The Commission’s duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the
following:
(1) To develop and recommend to the Governing Body policies in all
matters related to the operations and management of the city’s water and
wastewater utilities;
(2) To develop and to recommend to the Governing Body fees, rules,
and regulations regarding providing utility service and construction
policies;
(3) To recommend to the Governing Body the approval or disapproval
of the Department of Utilities’ proposed annual operating and capital
improvement budgets; rates and charges for utility services; financing options,
including bond issues and other debt instruments; five year capital improvement
program; and initiation of eminent domain or other legal proceedings with the
advice of the City Attorney.
(4) To recommend to the City Administrator the approval or
disapproval of contracts for goods or services incident to the operations of the
water and wastewater utilities, if such expenditures are within the approved
operating budget;
(5) To recommend to the City Administrator appropriate action
regarding water rights, including acquisition, sale and proceedings before the
State Engineer and to recommend approval or disapproval of construction plans,
maintenance plans, staffing levels and salary plans and related analyses
developed by or on behalf of the city;
(6) To hold public hearings and receive public input on proposed
rates and charges, service rules and regulations, operating and capital budgets,
capital improvement plans, and other issues as deemed appropriate by the
Commission;
(7) To provide an annual report to the Governing Body that evaluates
the past year’s performance of the city’s water and wastewater utilities and
adopts a statement of goals and objectives for the coming year;
(8) To perform such other duties and functions and have such other
powers as may be authorized by the governing body or provided by city ordinance
that are consistent with the provisions of the City Charter.