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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Commission - MINUTES - 11/21/2024 WATER COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING November 21, 2024, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Hybrid in person at 222 Laporte Ave and online via Teams 11/21 /20 2 4 – MINUTES Page 1 The Water Commission advises City Council regarding water, wastewater, and stormwater policy issues such as water rights, planning, acquisition and management, conservation and public education, floodplain regulations, storm drainage, and development criteria. Read more at https://www.fcgov.com/cityclerk/boards/water. 1. CALL TO ORDER 5:30 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL • Commissioners Present In Person: Jordan Radin (Chairperson), Tyler Eldridge (Vice Chairperson), James Bishop, Paul Herman, Nicole Ng, John Primsky, Greg Steed • Commissioners Present via Teams: Rick Kahn • Commissioners Absent - Excused: Nick Martin • Staff Members Present In Person: Jeremy Woolf, John Song, Andrew Gingerich, Matt Fater, Nicole Poncelet-Johnson, Gregg Stonecipher, Michael Neale, Jen Dial, Leslie Hill, Jill Oropeza, Theodore Bender, Kelly Wasserbach • Staff Members Present via Teams: None • Members of the Public: None 3. AGENDA REVIEW • Chairperson Jordan Radin briefly summarized items on the agenda 4. COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION • None 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chairperson Radin asked for comments and revisions on the draft minutes. Commissioner Bishop moved to approve the September 19 minutes. Commissioner Eldridge seconded the motion. Vote on the motion: it passed unanimously, 8-0 WATER COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING 11/21 /202 4 – MINUTES Page 2 6. NEW BUSINESS a. Introduce One Water Executive Director Nicole Poncelet-Johnson b. Staff Reports i. Financial Monthly Report (Meeting packet only/no presentation) Discussion Highlights A Commissioner commented that revenue and expenses seemed favorable for all three water enterprises. Senior Director of Integrated Operations Jeremy Woolf added that there are still purchasing deadlines to meet by the end of the year, but there’s nothing unforeseen on the horizon as budgets are on projected levels. ii. Fluoride Brief (No presentation/staff available for questions) Discussion Highlights A Commissioner inquired about the context that brought about this brief. Director of Sciences Leslie Hill provided information regarding the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lawsuit regarding the apparent risks associated with certain fluoride level. The lawsuit was based on a monograph regarding fluoride issued by the National Toxicology Program. None of the studies included in the monograph considered fluoride levels at the level the City uses, nor were the experiments conducted in the United States. Mr. Woolf added history of the benefits of fluoride that were discovered in Colorado in 1901. iii. Water Supply and Demand Overview and Outlook Michael Neale, Water Resources Engineer This is a general overview of Utilities water supplies and demands, and water resources operations. Discussion Highlights Commissioners commented on or inquired about various related topics including the limit to the Colorado Big-Thompson (CBT) carryover, which Mr. Neale confirmed is 20%. Another Commissioner inquired whether the carryover is considered prior to any needed restrictions, which Mr. Neale explained that the restrictions are actually considered prior to the carryover. WATER COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING 11/21 /202 4 – MINUTES Page 3 Another Commissioner inquired about whether the Poudre River and CBT sources are blended prior to the treatment plants, which Gregg Stonecipher, Director of the Water Treatment Facility, confirmed is the case. Another Commissioner commented on the ability for the Michigan Ditch to be used to extinction and wondered about the ways the City leverages that ability. Another Commissioner commented on the numerous resources of water that Fort Collins has and wondered how that compares to other municipalities along the Front Range. iv. Overview of Water Field Operations Andrew Gingerich, Director of Water Field Operations This presentation was given in 2019 and some materials have been updated. Since then the Commissions has welcomed new members, so it’s prudent to revisit this information. Discussion Highlights Commissioners commented on or inquired about various related topics including the useful life expectancy of different types of pipes, replacement rates of aging infrastructure, proactive efforts vs. reaction to failure, operator turnover rates, the One Water Operator budget offer, workforce pathways, and lead and copper in the City’s systems. v. Stream Rehabilitation Program Update Matt Fater, Director of Capital Projects Theodore Bender, Stormwater Master Planning Manager Kelly Wasserbach, Special Projects Manager This item will provide the Water Commission with an update on the Stream Rehabilitation Program, a program of the Capital Projects team within Water Utilities. Discussion Highlights A Commissioner inquired about the potential uses of excess dirt during stream rehabilitation. Another Commissioner commented on changing hydrographs and detentions to mitigate flash flood risks during developments. Mr. Fater responded that a lot of these streams were acting as flood conveyances to their detriment. Mr. Bender spoke about modeling changing hydrology, and Mrs. Wasserbach added comments regarding diversifying and stabilizing ecosystems. 7. COMMISSIONER REPORTS WATER COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING 11/21 /202 4 – MINUTES Page 4 a. None 8. OTHER BUSINESS a. Work Plan Discussion Discussion Highlights A Commissioner would like to see a risk assessment on PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and biosolids. 9. ADJOURNMENT 7:27 p.m. These minutes were approved by the Water Commission on Feb. 20, 2025.