Consolidation

Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA) and Washoe County Department of Water Resources (DWR) continue to work toward consolidation of the two utilities. To keep you informed, we will post updates on this page as they become available. Be sure to check back often.

History:

12/31/14: TMWA Completes Consolidation With Washoe County Water Resources and South Truckee Meadows General Improvement District

The consolidation of Washoe County Department of Water Resources (WCDWR) and South Truckee Meadows General Improvement District (STMGID) into Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA) was completed on December 31, 2014. All three water utilities have been working on consolidation for over five years and have completed all due diligence efforts, including employee transition, financial and customer service.

As directed by Nevada State Legislature, the goals of the water utility consolidation are to achieve lower cost of service while also allowing for a “conjunctive use” approach to the area’s water-resource management. Also, no customer group will be negatively impacted.

Customers whose service is moving to TMWA will be mailed a new customer packet the week of January 5th and will also receive their first water bill from TMWA in January. Approximately 19,000 WCDWR customers and 3,800 STMGID customers will be affected by the consolidation. They will now receive billing for their water service from TMWA. Please note, the sewer provider for these customers will not change.

11/19/14: TMWA Board Meeting

Consideration and Possible Approval of Resolution No. 218 authorizing the issuance of the Authority’s water revenue commercial paper notes, Series 2006A and Series 2006B, in a combined maximum principal amount of $27,000,000, for the purpose of defeasing certain outstanding water obligations of Washoe County, Nevada, or, alternatively, to pay projects costs or refund or defease outstanding Authority obligations; and related matters. TMWA staff briefed the Board regarding staff’s recommendation that the Board adopt a Resolution to issue up to $27.0 million in tax-exempt commercial paper (TECP) to defease outstanding water obligations of Washoe County. This is one of the last tasks in the consolidation process. Resolution No. 218 was unanimously approved by the Board.
Request for Board approval of Interlocal Agreement between Washoe County and the Truckee Meadows Water Authority to Provide Operations and Maintenance services for the Golden Valley Artificial Recharge Program.TMWA staff briefed the Board on this Interlocal Agreement which outlines services TMWA would provide to Washoe County to maintain the County’s program of providing water for recharge purposes in Golden Valley. This program has been in place since the early 1990’s and benefits over 600 domestic well owners. It has proven very beneficial for those residents, who rely on the program because this area has a relatively large number of domestic wells (no municipal wells) that cannot be adequately sustained by the local aquifer. There are also no municipal water services close enough to serve these residences. The County recharges about 88 acre feet per year and bills the well owners for this service. TMWA would assume the maintenance and operational responsibilities for the program while Washoe County would continue to oversee billing and account administration. The Interlocal Agreement was approved unanimously by the Board.

10/15/14: TMWA Board Meeting (View Minutes)

Consideration and Possible Approval of Resolution No. 217 of the Board of Directors of the Truckee Meadows Water Authority providing for the approval of the consolidation of the Washoe County water utility and the merger of the South Truckee Meadows General Improvement District into the Truckee Meadows Water Authority; providing authorizations necessary to effectuate the implementation of and consummation of those transactions; and providing other matters related thereto. Though not much fanfare was given during the meeting, this vote was essentially the Board giving its final stamp of approval on a several-years’-long effort to consolidate Washoe County’s Department of Water Resources water utility into TMWA. TMWA General Manager Mark Foree thanked the staffs of both TMWA and Washoe County for all the hard work they put in to get through this process. “This is the culmination of a lot of people putting in a great deal of extra effort to get it done, and it is extremely gratifying be where we are today,” said Foree. “My profound thanks to everyone involved.” This item passed by a unanimous vote of the Board.
Consideration and Possible Approval of Resolution No. 216 of the Board of Directors of the Truckee Meadows Water Authority, Nevada, providing for the issuance of its Water Revenue Bond, Series 2014, in the principal amount of $9,109,436.74; providing the form, terms and conditions thereof; and providing other matters relating thereto. This item involves TMWA’s assumption of the county’s Drinking Water Sate Revolving Fund loan for the construction of the Longley Water Treatment Plant and other improvements. The Board passed this item by a unanimous vote.
Discussion and possible approval of Interlocal Agreement Regarding Administration of Water Financial Assistance Program between TMWA and Washoe County. This agreement is intended to augment the implementation of TMWA’s Domestic Well Mitigation Program by providing the opportunity for eligible domestic well owners to acquire a loan through Washoe County’s Water and Sanitary Sewer Financial Assistance Program for costs of connecting to TMWA’s water system after the merger with Washoe County. This item passed by a unanimous vote of the Board.
Discussion and possible approval of Addendum to the Interlocal Agreement Governing the Consolidation of the Washoe County Department of Water Resources Water Utility into the Truckee Meadows Water Authority dated January 29, 2010. The TMWA Board voted unanimously to approve the Addendum which encompasses a number of legal items including real property, included and excluded liabilities, disclosures, etc.

Merger-Related Rate and Rule Amendments

Second and Final Reading, Public Hearing and possible adoption of amendments to TMWA Table of Contents, Introduction, Rules 1, 5, 7, 9, repeal of Rule 10 and amendments to Rate Schedules FSPR & LVS.
Second and Final Reading, Public Hearing and possible adoption of amendment to Rate Schedule WSF.
Second and Final Reading, Public Hearing and possible adoption of new Rule 10 – Special Conditions and Programs, including Mt. Rose-Galena Fan Domestic Well Mitigation Program.
Second and Final Reading, Public Hearing and possible adoption of new Rate Schedules FRMSGID – Former STMGID Customer Rates
Second and Final Reading, Public Hearing and possible adoption of new Rate Schedules FRMWC – Former Washoe County Customer Rates.

These resolutions were unanimously passed by the Board.

9/10/14: Workshop – Rules of Service Changes and Other Rates (details).

9/9/14: Workshop – Washoe County Rates (details).

9/8/14: Workshop – STMGID Rates (details).

8/26/14: Workshop – Mt. Rose/Galena Fan Domestic Well Mitigation Program (view details).

8/5/14: TMWA Releases Update of Consolidation “Frequently Asked Questions” document.
(Click here to view)

7/22/14: Washoe County Board of County Commissioners second reading of the ordinance to initiate the merger of South Truckee Meadows General Improvement District with the Truckee Meadows Water Authority. BCC meeting staff report. Second reading and adoption of an ordinance initiating the merger of the South Truckee Meadows General Improvement District (STMGID) into the Truckee Meadows Water Authority and terminating the existence of the South Truckee Meadows General Improvement District and its Board of Trustees; providing for an interlocal agreement for merger between the South Truckee Meadows General Improvement District and the Truckee Meadows Water Authority; providing for written notice of the proposed merger to property owners within the STMGID boundary, together with the time and place for hearing on the merger; and providing for other matters properly relating thereto.

7/8/14: Washoe County Board of County Commissioners introduction of an ordinance to initiate the merger of South Truckee Meadows General Improvement District with the Truckee Meadows Water Authority. BCC meeting staff report. Introduction and first reading of an ordinance initiating the merger of the South Truckee Meadows General Improvement District (STMGID) into the Truckee Meadows Water Authority and terminating the existence of the South Truckee Meadows General Improvement District and its Board of Trustees; providing for an interlocal agreement for merger between the South Truckee Meadows General Improvement District and the Truckee Meadows Water Authority; providing for written notice of the proposed merger to property owners within the STMGID boundary, together with the time and place for hearing on the merger; and providing for other matters properly relating thereto.

3/19/14: Joint Meeting on Consolidation of TMWA and DWR. Both boards agree to proceed with consolidation. Scheduled completion date is set for December 31, 2014.

3/11/14: Washoe County Board of County Commissioners Unanimously approves merger of Washoe County Department of Water Resources with TMWA.
Link to WCBCC Meeting Agenda (see: pg. 7, item #17).

12/11/13: TMWA Board Meeting
TMWA Staff request Board approval of the Interlocal Agreement Governing the merger of the South Truckee Meadows General Improvement District (STMGID) into the Truckee Meadows Water Authority.
Link to the Full Staff Report
Minutes from the December 11 TMWA Board Meeting

10/16/13: TMWA Board Meeting, October 16, 2013
Update regarding the merger of Washoe County Community Services Water Utility (CSWU) and the South Truckee Meadows General Improvement District (STMGID) into TMWA.
Link to the Full Staff Report
Minutes from the October 16 TMWA Board Meeting

8/29/13: Consolidation Workshop at South Truckee Meadows General Improvement District
Minutes from the August 29 STMGID Workshop

8/21/2013: TMWA Board Meeting
Presentation on TMWA’s Site Assessment Report and due diligence of STMGID system and report on status of the proposed merger of the South Truckee Meadows General Improvement District (STMGID) into TMWA.
Link to the Full Staff Report
Minutes from the August 21 TMWA Board Meeting

6/19/13: TMWA Board Meeting
Discussion and action on possible approval of a Third Amendment to the Interlocal Agreement among the Western Regional Water Commission (WRWC), Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA) and Washoe County (the County) for reimbursement of certain expenses, not to exceed $300,000, incurred in evaluating and implementing recommendations regarding integration/consolidation of public water purveyors; and, if approved, authorize the General Manager to execute the Third Amendment.
Link to the Full Staff Report
Minutes from the June 19 TMWA Board Meeting

1/17/13

TMWA completed the due diligence process for a potential merger with the Washoe County Department of Water Resources (DWR). This issue had been under consideration since 2008. A TMWA Board requirement prior to merger implementation is that Washoe County must determine the future of the South Truckee Meadows General Improvement District (STMGID). The option of merging STMGID into TMWA at the time of the DWR and TMWA merger is currently being examined. Until this analysis is completed, the merger will not move to the implementation stage.

TMWA Board Meeting, December 12, 2012

Discussion and possible direction to staff regarding proposal by the South Truckee Meadows General Improvement District (STMGID) to merge directly into TMWA concurrently with TMWA/DWR merger or other options in relation to operation of STMGID system upon the merger of the Washoe County Department of Water Resources water utility into TMWA
Link to the Full Staff Report
Minutes from the 12/12/12 TMWA Board Meeting

11/9/11

TMWA entered the final stages of the financial analysis related to the merger. The analysis, prepared by TMWA and DWR staff, was then sent for review by a third party financial advisor.

10/27/09

The TMWA Board of Directors and the Board of County Commissioners of Washoe County met to discuss the proposed Inter-Local Agreement and revisions to TMWA’s Joint Powers Agreement. To review a full summary of the meeting, click here.

9/8/09

A joint meeting of the TMWA Board of Directors and the Board of County Commissioners of Washoe County (BCC). This update will follow the agenda format. If you would like to see the entire agenda packet with staff reports, it can be found here.

8/14/09

The Western Regional Water Commission (WRWC) met to review the next steps in a possible consolidation of Washoe County’s Department of Water Resources (DWR) with Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA). WRWC members voted to recommend to the TMWA Board and the Washoe County Board of Commissioners (BCC) that they proceed with the consolidation process and develop an Interlocal Agreement (ILA). The agreement between the agencies will address the framework for integration in the interest of sharing resources and improving efficiencies, for the mutual benefit of all involved.

2008

In September of 2008, the Western Regional Water Commission (WRWC) directed staff, as a first step, to initiate an evaluation of possible integration of Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA) and the Washoe County Department of Water Resources (DWR).

2007

The 2007 Western Regional Water Commission Act, passed by the Nevada State Legislature, requires that Truckee Meadows governments evaluate the possibility of consolidating public water providers in Washoe County and include the results of this evaluation in the 2011 update of the Regional Water Management Plan.