Title
Intergovernmental Agreement with Arizona Department of Environmental Quality for Operator Certification Test Administration Services (Ordinance S-46593)
Description
Request City Council to ratify an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to be retroactive and effective as of the execution date stated on the IGA. The IGA will allow the City of Phoenix to facilitate and administer the ADEQ Operator Certification Examinations. Further request to authorize the City Treasurer to accept, and the City Controller to disburse, all funds related to this item. Additionally request to ratify and authorize an exception for ADEQ as a public entity, pursuant to Phoenix City Code section 42-20, to the indemnification and assumption of liability limitations prescribed by Phoenix City Code section 42-18. There will be no net financial impact to the City.
Report
Summary
The purpose of this IGA is to allow the City of Phoenix to facilitate and administer ADEQ's Operator Certification Examinations, which are required by Arizona Administrative Code section R18-5-106. Operators are required to obtain and maintain these certifications, in order to maintain compliance with federal and state regulations that ensure the system's integrity and public health of water and wastewater facilities for the state of Arizona. Currently, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the only administrator of the Operator Certification Examinations in Maricopa County is unable to provide the required tests necessary for operators to be able to obtain their required certifications. To ensure operators maintain current certifications during the COVID-19 emergency, the Water Services Director has entered into the IGA with ADEQ, subject to ratification by Council, to allow Phoenix to facilitate and administer the certification testing.
In executing this IGA with ADEQ, the City will also be entering into a licensing and testing services agreement with ADEQ and the Association of Boards of Certification (ABC) for the use of certified examinations and testing materials. Under this IGA, the City will: collect examination fees due from candidates; disburse examination fees to ABC; arrange examination sites and dates; and administer examinations.
Contract Term
The term of the agreement is for up to nine months, by its terms expiring Dec. 31, 2020.
Financial Impact
There will be no net financial impact to the City for this IGA. The City is an intermediary and fees collected for examinations will be disbursed to ABC.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Karen Peters and the Water Services Department.