Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/04/2025 - Water Commission - AGENDA - Regular MeetingWATER COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING December 4, 2025 12/04/2025 Agenda Page 1 of 3 Participate online via Microsoft Teams or in person at 700 Wood St., Utilities Service Center (USC) Poudre Room Microsoft Teams – See Link Below 1. CALL TO ORDER a. 5:30 PM 2. ROLL CALL 3. AGENDA REVIEW 4. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION (3 minutes per individual) 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Nov. 20 Microsoft Teams Need help? Join the meeting now Meeting ID: 225 710 197 000 Passcode: L27tV3cd Online Public Participation: The meeting will be available to join beginning at 5:00 p.m., Dec. 4, 2025. Participants should try to sign in prior to the 5:30 p.m. meeting start time, if possible. For public comments, the Chair will ask participants to click the “Raise Hand” button to indicate you would like to speak at that time. Staff will moderate the online Teams session to ensure all participants have an opportunity to address the Water Commission. To participate: 1. Use a laptop, computer, or internet-enabled smartphone. (Using earphones with a microphone will greatly improve your audio). 2. You need to have access to the internet. 3. Keep yourself on muted status. Masks Strongly Recommended in Indoor Public Spaces While there are currently no public health orders in place, Larimer County Public Health officials strongly recommend that well-fitting, high-quality masks are worn in crowded indoor spaces. For more information, please visit fcgov.com/covid WATER COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING December 4, 2025 12/04/2025 Agenda Page 2 of 3 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Proposed Bylaws Amendment (Presentation: 5 minutes, Discussion & Action: 5 to 10 minutes) Eric Potyondy, Senior Assistant City Attorney (Water Attorney) In the Nov. 4 election, voters approved an amendment to the City Charter to allow executive sessions for broader purposes. Article IX, Section 2 of the Water Commission Bylaws states: “Proposed amendments shall be presented for consideration at a regular Board meeting, and adopted at the next meeting.”  This proposed Bylaws amendment was presented for consideration at the Nov. 20 meeting to align Water Commission bylaws with the City Charter, and is on today’s agenda for action by commissioners. Suggested Motion: “I move that the Water Commission approve the Bylaws Amendment as follows.” [See Bylaws Amendment document in agenda packet] 7. NEW BUSINESS a. Mayor’s Thank You to Water Commissioners (10 minutes) Mayor Jeni Arndt, City Council Council Liaison to the Water Commission b. Staff Reports i. Watershed In Focus: The Poudre River Health Report (Presentation: 10 minutes, Discussion: 5-10 minutes) -Susan Strong, Stormwater Quality and Regulatory Manager, Environmental Regulatory Affairs Division, Utilities -Bernadette Kuhn, Senior Environmental Planner/ Restoration Project Manager, Natural Areas Department -Cory Dick, Watershed Project Manager, Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed The goal of this presentation is to share the results of the River Health Assessment Framework recently completed by the City of Fort Collins Utilities and Natural Areas Departments in partnership with the Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed. WATER COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING December 4, 2025 12/04/2025 Agenda Page 3 of 3 8. COMMISSIONER REPORTS (Committees, event attendance, etc.) a. 2026 Water Commission Work Plan Chairperson Laura Chartrand (Discussion & Action: 5 to 10 minutes) Suggested Motion: “I move to approve the 2026 Water Commission Work Plan as presented” [or “with the revisions noted”] b. 2025 Water Commission Annual Report i. Draft will be distributed in January for commissioners’ review 9. OTHER BUSINESS (Commissioner concerns, announcements) a. Introduction of 2026 Water Commission Staff i. Staff Liaison Nicole Poncelet-Johnson, One Water Executive Director ii. Administrative Support Gina Shubin, Business Support III b. Boards & Commissions Recruitment i. Recruitment opened on Dec. 1 ii. Please encourage colleagues to consider applying at https://www.fcgov.com/cityclerk/boards/ 10. ADJOURNMENT a. 7:30 PM 11/20/2025 DRAFT MINUTES Page 1 of 4 Water Commission REGULAR MEETING DRAFT MINUTES Thursday, November 20, 2025 – 5:30 PM 222 Laporte Ave., 1st Floor, Colorado River Room 1. CALL TO ORDER a. 5:31 PM 2. ROLL CALL a. Commissioners Present (In Person): Chairperson Laura Chartrand, Vice Chair James Bishop, Richard Kahn, Nick Martin, Nicole Ng, Jordan Radin b. Commissioners Present (via Teams): Carson Madryga c. Commissioners Absent: Paul Herman, Gregory Steed d. Staff Members Present (In Person): Staff Liaison Jill Oropeza, Katherine Martinez, Nicole Poncelet-Johnson, Gina Shubin, Eric Potyondy, Taryn Tigges, Ken Sampley, Matt Fater e. Staff Members Present (via Teams): N/A f. Guests: Scott Strzinek (Advanced Energy) 3. AGENDA REVIEW 4. COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION (Public Comment)(3 minutes per individual) None 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Oct. 16 -Commissioner Radin moved to approve the Oct 16 minutes as presented -Vice Chair Bishop seconded the motion -Vote on the motion: it passed unanimously, 7-0 6. Proposed Bylaws Amendment Senior Assistant City Attorney Eric Potyondy presented background and rationale for the proposed bylaws amendment. In the Nov. 4 election, voters approved an amendment to the City Charter to allow executive sessions for broader purposes. Proposed Water Commission Bylaws Amendment: “Executive sessions may be … for the stated purpose of: discussing personnel matters as described in the City Code; potential conflicts of interest; property acquisition and sales by the City;  meeting with the City Attorney or other attorneys representing the City regarding legal issues, or discussing and considering any other matter authorized by the Colorado Open Meetings Law, Section 24-6-401 Colorado Revised Statutes, as amended.”  11/20/2025 DRAFT MINUTES Page 2 of 4 Article IX, Section 2 of the Water Commission Bylaws states: “Proposed amendments shall be presented for consideration at a regular Board meeting, and adopted at the next meeting.”  The proposed Bylaws amendment was presented for consideration, and is meant to align Water Commission Bylaws with the City Charter, which allows executive sessions for broader purposes, such as discussing strategy for water projects. Potential adoption is scheduled for the Dec. 4 Water Commission meeting.  -Commissioner Martin moved that the Water Commission vote at the next regular meeting on a proposed change to the bylaws, Article V, Section 8, that executive sessions may be for the purposes authorized by City Code. -Commissioner Ng seconded the motion -Vote on the motion: it passed unanimously, 7-0 7. Optional Executive Session Regarding Floodplain Variance Public Hearing Discussion Highlights Senior Assistant City Attorney Eric Potyondy answered a commissioner’s question about whether to make a motion for entering an executive session for questions on procedure during the public hearing. Commissioners discussed whether to enter an executive session, and decided it was not necessary. No motion was made. 8. PUBLIC HEARING: Floodplain Variance Request for Advanced Energy, 1625 Sharp Point Dr. Please note: The Water Commission’s decisions regarding variance requests may be appealed to the City Council. Contact the City Clerk’s Office for appeal guidelines: www.fcgov.com/cityclerk/ A transcript of the public hearing is attached to these meeting minutes. Advanced Energy proposes interior renovations to laboratory and equipment areas. Staff presenters were Floodplain Manager Taryn Tigges and Stormwater Engineering and Development Review Manager Ken Sampley; they provided background and an overview of the variance request. Staff recommended approval with the condition that any approval of the variance shall not be effective until the Letter of Final Determination (LFD) has been issued. Scott Strzinek of Advanced Energy (AE) stated during his presentation that the company has been in Fort Collins for 44 years. 1625 Sharp Point Drive is currently designated within the floodplain; proposed remapping removes it from that designation. Request: with FEMA’s final map removing the site from the floodplain, AE requests a variance after the LFD is issued but before the effective date. 11/20/2025 DRAFT MINUTES Page 3 of 4 -Commissioner Radin moved to approve the floodplain variance for Advanced Energy located at 1625 Sharp Point Dr., requesting a variance from the requirements of City Code Sections 10-76(3)a, 10-37, 10-76(9) and 10-48, which would allow construction of a cumulative substantial improvement without being elevated and without developing an Emergency Response and Preparedness Plan in the Zone AE area of the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (Poudre River 100-year floodplain). Possible conditions the Water Commission may consider are, but are not limited to, the following: • The floodplain use permit and building permit shall not be approved until the Letter of Final Determination (LFD) is issued for RiskMAP. I make this motion based on the evidence in the record showing that the relevant factors and standards set forth in Article III, Chapter 10 of the City Code have been met and as required in City Code Section 10-29, the determination that (1) the variance is the minimum necessary, considering the flood hazard, to afford relief; and (2) that there is good and sufficient cause for the variance to be granted; and (3) that failure to grant the variance would result in exceptional hardship to the applicant; and (4) that the granting of the variance will not result in any increased flood heights, any additional threat to public safety or to public or private property, any extraordinary public expense, any nuisance or trespass, any fraud on or victimization of the public, or any conflict with existing local laws or ordinances. I further note the following in support of this motion of approval: 1. There doesn’t appear to be any increase of danger to life or property or in the surrounding areas. The proposed project is compatible with those uses and the existing development and the expected impact of flood waters given the updated proposed map are minimal. -Commissioner Martin seconded the motion -Discussion on the motion: Commissioners expressed appreciation for staff and applicant presentations, the communications around consideration of changes in the floodplain map, and a decision supporting a company that is a valuable member of the community. -Vote on the motion: it passed unanimously, 7-0 9. STAFF REPORTS a. Monthly Budget Report for October Discussion Highlights Staff mentioned the new format for this report. No discussion. b. One Water Utilities Biannual Update & 2025 Goals Update One Water Executive Director Nicole Poncelet-Johnson presented an update on 2025 staff goals, including One Water strategic planning phase 2; sustain river and healthy watersheds while delivering high-quality water; complete prioritization of 2024/2025 large capital improvement projects; establish enterprise project management team; complete One Water Laboratory land acquisition, funding strategy, and initiate design; leverage Water 11/20/2025 DRAFT MINUTES Page 4 of 4 Commission’s expertise; improve water district partnerships; workforce and talent funnel development, improve development review process, asset management, and anticipated rate increases, etc. Ms. Poncelet-Johnson thanked Water Commissioners for their support of the 2026 utility rates recently adopted by City Council that will help fund capital projects. Discussion Highlights Commissioners commented on and inquired about various related topics, including watershed funds (Ms. Poncelet-Johnson replied that staff secured grants for wildfire mitigation in the upper watershed, and clarified that settlement funds from the Save The Poudre lawsuit against Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP) are managed by a board whose members are from Northern Water and Save The Poudre, therefore the City has no say in the final decision regarding funding); economic development and affordable housing (Ms. Poncelet-Johnson replied there’s a push to do both, and the community survey and Council election indicated housing is one of the top issues of interest); utility rate increases, whether rate increases or housing developments and businesses can pay for capital projects through tap fees, etc.; comment that the 9% rate increase for water was hard for some (Ms. Poncelet-Johnson replied that to build Halligan Water Supply Project rate increases are required to pay for the municipal bonds used to fund the project, in part because there were no utility rate increases for several years; comments and concern regarding expected rate increases in 2027 to 2028 and beyond, and the suggestion for staff to be proactive with public communication and engagement, as well as consideration of tiered rate impacts to support affordability (Ms. Poncelet-Johnson replied that the new Enterprise Project Management Office (EPMO) team will determine rate scenarios, and emphasized the importance of water storage to prepare for an inevitable 50-year drought, etc.). 10. COMMISSIONER REPORTS (Committees, event attendance, etc.) a. A commissioner thanked staff for the Oct. 3 Oak Street Stormwater Improvements Project tour and praised the work being done. 11. OTHER BUSINESS (Commissioner concerns, announcements) a. Staff reminded commissioners that Dec. 4 is the final meeting of the year. Location will be Utilities Service Center, 700 Wood St. 12. ADJOURNMENT a. 7:03 PM Minutes will be approved by the Chair and a vote of the Water Commission on 12/04/2025. 11/20/2025 Water Commission Floodplain Variance Request Public Hearing DRAFT TRANSCRIPT Page 1 of 13 Transcript of Water Commission Floodplain Variance Request Public Hearing – Thursday, Nov 20, 2025 DRAFT Water Commissioners Present in person: Chairperson Laura Chartrand, Vice Chair James Bishop, Richard Kahn, Nick Martin, Nicole Ng, Jordan Radin Water Commissioners Present via Teams online: Carson Madryga Commissioners Absent: Paul Herman, Gregory Steed Staff Members Present (In Person): Staff Liaison Jill Oropeza, Katherine Martinez, Nicole Poncelet-Johnson, Gina Shubin, Eric Potyondy, Taryn Tigges, Ken Sampley, Matt Fater Staff Members Present (via Teams): N/A Guests: Scott Strzinek (Advanced Energy) 0:03 5:51 p.m. Chairperson Laura Chartrand: Our public hearing the floodplain variance for Advanced Energy at 1625 Sharp Point. I want to provide an overview of the process and what we are going to cover this evening. There will be a little bit of housekeeping and then we will go into the staff presentation. Then we will invite representatives from Advanced Energy to provide the applicant’s presentation. And then if there are any opposing parties in interest which my understanding. Have identified themselves where they may have so this evening they have an opportunity. And then if there are opposing parties and interests then there's an opportunity for the applicant Advanced Energy to provide a rebuttal. And then there would be a rebuttal for the parties-in-interest. At that point we'll open it up to questions that the Commissioners may have for the applicant or any participants and then we'll provide closing statements first from the staff and then the applicant and any closing statements by parties and interested any. And then at that point we'll entertain any motions and then a discussion on the motion and then vote on the motion. So what I mean by housekeeping items. First I would like to confirm that the Commission has quorum. We have six Commissioners who are present in the room and one Commissioner participating online. I would like to give now an opportunity for any Commission members disclosures or 11/20/2025 Water Commission Floodplain Variance Request Public Hearing DRAFT TRANSCRIPT Page 2 of 13 description of site visits if any. Katherine Martinez: I'm sorry to interrupt but we want to stress that for clear recording and transcription we ask that everyone state their name before they speak. Every time they speak. Thank you. Chairperson Chartrand: Thank you. Laura Chartrand, Chairperson of the Water Commission. Are there any Commission member disclosures or descriptions of site visits? Then I would like to give an opportunity for Commission member disclosures and descriptions of ex parte communications meaning ex parte you had individual conversations with parties concerning the application. Chairperson Chartrand: OK. Seeing no such disclosures we will now move to the staff presentation. Ken Sampley: Good evening, Commission members. My name is Ken Sampley. I'm the director for Stormwater Engineering and Development Review of Fort Collins Utilities. So thank you for the opportunity to be here tonight. I've been here a lot in the past. Not very recently and some of you are very new faces to that. Some of you guys still recognize. Thanks for this opportunity. The presentation tonight is going to be primarily given by Taryn Tigges. She works with me one of the staff that work on the stormwater floodplain-related considerations and items for the City. So I'm going to turn it over to her. She's going to do the presentation and tell you a little bit about tonight's request for a variance. It does come from Advanced Energy which is a company that has been located in Fort Collins for quite a few years so thank you. Taryn Tigges: Good evening. Can you all hear me? My name is Taryn Tigges. I'm a floodplain manager in the Stormwater Engineering and Development Review team. I'm here to present a variance request from Advanced Energy. They are leasing the property at 1625 Sharp Point Drive. And that is shown here on the map in the area shaded in light blue. That shaded area is the FEMA regulated Poudre River 100 year floodplain. And it is subject to the requirements of chapter 10 of City municipal code. 11/20/2025 Water Commission Floodplain Variance Request Public Hearing DRAFT TRANSCRIPT Page 3 of 13 In May of this year Advanced Energy submitted a building permit request for interior renovations in the existing building in the area shown in red. Because of substantial improvement requirements which I will discuss more later, they would be required to elevate or flood proof the building and to prepare an emergency response and preparedness plan before they could move forward with these renovations. They expressed some concerns about being able to meet these requirements and so they have requested a variance from the requirement to elevate and variance from the requirement to develop an emergency response and preparedness plan. This slide shows the basis for the variance request the map on the right is the current effective mapping that I showed in the first slide. And the structure at 1625 Sharp Point Drive is circled in red. And it's in the Poudre River Zone AE or 100 year floodplain. The map on the left is new preliminary mapping for the Poudre River floodplain. This is based on the RiskMAP the mapping assessment and planning program from FEMA and CWCB, the Colorado Water Conservation Board. The latest Umm. Ken Sampley: I think Taryn said left and right but I believe if you look at the screen it's the reverse. Taryn Tigges: Yeah the preliminary maps are on the left, or my left your right. Yeah so the latest preliminary maps were issued in October of 2023 and those are the maps currently showing on the slide and you can see that the building is proposed to be out of the regulatory floodplain with that preliminary mapping. And the 100 year floodplain is the dark yellow and it is on the east side of Sharp Point Drive. So even though these maps are showing the building as out of the floodplain we still have to regulate to the effective mapping. And this map would not become effective until six months after FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] issues the Letter of Final Determination, or the LFD, for this mapping. FEMA was expected to issue the LFD on November 12th of this year. However that was delayed due to the government shutdown and the City hasn't yet received a new expected issuance date for the LFD. So to explain the substantial improvement requirement a little more for properties located in the 11/20/2025 Water Commission Floodplain Variance Request Public Hearing DRAFT TRANSCRIPT Page 4 of 13 Poudre River floodplain the City floodplain managers are required to keep track of repairs and remodels on any structure located in that Poudre River floodplain over the life of the structure. When the cost of improvements meets or exceeds 50% of the market value of the structure then we consider it to have met the substantial improvement threshold. This means that before any additional work can be done we require the applicant to elevate the building to two feet above the basement elevation if it isn't already at that height and also to prepare an Emergency Response and Preparedness Plan. As a substitute for elevating the building we also allow non-residential structures to flood proof the building up to 3 feet. The table shows the list of repairs and remodels on the structure since 2010 and if you sum those up you can see that the structure met its substantial improvement threshold in 2022 and a floodplain variance was granted to Advance Energy at that time. On the basis of the preliminary RiskMaps and three building permits were issued from that variance. However there have been numerous delays to RiskMAP and the site is still shown in the effective Poudre River floodplain. So therefore Advanced Energy is having to request another variance to move forward with their planned improvements. So the preliminary mapping for RiskMAP could be considered best available data and FEMA policy around use of best available data advises not using this data until the LFD has been issued or at least until all appeals have been resolved. Therefore the staff recommendation includes that any approval of a variance is not effective until the LFD has been issued. State floodplain regulations also apply. CWCB [Colorado Water Conservation Board] has regulations that only allow use of best available data if the floodplain mapping is more restrictive because the property is, the mapping for the property is less restrictive on the preliminary maps, the City did talk to CWCB about this rule and we have received approval from CWCB noting that the community has exercised due diligence, is acting in good faith, and that the proposal aligns with the intent of the state 's floodplain development regulations. Depending on the Water Commission's findings and determinations, Water 11/20/2025 Water Commission Floodplain Variance Request Public Hearing DRAFT TRANSCRIPT Page 5 of 13 Commission could conceivably approve or deny the floodplain variance for Advanced Energy located at 1625 Sharp Point Drive requesting a variance from the requirements of city code section. 10-76(3)a, 10-37, 10-76(9) and 10-48 which would allow construction of a cumulative substantial improvement without being elevated and without developing an emergency response and prepared plan in the Zone AE area of the FEMA flood insurance rate map or the Poudre River 100 year floodplain. A condition that Water Commission may consider could include that the floodplain use permit and building permit shall not be approved until the RiskMAP LFD has been issued. The staff recommendation is to grant approval of the variance with the condition to wait until the LFD has been issued for RiskMAP. And the reason for our recommendation is that the preliminary maps are showing the structure as being out of the regulatory floodplain. Once the LFD has been issued we have good confidence that the mapping won't change. When the condition is added to this variance, we meet compliance with policy and with CWCB [Colorado Water Conservation Board]. Not granting the variance could also be considered exceptional hardship for the applicant due to the uncertainty and timing of approval of RiskMAP where the maps have already been delayed multiple times. And with that here's a suggested motion and I welcome any questions. Chairperson Chartrand: Commissioner Kahn. Commisioner Kahn: Do you know what the basis is for the floodplain being brought down? Taryn Tigges: I don't have an exact answer for that. There are a lot of changes that could lead to that. It could be updated topography. I think a lot of RiskMAP is based on new lidar data from the previous models. And it could be an update to the model version for the modeling software but I can't pinpoint to exactly what caused that change. Commissioner Kahn: But the City experts in that have looked at it and found that the methodology and the information is valid. Taryn Tigges: Yes yeah City staff have reviewed the models. Ken Sampley: Commissioner Kahn, if I can state, we work in conjunction with CWCB [Colorado Water Conservation Board] and FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency]. So we're a highly rated community in the floodplain world. And so we've 11/20/2025 Water Commission Floodplain Variance Request Public Hearing DRAFT TRANSCRIPT Page 6 of 13 been working with them since 2012 [on the Poudre River RiskMAP project] when this was started. That's how long it's taken for us to get. It's a very complicated process. A lot of things as Taryn said. The map as a matter of fact the current mapping is still based on topography from like 1983. So there's a lot of things that have happened since that time and so what we're doing now is using new additional and better topography such as LiDAR [Light Detection and Ranging] and we also use better modeling methods and we also have updated the hydrology so the hydrology is slightly different than it was originally. So all things go into play. It's a very complicated process and this is the RiskMAP process. OK. Well the RiskMAP goes all the way from the top of the Poudre River all the way down to where it goes into the Platte River near Greeley. Katherine Martinez: And could you please state your name. Ken Sampley: I'm sorry my name is Ken Sampley. Commissioner Radin: Just to confirm the proponent’s proposed action there's no new structure being built, is that correct? It's an existing structure. Taryn Tigges: Yep that's correct. And also Advanced Energy is here to present after me as well and can answer more questions but their building permit submittal just included interior renovations to the existing building. Vice Chair Bishop: Vice Chair Bishop. If I read the materials correctly, what this motion could achieve for Advanced Energy would be that instead of waiting until six months after the LFD is published for it to become effective and then for them to be able to move forward, they could do it as soon as the LFD is published is that correct? Taryn Tigges: Yeah that's correct it's just removing that 6 month waiting period for them to move forward with their project. Vice Chair Bishop: Great, thanks. Chairperson Chartrand: Are there any other Commission questions for staff at this time? And we hope staff will stay around in case we have questions later on. Thank you. Katherine Martinez: And Chairperson Chartrand. Chairperson Chartrand: Oh and I'm Chairperson Chartrand. I'm sorry. I was trying to be very diligent about that. OK. So next we would like to invite Advanced Energy 11/20/2025 Water Commission Floodplain Variance Request Public Hearing DRAFT TRANSCRIPT Page 7 of 13 their representatives. They also might have a PowerPoint they need to tee up. Scott Strzinek: Yes. Good evening everyone. My name is Scott Strzinek. I am Vice President of Global Real Estate for Advanced Energy. Really appreciate this opportunity to present our variance request. This is a brief presentation. I'm gonna talk a little bit about Advanced Energy. Talk about the project specifically and why it's so important to us and then ask for this variance. So Advanced Energy is a publicly traded multinational corporation based in Colorado. We design and manufacture highly engineered precision power. When I got this job two years ago I had to explain to my 78-year-old mom what that meant and essentially if you take a power cord one end goes into the wall and the other end plugs into a power supply. And for us that other end could be sophisticated semiconductor equipment. We're on the AI rocket ship right now so we power data center servers. In a medical application we would power MRIs and CT scans. These are devices that require very precise power. So it's a highly engineered product. So we've been a presence here in Fort Collins for the past 44 years. We were founded here in 1981. We relocated our headquarters to Denver in 2018 but we have a large presence here. And have since 1981. We love this community. It's a great source of engineering talent for us and we've just been an integral part of this community for the last 44 years. As Taryn said we leased three buildings. One of those buildings 1625 Sharp Point has been designated in a floodplain and it will be, the proposed remapping removes that designation. But at the current time as Taryn explained we're not able to do any other renovations we can't even like move cubes because that requires a permit because there's power and data that's involved. So we're very restricted at this moment. And we depend on our labs for innovation. So we have to continue to update our labs over time and if we can't do that then we can't innovate and then we're stuck and that means that we're gonna have to shift our R&D out of Fort Collins into some of our other sites in the U.S. and around the world; we don't wanna do that. That would be incredibly expensive, super disruptive to the business; we've got great talent here. We don't wanna do that so. I wanna make that perfectly clear. Taryn stole my thunder here 11/20/2025 Water Commission Floodplain Variance Request Public Hearing DRAFT TRANSCRIPT Page 8 of 13 with the maps. I don't need to go through this again but clearly that building is gonna be removed from the floodplain. So the project that got us here this is a PVD chamber, that's about as technical as I can get in an explanation of what this is but what I can tell you is this large device has been loaned to us by one of our largest customers. And it will enable us to collaborate on the future of precision power platforms. This device has been given to us and not our competitors. So this is an incredibly important competitive advantage for us. And you can see the footprint of the space is small relative to the size of the buildings about 900 square feet but it requires lots of utilities which makes this a relatively expensive project for us. And as Taryn said this permit was issued in May and it's been on hold for the last 6 months and so this has been a considerable hardship for us our customer while we've explained the situation they are you know not thrilled with us. So in addition to the chamber project we we've got other investments planned for the site. So we master planned the site over the 3 buildings spread that plan over 5 years. And the first 2 years we had planned on spending about $9 million in this building and then over the next 5 years we've got a $30 million investment plan. So this is a significant I mean this sort of reinforces our commitment. Fort Collins and shows that we are. We continue to invest in not only a community but in our future platforms. So this is a demonstration of what we're trying to achieve. We just opened last year a site outside of Boston and this is a very large lab space. It's kind of hard to tell the difference like labs and engineers just inherently are messy. So it's kind of hard to understand what's going on here but on the right in Boston is a is a highly engineered space. We've got high power. Chilled water gases all go into workbenches that enable us to do innovations on future platforms. On the left hand side our current labs are the product of 25 years of patching and band aids. So we have significant needs from to make upgrades. So our request is this. When FEMA removes the building out of the floodplain we are requesting a variance after the Letter of Final Determination but before the effective date so as Taryn said that date is 6 months after the LFD and we were asking to reduce that from 6 months to zero. So because the decision will have already been made. That will eliminate further 11/20/2025 Water Commission Floodplain Variance Request Public Hearing DRAFT TRANSCRIPT Page 9 of 13 delays. Is it also poses a very minimal risk to the City. Thank you so much. Chairperson Chartrand: Are there any questions for Mr. Strzinek right now? OK. We hope that you'll stay close by in case we have questions. Thank you. Chairperson Chartrand: And I'm Chairperson Chartrand. Are there any opposing parties in interest who have a presentation this evening? We do not. You don't need a rebuttal time for the applicant and the parties of interest. I wanna open up another opportunity for the Commission to ask questions of staff and Advance Energy. And I'd like to go through the factors that are before us. So in considering the variance requests the Commission must consider all technical evaluations all relevant factors and standards that are specified in the City Code and specifically the City Code lists 9 factors: Factor one is the danger that materials can be swept onto other lands to the injury of others. Number 2 we need to consider the danger to life and property due to flooding or erosion damage. 3 The susceptibility of the proposed facility and its contents to flood damage. And the effect of such damage on the individual owner. The importance of the service provided by the proposed facility to the community. Number 5 is the availability of alternate locations for the proposed use which are not subject to flood or erosion damage. The compatibility of the proposed use with existing and anticipated development. The relationship of the proposed use to the comprehensive plan and floodplain management program of that area. Number 8 is the safety of access to property in times of flood for ordinary and emergency vehicles. And last is the expected flood elevation, velocity, duration, rate of rise and sentiment transport of the floodwaters and the effects of wave action, if applicable, expected at the site. Of those 9 factors, do the Commissioners have any questions for staff? And or Advanced Energy. Vice Chair Bishop: I think this is probably a pretty basic question. Katherine Martinez: I'm sorry excuse me. Vice Chair Bishop: Vice Chair Bishop. Katherine Martinez: Oh yes go ahead. Vice Chair Bishop: I mean all of the 9 conditions or 9 factors that you just laid out. Those are all pretty much moot once it's removed from the floodplain, right? 11/20/2025 Water Commission Floodplain Variance Request Public Hearing DRAFT TRANSCRIPT Page 10 of 13 Chairperson Chartrand: That might be a good question for staff I think and maybe have staff address that question when they do their closing statement. Taryn Tigges: Or answer it now. Chairperson Chartrand: Yes. Could you answer it now? Taryn Tigges: This is Taryn Tigges. If the site is not shown in the floodplain there's likely less risk for those factor and we never say that the site out of the regulatory floodplain doesn't have those risks but would expect them to be lower. Ken Sampley: Ken Sampley. We have these maps which say that [it's the] 100 year floodplain. You know there there's actually a lot of floodplains all over the area. So you know 101 year floodplain or 102 year floodplain, so something a greater event could occur. But what we do is we don't use the very largest most stringent kind of restrictions because it would be pretty cost problematic. So that's why we do across the country typically is use the 100 year storm as our primary event that we consider in terms of what damage and so forth and kind of plan for that. So, if that helps. Chairperson Chartrand: Are there other questions from the Commission? Vice Chair Bishop: Vice Chair Bishop. Yeah so you laid out those 9 factors that City Code asked us to consider when a variance is proposed and I guess my, maybe a more precise question would be, if the building is removed from the floodplain in question by the LFD, officially, does that our obligation to consider the 9 factors? Thanks. Taryn Tigges: This is Taryn Tigges. Yes, once the 6 months after the LFD has been issued and the site is no longer in the regulatory floodplain, then it would remove it from the requirements of Chapter 10. Chairperson Chartrand: Chairperson Chartrand. Would it be fair then to say because of your comfort level you, in your staff's presentation, you communicated that you have great certainty about the map. Is that why you're comfortable with your recommendation to provide this variance? Taryn Tigges: I have great certainty of the map once the LFD has been issued. Commissioner Kahn: Eric, I had a question for you. You mentioned in the write ups we received that you guys have assessed liability to both the City and this Commission. And you just made a brief mention of it I think in one of the. And I'm assuming then just confirming that you guys have already assessed the liability of an approval now as opposed to waiting the 6 months. You feel it would be minimal or 11/20/2025 Water Commission Floodplain Variance Request Public Hearing DRAFT TRANSCRIPT Page 11 of 13 negligible and we should proceed? Based on your, that's the staff recommendation. Eric Potyondy: This is Eric Potyondy. That's correct. We don't have concerns about liability to the City related to this variance decision. Commissioner Kahn: Or the decision makers. Eric Potyondy: Or the decision makers. Chairperson Chartrand: Are there any other questions? Seeing none I would invite a closing statement by staff. [53:39] Taryn Tigges: This is Taryn Tigges. As I said earlier City staff recommends to approve the variance with the condition that the floodplain use permit and the building permit not be issued until FEMA has issued the LFD, at that point we would recommend the variance. Ken Sampley: But we do wanna make sure you know that that condition is important to that motion. So that is the reason that is a key reason for the recommend. Katherine Martinez: Ken, would you please state your name. Ken Sampley: Ken Sampley. Chairperson Chartrand: Is there a closing statement that the applicant would like to make? Scott Strzinek: Scott Strzinek from Advanced Energy. I just wanted to express my appreciation to this Commission. As I shared with you Fort Collins is an incredibly important community for us. We have been a presence here for a long time and we continue to do so. We would never ask to put the city anywhere at risk which is why we are asking for the decision has been made not prior to. So I really appreciate your time and your consideration. Thank you very much. Chairperson Chartrand: Thank you. Chairperson Chartrand. At this time we'd entertain a Commission motion and after that motion then discussion and then a vote on the motion and so is there a consent to make a motion. Commissioner Radin: I move to approve the floodplain variance for Advanced Energy located at 1625 Sharp Point Drive requesting a variance from the requirements of City Code sections 10 dash 76 (3)a, 10 dash 76(9) and 10 dash 48, which would allow construction of a cumulative substantial improvement without 11/20/2025 Water Commission Floodplain Variance Request Public Hearing DRAFT TRANSCRIPT Page 12 of 13 being elevated and without developing an Emergency Response and Preparedness Plan in the Zone AE area of the FEMA Floodplain Flood Insurance Rate Map (Poudre River 100-year floodplain). Possible conditions the [Commission] may consider are, but not limited to, the following: The floodplain use permit and building permit shall not be approved until the LFD is issued for RiskMAP. So that is a condition of this motion. I make this motion based on the evidence in the record showing that the relevant factors and standards set forth in Article III Chapter 10 of the City Code have been met and is required in City Code section 10 dash 29, the determination that the variance is the minimum necessary considering the flood hazard to afford relief that there is good and sufficient cause for the variance to be granted and that failure to grant the variance would result in exceptional hardship to the applicant. And that the granting of the variance will not result in any increased flood heights, any additional threat to public safety or to public or private property, any extraordinary public expense, any nuisance or trespass, any fraud on or victimization of the public, or any conflict existing local laws or ordinances. I further note the following supported this motion of approval. There doesn't appear to be any increase in danger to life or property within the surrounding areas. The proposed project is compatible with those uses and the existing development and that the expected impact of floodwaters given the updated proposed map are minimal. That's my motion. Chairperson Chartrand: Thank you, Commissioner Radin. Is there a second? Commissioner Martin: I'll second. Chairperson Chartrand: Thank you, Commissioner Martin, who seconded. Chairperson Chartrand: This is Chairperson Chartrand again. Here's our opportunity for discussion. May be the longest motion we've had. Or even comments that Commissioners may want to make. I know I appreciate the presentation of the staff and Advanced Energy and the communications around their consideration of the changes in the floodplain and I 11/20/2025 Water Commission Floodplain Variance Request Public Hearing DRAFT TRANSCRIPT Page 13 of 13 feel comfortable because of the certainty around the map being and just how long that map seems to have been under consideration by staff. I think this is a good decision to make in supporting one of the companies that is a valuable member of the community. And I plan on voting yes. Are there any other Commission comments? Katherine, do you want to take the roll and the vote. Katherine Martinez: Chairperson Chartrand. Chairperson Chartrand: Yes. Katherine Martinez: Vice Chair Bishop. Vice Chair Bishop: Yes. Katherine Martinez: Commissioner Kahn. Commissioner Kahn: Yes. Katherine Martinez: Commissioner Madryga. 59:50 Commissioner Madryga: Yes. 59:51 Katherine Martinez: Commissioner Martin. Commissioner Martin: Yes. Katherine Martinez: Commissioner Ng. Commissioner Ng: Yes. Katherine Martinez: And Commissioner Radin. Commissioner Radin: Yes. Katherine Martinez: And the motion carries, 7-0. Thank you everyone. 6:30 p.m. This transcript (along with the 11/20/2025 meeting minutes) is scheduled to be approved by the Chair and a vote of the Water Commission on 12/04/2025. Page 1 of 1 BYLAWS AMENDMENT Section 8, Article V, of the Bylaws of the Water Commission (previously known as the Water Board), is hereby amended to read as follows: ARTICLE V Meetings Section 8. Executive sessions may be called upon the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the quorum present for the purposes authorized by City Code. Except for attorney-client privileged discussions, the proceedings of any executive session shall be preserved by audio or video taping. No formal action shall be taken by the Board at such sessions. Approved by the Water Commission on December 4, 2025. Laura Chartrand, Chairperson Headline Copy Goes Here Senior Assistant City Attorney Eric Potyondy Water Commission: Proposed Change to Bylaw on the Substance of Executive Sessions Nov. 20, 2025 Headline Copy Goes HereExecutive Sessions 2 Colorado Sunshine Law Part 4 -- Colorado Open Meetings Law “It is declared to be a matter of statewide concern and the policy of this state that the formation of public policy is public business and may not be conducted in secret.” CRS 24-6-401. Meetings of local public bodies “at which any public business is discussed or at which any formal action may be taken are declared to be public meetings open to the public at all times.” CRS 24-6-402(2)(b). Executive sessions are an exception and can only be held for certain purposes. CRS 24-6-402(4). Headline Copy Goes HereCity Charter and Executive Sessions 3 City Charter Article II, Section 11: Executive sessions may only be held to: (1) discuss personnel matters; or (2) consult with attorneys representing the city regarding specific legal questions involving litigation or potential litigation and/or the manner in which particular policies, practices or regulations of the city may be affected by existing or proposed provisions of federal, state or local law; or (3) consider water and real property acquisitions and sales by the city; or (4) consider electric utility matters if such matters pertain to issues of competition in the electric utility industry. Does Not Include: “Determining positions relative to matters that may be subject to negotiations; developing strategy for negotiations; and instructing negotiators.” CRS 24-6-402(4)(e)(I) Headline Copy Goes HereAMENDED City Charter and Executive Sessions 4 City Charter Article II, Section 11: Executive sessions may only be held to: (1) discuss personnel matters; or (2) consult with attorneys representing the city regarding specific legal questions involving litigation or potential litigation and/or the manner in which particular policies, practices or regulations of the city may be affected by existing or proposed provisions of federal, state or local law; or (3) consider water and real property acquisitions and sales by the city; or (4) consider electric utility matters if such matters pertain to issues of competition in the electric utility industry; or (5)discussing and considering any other matter authorized by the Colorado Open Meetings Law, Section 24-6-401 Colorado Revised Statutes, as amended. Headline Copy Goes HereCity Code and Executive Sessions for Boards and Commissions 5 City Code Section 2-72(a): City boards and commission “may go into executive session for the purpose of considering such matters as would be permissible for consideration by the City Council in executive session, as enumerated in Subsection 2-31(a) above, insofar as such matters may be pertinent to the purposes for which the board or commission has been established by the City Council.” City Code Section 2-31(a): Lists purposes for executive sessions, consistent with City Charter. To be amended by ordinance (readings on December 2nd and 16th, effective December 24th) to be consistent with amendments to City Charter. Headline Copy Goes HereWater Commission Bylaws and Executive Sessions 6 Bylaws Article V, Section 8: Executive sessions may be … for the stated purpose of discussing personnel matters as described in the City Code, potential conflicts of interest, property acquisition and sales by the City, or meeting with the City Attorney or other attorneys representing the City regarding legal issues. Headline Copy Goes HerePROPOSED Water Commission Bylaws and Executive Sessions 7 Bylaws Article V, Section 8: Goal to align bylaws with City Code and City Charter. Option 1: Executive sessions may be … for the stated purpose of: discussing personnel matters as described in the City Code,; potential conflicts of interest,; property acquisition and sales by the City,; or meeting with the City Attorney or other attorneys representing the City regarding legal issues, or discussing and considering any other matter authorized by the Colorado Open Meetings Law, Section 24-6-401 Colorado Revised Statutes, as amended. Option 2: Executive sessions may be … for the stated purposes of discussing personnel matters as described in the City Code, potential conflicts of interest, property acquisition and sales by the City, or meeting with the City Attorney or other attorneys representing the City regarding legal issues authorized by City Code. Headline Copy Goes HereNext Steps 8 Bylaws Article IX, Section 2 Proposed amendments shall be presented for consideration at a regular Board meeting, and adopted at the next meeting. Proposed bylaw change presented in this meeting and can be voted on at next meeting. Proposed Motion: I move that the Water Commission vote at the next regular meeting on a proposed change to the bylaws, Article V, Section 8, that executive sessions may be for the purposes authorized by City Code. Headline Copy Goes Here BERNADETTE KUHN/SENIOR ENV. PLANNER NATURAL AREAS DEPARTMENT (970) 416-4348 /P  bkuhn@fcgov.com /E 1 MEMORANDUM Date: 12/5/2025 To: The Water Commission Through: Staff Liaison Jill Oropeza, Senior Director of Integrated Water Sciences & Planning CC: Nicole Poncelet-Johnson, One Water Executive Director From: Bernadette Kuhn, Senior Environmental Planner/Restoration Project Manager Susan Strong, Stormwater Quality and Regulatory Manager Subject: Watershed in Focus: The Poudre River Health Assessment Summary The City of Fort Collins (the City) has completed a comprehensive sampling effort using the River Health Assessment Framework (RHAF) to understand the physical, biological, and chemical conditions of the Middle Zone of the Cache la Poudre River (Poudre River). The results indicate that the river scores a C (77 out of 100) on an A-F grading scale as it flows from the canyon mouth to I-25. Results from the RHAF offer three key insights: •The river is still maintaining basic functions like sediment transport and good water quality •Conditions have stayed relatively steady from 2015 sampling to 2025 •Flow management and floodplain connection are best investments for river health improvement Background The Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed (CPRW) and City of Fort Collins (the City) have monitored the health of Poudre River using the RHAF for the last decade. The RHAF provides a holistic view of river health through eight sampling indicators: river flow, sediment, wood regime, water quality, riparian floodplain, river dynamics, aquatic habitat, and aquatic life. Each indicator sampled receives a score that rolls up into a letter grade like those used in school settings (A-F). The approachable A-F score is used to easily communicate findings to partners and community members throughout the Poudre River watershed. Unlike many river sampling methods, the RHAF was developed specifically for the Poudre River by experts and river scientists from the basin to be a repeatable assessment. 2 Previous results from the initial RHAF scoring effort indicated that the Middle Zone scored a C in 2015, while the Upper Zone scored a B+ (2020). For the Lower Zone (2017), no scores were given, only opportunities for improvements were provided based on stakeholder direction. Results Next Steps BERNADETTE KUHN/SENIOR ENV. PLANNER NATURAL AREAS DEPARTMENT (970) 416-4348 /P  bkuhn@fcgov.com /E 3 Figure 1. Map of the Cache la Poudre River watershed with Upper (blue), Middle (green), and Lower (pink) Zones. BERNADETTE KUHN/SENIOR ENV. PLANNER NATURAL AREAS DEPARTMENT (970) 416-4348 /P  bkuhn@fcgov.com /E 4 Table 1. River Health Assessment Framework (RHAF) Scores from 18 reaches of the Middle Zone of the Cache la Poudre River (0-100 scale). Indicator River Health Grade Reach Aquatic Habitat Aquatic Life Riparian Floodpla in River Dynamics Flow Regime Sediment Regime Water Quality Wood Regime By reach Entire River 1. Munroe to North Fork 87 92 79 75 75 83 90 76 80 2. North Fork to PV Canal 85 92 77 84 75 88 90 77 82 3. PV Canal to Greeley Div.80 93 82 76 75 86 90 80 81 4. Greeley Div. to CR 54 82 93 73 72 75 88 90 77 79 5. CR 54 to Rist Canyon Rd 76 93 75 65 75 83 90 75 77 6. Rist to Overland 79 91 70 73 75 85 90 72 77 7. Overland to Larimer- Weld 73 91 69 70 75 85 90 69 76 8. Larimer-Weld to Shields 81 91 73 72 66 84 90 67 75 9. Shields to College 79 89 71 76 66 84 90 71 76 10. College to Lincoln 67 89 66 66 66 80 90 65 71 77 5 11. Lincoln to Mulbery 66 89 70 72 66 82 89 63 72 12. Mulberry to Timnath 69 82 66 71 66 81 89 66 72 13. Timnath to Timberline 72 82 70 72 66 82 89 72 74 14. Timberline to Prospect 70 85 72 78 72 84 85 73 76 15. Prospect to FCRID 75 85 67 62 72 82 85 79 74 16. FCRID to Boxelder 73 81 71 78 71 83 88 79 77 17. Boxelder to Railroad 74 85 69 79 71 90 81 78 77 18. Railroad to I-25 66 76 68 77 71 90 74 75 75 Headline Copy Goes Here 2025 Watershed in Focus: The Poudre River Health Assessment Bernadette Kuhn Sr. Environmental Planner/Restoration Project Manager Susan Strong Stormwater Quality and Regulatory Manager Cory Dick Watershed Project Manager (Coalition for Poudre River Watershed) Team: ICON Engineering, Verdantas, AloTerra Restoration Services, GEI 1 Headline Copy Goes HereBig Picture 2 •Middle Poudre River is in a functional state •River conditions steady (2015 to 2025) •Flow management and floodplain connection offer biggest payoff Slow and steady: snapping turtle at Kingfisher Point Natural Area Headline Copy Goes Here 3 What is it? 3 Middle Zone River Health Assessment Framework (RHAF) Headline Copy Goes Here 4 Timeline River Health Assessment Framework (RHAF) developed 2015 Middle Zone sampled 2016 Lower Zone sampled 2017 Upper Zone sampled 2020 Updated River Health Assessment Framework (RHAF) Manual released 2024 Sample entire watershed 2025 Communicate results Late 2025-2026 Headline Copy Goes Here 55 Headline Copy Goes Here 6 Indicators & Metrics Aquatic Life (4%) Aquatic Habitat, Water Quality (8%) Riparian Floodplain, River Dynamics, Sediment, Wood (15%) Flows (20%) Functional Drivers Headline Copy Goes HereRHAF Grading 7 ExplanationDescriptorScaleGrade The indicator is self-sustaining and supports functional characteristics appropriate to sustain river health. Optimally Functional 90-100A The indicator maintains essential qualities that support a high level of function, but there is some influence of stressors at a detectable, yet minor, level. Highly Functional 80-89B The indicator is altered by stressors that substantially impair functionality, but basic natural river functions are still sustained.Functional70-79C The indicator is severely altered by stressors that impair basic natural river functions and overall river health. Functionally Impaired 60-69D The indicator is profoundly impaired by massive or overwhelming stressors that render it incapable of supporting basic natural river functions, or it is unable to sustain biological river communities. Non-Functional50-59F Each metric is scored and weighted to create indicator score for each reach. Each indicator score is weighted to create a reach score. The average of all 18 reach scores is used to create the overall zone score. Headline Copy Goes HereResults: Functional State 8 •Overall score is 77 (C) •Altered by stressors that substantially impair functionality •Basic natural river functions are still sustained Headline Copy Goes Here 9 What is a C? Narrow band of native coyote willows Rip-rap prevents channel meandering Mostly pool habitat, few riffles, no large wood Little bedform diversity (ripples, bars) Mean temp 12-18 ⁰C Headline Copy Goes HereReach Level Results: 2016 to 2025 10 Gateway Natural Area College to Lincoln Arapaho Bend Natural Area • Scores and conditions similar between 2015 and 2025 • Highest at Gateway, lowest at College Ave Headline Copy Goes HereWatershed Context 11 Upper Poudre Lower Poudre Headline Copy Goes HereLooking Ahead 12 • Continue to identify priority reaches for cross-City river health improvement projects • Explore flows planning with Coalition for Poudre River Watershed (CPRW) and regional partners • Partner with CPRW to assess tributaries in Middle and Lower Poudre (Spring, Dry, Boxelder, Sheep Draw) • Find water and space for the river Headline Copy Goes HereQuestions? 13 DRAFT Water Commission 2026 Work Plan Page 1 of 4 Work Plan City of Fort Collins WATER COMMISSION 2026 Work Plan [DRAFT as of 12-01-2025] Purpose The Water Commission Work Plan focuses on topics of interest that are important to the Commission’s role in advising Fort Collins One Water Utilities and City Council in matters pertaining to water, wastewater, and stormwater utility policy issues and to better inform the Commissioners on the Commission’s responsibilities as a quasi-judicial body relating to floodplain regulation variances, stormwater fee disputes, and stormwater drainage design criteria variances . The purpose is to delve into relevant subjects, optimize City staff resources, and allow Commissioners to learn about water-related issues pertinent to City staff and City Council. The Commission also engages in quasi-judicial matters as needed, such as floodplain variances, easement dedication, and property acquisition or disposition. City of Fort Collins Key Objectives and Strategies One Water Utilities business areas are aligned with one or more key objectives and strategies in the 2024 City of Fort Collins Strategic Plan that links the City Plan vision with the City’s organizational and operational priorities. Individual items may align with several objectives. For example, capital projects for distribution system pipes typically coordinate with transportation and mobility (TM) projects; capital projects include an Art In Public Places component (C&R); Utilities projects often relate to High Performing Government (HPG) objectives. Acronym Key: 2024 City of Fort Collins Strategic Plan https://www.fcgov.com/citymanager/strategicplan • NCV: Neighborhood & Community Vitality • C&R: Culture & Recreation • ECON: Economic Health • ENV: Environmental Health • HPG: High Performing Government • SAFE: Safe Community • TM: Transportation & Mobility 2026 Key Topics (for the Commission to provide input on and to receive updates. The 2026 Key Topics may be revised after 2026 One Water Utilities Staff Goals are provided to the Commission.) 1. One Water (ENV) a. One Water strategic plan development, implementation, and outcomes. b. Regular financial, capital development planning, and rate updates. 2. Financial (ECON) a. Financial and capital development planning. b. Rate development, implementation and outcomes. c. Rate impacts on City Strategic Objectives ECON 1 and ECON 2. DRAFT Water Commission 2026 Work Plan Page 2 of 4 3. Infrastructure and Environment (ENV, TM) a. Addressing climate change, post-fire conditions, and National Flood Insurance Program limitations. b. Steps to update flood risk assessments, improve infrastructure resilience, protect water supply and quality, and ensure flood protection for residents and businesses. 4. Halligan Water Supply Project (ENV, ECON) a. Project updates: budget, staffing, public messaging, environmental impact statement (EIS) and permitting status, property and easement acquisition, changes to project impacting budget, environmental impacts, permitting, and timelines. 5. Water Conservation (ENV, ECON, NCV) a. Impacts and implementation of State Bill SB24-005: Prohibit Landscaping Practices for Water Conservation. b. Landscaping standards for residential, commercial, and City properties. c. Consideration of turf grass use in City-owned right of ways. d. Updates on outcomes from Water Efficiency and Water Shortage Action Plans. 6. Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP) (ENV, ECON, NCV) a. Updates on City interactions with NISP and stakeholders. b. Contributions to or impacts on the City's Strategic Objectives. 7. Water Quality a. PFOA and PFOS, which are part of a larger group of chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). b. Impacts of State Bill HB24-1379 Regulate Dredge & Fill Activities in State Waters and CDPHE Reg. 87 (Colorado Dredge and Fill Program) (HB24-1379). Recurring Annual Subjects and Activities WATER a. Input on planning and policies for raw and treated water supply, such as the Water Supply and Demand Management Policy and raw water acquisition (ENV, ECON). b. Guidance on regional water supply collaboration opportunities (ENV, ECON). c. Input on ditch company share rentals and surplus raw water rental rates (ECON). d. Review and input on water conservation programs (ENV, NCV). e. Educational topics to prepare the Water Commission for water-related business (HPG). f. Participate in educational and public outreach (NCV, C&R). g. Review of capital projects and Capital Improvement Plans (HPG, ECON). h. Input on programs to protect water sources and improve watershed health (ENV). i. Input and discussion on tap fees and impacts on housing affordability. For example, the cost of tap fees — Water Supply Requirement is $63,800 as of 2025 — is a significant component of developing new housing, and impacts housing affordability. (ECON, NCV) j. Input on other relevant topics (HPG). Examples of related strategic objectives: ENV 2 Sustain the health of the Cache la Poudre River and regional watersheds while delivering a resilient, economically responsible and high-quality water supply for all Fort Collins residents DRAFT Water Commission 2026 Work Plan Page 3 of 4 ECON 2 Deliver City utility services in response to climate action objectives and opportunities and targeted reliability and resiliency levels, and make significant investments in utility infrastructure while communicating and mitigating cost impacts to the community where possible. WASTEWATER a. Input on planning and policies for wastewater, such as strategic plans dealing with infrastructure financing, workforce development, nutrient regulations, tertiary treatment, and public/private financing options (ENV, ECON). b. Input on annual business such as rates and capital improvements (ECON). c. Educational topics to prepare the Water Commission for wastewater-related business (HPG). d. Participate in educational and public outreach (NCV, C&R). e. Review of capital projects and Capital Improvement Plans (HPG, ECON). f. Input on other relevant topics (HPG). Examples of related strategic objectives: ECON 2 The benefits of reliable infrastructure such as water distribution, wastewater collection/treatment, and flood protection extend well beyond economic impact and have ties to community safety and environmental health. ECON related to NCV #1 The cost of housing, including utility services, is becoming a workforce issue with many industries not able to keep pace with their compensation levels. STORMWATER a. Input on planning and policies for stormwater, such as revisions to master plans and Low Impact Development guidelines (ENV, TM). b. Input on annual business such as rates, municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) reporting, and program accomplishments (HPG, SAFE). c. Input on infrastructure resilience related to climate change risks (ENV, TM). d. Educational topics to prepare the Water Commission for stormwater-related business (HPG). e. Participate in educational and public outreach with emphasis on enhancing customer awareness and understanding of stormwater programs (NCV, C&R). f. Review capital projects and Capital Improvement Plans (HPG, ECON). g. Input on other relevant topics (HPG). Examples of related strategic objectives: ENV related to ECON #2 Reliable infrastructure for electricity, water, wastewater and flood protection is critical to ensure community resiliency amidst a changing climate. SAFE 2 Providing and maintaining reliable utility services and infrastructure directly preserves and improves public health and community safety. DRAFT Water Commission 2026 Work Plan Page 4 of 4 Examples of Other Key Objectives Related to One Water Utilities ECON 2: Deliver City utility services in response to climate action objectives and opportunities and targeted reliability and resiliency levels, and make significant investments in utility infrastructure while communicating and mitigating cost impacts to the community where possible. • …Water storage capacity is needed to ensure water rights can be fully utilized to meet future demand and drought resiliency needs. • The benefits of reliable infrastructure such as water distribution, wastewater collection/treatment, and flood protection extend well beyond economic impact and have ties to community safety and environmental health. HPG 4: Incorporate a management strategy for all new and existing City assets that addresses deferred maintenance and accessibility… Asset Management is critical to the City providing a safe and reliable transportation system for all modes of travel. NCV 1: Increase housing supply, type, choice and affordability to address inequities in housing so that everyone has healthy, stable housing they can afford.