CITY OF SEATTLE
RESOLUTION __________________
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A RESOLUTION relating to Seattle Public Utilities (SPU); establishing an ongoing Customer Review Panel to maintain continuous stakeholder engagement as SPU implements the six-year Strategic Business Plan (Plan) and conducts future Plan updates.
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WHEREAS, Resolution 31534, approved by the City Council on August 11, 2014, adopts the Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) 2015-2020 Strategic Business Plan to guide utility investments, service levels and rate paths for the six years from 2015 to 2020; and
WHEREAS, Resolution 31534 also directs SPU to review and update the six-year Strategic Business Plan every three years; and
WHEREAS, Resolution 31694, adopted by the City Council on August 15, 2016, established a Customer Review Panel to secure the input and engagement of SPU’s customers in the formulation of the 2018-2023 Strategic Business Plan and dissolved the Customer Review Panel upon adoption of the 2018-2023 Strategic Business Plan; and
WHEREAS, Resolution 31760, adopted by the City Council on November 13, 2017, adopted the 2018-2023 Strategic Business Plan Update and requested establishing an ongoing Customer Review Panel to maintain continuous stakeholder engagement after Council adoption of the Plan Update; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE, THE MAYOR CONCURRING, THAT:
Section 1. Customer Review Panel purpose. A Customer Review Panel (Panel) is established to provide ongoing stakeholder oversight as Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) implements elements of the Strategic Business Plan (Plan) Update and conducts future updates.
Section 2. Composition. The Panel will be composed of nine positions, numbered 1 through 9, filled with members drawn from SPU’s customers. Members will be selected to ensure a balance of viewpoints regarding services and rates that are representative of the views within SPU’s customer base, including residential, commercial, low-income housing, non-profits, and the development community.
Section 3. Appointment and confirmation. The Mayor shall appoint members to odd-numbered Panel positions and the City Council shall appoint members to even-numbered Panel positions. All Panel members appointed by the Mayor shall be confirmed by the City Council.
Section 4. Terms. The term of each position shall be three years, except that the initial term of positions 1-4 shall be 27 months and the initial term of positions 5-9 shall be 39 months. Panel members may be re-appointed by the Mayor or City Council up to a maximum of one additional term. A member whose term is ending shall continue on an interim basis as a member with voting rights until such time as a successor has been appointed by the Council or confirmed by the Council.
The appointing authority shall appoint a person to fill the duration of an unexpired term without confirmation by the City Council.
Panel members will serve without pay, but they may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses for attending meetings.
Section 5. Roles and responsibilities. The Panel shall:
A. Provide oversight of the Plan implementation:
1. Review and provide input on the progress of the action plans and other deliverables related to the adopted Plan; and
2. Monitor the six-year rate path endorsed by the Plan, gain an understanding of the drivers impacting the revenue requirements that differ from those assumed in the endorsed rate path, and provide input in support of the Plan implementation.
B. Provide input into Plan updates:
1. Gain a knowledge of SPU services, financial policies, costs, and rates;
2. Review the Plan’s assumptions, technical evaluations, policy directions, and action alternatives;
3. Work closely with staff designated by the City Council and the Mayor to understand the issues and concerns of the City Council and the Mayor;
4. Provide to the Mayor and City Council comments on the Plan concurrent with delivery of the final proposed Plan to the City Council; and
5. Assist the Mayor and City Council in engaging customers in discussions of the merits and implications of the Plan.
Section 6. Rules. The Panel will establish its own rules for meeting attendance, quorum, leadership, and other matters necessary for its successful functioning. The expectation is that the Panel will meet at least quarterly to coincide with the Plan’s quarterly progress reports. Meetings shall be open to the public, except that meetings or portions thereof may be closed if chapter 42.30 RCW would have allowed it to be closed had the Panel been subject to that law.
The minutes of Panel meetings and proceedings and Panel findings and recommendations will be made available to the public.
Section 7. Support. Seattle Public Utilities will provide logistical and staff support to the Panel, including a facilitator to assist the Panel with meetings, information requests, and interactions with City staff and elected officials.
Adopted by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2018, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its adoption this ________ day of _________________________, 2018.
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President ____________ of the City Council
The Mayor concurred the ________ day of _________________________, 2018.
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Jenny A. Durkan, Mayor
Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2018.
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Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk
(Seal)