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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Board - Minutes - 09/23/2004City Council Liaison David Roy Staff Liaison DeEtta Carr 221-6702 Fort Collins Utilities Water Board Minutes Thursday, September 23, 2004 Water Board Chairman Water Board Vice Chairman Tom Sanders 491-5448 Tom Brown 295-5968 Secretary Leslie Mooney 416-2703 Roll Call: Board Present John Bartholow, Tom Brown, Gina Janett, Tom Sanders, Debra Sweetman, and Reagan Waskom Board Absent Ted Borstad, Jim Finley, Bill Fischer, Rami Naddy and Doug Yadon Visitors Jeff Couch ,Chris Kanl and John Gallegher Staff Patty Bigner, Dennis Bode, Terri Bryant, Roger Buffington, DeEtta Carr, Carrie Daggett, Jim Hibbard, Cliff Hoelscher, Brian Janonis, Gale McGaha-Miller, Leslie Mooney, Bob Smith, Mike Smith and Dennis Sumner, Bill Switzer, Ellen Switzer and Timothy Wilder. Meeting Convened Chairman Tom Sanders called the meeting to order at 3:09 p.m. Approval of Minutes Chairman Sanders asked if there were any additions or changes to the minutes of the August 26, 2004 meeting. Board member John Bartholow made a motion to approve the minutes with the addition of a comma and the word "stormwater" after the word "water" under "Legislative, Finance, Liaison Issues" on page 2. The motion was seconded by Board member Gina Janett. The motion passed unanimously. Water Board Meeting Minutes September 23, 2004 Page 2 Update on Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District — Gene Schleiger Gene Schleiger of the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, reported that they are about at the end of the season and the reservoirs are at about 50% of capacity where the normal would be 75%. They still have 135,000 out of 181,000 ac ft that was allocated in April but has not been delivered. Extension of Sewer Policv in the LaPorte Area — Timothv Wilder and Roger Buffington Timothy Wilder, of the Advanced Planning Department, presented the Board with a staff recommendation on city policy regarding utility extensions in the LaPorte area. The City has an agreement with the LaPorte Sanitation District to provide up to 700 residential taps of which 22 are still available. Currently, there is one formal development request pending which would require several hundred taps for sanitary sewer service in the LaPorte area and outside the City's growth management area (GMA). The LaPorte Sanitation District has the option of asking the City of Fort Collins to provide service or develop their wastewater sanitation facilities. Jeff Couch, of Team Engineering, stated that the information presented to the Board is inaccurate. He stated that the LaPorte Sanitation District is gearing up to provide service to the LaPorte area. He recommended that the City not renew the agreement with the District and thought that the District would want a new agreement in its place. Mike Smith stated that he had not heard from the LaPorte Sanitation District and was unaware of what their plans were. Chairman Sanders stated that there was too little information to make an informed recommendation at this time and felt it was premature to take action. Board member Waskom made a motion, seconded by Board member John Bartholow to table this discussion to the next regular meeting in October. The motion passed unanimously. Utility Rates & Charges for 2005 — Terri Bryant Terri Bryant, Utilities Finance and Budget Manager, stated that Council will consider the Utilities' rate changes on October 19a' so a motion from the Board is requested. She stated that two housekeeping items will be clarified in the Code; one regarding raw water requirements for taps over 3 inches, and the other is related to an administration change for the budget billing policy. There will not be a water rate change at this time although staff is watching water revenues closely to see if mid year changes might be necessary. Overall, the proposed increases are as follows: Wastewater 5.00% Stormwater 7.00% Water Board Meeting Minutes September 23, 2004 Page 3 Electric 4.35% Water 0.00% The rate increases for wastewater and stormwater are "across the board" and do not vary by customer class. The rate proposals for water and stormwater are consistent with the projections in the 2004-2005 biennial budgets. The electric rates vary by rate class from 3.9% for residential to 5.0% for industrial. Board member John Bartholow made a motion, seconded by Board member Reagan Waskom to the recommend that City Council the adopt the proposed rate changes. The motion passed unanimously. 2005 Water, Wastewater, Stormwater Plant Investment Fees —,Tim Hibbard Jim Hibbard, Water Engineering & Field Services Department Manager, gave a presentation on proposed revisions to plant investment fees. For Water and Wastewater, the proposed plant investment fees were based on a "build out" of the service area. The total value of existing and future capital projects are allocated to existing and new customers based upon their impact. For wastewater, the impact of infiltration/inflow was included. The impact of infiltration/inflow had not been previously calculated into the current fees so with this additional component the proposed wastewater fees are substantially higher. The proposed method of calculating stormwater plant investment fees changed significantly, due to changes in philosophy in the stortwater program. The stormwater plant investment fees are based on a new customer buying into the value of the existing system at the time of development, then joining the existing rate payers to pay for future capital improvements. John Gallagher, a consultant from Black & Veatch, stated that he believed the proposed plant investment fees met the intent of Senate Bill 15 which is to have a new customer pay for their share of the facilities that are there to serve. Board member Reagan Waskom made a motion, seconded by Board member Debra Sweetman to endorse staff's methodology and recommend Council approval. The motion passed unanimously. Development Review Fees — Terri Bryant Terri Bryant, Utilities Finance & Budget Manager, presented the proposed water, wastewater and stormwater development fees for 2005. She stated that these fees are designed to recover the cost of the Utilities' personnel and overhead required to review new development and issue service permits. She stated that in 2002 the Utilities began phasing in collection of the fee at a recovery of approximately 50% of direct costs. Prior to 2002, these costs were absorbed in the Utilities Water Board Meeting Minutes September 23, 2004 Page 4 operating budgets. It is recommended that these costs be included in the Code and set at 100% of cost recovery. Board member Gina Janett made a motion seconded by Board member Tom Brown to recommend Council approve the proposed development review fees for 2005. The motion passed unanimously. Staff Reuorts Meadow Sorines Ranch Conservation Agreement — Gale McGaha Miller Gale McGaha-Miller, Regulatory & Government Affairs Manager, stated that on October 5, 2004 Council will consider a proposed resolution to authorize an intergovernmental agreement between the City and the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for the purpose of protecting the Colorado Butterfly Plant (also known as Gaura) at Meadow Springs Ranch. This location contains the only known population of this species in Colorado. The USFWS has approached the City with a request to create a voluntary conservation agreement that would spell out certain best management practices, such as grazing density and duration, the use of herbicides and haying. If the City enters into a conservation agreement, USFWS will remove the Meadow Springs Gaura site from the list of critical habitat. The Board thanked Gale for the information. Treated Water Production Survey — Dennis Bode Dennis Bode, Water Resources Division Manager, presented the Board with the August Treated Water Monthly Summary which indicated that water usage for the month of August was below the projected usage. Halligan Reservoir Update — Brian Janonis Brian Janonis, Water Resources & Treatment Services Department Manager, stated that there is nothing new to report on the reservoir. Other Business • Chairman Sanders reminded the Board of the Meadow Springs Ranch Tour on October 8, 2004 and encouraged participation. • Board member Bartholow stated that the Legislative, Finance, Liaison Issues Committee does have a tentative meeting date set at 10:00 a.m. Friday, October 22. The topics will include their legislative role, raw water fees and discussion about the state not being able to fund the Platte River Species Recovery Plan. Water Board Meeting Minutes September 23, 2004 Page 5 Adiournment The meeting adjourned at 5:40 p.m. o. n-suaA4 slie Mooney, Water Bo4a Secretary