Keri Burchard-Juarez

This document outlines Tacoma Water's comprehensive plan to address the substantial financial impacts resulting from the WestRock Mill closure, which caused a significant loss in water sales revenue. The plan's core objectives include implementing a necessary rate adjustment in 2024 to ensure ongoing financial stability, maintaining the integrity and quality of the water system, and mitigating adverse effects on vulnerable customers through enhanced Bill Credit Assistance Programs. It incorporates extensive community and stakeholder engagement, analyzes various financial scenarios, and strategically utilizes reserve funds to support infrastructure investments and stable rate adjustments through 2034.

The meeting addressed several resolutions for contract awards and approvals. Key actions included awarding a contract to Absher Construction Co. for design and development of a new shops building addition and related facilities, and awarding a five-year contract to HDR Engineering, Inc. for hydroelectric turbine-generator expertise. The Board also approved increasing and extending a contract with GE Renewables US, LLC for the Cushman 2 Units 31 and 32 modernization project. Other contract actions involved purchasing cable, awarding contracts for distribution transformers, extending services for wood pole inspection, and awarding a contract for high voltage circuit breakers. Furthermore, contracts were increased for the Canyonfalls Creek pump station project and for government relations services for 2026. Resolution U-11572 authorized Tacoma Water to apply for a low-interest Drinking Water State Revolving Fund loan of approximately $1.0 million for two main replacement projects on A Street South and East D Street. Resolution U-11573 authorized Tacoma Water to update System Development Charges, effective February 1, 2026, with annual increases through 2030. The Director reported on incident command standing up in response to area flooding.

The meeting addressed public comments regarding water prototyping, recognized staff for safety and communications awards from the American Public Power Association, and handled several regular agenda items. Resolutions adopted included awarding contracts to Escalent, Inc., for customer experience tracking services and to Kleinschmidt Associates for additional engineering services related to the Mayfield Dam Juvenile Bypass Design. Another resolution authorized the execution of an easement agreement with the Tacoma School District No. 10 across Tacoma Water property near Lincoln High School for $155,000 to support a sports complex expansion. A budget performance update for Q1 2023 covering Power, Water, and Rail divisions was also presented.

This document provides an update on the SAP Now! Program, a multi-year initiative to upgrade the City's SAP enterprise system. The program's core objectives include mitigating risks associated with an unsupported platform, transitioning to a modern cloud infrastructure, enhancing business process efficiency, and improving customer service. Key accomplishments include strategic decisions, completion of foundational projects, and the approval of Phase 1 projects focused on finance improvements and customer interaction center replacement. The program outlines a timeline for migration, stabilization, and iterative transformations spanning from 2024 to 2030.

This document presents a summary of findings from an Electrification Futures Study. It forecasts how electrification in buildings, transportation, and industry might affect customer demand over a 20-year period, considering various policy and technology scenarios. The study aims to prepare for potential significant upward pressure on annual energy consumption and peak demand, especially in winter, highlighting the mitigating role of energy efficiency and demand response. The findings will be incorporated into the entity's financial, transmission & distribution, load forecast, conservation, and integrated resource planning processes.