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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Board - Minutes - 01/21/2021 WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING January 21, 2021, 5:30-7:30 p.m. online via Zoom 0 1 /2 1 /202 1 – MINUTES Page 1 1. CALL TO ORDER 5:30 p.m. 2. INTRODUCTION OF NEW BOARD MEMBERS Interim Chairperson Bruxvoort introduced new Board Members Tyler Eldridge and Paul Herman, who shared information about their background and professional experience. They both stated they are excited to serve on the Water Board. 3. ROLL CALL • Board Members Present: Kent Bruxvoort, Greg Steed, Michael C. Brown, Jr., Tyler Eldridge, Paul Herman, Randy Kenyon, Phyllis Ortman, John Primsky, Jason Tarry • Board Members Absent - Excused: Cibi Vishnu Chinnasamy • Staff Members Present: Theresa Connor, Matt Fater, Katherine Martinez, John Song, Andrew Gingerich, Elizabeth Blythe, Christina Schroeder, Ken Sampley, Jason Stutzman, Liesel Hans, Matt Zoccali • Members of the Public: Robert Kingsbury (Parks & Recreation Board) 4. AGENDA REVIEW • Acting Chairperson Kent Bruxvoort briefly summarized items on the agenda. 5. COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION None 6. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Acting Chairperson Bruxvoort asked for comments on the December minutes. There were none. Board Member Michael Brown Jr. moved to approve the December 17, 2021 minutes. Board Member Greg Steed seconded the motion. Vote on the motion: it passed unanimously, 9-0 WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING 0 1 /2 1 /2021 – MINUTES Page 2 7. NEW BUSINESS a. Staff Reports (Attachments available upon request) i. Financial Monthly Report None this month due to year-end process. ii. Water Resources Monthly Report (meeting packet only; no presentation) Discussion Highlights A board member Board member commented on the dry year with chance of water restrictions due to impacts of the 2020 wildfires. iii. Memo: 2020 Fall Water Quality Update – Upper Cache la Poudre Watershed (meeting packet only; no presentation) No discussion. iv. Memo: Upcoming City Council Work Session on Montava Development (meeting packet only; no presentation) Acting Chairperson Bruxvoort briefly summarized the memo content. v. Mail Creek Stream Rehabilitation Project Capital Projects Manager Jason Stutzman of Water Systems Engineering Division summarized this “good news” item. Project is located in south-central Fort Collins near Harmony and College intersection, and was part of the Stream Rehabilitation and Enhancement Program; stabilized the eroding, steep banks; new storm sewer installation. Public safety, structures and properties were at risk due to progressive bank failures. Erosion was threatening riparian wetlands and aquatic habitat. Early contractor involvement developed relationships and minimized impact on neighbors. Completed in March 2020; met strategic objectives for public safety and environmental health; finished under budget and ahead of schedule. Public feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Discussion Highlights Board members commented on and inquired about related topics, including the bio-engineering techniques used to redesign the creek banks, and whether any other projects in the city use this method (this is the third project; Fossil Creek Community Park, and on Spring Creek at Edora Park); the project designer and contractor; cost per mile of project; efficiencies learned WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING 0 1 /2 1 /2021 – MINUTES Page 3 during the five years of the program. vi. Wastewater Utility Overview Interim Deputy Director-Water Field Operations Andrew Gingerich summarized various aspects of wastewater managed by Water Reclamation & Biosolids Division and Water Engineering & Field Services Division. Topics included innovation and opportunities; asset reliability; underground utilities: trenches for sewer, etc.; Mulberry Water Reclamation Facility (MWRF) and Drake Water Reclamation Facility (DWRF); awards and recognitions; Meadow Springs Ranch as example of success of the circular economy: biosolids applied to land, and street sweeper brush repurposed as scratching post for cattle; average residential bill is $35 per month; Wastewater Fund operating income and expenses. Discussion Highlights Board members commented on and inquired about related topics, including number of gallons treated (average of 13 million gallons per day); about 3 million gallons per day (MGD) sent to Rawhide Energy Station; percentage that goes into the system (typical flow in water system is 70 to 80 gallons per capita per day depending on irrigation use); Montava development project indoor water use; whether water is treated to tertiary level or will the state require it (reduced limits that will go into effect in 2028 are close to tertiary standards): DWRF capacity; long-term vision of DWRF and MWRF; ultra violet system at MWRF; co-gen and sidestream projects for phosphorus. vii. Reimagine Boards and Commissions Project Senior Coordinator/Public Engagement Elizabeth Blythe of the City Clerk’s Office summarized the project and requested board feedback. The purpose: better structure Boards and Commissions to set them up for success in the future. 2017 Public Participation Report revealed a lack of diversity in age, race, and income, and comments included lack of clarity in expectations; request for more training, and to improve efficiency and consistency, as well as reduce barriers to participation. The Water Board is the only one with 11 members; had originally been two that merged. Under proposed changes for quasi-judicial boards, members would decrease to nine, which would occur gradually as members retire due to term limits. Discussion Highlights Board members commented on and inquired about various related topics including number of members proposed; term limits; concern that reducing number of members would result in “brain drain,” which would negatively WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING 0 1 /2 1 /2021 – MINUTES Page 4 impact Utilities; urging caution to understand how much effort goes into learning about the different facets of the water utility. Staff will work with Board Member Brown to distill Water Board member comments in a memo to City Council before its January 26 work session. Staff will report back on the exact date Council is scheduled to decide on proposed changes. viii. Feedback Request on Floodplain Variance Process Interim Utilities Executive Director Theresa Connor request Water Board members’ experiences on the process, including what’s working, what could be improved, and ideas for a different approach, such as forming a subcommittee (or hearing the request outside of the normal Water Board meetings) due to the variance request hearings taking the entire 2 hours of the monthly meeting. There is no deadline; staff will research options and return to the board with more information. Discussion Highlights Board members commented on and inquired about various related topics including importance of the breadth of understanding and knowledge to make a decision on a variance; inadequate time to review information; desire to correspond and clarify information before the public hearing; suggestion for a first reading and second reading to provide time for members to consider the information between the initial presentation and the decision; idea to encourage developers to bring the request to the Water Board sooner; praise for City staff going above and beyond to answer board members’ questions and doing a good job of analyzing information; in one past variance request, the applicant focused more on qualitative data rather than the quantitative data required to make a decision; merit to the subcommittee idea, such as using the officer election process every January to determine which board members have the technical expertise to serve; feeling pride in the work involved to come to a just decision. ix. Environmental Regulatory Affairs (ERA) Division Overview ERA Manager Matt Zoccali’s presentation provided the Water Board with a general awareness of the division’s mission, programs, and activities, and introduced the concept of a routine regulatory update on key issues into Water Board processes. ERA represents the City on regulatory issues, supports the City’s Environmental Policy, and provides internal support to City departments; budget is provided by the four Utilities funds and the general fund; programs include clean water, Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) discharge permit, environmental program; safe drinking water, etc. ERA trains 600 staff per year; responds with Poudre Fire Authority WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING 0 1 /2 1 /2021 – MINUTES Page 5 on spills (responded to 39 spill calls last year); conducted more than 3,000 erosion control inspections in 2020. Discussion Highlights ERA could consider providing quarterly update on regulatory activities if the Water Board desires (board indicated interest in this information and learning more details about regulations); staff will follow up on the best way to deliver the information. b. Regular Items None 8. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS None 9. OTHER BUSINESS a. Water Board Officer Nominations & Election (10 minutes) Matt Fater, Water Board Staff Liaison Board member Kenyon moved to nominate Board Member Bruxvoort for Chairperson. Board member Brown seconded the motion: Vote on the motion: it passed unanimously, 8-0 with one abstention by Board Member Bruxvoort. Board Member Bruxvoort moved to nominate Board Member Steed for Vice Chairperson. Board Member Primsky seconded the motion. Vote on the motion: it passed unanimously, 8-0 with one abstention by Board Member Steed. 10. ADJOURNMENT 8:05 p.m. These minutes were approved by Chairperson Kent Bruxvoort and the Water Board on February 18, 2021.