HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Board - Minutes - 02/24/2005City Council Liaison
David Roy
Fort Collins Utilities Water Board Minutes
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Water Board Interim Chairman
Reagan Waskom 484-3333
Staff Liaison Secretary
DeEtta Carr 221-6702 Leslie Mooney 416-2703
Roll Call:
Board Present
Interim Chairman Reagan Waskom, Steve Balderson, Ted Borstad, Eileen Domfest, Johannes
Gessler, Gina Janett, Debra Sweetman and Doug Yadon.
Absent
John Bartholow, Jim Finley and Rami Naddy
Visitors
None
Staff
Patty Bigner, Dennis Bode, DeEtta Carr, Steve Comstock, Laurie D'Audney, Kevin Gertig, Jim
Hibbard, Cliff Hoelscher, Brian Janonis, Dave Meyer, Leslie Mooney, Mike Smith and Susan
Smolnik
Meeting Convened
Interim Chairman Reagan Waskom called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. He asked if there
were any guests who would like to speak to the Board. Hearing none, he requested that the
Board move on to the next order of business.
Approval of Minutes
Interim Chairman Reagan asked if there were any corrections or additions to the minutes of the
January 27, 2005 meeting. Board member Doug Yadon made a motion, seconded by Board
member Debra Sweetman to approve the minutes. The motion passed with one abstention.
Water Board Meeting Minutes
February 24,2005
Page 2
Update on Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District — Gene Schleiger
Gene Schleiger, of Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, reported that snow pack was
up a little from last year but the reservoirs are still low. He presented written documentation of
the water level readings of all of the basins in the area.
Raw Water Rental Rates & Delivery Charges — Dennis Bode
Dennis Bode, Water Resources Division Manager, explained that every year the City sets water
rental rates and delivery charges for use of its raw water. The rates are divided into active rental
market and limited rental market categories. The active rental market is mainly used for
agriculture and includes Colorado Big Thompson Project (CBT), North Poudre Irrigation
Company (NPIC), Water Supply and Storage Company (WSSC) and the City's reusable sources.
The limited rental category is mainly used for city parks and facilities and includes Pleasant
Valley and Lake Canal Company shares and other "Southside Ditch" shares.
Dennis stated the rates are similar to what they were last year. The staff recommendation is that
agricultural rentals of CBT water be charged at the rate of $35.00 per acre foot and that CBT
water rented for municipal of industrial (M&I) purposes be charged at $50 per acre foot to offset
the higher assessments charged to M&I shareholders. He also summarized and briefly discussed
the other proposed rates.
Board member Waskom asked if the City would recoup their ownership and administrative costs
with these rates. Dennis replied that the administrative and assessment costs are recuperated
from the water that is rented out or delivered to others.
Board member Gina Janett asked if the City ever changed the rental rates during the course of the
year in response to the market rate changes. Dennis replied that the City has in the past but it
usually happened late in the season when there was a lot of rain, demands were low, and the price
was too high.
Board member Johannes Gessler asked what is the typical year's income. Dennis replied that it
averages around $300,000 to $400,000.
Board member Gina Janett made a motion, seconded by Board member Ted Borstad to approve
staff's recommendation for the 2005 Raw Water Rental Rates and Charges. The motion passed
unanimously.
Update of Mercury Pretreatment Program — Dave Mever
Dave Meyer, Technical Services Supervisor, updated the Board on the implementation of a 2004
ordinance which requires dental offices install amalgam separators to reduce the amount of
mercury in wastewater discharged to the water reclamation facilities.
Water Board Meeting Minutes
February 24,2005
Page 3
Dave stated that the ordinance takes effect July 1, 2005 and that reporting requirements for
dentists are being finalized. He stated that the program should reduce the mercury in the
wastewater by approximately 25-40%.
Election of Officers
Interim Chairman Waskom asked for nominations for Chairman. Board member Doug Yadon
nominated Board member Ted Borstad. Board member Gina Janett made a motion, seconded by
Board member Debra Sweetman to elect Ted Borstad for Chairman. The motion passed
unanimously.
Interim Chairman Waskom asked for nominations for Vice -Chairman. Board member Gina
Janett nominated herself for Vice Chairman. Board member Ted Borstad nominated Doug
Yadon. Board member Debra Sweetman made a motion, seconded by Board member Johannes
Gessler to cease nominations.
The Board voted by paper ballot. The majority elected Board member Doug Yadon for Vice
Chairman.
Staff Reports
Treated Water Production Summary & Water Supply Outlook — Dennis Bode
Dennis Bode, Water Resources Division Manager, reviewed the Snotel data for Joe Wright and
Deadman Hill graphs depicting that the snow pack is about average for this time of year. He also
pointed out that the S. Platte River Basin as a whole was at about 85% of average.
Halligan Reservoir Update — Cliff Hoelscher
Cliff Hoelscher, Special Project Manager, stated that a request for qualifications for a 3`d party
consultant will be released today. After reviewing and interviewing the firms, a ranked list of
three will be submitted to the Corp of Engineers for their selection.
He stated that the contract will be for approximately $1,000,000 and that the City of Greeley and
their partner will pay 50% of the costs.
Cliff added that the Division of Fish and Wildlife has recently announced that they will start the
delisting of the Prebles Meadow Jumping Mouse and hope to have it delisted by this time next
year.
The Board questioned whether public access will be allowed. Cliff responded that the City is
hoping to protect the watershed and have it remain as it is today, without public access except for
the areas that border the Division of Wildlife.
Water Board Meeting Minutes
February 24,2005
Page 4
Water Conservation Annual Report — Laurie D'Audney
Laurie D'Audney, Water Conservation Specialist, summarized some of the water conservation
programs and activities that took place in 2004.
Committee Reports
Legislative, Finance, Liaison Issues — Gina Janett
Board member Gina Janett reported that the committee will be meeting on March 16th and the
topic will be the fluoride issue.
Conservation and Public Education — Ted Borstad
Board member Ted Borstad reported that the committee discussed the Water Conservation Plan.
Engineering — DougYadon
Board member Doug Yadon stated that they had met regarding chronic wasting disease and plan
to meet again to continue the discussion.
Mike Smith, Utilities General Manager, reassured the Board that this issue is not a serious
concern.
Other Business
Committee Vacancies Interim Chairman Waskom asked the Board to volunteer to fill the
existing vacancies on the standing committees.
Board member Eileen Dornfest requested to be on the Legislative and Finance Committee and
the Conservation and Public Education Committee.
Board member Waskom resigned from the Conservation and Public Education Committee and
requested to be on the Water Supply Committee instead.
Board member Gina Janett requested to be on the Water Supply Committee. Interim Chairman
Waskom appointed Jim Finley as the Interim Chairman of the Water Supply Committee and
Debra Sweetman as Interim Chairperson of the Conservation and Public Education Committee.
Water Board Meeting Minutes
February 24, 2005
Page 5
Board member Steve Balderson requested to be moved from the Water Supply Committee to the
Conservation and Public Education Committee.
Tri-City Meeting -Staff Liaison DeEtta Carr stated that we will be hosting the meeting this year
and it is scheduled for May 26`h at the Country Club.
Adiournment
The meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m.
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