HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Board - Minutes - 01/11/1974January 11, 1974
3:30 P.M.
Present:Ward Fischer
Owen Moore
James Waltz
Fred Feit
Karl Carson
Harvey Johnson
Bernard Cain, Jr.
Everett Richardson
Norman Evans
Robert Brunton
Absent: W. G. Wilkinson
Staff members present: Hilgenberg, Cain and Lewis.
Council members present: Gray and Reeves.
Item No. I. Request of Ada May Guard for City to accept
Arthur Ditch Water tabled
Chairman Ward Fischer stated Mrs. Guard was a longtime friend and client;
therefore he wished to disqualify himself from discussion or vote on the
matter and appointed Mr. Harvey Johnson to chair the meeting for the purpose
of discussion of this item.
The request from Mrs. Guard was for an exception to the City's moratorium
on the acceptance of Arthur Ditch share in fulfillment of annexation
requirements. Specifically to allow the acceptance of 23.5 shares of
Arthur Ditch water to fulfill the requirement of the Guard Third Annexa-
tion.
City Manager Brunton stated further, City Attorney March had been attempting
to schedule a meeting with the South Side ditches to discuss several items,
he spoke to the moratorium in accepting water in the South -side ditches;
the agreement reached with International Investments, Inc., in which they
agree to escrow $55,000 until such time as the moratorium is lifted, in
the next 18 months, or the matter settled, in which event the money in
escrow would be paid to the City. The City Manager also referred to the
current staff review of water agreements and his desire to table this
request until the reviews are complete, advising Mrs. Guard of the delay.
Chairman Pro-tem, Harvey Johnson, spoke in favor of the recommendation and
the need of cooperation between the ditch companies and the City.
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Board member Karl Carson inquired into the time frame for giving an answer
to Mrs. Guard. The City Manager stated he would like to report back with-
in the next 60 to 90 days on this and other related matters.
Board member Karl Carson made a motion, seconded by Fred Feit, to accept the
recommendation of the administration and postpone making a recommendation
on the item until it is brought back to the Water Board. The Acting
Chairman put the question which was unanimously adopted. (Ward Fischer
abstaining).
Item 2. January 17, 1974 at 1:30 P.M. established as first
of a series of meeting dates to discuss various
water projects
Chairman Ward Fischer stated he would like discussion on when the Board
could have a meeting or,series of meetings to come to a conclusion on
some items, for example: (1) making a recommendation to the Council on
what to do, if anything, with Michigan Ditch and Joe Wright Reservoir,
(2) making a recommendation to the Council of what major water projects
should the City become involved in, and to what extent.
Board member Karl Carson inquired into the adverse claims on 200,000
acre feet of Windy Gap water, and the concern he had if the Courts ruled
against the Cities claim. The Chairman stated Board member Norman Evans
was on the water quality control Board and other sources such as Water
Supply and Storage would be kept informed on any proceedings in this area.
Board member Norman Evans stated he felt the Six Cities representatives
had the same reservation Dr. Carson had expressed. Attorney John Sayer,
Counsel for the Six Cities, is continuing to work on the conditional
decrees. City Manager Brunton stated the City of Boulder has shown renewed
interest in the Windy Gap project. Longmont is again showing interest.
Board member Richardson stated the City of Fort Collins has more flexi-
bility than other cities, especially if we build high mountain storage.
Mr. Johnson stated perhaps the City would eventually need both the
Michigan, Joe Wright and the Trans -mountain diversions, and the 20
year waiting period between the time the Northern Colorado Conservancy
District had been started and the completion time; also the need to do
first things first and the 800 acre feet available from Joe Wright and
his feeling that it would be a mistake not to develop it.
The Board took a poll on a time to schedule a meeting and the purpose of
discussion would be to encompass two areas: (1) on an exploratary basis;
come to some conclusion on what to do, in any event, with the Michigan
Ditch, (2) also discussion of general alternatives for raw water.
The meeting date was established for January 17, 1974 at 1:00 P.M. in
the Council Chamber.
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Item 3. Tentative Sehedule set on Report on Water
Meters
Chairman Ward Fischer inquired if there was a desire to have a recommendation
on water meters prior to the January, 1975 date comtemplated? City Manager
Brunton stated the need to determine what studies would be made, and ,
whether there would be made in-house or by a consultant, the pro's and cons,
and whether there is enough methodology in the Black and Veatch report to
draw our own conclusions on this.
Board member Everett Richardson spoke to the possibility of using intern-
ship'and the data available from other cities. Further, there was a
probably an intern working 20 hours a week, at some dollar figure. Mr.
Brunton stated the City has some interns working on this basis.
Councilwoman Gray stated one of the concerns was that Council could be
ready to made a decision if they have been well informed prior to the
rate change in 1975.
Chairman Ward Fischer stated one of the items the Board would need to know
would be how much it would cost, and what kind of meters to put in. The
City Manager spoke of the computerized meters. It was further determined
that if studies were made and reviewed by the Board in mid summer, it
could go to the Council by fall.
Other Business
City Manager Brunton stated he had other items he wished to discuss:
(1) Two (2) shares of Water Supply and Storage offered for sale to the
City.
(2) An offer from Paul Blood, Inc., of Denver, to sell approximately
fifty CFS of water adjudicated from streams.
(3) A request to sell 100 shares to the City of Big Thomason water.
Mr. Brunton stated he wished to take these matters under advisement at this
time, and report back to the Water Board.
Board member Owen Moore stated he had accepted a position in Denver and
would be leaving the first of February, he was not resigning his position
at this time, but would have to eventually.
Chairman Ward Fischer stated it was the unanimous view of the Board that
they express their sincere regret for his leaving as he has been a long
time, a valuable member of the Water Board.
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City Manager Brunton reported briefly of a meeting to be held on January
16, 1974 among the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, the
Cities of Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, Windsor, Fort Collins -Loveland
Water District to discuss punching a new hole in Horsetooth for additional
water treatment.
Board member Everett Richardson stated there was an existing "T, valve at
the Soldier Canyon dam that should be investigated also.
Adjournment
The Board adjourned to January 17, 1974 at 1:00 P.M.
ATTEST:
Secretary
Chairman