CCWWA Minutes 05/08/2023MINUTES OF THE COLLIER COUNTY
WATER AND WASTEWATER AUTHORITY MEETING
Naples, Florida, May 8, 2023
LET IT BE REMEMBERED, the Collier County Water and Wastewater Authority
in and for the County of Collier, having conducted business herein, met on this date
at 2:00 P.M. in REGULAR SESSION at the Collier County Growth Management
Department Building, Conference Room 609/610, 2800 Horseshoe Drive N.,
Naples, Florida, with the following members present:
1. Roll Call: Chairman Ricardo called the meeting to order at 2:00 pm and a quorum of
three was established.
■ Mr. Ricardo, Chairman
■ Ms. Sherry, Vice Chairman
■ Ms. Aurora (not present, excused)
■ Dr. Ritter (not present, excused)
■ Mr. Wardhoff, Member
■ Kenneth Kovensky, Executive Director, Corporate Business Operations
■ Michael Stark, Director, Operations Support & Regulatory Management Division
■ Derek Perry, County Attorney's Office
■ Evelyn Trimino, Manager, Financial Operations, Operations Support & Regulatory
Management Division
■ Julie Chardon, Ops Support Specialist II, Operations Support & Regulatory
Management Division
Julie Chardon: Dr. Ritter is travelling, and Ms. Aurora could not be reached.
Eloy Ricardo: Deemed as excused absences; they were not available.
Ken Kovensky: Before we proceed with the agenda, there is a scrivener's error — 1(a) will
be covered under 4(b); there is an extra line thrown in there. Typically, when we have a
final order that needs to be signed and then an election of officers, we elect the officers
after we do the final order so that you can sign the final order and the minutes as the
Chair.
2. Approval of Agenda: May 8, 2023
Patricia Sherry: Motion made to approve.
Eugene Wardhoff. Seconded
Eloy Ricardo- Chair: Any debate on that? (none). All in favor — aye.
(Motion passes unanimously)
3. Approval of Minutes — July 11, 2023
Patricia Sherry: Motion made to approve.
Eugene Wardhoff. Seconded
Eloy Ricardo- Chair: Any opposition? Approved — aye.
(Motion passes unanimously)
4. Required Action by Authority: Final order 2023-01— Annual Price Index
Eloy Ricardo -Chair: (A) Final order 2023-01 — annual price index
Ken Kovensky: By our Ordinance 96-6, you are required to adopt the Florida Public
Service Commission price index by May 15 so we're in compliance with the date. The
order from the Florida Public Service Commission established a price index for 2022 of
7.07% and that was presented, their order number PSC-2022-0438-PAA-WS and it was
codified in their consummating order PSC-2023-0062-CO-WS. The 7.07 was a big
departure from prior years; last year was over four and prior to that they generally were in
the 1-2-or 3% range. We'll probably see the two utilities take advantage of this in the
coming year since they can apply that to their operating and maintenance. The final order
is in your packet which reflects what we just talked about as far as the order and the
percentage along with customer notice and worksheets for the utilities to use.
Ken Kovensky: We can have a discussion on this or approve.
Eloy Ricardo -Chair: We are really entering a period of high inflation. We all know that.
Some banks are suffering because of that, not anticipating the CD rates, etc. Over the last
year, what has been the CPI — does anyone have a feel for that — consumer price index?
Ken Kovensky: Just reading through some of the budget policy, it was in the 9% range.
Still substantial. The majority will need to vote on it?
Eloy Ricardo Chair: All in favor — aye.
Ken Kovensky: It's a routine item that you're required to adopt the price index from
Florida Public Service Commission.
Eugene Wardhoff. It would be interesting to know what's been happening to the inputs to
these operations and to the budgets, what's our labor percent increase, energy has got to
be a big one, and water —just for our background. I've seen on other boards that the
numbers are moving substantially up.
5. Election of Officers:
Ken Kovensky: The ordinance calls for a new election of officers each year. You only
have three to decide who's the Chair for next year. Someone needs to make a nomination
and a vote after that. And then we'll go for the Vice Chair after that. The ordinance says
you don't have to switch out if you don't want to, you're allowed to be in the same
position for up to three years. Just putting this out there.
Eugene Wardhoff. I nominate Eloy Ricardo as chair.
Patricia Sherry: Second
(Motion passes unanimously)
Motion for vice chair.
Eugene Wardhoff :Well, I would accept the nomination if you choose to nominate me.
Patricia Sherry: I'll make the motion.
Eloy Ricardo: Second. All those in favor of Vice chair?
(Motion passes unanimously)
Eloy Ricardo: There we go. Congratulations.
6. Staff Discussion:
7. Public Discussion:
8. Authority Members:
Aye.
Thank you everybody. Meeting adjourned at 2:09 P.M.
COLLIER COUNTY WATER AND WASTEWATER AUTHORITY
Eloy Ricardo, Chairman
resented
These minutes were approved by the Authority on � - �� �[;� ] as P
or as amended.