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Home My WebLink About2019 - Water Board - Annual Report1 2019 Fort Collins Water Board Annual Report January 2020 2019 Board Members Michael Brown, Chairperson Kent Bruxvoort John Primsky Jason Tarry, Vice Chairperson Randy Kenyon Andrew McKinley Steve Malers Jim Kuiken Phyllis Ortman Brett Bovee Greg Steed This annual report summarizes the activities of the Water Board during 2019. The formatting of this Annual Report is consistent with the Annual Work Plan. Alignment of Water Board activities with the City’s Strategic Plan and Key Outcome Areas is achieved through the Annual Work Plan. Water Board activities listed below are organized by the major responsibilities of Fort Collins Utilities related to water (“Water”, “Wastewater”, and “Stormwater”). The “Regional Issues” category includes topics related to maintaining a dialogue on regional water issues. Within each heading are listed Water Board activities and the month of the meeting in which they occurred. Additionally, the “General” category includes general topics that span Utilities or the City. The “Public Comment” category summarizes public comments made at meetings during the year and efforts to respond to these comments. Regular Water Board meetings are held each month and work sessions are held in even months. Meeting minutes for regular meetings are available on the Fort Collins website. During work sessions, no actions are voted on and no minutes are recorded. For this annual report, a separate category is provided on the topics discussed at the work sessions in 2019. Public Comment • Multiple citizens spoke in opposition to the City pursuing an eminent domain request for land associated with the Halligan Water Supply Project. The common sentiment was that pursuing eminent domain seemed at odds with a simultaneous pursuit of a mutually agreed upon resolution. The Water Board considered these comments when deliberating whether to provide support for the eminent domain request (October, December) • A citizen spoke to thank the Board for consideration of his comments regarding eminent domain pursuits associated with the Halligan Water Supply Project. He updated the Board that significant progress in discussions with the City had been made and that he expected a successful resolution. He also specifically thanked Special Projects Manager Eileen Dornfest and Assistant City Attorney Eric Potyondy for their help in the process. • A citizen spoke in opposition to the Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP) and discussed his own success at water conservation compared to the City’s goal to encourage the board continue to support conservation efforts instead of water development to meet future needs General • Unanimously approved the 2018 Annual Report (January) • Held a Floodplain Variance Hearing on the Bucking Horse Early Childhood Center and approved the variance with no objections (January) • Elected Water Board Leadership positions (Chair and Vice-Chair) (February) 2 • Discussed the reception of the Platinum Award from the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) to Fort Collins Utilities (February) • Received an update from the Utilities Executive Director on 2018 priorities and recently completed Utilities projects (March, September). • Reviewed the results of a Utilities Customer Satisfaction Survey (April). • Held a Floodplain Variance Hearing on the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Cache La Poudre Bridge at I-25 No-Rise Certification and approved the variance unanimously (May) • Received an overview presentation of the Boxelder B-Dams Upgrades project and unanimously passed a motion supporting the proposed approach (June) • Reviewed proposed adjustments for Water PIFS, Wastewater PIFS, Stormwater PIFS and Water Supply Requirement fees and unanimously passed a motion supporting the proposed adjustments (June). • Reviewed proposed adjustments to 2020 Utility rates and unanimously approved a motion to support an increase to Stormwater rates and rate class adjustments to Water and Wastewater. (September) • Reviewed a proposal to update city code regarding the classification of Greek Letter Organization housing and unanimously approved a motion to support the proposal. (September) • Received an overview presentation on diversity, equity and inclusion from the Equity and Inclusion Coordinator of the Social Sustainability Department. (November) • Reviewed and unanimously approved the 2020 Water Board work plan. (November) • Received an overview presentation of the Utilities Affordability Portfolio and Income Qualified Assistance Program from the Program Specialist Supervisor and Affordability Program Specialist. (December). Water • Received updates from City staff on the status and progress of the Halligan Water Supply Project (January, March, April, September, November, December) • Received an overview presentation on the 2019 priorities on water conservation from the Water Conservation manager. (January) • Received a presentation on the Allotment Management Program from the Water Conservation Specialist priorities on water conservation from the Water Conservation manager and did not pass a motion supporting an associated change in City code. Objections centered around concern that waiving excess water use fees may discourage needed conservation efforts (March) • Received a presentation on a proposed City-Innosphere Lab Partnership from the Utilities Deputy Director and unanimously approved a motion to support the proposal. (March) • Received a presentation on a proposal to apply for a WaterSMART grant from the US Bureau of Reclamation and unanimously approved a motion to support the proposal. (April) • Reviewed a proposal to pursue an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) related to the Horsetooth Outlet Project and unanimously approved a motion to support the proposal. (April) • Received a presentation the Water Efficiency Annual Report from the Water Conservation Manager. (July) • Reviewed a presentation on the details of a series of IGAs related to the Horsetooth Outlet Project and unanimously approved a motion to support the agreements. (September) 3 • Reviewed a presentation on Property Rights Acquisition Needs and Eminent Domain associated with the Halligan Water Supply Project and unanimously approved a motion to table taking action on the subject until the November meeting to allow additional time for discussions with affected landowners. (October) • Received a presentation on expectations associated with the impending release of the Halligan Water Supply Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and unanimously approved a motion to hold a December work session to discuss the DEIS in more detail (November) • Reviewed a proposal to allocate funds associated with the Horsetooth Outlet Emergency Water Supply Projects and unanimously approved a motion to support the proposal. (November) • Reviewed a proposal to implement mandatory outdoor water use restrictions associated with the Horsetooth Outlet Project and approved a motion to support the proposal with one objection. The objection concerned the start date of restrictions. (November) • Reviewed a presentation updating the Board on progress made with Property Rights Acquisition Needs and Eminent Domain associated with the Halligan Water Supply Project since the previous presentation and unanimously approved a motion to support the initiation of the eminent domain process as necessary for those properties that have not come to agreement with the City to complete Phase I in a reasonable timeframe with reasonable costs. (December) • Reviewed a letter to City Council drafted to outline the reasons to support the Halligan Water Supply Project and unanimously approved a motion to send the letter to City Council. (December) Wastewater • Reviewed a request for the allocation of funds for the Drake Water Reclamation Facility (DWRF) Sidestream Treatment Project and unanimously approved a motion to support the request. (April) • Reviewed a request for an exemption to the competitive purchase process for the purchase of a biogas-powered cogeneration system and unanimously approved a motion to support the request. (September) • Reviewed a proposal for an off-cycle budget offer for a 24-inch trunk sewer replacement and unanimously approved a motion to support the proposal. (September) • Received a presentation on the Water Reclamation & Biosolids (WRB) Environmental Management Systems Outreach and Update from the WRB Manager. (October) Stormwater • Received update information on the Magnolia Street Outfall. (January) • Received a presentation on Northeast College Corridor Outfall (NECCO) Stormwater Improvements and a proposal for an ordinance detailing funding sources of the non-city share of the project from the Development Review Engineer and unanimously approved a motion of support (February) • Received presentations on Magnolia Street/Old Town Stormwater improvements from the Water Engineering Division Special Projects Manager (February, July) • Reviewed a proposal to update City Code to use descriptions and definitions consistency with Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permits and unanimously approved a motion to support the proposal. (April) 4 • Received a presentation on stormwater master plans for the North College Drainage Improvement District (NCDID), Buckingham/Lincoln Corridor Outfall and Stone Creek and unanimously approved a motion of support (July) • Reviewed a proposal to appropriate funds in the mid-cycle budget to construct the NECCO A4 lateral and unanimously approved a motion to support the proposal. (September) • Reviewed a proposal to exchange easements and offsetting fees with a Fort Collins landowner to facilitate long-term City stormwater development plans and unanimously approved a motion to support the proposal. (September) • Reviewed a proposal to appropriate funds in the mid-cycle budget for the acquisition of a private parcel needed to complete a stormwater outfall construction project and unanimously approved a motion to support the proposal. (September) • Received an update presentation on MS4 permitting from the Environmental Regulatory Affairs Specialist. (December) • Received an update presentation on the Stormwater Strategic Financial Plan from the Utilities Strategic Financial Director. (December) Regional Issues • Received an overview of state legislative priorities from Colorado House of Representatives member Jeni Arndt (February). • Reviewed a proposal to pursue an IGA related to the improvements to the Munroe Canal Inlet Structure and unanimously approved a motion to support the proposal. (July) • Reviewed a proposed agreement between the City and other regional stakeholders regarding operation of the Munroe Canal Diversion Structure and unanimously approved a motion to support the proposal. (September) • Discussed housing development cost comparisons in the region and the relative significance of water taps fees. (May) Work Sessions • Received a presentation on irrigation ditches and associated ditch companies that are within and around the City (February) • Discussed the Water Supply Response planning process (April) • Received an update on the Poudre River Floodplain RiskMap process (April) • Discussed details and practices associated with Floodplain Variance Requests (April) • Received an update presentation on the City’s Climate Action Plan (April). • Received a presentation on and discussed the Colorado River Compact/Drought Contingency Plan. (August) • Discussed the Water Supply Vulnerability Study (August) • Received a presentation on the Harmony Gateway Plan Amendment/Standards and Guidelines (October) • Reviewed the Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) Process (October) • Received a presentation on Property Rights and Eminent Domain Authorization and an update on the Halligan Water Supply Project cost estimate (October) • Discussed the Halligan Water Supply Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and the potential for submitting comments from the Board. Report prepared by Michael Brown, Water Board Chairperson