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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Board - Minutes - 12/20/1974WATER BOARD Public Hearing 1041 December 20, 1974 - 3:00 P.M. Present: Ward Fischer Everett Richardson W. G. Wilkinson Karl E. Carson Henry Caulfield Robert Brunton Absent: Raymond Anderson Norman Evans Harvey Johnson Bernard Cain, Jr. James Waltz Staff members present: Liquin, Hays, Alexander, Inghram, Cain, and Lewis Also: City Attorney March, Jr. Also: Members of the Press Three citizens, unidentified Appointment of Henry Caulfield Ward Fischer, Water Board Chairman, announced the appointment of Henry Caulfield, Water Board Member, to a Public Involvement Task Force to work with the Bureau of Reclamation on a study. The purpose of the study is to determine alternate methods of assuring an adequate future water supply for the Front Range Area, which includes portions of Boulder, Larimer, and Weld Counties. It was pointed out that one of the things to be studied will be storage sites and various Front Range Area tributaries to the South Platte River Basin. The Gray Mountain site is included in the study. Water Bill Rebate The Chair inquired as to the City Council intent in their desire to rebate a portion of future water bills to effect some relief for the elderly. He pointed out that if we needed 25% compounded from the standpoint of paying for the projects that we are trying to develope, if the elderly are given some break then the rates ought to be raised sufficient to allow the same amount of income. With further discussion on the matter, Mr. Brunton advised the Board that it would be difficult to figure out a workable scheme that would accomplish this task due to the number of rental units and multi -family facilities. The administration of such a program together with a possible alternate source of funds was also discussed. The Chair requested that if rates are to be adjusted to reflect this decrease in income that the Water Board be advised so that they could give comments to the City Council. Public Hearing House Bill 1041 Chairman Fischer opened the hearing by stating, "The purpose of this hearing is to consider certain matters in regard to utilities of the City of Fort Collins in light of a newly passed law, which.indicates that in some instances there may be appropriate circumstances where the State might have an interest. We will ask our City Attorney to give us some preliminary idea of what we are considering, and then we will ask him to advise us concerning the law that is applicable, so we can make our decision in light of the applicable law." Mr. March, City Attorney, explained that the law establishes the possibility of designating certain things as areas of state wide interest and as activities of state wide interest. He further stated that the Water Board was dealing in the category of activities. House Bill 1041, according to the Attorney, is concerned with such things as duplication of facilities, which the City has experienced with surrounding sewer and water districts and also with the growth problem. Mr. March stated that the three areas we should consider are, (1) water and sewer systems of ours within the City; (2) water and sewer systems that are not ours within the City; and (3) water and sewer systems both ours and others that are outside the City. Mr. Fischer requested the staff to present a review of the City facilities, and said review was presented by Mr. Liquin, Director of Public Works of the City. The entire water system from the Michigan Ditch through the Joe Wright Reservoir through the treatment plants and in the distribution system was presented. Included in the presentation was reference to long range planning and studies completed or under way for various positions of the Water Utility. The Board was advised of the planning and status of the sewage facilities, including Sewer Treatment Plant No. 1 and Sewer Treatment Plant No. 2. The review of the City system, both outside and inside the City limits, was followed by reference to all water and sanitation districts in the Fort Collins Vicinity. Mr. Fischer requested comments from the public, and there were none. Following discussion of water and sewer systems of our within the City, a vote was taken on a motion recommending to the City Council that our own utilities within the City are not a matter of state concern, and the motion was adopted. A vote was taken, and the motion passed with one dissenting vote. The Chair stated the second question concerns whether the utilities or activities of others in regard to their utilities, which are not the City of Fort Collins, should be designated as a matter of state concern. A motion was made that that not be a matter of state concern. Following discussion a vote was taken, and the motion passed with one dissenting vote. The Chair stated that the final matter concerns whether or not the activities of the City in regard with water and sewer concerns outside of the City should or should not be designated as a matter of state concern. After some discussion the Chair stated the motion as seconded states, "The City's activities outside the City be recommended to the Council as a matter of state concern. After discussion this motion failed by a 5 to 1 vote. -2- A new motion was drafted by the Chair that it be the Water Board's report to the Council in regards to the City activities outside the City, that the guidelines as contained in the present bill are so vague and the subject so complicated, that we recommend only that the Council and the staff keep themselves informed and keep the Water Board informed, so that the Water Board can make an intelligent recommendation in the future, in sufficient time to be effective. This motion passed unanimously, and in so doing ended the hearing. Other Business Mr. Brunton presented the the Water Board members copies of a letter from Mr. Carl Houck outlining the various activities of the projects under way for the City Sewer Utility. He also presented to the Water Board copies of the water and sewer budgets and also a copy of a memo to Council regarding the water rate increase. Mr. Brunton advised the Water Board of the refinancing of the water bonds and the possible refinancing of the sewer bonds. The Chair stated that a discussion of priorities, capital funds available, future studies, and similar matters would be discussed at the next meeting. By unanimous motion, a next meeting of the Water Board was set for January 17, 1975. Dugan Wilkinson advised the Water Board that the conditional water rights for 10 second feet was for in -plant use and operation, and suggested that the City make application to the court for a change in water rights, and asked that said rights retain its present date of appropriation, but be expanded to allow for municipal use. This item was unanimously approved by the Water Board. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned. ATTEST: City Clerk Chairman -3- i November 18, 1974 TO: Robert Brunton, City Manager FROM: LaVonne Hoffman, Deputy City Clerk ,�J SUBJECT: Summary report from the Water Board meeting of November 15, 1974 Agenda item No. 1--minutes approved without change. Agenda item No. 2--request from David W. Smith for an out of the City water tap for a single family dwelling the Water Board unanimously voted to advise the Council to approve the request. Agenda item No. 3--report on the southside ditch yields. Mr. March fully explained;: his memo to the Water Board stating there has not been any progress with the South side ditch companies. Mr. Wilkinson expressed concern that the 10 year average yield was unfair and that a longer period perhaps from 1913 to 1970 should be used to obtain an average yield. He also expressed concern that the 50% shrinkage figure used in Alternative B was too high. Mr. Fischer and Mr. March assured him that this was only a starting place and there were many factors involved to determine the actual shrinkage rate. The proposed alternative plans were presented to give guidelines for accepting the southside waters and its usage by the City. The motion was to follow Alternative B with the vote being 8 yeas and 1 no, the no vote cast by Dugan Wilkinson. Agenda item No. 4--request to take over private water mains on North Taft Hill and Riverside Avenue. The Water Board considered the report furnished by the Public Works Department and recommended the Council follow the recommendations of the report; recommendations 1 and 2 as set out in the letter from Tom Hays to Chuck Liquin dated October 29, 1974. On the Riverside Avenue water main the Water Board recommends that the City confer with the owner relative to annexation and following annexation an improvement district be created to install an adequate system. Agenda item No. 5--report on funds available for water acquisition, suggested priorities and suggested purchase prices for various waters. The Water Board received the memo from Chuck Liquin relating to funds available addressed to Robert Brunton dated November 8, 1974. As to the suggested priorities and suggested purchase prices for the various waters, the Board will need this information at the next meeting. Agenda item No. 6--request to sell to the City of Fort Collins 9 1/2 shares of North Poudre Water and 5 shares of Horsetooth water the Water Board Page 2 voted to not buy the North Poudre Water. However it did vote to purchase the 5 shares of Horsetooth at the price of $375 per share from Mr. Drew H. Wesner. Agenda item No. 7--scheduling a public hearing relative to the activities of interest to the Water Board in House Bill No. 1041. A notice was sent to the newspaper and to the proper office in Denver notifying them that a public hearing is scheduled for December 20, 1974 at 3:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber of the City [fall. (A copy is attached for your information) Agenda item No. 8--filing for additional water on the Poudre River. The Chairman recommended that this item be tabled to the next meeting. Agenda item No. 9--discussion of purpose of the Water Board. The Chairman discussed with the members your letter of October 24, 1974 addressed to all board members. Mr. Fischer will be forwarding to you the statement from the Water Board. The next meeting is scheduled for Friday, December 13, 1974 at 3:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers.