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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/15/2022 - Water Commission - AGENDA - Regular Meeting WATER COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING AGENDA December 15, 2022 5:30PM – 7:30PM Online via Zoom or in person at 222 LaPorte Ave, Colorado River Community Room 12/15/2022 Agenda Page 1    This hybrid Water Commission meeting will be available online via Zoom, by phone, or in person in the Colorado Room of 222 LaPorte Ave. The meeting will be available to join beginning at 5:00 p.m. Participants should join at least 15 minutes prior to the 5:30 p.m. start time. ONLINE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: You will need an internet connection on a laptop, computer, or smartphone, and may join the meeting through Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/97277170269 Webinar ID: 972 7717 0269 (Using earphones with a microphone will greatly improve your audio). Keep yourself on muted status. For public comments, the Chairperson will ask participants to click the “Raise Hand” button to indicate you would like to speak at that time. Staff will moderate the Zoom session to ensure all participants have an opportunity to comment. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION BY PHONE: Please dial +1 346 248 7799 and enter Webinar ID 972 7717 0269. Keep yourself on muted status. For public comments, when the Chair asks participants to click the “Raise Hand” button if they wish to speak, phone participants will need to press *9 to do this. Staff will be moderating the Zoom session to ensure all participants have an opportunity to address the Water Commission. When you are called, press *6 to unmute yourself. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN PERSON: To participate in person, individuals should come to the Colorado River Community Room of 222 LaPorte Ave and be prepared to follow strict social distancing guidelines. There may be needs to limit the number of individuals in the meeting room, and thus staging for individuals to speak may need to occur in the lobby or outside (weather permitting). Individuals who wish to speak will line up along the northern wall, maintaining physical distancing. The chairperson will call upon each participant to speak. (Continued on next page) WATER COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING AGENDA December 15, 2022, 5:30PM – 7:30PM Online via Zoom or in person at 222 LaPorte Ave, Colorado River Community Room 12/15/2022 Agenda Page 2 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. ROLL CALL 3. AGENDA REVIEW 4. COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION (3 MINUTES PER INDIVIDUAL) 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: NOVEMBER 17 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS NONE (Continued on next page) Documents to Share: Any document or presentation a member of the public wishes to provide to the Water Commission for its consideration must be emailed to JSong@fcgov.com at least 24 hours before the meeting. Provide Comments via Email: Individuals who are uncomfortable or unable to access the Zoom platform or participate by phone are encouraged to participate by emailing comments to JSong@fcgov.com at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. If your comments are specific to any of the discussion items on the agenda, please indicate that in the subject line of your email. Staff will ensure your comments are provided to the Water Commission. Documents to Share: If residents wish to share a document or presentation, Staff Liaison Jason Graham’s administrative professional needs to receive those materials via the above email address at least 24 hours before the meeting. Individuals uncomfortable or unable to access the Zoom platform or unable to participate by phone are encouraged to participate by emailing general public comments you may have to JSong@fcgov.com. The Interim Staff Liaison’s administrative professional will ensure the Water Commission receives your comments. If you have specific comments on any of the discussion items scheduled, please make that clear in the subject line of the email and send 24 hours prior to the meeting. WATER COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING AGENDA December 15, 2022, 5:30PM – 7:30PM Online via Zoom or in person at 222 LaPorte Ave, Colorado River Community Room 12/15/2022 Agenda Page 3 7. NEW BUSINESS a. Staff Reports  Financial Monthly Report (meeting packet only)  Water Resources Monthly Report (meeting packet only)  Sprinkler Checkup Program Annual Report 2022 (meeting packet only)  Xeriscape & Soil Amendment Future Policies Direction (30 minutes) Katie Collins, Water Conservation Specialist 8. COMMISSIONER REPORTS (Committees, Event attendance, etc.) 9. OTHER BUSINESS (Commissioner concerns, Announcements) a. Water Commission Admin Support Transition – Katherine Martinez 10. RECOGNITION OF OUTOING WATER COMMISSIONER a. Commissioner Randy Kenyon 11. ADJOURNMENT WaterRevenuein thousandsPercent of Year 91.7%November Year to DateActualOver/ (Under)BudgetActualOver/ (Under) Inc/(Dec)% Bud Recvd % Act Recvd2022 2022 Bud 2022 2022 2022 Bud 2021 2022 2021Residential Water Sales$ 1,215 * $ 100 $ 15,660 $ 16,440 $ 780(A)$ (49) 98% 93%Com/Indl Water Sales779 * 107 8,811 9,585 774(B)331 102% 98%Raw Water Surcharge333 * 284 356 1,569 1,213(C)667 314% 161%District Water Sales263 * 55 1,801 2,227 426(D)(259) 117% 81%Other Water Sales0 * (3) 912 526 (386)(E)(77) 57% 73%PILOTs136 13 1,593 1,698 105 24 100% 95%Operating Revenue2,72655529,13332,045 2,912637 103% 95%Interest Revenue125 67 566 844 278 300 142% 149%Development Fees/PIFs/Contributions242 116 1,425 1,014 (411)(F)(1,678) 65% 20%Financing Sources0 0 0 3 3 2 2% 2%Other Misc77 59 170 236 66 (145) 93% 49%Total Lapsing Revenue**3,171 797 31,295 34,143 2,848 (883) 101% 85%Non-lapsing Revenue0 0 (15)TOTAL** $ 3,171 $ 34,143 $ (898)Variance Analysis:(A)(B)(C)(D)(E)(F)***Raw Water Surcharges are 341% over budget and 74% more than YTD 2021.Residential Water Sales are 5.0% over budget and 0.3% less than YTD 2021.Note: No Water rate increase for 2022.Commercial/Industrial Water sales are 8.8% over budget and 3.6% more than YTD 2021.November billed revenue is for October and early November. Excludes transfers and unrealized gain/loss on value.Plant Investment Fees ($355), Water Rights ($63).District Water sales are 23.7% over budget and 12.8% less than YTD 2021.Irrigation Sales ($409) (water supply didn't yield as much due to fire impacts, so rented out less water, under budget ~$500 by YE) offset by Standpipe Sales $23. Water Fund2022 Department ExpenseIn thousands`Percent of Year 91.7%Excludes depreciation and transfersNovember Year to DateActual(Over)/ UnderYTD Bdgt Actual(Over)/ Under (Inc)/DecActual + PO's% Bud Spent & 2022 2022 Bud 2022 2022 2022 Bud 2021 2022 by PO'sWater Treatment$ 384 $ 36 $ 8,142 $ 5,524 $ 2,618(A)$ (141) $ 8,724 91%Water Resources62 68 3,243 2,519 724(B)306 $ 2,746 78%Water Quality Lab76 10 1,018 1,011 7 (48) $ 1,038 88%Subtotal WR&T $ 523$ 114$ 12,403$ 9,054$ 3,349$ 117$ 12,50987%Transmission & Distribution289 (47) 2,767 2,789 (22)(C)(94) $ 2,816 86%Water Meters O&M88 (28) 743 691 52 (65) $ 698 77%Engineering40 21 1,032 545 487 (116) $ 751 65%Subtotal WEFS417(54) 4,5424,025 517(275) $ 4,265 80%Water Conservation68 37 1,239 817 422 (64) $ 1,123 79%PILOTs136 (13) 1,593 1,698 (105) (24) $ 1,698 100%Admin Services - CS&A364 0 4,009 4,009 0 (107) $ 4,009 92%Other Payments & Transfers191 5 1,889 1,969 (80)(D)(602) $ 2,005 69%Subtotal Operating Expenses $ 1,699$ 88$ 25,675 $ 21,5720$ 4,104$ (955) $ 25,60985%Debt Service0 0 0 0 0 0 $ 0 0%Minor Capital16 105 1,559 879 681(E)(187) $ 1,680 77%Total Lapsing$ 1,715$ 194$ 27,235$ 22,450$ 4,785$ (1,142)$ 27,29084%Non-lapsing Expenses2,040 6,265 1,593TOTAL $ 3,755 $ 28,716 $ 451Variance Analysis:(A)(B)(C)(D)(E)Consulting Services $276 (project delays due to vacancies (e.g. modeling effort), some underway; underspend by YE, and some will be carried forward via PO carryforward), Personnel $229 (vacancies), Water Assessment Services $105 ($26 of budget for Rigden distributed in Feb, while invoicing happens after YE, will book in Dec), Other Professional & Technical $48 (primarily for NISP outreach BFO offer #1.63 - on hold due to delay in Record of Decision for NISP), and Maintenance Contracts $40.Legal Services ($132) (related to OASIS/Open International lawsuit, over budget by YE).Contract Payment to Gov't/Other $2,103 (PO carryforward for payments to Greeley: Cameron Peak Fire - Watershed; specifics and funding sources being worked out (to maximize cost matching and have the most impact); some carrying forward, ~$2M underspend by YE (year-end)), Consulting $85 (work order for corrosion control study on hold and likely to be terminated; likely underspend by YE), Project Management Services $43 (estimated Fort Collins' portion of PM to manage post-fire recovery efforts, will carry forward), Electricity $46 (weren't running all four treatment trains earlier this year, due to lower demand; underspend by YE), Construction Services $82 ($79 is Cameron Peak FireTreatment funds; don't anticipate the need to spend any additional funds this year), Chemicals $82 (use depends on treatment levels and processes - budgeted more due to costs to treat anticipated fire runoff and inflation, which is just now materializing; slightly under by YE), Personnel $64 (vacancies), Maintenance Contracts $36 (cost savings due to vendor change for UPS Maintenance, under budget by YE), Testing Services $25 (Big Thompson Watershed Forum dissolved and trying to reforming an entity to provide those services; underspend by YE, likely to be spent next year), Other Professional & Technical $15, Painting Supplies $15 (less bandwidth due to vacancies and contractor availability, under budget by YE), Conference & Travel $13 (likely due to COVID and turnover), Clothing Supplies $13 (haven't placed orders, yet, TBD by YE), Water Assessment Services $12 (underspend by YE), and Contractual Labor $10 (less solids to haul to landfill this year and some internal staff hauled), offset by Other Supplies ($28) (price increases to consumable safety equipment, cleaning supplies, etc, over budget by YE), Natural Gas ($25) (likely due to colder than expected weather this past winter and larger than expected price increase, over budget by YE), Electrical Parts ($15) (unexpected switchgear issue, over budget by YE), and Vehicle Repair Services ($13) (unanticipated expenses to repair Brown Bear, over budget by YE).Vehicle Repair Services ($39), Traffic Control Services ($36), Tools & Related Supplies ($26), Health & Safety Supplies ($20), Water Pipe & Accessories ($11), Sand and Gravel ($10), Education & Training ($15), Conference & Travel ($13), offset by Street & Bridge Maint. $82, Solid Waste Services $40, Other Professional & Tech $12, Concrete & Asphalt $10Water Treatment Facility $610 (in general: not doing as many projects due to purchasing changes and turnover: Consulting $232, Construction Contracts $176, Other Capital Outlay $71, Other Equipment $71, Mechanical & Heavy Equipment $66, Motor Vehicles $27, Building Maintenance Services $23, and Water Filter Material $20, offset by Construction Services ($72), Building Improvements ($31), Machinery & Equipment Parts ($17), as well as Security Equipment $46 (due to supply chain issues and hiccups with centralizing security). WastewaterRevenuein thousandsPercent of Year 91.7%November Year to DateActualOver/ (Under)BudgetActualOver/ (Under) Inc/(Dec)% Bud Recvd % Act Recvd2022 2022 Bud 2022 2022 2022 Bud 2021 2022 2021Residential WW Sales$ 1,317 * $ 2 $ 14,449 $ 14,554 $ 105(A)$ (99) 92% 91%Com/Indl WW Sales496 * (6) 5,765 5,568 (196)(B)413 90% 100%District WW Sales33 * (3) 389 374 (16) (3) 88% 91%Other WW Sales37 * 13 184 300 116(C)41 150% 107%PILOTs111 (1) 1,243 1,230 (13) 19 91% 93%Operating Revenue1,9945 22,031 22,027 (4) 371 92% 93%Interest Revenue65 34 313 448 134 161 138% 154%Development Fees/PIFs/Contributions699 664 480 1,118 639(D)159 149% 74%Financing Sources0 0 0 4 4 (21)Other Misc4 4 91 129 38(E)22 103% 86%Total Lapsing Revenue**2,761 706 22,915 23,726 811 692 94% 93%Non-lapsing Revenue000TOTAL** $ 2,761 $ 23,726 $ 692Variance Analysis:Note: No Wastewater rate increase for 2022.(A)(B)(C)(D)(E)Bad Debt Recovery $23 and Lab Services $16.***Residential sales are 0.7% over budget and 0.7% less than YTD 2021.Septage Treatment Charge $115.Commercial/Industrial sales are 3.4% under budget and 8.0% more than YTD 2021. due to decreased water consumption for some of the larger customers driven by weather variations and Excludes transfers and unrealized gain/loss on value.Plant Investment Fees $632 (two large developments in November).November billed revenue is for October and early November. Wastewater Fund2022 Department ExpenseIn thousandsPercent of Year 91.7%Excludes depreciation and transfersNovember Year to DateActual(Over)/ UnderYTD Bdgt Actual(Over)/ Under YTD (Inc)/DecActual + PO's% Bud Spent & Committed2022 2022 Bud 2022 2022 2022 Bud 2021 2022 by PO'sWater Reclamation & Biosolids $ 498 $ (38) $ 5,410 $ 5,200 $ 210(A)$ (127) $ 5,437 86%Pollution Control Lab89 7 1,068 1,017 51 (10) 1,058 85%Subtotal WR&T587 (32) 6,4796,217 262(137) 6,495 86%Trunk & Collection127 2 1,533 1,499 34 (151) 1,499 85%Engineering35 25 875 610 265(B)(224) 706 72%Subtotal WEFS16227 2,4082,109300(376) 2,205 80%PILOTs111 1 1,243 1,230 13 (19) 1,230 91%Admin Services - CS&A214 (0) 2,354 2,354 (0) (27) 2,354 92%Other Payments & Transfers135 (31) 1,282 1,410 (129)(C)(314) 1,429 65%Subtotal Operating Expenses $ 1,208$ (35) $ 13,765 $ 13,320 $ 445 $ (872) $ 13,713 83%Debt Service0 1,979 2,239 259 1,979(D)$ 1,954 259 12%Minor Capital114 (74) 771 866 (95)(E)$ (293) 1,304 101%Total Lapsing $ 1,323 $ 1,870 $ 16,775 $ 14,445 $ 2,330 $ 790 $ 15,276 50%Non-lapsing Expenses207 4,171 (302)TOTAL $ 1,530 $ 18,616 $ 488Variance Analysis:(A)(B)(C)(D)(E)Consulting $112 (likely underspend by year-end (YE) working toward carrying forward), Personnel $116 (vacancies), Conference & Travel $27 (vacancies and coverage as well as savings due to virtual rather than in person; will persist), Machinery & Equipment Parts $68 (vacancies and supply chain delays causing delays in some replacements, under by YE), Contractual Labor $18 and Land Maintenance Services $10 (used as needed for grounds maintenance-type activities; contractor shortage and and haven't had staff to manage - shifting to internal Ground Maint. staff going forward, underspend by YE), Water $22, Communication Supplies $20 (not as many comms-related projects this year - verifying maintenance costs not going to Op Tech), Other Professional & Tech. $12 (outstanding invoices to grease trap monitoring vendor; close to budget by YE), offset by Electricity ($91) (budget kept flat since 2019 despite annual rate increases, and don't have what we need to meet process needs and be energy efficient with blowers at MWRF; over budget by YE), Chemicals ($65) (use depends on treatment levels and processes and costs have increased; some things weren't budgeted adequately (e.g. carbon); over budget by YE), Natural Gas ($28) (budget reduced expecting savings due to digestor pumps, heat exchanger, and cogen - latter two are not online; cogen not complete due to parts and staff resources; over budget by YE), Motor Fuel, Oil & Grease ($15) (use of vehicles increased due to cold weather and cost increases, over budget by YE), and Lab Supplies ($12) (increased materials costs, over budget by YE).Consulting $155 and Construction Services $19 (~$75 of DWRF Utility Mapping unspent and unencumbered for the year; remainder used as needed and haven't had the need), and Personnel $40 (vacancies, offset by a PM position that was repurposed to WRB Engineer working on replacement and minor capital projects, but HBU not moved thus allocation out applied at status quo, will persist into '23-'24), and Other Professional & Technical $20 (used as needed - no needs for it this year, likely underspend by YE).Legal Services ($133) (related to OASIS/Open International lawsuit, over budget by YE).Trunk & Collection ($347) (budget for dump truck purchase from PO carryforward distributed in Dec, will correct then, except for ~$8 due to purchasing a larger excavator than usual for safety reasons, over $8 by YE), Water Reclamation & Biosolids $252 (Vehicles/Equipment $238 ($129 encumbered and awaiting deliver for a loader; expecting to pay ~$55K in Dec for a truck), Building Improvements $61 (recently discovered a ~$55K false encumbrance led to not spending; under ~$50 by year-end), offset by Other Capital Outlay ($47) (unexpected repairs to concrete and asphalt at DWRF, over ~$47 by YE)). Debt service expected to be paid in November (as advised by Treasury), but was paid in December, flat to budget by year-end. StormwaterRevenuein thousandsPercent of Year 91.7%November Year to DateActualOver/ (Under)BudgetActualOver/ (Under) Inc/(Dec)% Bud Recvd % Act Recvd2022 2022 Bud 2022 2022 2022 Bud 2021 2022 2021Single Family Residential SW Services$ 682 * $ (3) $ 7,505 $ 7,485 $ (20)(A)$ 67 91% 92%Non-single Family SW Services835 * (8) 9,244 9,164 (80)(B)92 91% 92%Operating Revenue1,517 (11) 16,74816,648(100) 16091% 92%Interest Revenue47 29 176 313 138 132 171% 165%Development Fees/PIFs/Contributions85 56 484 683 199(C)(540) 120% 48%Financing Sources0 0 0 10 10 (17)Other Misc33 03939(D)7 116%Total Lapsing Revenue**1,652 77 17,407 17,693 286 (259) 93% 90%Non-lapsing Revenue000TOTAL** $ 1,652 $ 17,693 $ (259)Variance Analysis:Note: No Stormwater rate increase for 2022.(A)(B)(C)(D)***Stormwater Development Fee $114, Erosion Control Development Inspection $46, Development Review Charges $25, and Infrastructure Development Inspection $13.Non-Single Family fees are 0.9% under budget and 1.0% greater than 2021.Single Family Residential fees are 0.3% under budget and 0.9% greater than 2021.Excludes transfers and unrealized gain/loss on value.November billed revenue is for October and early November. Floodplain Permits $19, Bad Debt Recovery $7, Other Misc $6, and Insurance Recovery $4. Stormwater Fund2022 Department ExpenseIn thousandsPercent of Year 91.7%Excludes depreciation and transfersNovemberYear to DateActual(Over)/ UnderBudget Actual(Over)/ Under (Inc)/Dec Actual + PO's% Bud Spent & Committed2022 2022 Bud 2022 2022 2022 Bud 2021 2022 by PO'sDrainage and Detention$ 209 $ (29) $ 1,924 $ 1,984 $ (60)(A)$ (323) $ 2,078 95%Engineering110 26 1,841 1,229 612(B)(10) 1,462 70%Stormwater Quality Programs22 8 561 340 221 5 496 79%Admin Services - CS&A255 (0) 2,803 2,803 (0) (20) 2,803 92%Other Payments & Transfers97 (29) 793 899 (106)(C)(236) 917 45%Subtotal Operating Expenses$ 693$ (24) $ 7,922$ 7,255$ 667$ (585) $ 7,75578%Debt Service906 0 917 917 0 411 917 100%Minor Capital52 (52) 1,150 822 328(D)(708) 1,203 98%Total Lapsing $ 1,651 $ (76) $ 9,989 $ 8,994$ 995 $ (881) $ 9,87581%Non-lapsing Expenses505 3,354 755TOTAL$ 2,156$ 12,348$ (127)Variance Analysis:(A)(B)(C)(D)Mowing Services $33 (BFO offer 4.14), Personnel $44 (vacancies and turnover), Vehicle Repair $59 (reactionary - newer equipment holding up well, under budget by ~$50 by YE), Consulting $65 (BFO Offer 1.65 Dirt Recycling & Management Study expected to be unspent, under budget by $75 by YE), offset by Street & Bridge Maintenance ($52) (reactionary to necessary repairs and ~$60 for CMO directive for Glenmoor pond work, over budget ~$50 by YE), Land Maintenance Services ($49) (reactionary to necessary needs, over budget ~$50 by YE), Leased Equipment Rental Services ($59) (reactionary to necessary repairs, over budget ~$50 by YE), Vehicle Supplies ($15) (flow through from Fleet), Health & Safety Supplies ($33) (were told to buy AED and OSHA 10 Hour, confined space equipment within existing budgets, over budget ~$30+ by YE), and Sewer Pipe & Accessories ($38) (reactionary to necessary repairs, over budget ~$50 by YE).Consulting $210 (primarily BFO offer 4.16 Poudre River Flow Consolidation Study, expecting to complete and use most of the budget by YE, Personnel $228 (primarily vacancies, under budget by YE), Other Professional & Technical $13 (used as needed, likely underspend by YE), and Conference & Travel $10 (due to vacancies, underspend by YE).Legal Services ($133) (related to OASIS/Open International lawsuit, over budget by YE).Personnel $30 (vacancies), Consulting $21 (State has postponed work on TMDL until 2023), Household Hazardous Waste Disposal $143 (waiting to receive invoice), Educational Programs $14 (staffing issues). Utilities electric · stormwater · wastewater · water 700 Wood Street PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.212.2900 V/TDD: 711 utilities@fcgov.com fcgov.com/utilities M E M O R A N D U M DATE: December 8, 2022 TO: Water Commission FROM: Michael Neale, MSc, Water Resources Engineer RE: November 2022 Water Resources Division Staff Report Purpose This memorandum is intended to update the Water Commission on water resource conditions for the City of Fort Collins Water Utility (Water Utility) over the month of November and provide updated outlook information. For additional information, please refer to the City’s website: https://www.fcgov.com/utilities/water-status Water Resources Summary Supply and Demand • Water Supply – During the month of November, water supply consisted of 53% from Horsetooth Reservoir, and 47% from the Poudre River. • Water Demand – Demands within the Water Utility service area for the month of November were slightly above projected. Please refer to the graphs and tables below. • Water demand for November was 99% of the projected demand. • Water demand for calendar year is 97% of the projected demand. Weather: https://climate.colostate.edu/ Measured at the Fort Collins weather station 053005 along with average normals from 1991-2020: • Mean daily high temperature recorded for the month: 48.5 oF. • 30-year average daily high temperature for the month is: 52.5 oF. • Total recorded monthly precipitation: 0.79 inches. • 30-year average precipitation for the month: 0.74 inches. Reservoir Storage: The Northern District Storage and Delivery Report was not produced for the December board meeting. As of November 1st: • Colorado-Big Thompson project reservoirs (Granby, Carter, and Horsetooth): 77% full. • Horsetooth Reservoir: 51% full. • As of December 1st: Joe Wright Reservoir: 67% full (110% of average for the month based on 14 years of data). Cache la Poudre River flow: Graphical data for the Poudre River is available on-line at: • Cache La Poudre River at the Canyon Mouth https://dwr.state.co.us/Tools/Stations/CLAFTCCO?params=DISCHRG • Cache La Poudre River at Fort Collins https://dwr.state.co.us/Tools/Stations/CLAFORCO?params=DISCHRG Drought Monitors: • Larimer County and Colorado https://climate.colostate.edu/drought_info.html As of December 6th, Larimer County is experiencing abnormally dry conditions. • Colorado and the USA https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/ The Colorado River basin remains in severe drought conditions. Climate Outlook: https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) climate outlooks for the northern Front Range and northern mountains, over the next three months: • Equal chances of above or below normal precipitation. • Equal chances of above or below normal temperature. Other Water Supply Considerations: • The Colorado-Big Thompson (CBT) system is in a healthy state with 110% equivalent quota in project reserves, this on top of the initial quota allocation and carryover. • In October, Northern Water set the initial 2023 quota at 40% due to uncertainty regarding Colorado River Basin drought management policy and Northern Water’s commitment to system resiliency. Typically, the initial quota is set at 50%. • An additional quota is issued in April each year and more can be issued by the board in later months. For water year 2022, the additional quota was 20% followed by another 10% in June to supplement agriculture experiencing dry conditions, for a total quota of 80%. • Once the additional quota is allocated in April, our Water Shortage Action Committee will assess snowpack, soil moisture, climate outlook and reservoir storage to determine if a water shortage declaration will be necessary. • Water Resources Division is closely monitoring the hydrology of the Colorado River basin, the statewide and regional discussions around the Colorado River Compact, and any demand management action by the Federal Bureau of Reclamation in response to drought in the Colorado River basin. • Water Resources Division maintains close communication with Northern Water regarding any drought response or policy action affecting the CBT system. As of now, there is no indication of drought management action needed from Northern Water. • If we need to implement water restrictions, we have the Water Shortage Action Plan (WSAP) to guide our decisions and actions (fcgov.com/WSAP). City of Fort Collins Utilities Treated Water Monthly Summary 2022 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year to Date WTF Water Supply (MG) From Poudre 161.6 0.0 190.8 293.2 122.3 288.4 431.0 335.7 466.1 268.4 238.4 2,795.9 From Horsetooth 289.9 433.3 306.1 297.1 696.5 785.3 756.4 856.4 549.4 386.8 240.7 5,597.9 Total Raw Water 451.5 433.3 496.8 590.3 818.8 1,073.8 1,187.3 1,192.1 1,015.6 655.2 479.1 8,393.9 Demands (MG) WTF Production 436.0 415.4 468.3 557.2 780.5 1,025.9 1,134.5 1,143.8 974.0 630.4 465.1 8,031.0 Change in Storage -1.6 -1.0 4.0 4.7 -0.2 0.5 0.7 0.8 -2.2 -0.6 -4.3 0.7 Demand on WTF 437.6 416.4 464.4 552.5 780.7 1,025.4 1,133.8 1,143.0 976.3 630.9 469.4 8,030.3 From Soldier Canyon 21.8 7.1 14.4 48.7 174.5 307.9 348.5 321.7 263.9 74.4 6.9 1,589.9 To Soldier Canyon 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 -0.1 0.0 -0.1 To FC-Lov/NWCWD -39.6 -33.2 -48.4 -96.0 -235.9 -407.7 -469.8 -456.3 -379.4 -137.9 -43.8 -2,347.9 For City 419.8 390.3 430.4 505.3 719.3 925.6 1,012.4 1,008.4 860.8 567.4 432.5 7,272.2 Daily Deliveries to City (MG) Max During Month 14.8 15.7 14.8 24.3 29.7 35.7 37.4 35.9 35.3 24.4 16.4 37.4 Min During Month 12.1 13.4 12.7 13.9 18.2 21.9 25.8 27.7 21.5 14.3 11.5 11.5 Avg During Month 13.5 13.9 13.9 16.8 23.2 30.9 32.7 32.5 28.7 18.3 14.4 21.7 Monthly Deliveries (Ac-Ft) Projected 1,369 1,247 1,392 1,551 1,961 2,959 3,329 3,251 2,760 1,685 1,338 1,339 24,181 Actual 1,288 1,198 1,321 1,551 2,208 2,841 3,107 3,095 2,642 1,741 1,327 22,318 Ratio 94%96%95%100%113%96%93%95%96%103%99%92% Year to Date Deliveries (Ac-Ft) Projected 1,369 2,616 4,008 5,559 7,520 10,479 13,808 17,058 19,819 21,503 22,842 24,181 24,181 Actual 1,288 2,486 3,807 5,358 7,565 10,406 13,513 16,607 19,249 20,990 22,318 22,318 Ratio 94%95%95%96%101%99%98%97%97%98%98%92% Joe Wright SNOTEL site - Daily time series for water year 2023 Utilities electric · stormwater · wastewater · water 222 Laporte Ave. PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580 970.212.2900 V/TDD: 711 utilities@fcgov.com fcgov.com/utilities DATE: November 28, 2022 TO: Fort Collins Water Commission FROM: Mariel Miller, Water Conservation Manager RE: 2022 Sprinkler Checkup Program Annual Report Bottom Line: Water Conservation completed a successful 2022 residential Sprinkler Checkup season, conducting 484 checkups across Fort Collins Utilities (Utilities), Fort Collins-Loveland (FCLWD), and East Larimer County (ELCO) water districts from May through September. The table below illustrates where checkups occurred by water district and in relation to city limits and the Growth Management Area (GMA). Location Utilities ELCO FCLWD Total Inside city limits 193 33 127 353 Outside city limits, within GMA 2 14 8 24 Outside GMA 0 7 100 107 Total 195 54 235 484 Background: Utilities’ Sprinkler Checkup Program began in 1999, offering free, 90-minute checkups to residential customers. A checkup includes a thorough visual inspection of the system, a custom watering schedule, and recommended upgrades and repairs. Over the last 24 years, we have conducted 7,787 checkups and reduced an estimated 93 million gallons of water. In a typical year, we hire four seasonal technicians. In total, we have hired approximately 67 Sprinkler Checkup Technicians, several of whom went on to receive full-time positions with the City. 2022 Program Highlights:  The Sprinkler Checkup Program completed 484 sprinkler checkups in 2022, the second highest total ever, including both automated and non-automated system checkups.  51% of customer survey respondents made changes to their system or controller post- checkup.  The average turn-around time for building and sending post-checkup customer reports was just two days.  15,462 sprinkler heads were inspected (76% were reported to be in good condition, with the remaining 24% exhibiting operational problems that often lead to overwatering or wasted water).  Assessed about 2 million square feet of turf (equivalent to 34 football fields). 11/28/2022 This year, Water Conservation implemented the following program enhancements and changes:  Sprinkler Checkup yard signs were displayed on customer properties with consent for about two weeks and then picked up and reused at future checkups. The signs effectively promoted the program, and we plan to have more on hand for next year.  District-specific checkup days provided a more efficient schedule that helped technicians decrease travel time, cost, and vehicle emissions between each checkup. It also afforded the ability to spend more time with customers, if necessary.  MyWater Residential Water Budgets were added to reports for Utilities customers, replacing the original Landscape Water Budgets. The MyWater budgets reflect the size of the landscape, the landscape’s water requirement, the number of people, and seasonal timing, providing a more accurate and customized tool to help customers manage their water use.  Refined estimated water savings by adjusting for weather, which is expected to yield more accurate program water saving amounts relative to estimates in previous years. Over the years, we have evolved the program to incorporate new technology, improve the customer experience, and increase program efficiencies. In 2009, we began expanding our reach to include Utilities customers serviced water by FCLWD, those serviced by ELCO, and eventually, all customers in all three water districts, even if they reside outside of Fort Collins. We offer this service to the other water providers for a per-checkup fee, which is updated regularly to ensure it covers Utilities’ expenses to offer checkups in areas outside of Utilities water service area. Please see the 2022 Sprinkler Checkup Program annual report attached. You can find the program’s 2023 waitlist and more information at: fcgov.com/sprinkler-checkups. CC: Jason Graham, Director of Water, Utilities Gretchen Stanford, Utilities Deputy Director, Customer Connections Fort Collins Utilities Sprinkler Checkup Program 2022 1 BACKGROUND 2022 marked the 24th year of the Fort Collins Utilities Sprinkler Checkup Program, which provides free water efficiency evaluations of residential sprinkler systems. Since 1999, the Sprinkler Checkup Program has provided 7,787 free system evaluations. These assessments cover system efficiency, optimal operation, and potential water-saving upgrades. Sprinkler checkup technicians also discuss turf health, landscape transformation, and indoor conservation. After the site visit, participants receive a follow-up report that includes advice on efficient lawn watering, as well as a customized watering schedule and list of needed repairs and potential upgrades. Over the years, the service has grown to include other water districts and multiple enhancements. BENEFITS During the summer months, about 60% of all treated water is used outdoors. The benefits of educating our community and fostering better management of irrigation include: • Supporting Fort Collins Utilities’ and other water districts’ water efficiency plans. • Reducing peak usage, which drives overall water system capacity needs. • Reducing summer water bills for customers. • Reducing run-off and keeping excess irrigation from taking fertilizer and other pollution into waterways . • Helping the community adapt to a changing climate and improve resiliency to drought. PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS 484 sprinkler systems across three water districts were assessed in 2022, one of the highest totals ever and second only to last year’s record of 505 checkups. We reached 97% of our goal of 500 checkups. In 2022, July was our busiest season of the month with 163 checkups, which is 41 checkups per week on average. Number of Sprinkler Checkups by Water District and Month May Jun Jul Aug Sep Total Utilities 2 50 71 35 37 195 FCLWD 2 70 66 69 28 235 ELCO 0 11 26 13 4 54 Total 4 131 163 117 69 484 2019 Introduction of the Sprinkler Audit Plus program, ongoing monthly reports for customers, and GIS mapping enhancements. 2020 Continued program with adapted methods through COVID-19 pandemic and increased reliance on GIS software. 2021 Continued adapted COVID-19 precautions and introduced new non- automated checkups and demographic evaluations. 2022 Implemented yard sign promotion, created district- specific checkup days, and transitioned to MyWater residential budgets. 484 Total Checkups Completed Fort Collins Utilities Sprinkler Checkup Program 2022 2 Sprinkler checkup technicians used an online application and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to collect unique data at each site and provide the following program results: • Assessed 1,976,806 square feet (~34 football fields) of turf. • Reduced usage by approximately 454,700 gallons (equivalent to the water use of about 6 homes for one year1). • Changed schedules on 48% of controllers to be more efficient during the checkup (51% of survey respondents said they adjusted their controller post-checkup). • Averaged a 2-day turnaround from sprinkler checkup completion to customer report delivery. Program participation from FCLWD customers was 17.5% greater in 2022 than 2021. The increase followed promotion via emails sent to customers, Facebook posts, and newsletter excerpts by FCLWD. ELCO also saw a 26% increase in participation from its customers: 43 checkups in 2021 compared to 54 checkups in 2022. 1 The average annual residential water use for Fort Collins Utilities water service customers in 2018-2020 was 83,000 gallons. 2 Completed checkups include duplicate checkups for houses with large properties; 1 in ELCO and 1 in FCLWD. The numbers in parentheses in the Completed checkups column denotes check-ups performed on non-automated systems. 3 The ‘gallons reduced’ estimates were calculated using irrigation events observed through hourly water usage data from Fort Co llins Utilities Customers before and after the checkup, using a weather normalized approach. A coefficient for gallons saved per square foot of assessed area was established and then multiplied to reflect the savings for each square foot of assessed area. In previous years, staff has used a coefficient that was not weather normalized and compared pre- and post-checkup irrigation estimates to prior years. The savings results are lower than previous years and are conservative estimates. Staff will continue to analyze methodology in future program years, using other methods for estimating outdoor water use vs. indoor use. The gallons saved per square foot estimate for Fort Collins Utilities was then extrapolated across the partnering districts to estimate the total gallons of water reduced for the entire season in each district. 4 The ‘controllers changed’ estimates are conservative as they only consider checkups where the technician or the homeowner re-programmed the controller during the checkup. There are likely customers who later reprogrammed the controller and made repairs or upgrades to their system that also resulted in water conservation. The total percentage of controllers changed is the amount of controllers re-programmed (228) within all three districts divided by total checkups (479--not including non-automated and duplicated checkups). Water Service District Average area assessed per home (sq. ft.) Completed checkups2 Total area assessed (sq. ft.) Estimated water reduction (gal)3 Controllers changed (%)4 Utilities 3,425 195 (3)3 667,782 153,600 51% FCLWD 4,685 235 (1) 1,100,092 253,000 42% ELCO 3,965 54 (1) 208,932 48,100 60% Total 4,095 484 (5) 1,976,806 454,700 48% Fort Collins Utilities Sprinkler Checkup Program 2022 3 PARTICIPANT FEEDBACK Following each sprinkler checkup, customers were sent an online evaluation survey to gather information about the value of the checkup, what was learned, what changes were made post-checkup, and demographic information. We received 93 responses in total among all three districts, with varying response rates per question. When customers surveyed were asked about whether the checkup met expectations, we received 92 responses. 61 indicated that the sprinkler checkup exceeded expectations, while 27 indicated the checkup met expectations. 4 customers reported that their checkups fell short of their expectations due to misunderstandings about the scope of a checkup (e.g., finding an underground leak) and what information is received in person vs. in the post-checkup report. 95% of Checkups Met or Exceeded Customer Expectations Customer Comments “[The technician] was awesome. [They] pointed out some things I could do and offered to make a bunch of changes to my controller.” - Utilities Customer “[The technician] was absolutely fantastic! VERY detail-oriented and went through my entire sprinkler program/zone setup with me. This is an incredible service that Fort Collins offers, and I’ve been praising it to everyone, including my realtor!” -Utilities Customer “[The technician] was very thorough and took the time to explain how sprinkler heads work and how to adjust them.” -ELCO Customer “[The technician] gave complete advice, recommending a doable watering plan and a thorough evaluation of our system.” -ELCO Customer “[The technician] was very thorough and patiently answered all my questions. [They] took the time to thoroughly review everything. The report and recommendations included much more detail than I expected.” -FCLWD Customer 19% Response Rate 66% Exceeded Expectations 29% Met Expectations Fort Collins Utilities Sprinkler Checkup Program 2022 4 PARTICIPANT DEMOGRAPHICS For the second time in the program, the post-checkup evaluations included optional questions about various demographics. Of the 93 participants from all three water districts that completed a post-checkup evaluation, 87 answered some or all the demographic questions within the post-checkup evaluation. The responses were compared to total population demographics for the city of Fort Collins and for Larimer County, since checkup participants from the various water districts may reside outside of Fort Collins city limits. The “Percent Change Column” compares sprinkler checkup percentages from the 2022 season to the sprinkler checkup percentages from 2021’s season. It is important to note that the percentage calculated is based off the number of respondents per question. Household Income The table below compares household income percentages of residents who took part in the Sprinkler Checkup Program and completed the evaluation to the population with the City of Fort Collins and Larimer County. From this data, we see that the survey responses are underrepresented for income ranges of less than $99,000. Survey responses for income ranges greater than $100,000 are generally overrepresented when compared to total city and county populations. Household Income5 2022 Sprinkler Checkups Larimer County City of Fort Collins Less than $10,000 0% 5% 6% $10,000-$19,999 0% 6% 7% $20,000-$29,999 1% 8% 8% $30,000-$39,999 2% 7% 8% $40,000-$49,999 6% 7% 7% $50,000-$59,999 6% 7% 7% $60,000-$74,999 8% 10% 9% $75,000-$99,000 8% 15% 14% $100,000-$124,999 17% 11% 10% $125,000-$149,999 8% 7% 7% $150,000-$199,999 4% 9% 9% $200,000 or More 12% 8% 8% Decline to Specify 28% N/A N/A 5 Household Income: Larimer County and City of Fort Collins data sourced from: Larimer County Housing and Living Statistics. Fort Collins Utilities Sprinkler Checkup Program 2022 5 The table below compares household income percentages of customers who took part in the 2021 Sprinkler Checkup Program and subsequent survey to customers who took part in the 2022 season and survey. Household Income 2021 Sprinkler Checkups 2022 Sprinkler Checkups % Change $0-$49,999 11% 9% -2% $50,000-$74,999 4% 13% 9% $75,000-$99,999 18% 8% -10% $100,000-$149,999 24% 25% 1% $150,000-$199,999 7% 5% -2% Greater than $200,000 9% 12% 3% Decline to Specify 27% 28% 1% Fort Collins Utilities Sprinkler Checkup Program 2022 6 Race This table shows a breakdown of race and ethnicity demographics of program participants who completed an evaluation compared to total Larimer County and City of Fort Collins populations. Race6 2022 Sprinkler Checkup Percent Change from 2021 Larimer County City of Fort Collins American Indian/ Alaskan Native 0% -1% 0% 0% Asian 1% -4% 2% 4% Black/African American 0% -1% 1 % 1% Two or More Races 2% 0% 5% 5% White 86% 5% 79% 77% Decline to Specify 11% 1% N/A N/A Ethnicity 2022 Sprinkler Checkups Percent Change From 2021 Larimer County City of Fort Collins Hispanic/Latino Origin (Of Any Race) 4% 0% 12% 12% Non-Hispanic/Latino Origin 81% 0% 88% 88% Decline to Specify 15% 0% N/A N/A 6 Race: Larimer County data sourced from: Census Data for Colorado (2020). Data Set: Population by Race and Ethnicity 2020 Counties City of Fort Collins Data sourced from: Census Data for Colorado (2020). Data Set: Population by Race and Ethnicity 2020 Municipalities. Fort Collins Utilities Sprinkler Checkup Program 2022 7 Property Occupants Status This table shows property occupancy status of sprinkler checkup participants who completed the evaluation. This data shows that most program participants own their home as compared to renting. Outreach and marketing efforts, program changes and other tactics will be considered to better address program barriers associated with renter populations, since around 22% of single-family detached homes in Fort Collins are rentals and the survey responses are only 2% renters. Property Occupant Status 2022 Response Percentages Percent Change from 2021 Other 0% -1% Own 94% 7% Rent 2% -5% Decline to Specify 4% 0% Length of Residence in Fort Collins Area This table shows the length of residence in the Fort Collins area for sprinkler checkup participants who completed an evaluation. Notably, it shows that new homeowners/residents and those that have lived in the area for a long period of time are most interested in having their irrigation system evaluated. Length of Residence in Fort Collins Area 2022 Response Percentages Percent Change from 2021 1-5 Years 28% -6% 6-10 Years 16% 1% 11-15 Years 11% 2% 16-20 Years 8% 4% More Than 20 Years 33% 0% Decline to Specify 4% -1% Post-Checkup Evaluation Customer Data Highlights 59% of customers replaced heads or nozzles post- checkup. 46% of customers learned what the cycle-soak method was. 51% of customers improved controller settings (implementing cycle- soak, reducing days per week, etc.). 43% of customers learned their watering schedule should change during the season to account for weather changes. Fort Collins Utilities Sprinkler Checkup Program 2022 8 CONTINUED RESPONSE TO COVID-19 Training Training was conducted in the office and in the field with a hybrid-remote option for the mitigation of COVID-19 exposure. Water Conservation worked with Safety & Risk Management to advise technicians and staff on proper PPE use, customer interactions, potential COVID-19 threats associated with the program, and how to mitigate such threats. Customer Outreach To ensure the safety of both customer and technician, staff engaged with customers prior to their scheduled sprinkler checkup. Before each scheduled checkup, automated emails were sent out to customers with screening questions to ensure the customer, those in their household, and those they interact with did not have COVID-19 or show signs of illness. If any customers had symptoms that could be related to COVID-19 or had been exposed to someone developing illness, they were required to reschedule their checkup appointment. Pre-checkup outreach emails to customers also set expectations for COVID-19 precautionary procedures taken by technicians during the appointment. Pre-checkup outreach creates transparency between customers and staff, keeping both parties safe. Checkups are conducted outside, so when sprinkler checkup technicians arrived at appointments, they asked the customer about their preferences with masks, distancing, and interaction during the checkup. Doing this prior to the checkup with the customer ensures all parties are comfortable and feel safe during the duration of the appointment. COVID-19 precautions, paired with routine checkup procedures, helped ensure safe and effective sprinkler checkups. PROGRAM ENHANCEMENTS Evaluating Program Inclusivity After evaluating numerous program changes with various groups and expert staff, with an objective to increase the program’s efficiency and participation, staff made the following key changes prior to the start of the 2022 season: • Implemented Yard Sign Promotion • Created District-Specific Checkup Days • Transitioned to MyWater Residential Water Budgets Fort Collins Utilities Sprinkler Checkup Program 2022 9 Yard Sign Promotion This year, the program purchased 20 yard signs to advertise sprinkler checkups in customer’s yards. Signs were placed with customers’ consent for two weeks before being picked up and placed in another’s yard. The signs were kept track of using FieldMaps, an ArcGIS data collection mobile application. The sprinkler checkup yard sign distribution effectively promoted the program and will be launched on a larger scale for next year. District-Specific Checkup Days 2022 was the first year the program implemented district-specific checkup days to reduce travel time and emissions for sprinkler technicians between appointments. Because many ELCO and FCLWD homes are located in east Fort Collins, south Fort Collins, Windsor, or Timnath, the drive between each sprinkler checkup location could be upwards of 10-15 miles (20-25 minutes). To maximize efficiency, the sprinkler checkup calendar was set up so that customers from each of the three districts (FCU, FCLWD, and ELCO) could sign up for checkups days specific to their district. If customers were unable to find a time that worked for them on the district-specific day, they could call the Sprinkler Checkup Program to have a staff scheduler manually add them to a different day. MyWater Residential Water Budget Previously, landscape water budgets were included in reports for FCU customers. This year the program switched to providing MyWater residential water budgets instead. The MyWater residential water budget considers the size of the landscape, the landscape water requirement, number of people, and seasonal adjustments. Its purpose is to provide a more accurate and customized tool to help customers manage their water use. Future Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Program Enhancements Under Evaluation for 2023 Hoped-for enhancements include the following: • Targeted program promotion and outreach to underrepresented groups identified in the 2022 survey results. • Like the non-automated sprinkler checkups, automated sprinkler checkups may include more evening checkup options to minimize the barrier of having to schedule a checkup during traditional working hours. • Prioritize the hiring of a diverse sprinkler technician group, including an intern with Spanish fluency. • Consider translating program materials and outreach to Spanish. Fort Collins Utilities Sprinkler Checkup Program 2022 10 GIS AND MAP PRODUCTION Offline mapping capability ensuring fast and efficient data collection in the field Standardized map template ensuring quality and consistency High-resolution, aerial imagery base map Integrated map symbols indicating sprinkler head type, operating condition, and zone number Ability to map drip lines Dynamic map legend that updates automatically to reflect the sprinkler system of interest Fort Collins Utilities Sprinkler Checkup Program 2022 11 Common Problems A total of 15,462 sprinkler heads were inspected in the 2022 season, including 11,788 (76%) in good condition, with the remaining 3,674 (24%) exhibiting operational problems. The two most common problems in every water district were tilted and broken heads. Tilted heads are often caused by lawn mowers or nearby foot traffic, which can result in dry or dead grass where there are uneven spray patterns and lack of water coverage. Straightening sprinkler heads creates an even distribution of water. Broken heads lead to dry or dead grass where there is a lack of water coverage, as well as wasted water near the site of the broken head, where water can frequently be found leaking at a high volume. MyWater Residential Water Budgets Water Budgets were included in customers’ sprinkler checkup reports for the fourth season. This year, reports transitioned from having landscape water budgets to MyWater residential water budgets. The MyWater residential water budget graphs display customers’ historic monthly water use for up to two years and compares it to an estimate of how much water is needed per month based on the area of their landscape that is irrigated. If excess water usage occurred in 2021, staff can evaluate the potential for utility bill saving, in gallons and dollars, and includes this information with the graph to provide an estimate of potential annual savings had there been no excess water use. This is challenging to do with only partial data from the current irrigation year, which is why data from prior years is needed. MyWater Residential Water Budget Number of People Irrigated Area of Turf Landscape Water Requirement Seasonal Adjustments Tilted 25% Broken 16% Obstruction 13% Low Pressure 11% Over Throwing 11% Sunken 8% Wrong Equipment 5% High Pressure 5% Other 4% Clogged 2% Geyser <1% Fort Collins Utilities Sprinkler Checkup Program 2022 12 Example of a MyWater residential water budget graph that indicates the customer’s indoor and outdoor water use compared to their personalized water budget. The light blue dotted line above the dark blue shading indicates that in summer months the customer has exceeded their water budget, likely due to outdoor irrigation. This customer uses more water than their landscape needs. CITY LIMITS AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT AREA CLASSIFICATIONS Number of 2022 Sprinkler Checkups Location Utilities ELCO FCLWD Total Inside city limits 193 33 127 353 Outside city limits, within GMA 2 14 8 24 Outside GMA 0 7 100 107 Total 195 54 235 484 Fort Collins Utilities Sprinkler Checkup Program 2022 13 Locations of 2022 Sprinkler Checkups