Minutes 1946 - Laserfiche WebLink

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264 � or professional engineer and at time of appointment must be registered as a civil engineer in the State of California, Councilman Britschgi raised the • question as to whether the salary range of �p4200 to �5000 vuould be sufficient. �-, He believed if a higher salary were oaid, a more competent engineer could be � '�S: obtained and it might not be necessary to hire an outside engineer for the d;; maeter plan, City Manger Blom, however, was of the opinion that the qualifi- cations for the two po�itions were different. He believed the City Engineer ' snould have consideraple experience in special assessment procedures for street improvements and wa�ter supply systems. He also believed tne City Engineer would have the factor of security in this nosition which would war- rant placing the salary lower than some outside positions might pay. Coun- ' cilrnan Fletcher moved, seconded by 12ayor Hilton, that the recomrnendation of tne $oard of Review and City �aanwger oe accepted vrith respect to the posi- tion of City Engineer. Motion passed unanimouely. Under the above specifications, the position of Civil Engineer would be deleted from the personnel system. City Manager Blom reported that he vaas somewhat concerned about the financial ., �. situation of the Water Department, Taking the laudget oY this year as a guide, the anticipated revenue from sales of water amounts to $225,000 and operating expenaes deducted from that leaves a balance of gross profit of �31,000. The book value of the water system is approximately �600,000. The grose profit without anything being set aside for depreciation is only 5°�. It was hie opinion that it was necessary to begin to set aside some ' fixed amount each year for depreciation, The grose portion of the �600,000 is in cast iron water maina which could be expected to last for 40 or 50 years, however, there are eome mains which have deteriorated b�,dly and have reacned the stage where replacement is needed, The reservoirs are in good condition Y�ut there are many other install�.tions which �rill not la.st as long as the mains and reservoira. Some areas have suddenly developed into large water users and the mains are not adequate. It will be necessary to make additions to the Hetch HetcY,y system, The Emerald Lake district needs addit- � iona.l pumping equipment and reservoir to take care of the problems in that district. He said there were some serious deficiencies in the maine which must be financed from the present reserve account, ' Two solutione to the problem were presented by him. One - higher rates to the consumers which would make it poseible to set aside a reasonable amount ' Yor deprecia.tion to continue with improvements as to the present syetem and for demands nlaced for connections in new subdivisions. Two - require sub- dividers to pay the full cost of installa.tion of maina in new subdivisions or .to put the ma.ins in under epecial preceedirgs. A modification of that 1 solution might be to make refunda over a period of years on the eaeis of water used. The present system provides for re,funds on the number of con- � nections. He asked .that a definite policy be established and published so tha,t the public would be informed of it, The present policy provides for the instal- lat,ion free of char�e for one consumer of 150 feet of veater main,the user • I