement

Water Contract for Caswell Beach

Oak Island Sewer Service Agreement

Wholesale Water Supply Agreement

 

Supporting Documents for Customer Service Policies:

Customer Service Matrix

Serving Outside Customers

 

Other Links:

Water Leadership Program

Training Programs and Educational Opportunities