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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Board - Minutes - 01/27/1984MINUTES Water Board January 27, 1984 MEMBERS PRESENT Norm Evans, Ray Glabach, Neil Grigg, Henry Caulfield, Tom Moore, Dave Stewart, Bernie Cain, MaryLou Smith (alt.) STAFF PRESENT Mike Smith, Roger Krempel, Dennis Bode, Ben Alexander, Andy Pineda, Curt Miller, Gerry Horak, City Council Liaison; Paul Eckman, Assistant City Attorney MEDIA Mark Radke, KCOL MEMBERS ABSENT Chairman Ward Fischer, Ev Richardson, Tom Sanders, Mort Bittinger (alt.) The meeting was opened by Vice-chairman Norman Evans. The following items were discussed: Minutes The minutes from the November 18, 1983 meeting were approved. Discussion About Water Treatment Plant No.1 Mike Smith summarized the memo sent to the City Manager about relocation of Water Treatment Plant No. 1. At their October 18th meeting, the City Council passed a resolution directing the staff to proceed with alternative No. 2 recommended by the Water Board, which was to replace Water Treatment Plant No. 1 with a new plant to be located near the mouth of the Poudre Canyon. In addition, the resolution contained directives to encourage other water entities to participate in the construction and operation of the new water treatment facility, and plan for the next water treatment plant expansion (1989-1991) due to growth, to be at Water Treatment Plant No. 2. Since that resolution was written, new information with regard to the other water entities, has emerged. The other water entities, for various reasons, are not in a position to participate in the new water treatment plant at this time, but they remain interested in pursuing the development of a joint/regional type facility in the future, perhaps in five to ten years. Also, some of the entities are currently interested in working with the City on other projects such as the design and construction of various raw water and treated water transmission mains. With this new information, the staff examined the possibility of changing the construction sequence of the selected alternative as follows: Water Board Minutes Page 2 January 27, 1984 1. Replace the existing WTP#1 with a 20mgd expansion at WTP#2 instead of constructing a new water treatment plant near the mouth of the canyon. The expansion at WTP#2 would cost approximately $15 million compared with $18 million for a new water treatment plant. 2. Develop plans with the other water entities for a regional treatment facility to be constructed 6-10 years from now. Using current growth projections, the City and some of the other entities will need additional treatment capacity by 1989-1991. Mr. Smith was asked if there were any negative aspects to this proposal. He replied that, in the past, there has been a desire to maintain two separate facilities. There will be a period of time after the 20mgd expansion at Water Treatment Plant No. 2, when we will have only one facility, but Plant 2 has a high degree of reliability. MaryLou Smith asked in what way would this expansion be separate from and therefore increase the reliabilitty. Mr. Smith related that the way Plant No. 2 is designed now, it can operate, essentially, as two different plants. Since raw water will be brought through the existing transmission lines, there will be two sources of water. As a result, we will have a high degree of flexibility. Following further clarifications, and considerable discussion, Henry Caulfield moved that the Water Board recommend approval of the proposal in concept. After a second from Neil Grigg, the motion carried unanimously. Property Exchange With Colorado State University Mike Smith explained that University and City personnel met on August 24, 1983, to discuss mutual concerns. The concerns that relate to Fort Collins Water Utilities were: 1. The University needs fire protection and higher water pressures from the City at the Foothills Campus. 2. The City needs to acquire land for future expansion of WTP #2. 3. The City needs to acquire an easement through the Foothills Campus for the 54" Westside Transmission Line. A proposal, in the form of a letter, was prepared by staffs from the City and the University for consideration by the Physical Development Committee. According to the letter, both CSU and the City wish to structure a no dollar trade. It appears that CSU and the City can make a mutually beneficial exchange as is outlined in the proposal. The primary benefits to CSU are (1) the elimination of the existing CSU pump station and, (2) the substantial reduction of costs for providing fire protection to the Foothills Campus. The primary benefits to the City are (1) the relocation of the proposed pump station to the WTP #2 site, (2) the acquisition of an easement for construction of the 54" water transmission pipeline, and (3) the acquisition of land for future expansion at Water Tratment Plant No. 2. Water Board Minutes Page 3 January 27, 1984. After a short discussion, Bernie Cain moved that the Water Board concur with the proposed exchange. Dave Stewart provided a second. The motion carried unanimously. Update on Drought and Rate Studies Mike Smith said that the request for proposals went out the first part of January and are due back on February 3rd. Dennis Bode will be the coordinator for the studies. The next few weeks, after the proposals are received, the staff and the selection committee will be reviewing the proposals and reducing the list. Interviews will follow and finally, a selection will be made. Following Water Board review and City Council approval, we plan to begin the studies in early April. Marylou Smith inquired if we have asked the Council for funding. Mike Smith answered that we do not know yet what the costs will be. After the proposals are received, we will have a better idea. Mr. Smith related that the Water Utility has funds in reserve that can be appropriated if that becomes necessary. Staff Reports A. Raw Water Ordinance Mike Smith reviewed the background of the raw water ordinance. The City Council considered the concept in December and passed a resolution approving the concept. They directed the staff to draft an ordinance. At the last Council meeting, the Council passed the ordinance on first reading. This ordinance is directed only to customers who take out a permit beginning on March 1, 1984. Several Board members suggested that the document be examined for clarity as there seems to be some ambiguity. Paul Eckman, Assistant City Attorney, said that he has taken note of all the questions raised by Board members and will review the language of the ordinance. B. Treated Water Production Annual Summary for 1983 The Treated Water Summary for 1983 was distributed to Board members. The figures show that it was another good water year. Committee Reports Dave Stewart announced that he and Tom Sanders, members of the Engineering Committee, met with Ben Alexander, Carl Houck, Dick Kuckenrither, and Dan Linstedt recently for a briefing on pilot plant data at Water Treatment Plant No. 1. The explanations satisfied Mr. Stewart's and Dr. Sander's questions. Mr. Stewart sent a memo to Mike Smith covering the intent and the results of the meeting. Mr. Stewart also announced that the Education Committee met to discuss two projects; one a teacher's guide on the local water situation for the Poudre R- 1 School District, and a conservation brochure for the public. The committee plans to meet again in February. Water Board Minutes Page 4 January 27, 1984 Henry Caulfield found it necessary to postpone a committee assignment because he was invited to be a visiting professor in China. He said that he would begin working on his charge from the Board to report on the authority, duties and responsibilities of the Water Board. He hopes to have a draft finished in the spring. New Business Dave Stewart asked what the status of the Industrial Pretreatment Program is. Mike Smith said that the Utility will be issuing permits within the next few months. Those permits should help clarify what industries need to monitor, etc. Norm Evans raised the question about a reprint from a journal article sent out by Roger Krempel describing the low -flow Q7-10 alternative worked out by Black & Veatch with the City. He asked if that is conceptual or is it in operation. Mike Smith responded that it is conceptual. He said that the permit we are getting does not take advantage of all the various options that we could have had. The State thought it was a burden to monitor, etc. The new permit that the City is getting has been reviewed and is very favorable to the City. The permit is good for 4 to 5 years unless a major industry locates here. Roger Krempel received a letter from Daniel Kaup, attorney for the Meadow Creek Conservancy District, regarding the possible sale of 550 acre-feet of storage rights in Meadow Creek Reservoir. The City will acknowledge that we have an interest in the water, but will make no decisions until a study is made. Norm Evans asked for comments on the letter sent to Board members by former Water Board member George Wallace. Mr. Wallace also had a long article published in the Coloradoan on the same subject,where he questions the City's agreement with An eus� uusch regarding the Company's acquisiton of water. He is concerned that the method of acquiring the water might have changed. Roger Krempel stated that Busch has remained strictly in accordance with the agreement. Currently, they are "in a holding pattern" until the annexation election. The Water Board will respond to Mr. Wallace's letter with assurances from the staff about the agreement with Anheuser-Busch; namely that the Board's recommendations were incorporated in the agreement, and that Busch intends to work with the City on a balanced approach for the acquisition of water. That approach includes buying existing water as well as developing new water. The letter will invite Mr. Wallace to meet with staff and Board members to discuss his concerns if he wishes. Mike Smith announced, for the Board's information, that pre -qualification statements have been received from engineers for the expansion at Water Treatment Plant No. 2. He put the list on the chalk board. He explained that we have gone through a pre -qualification phase in order to reduce the applicants to a manageable number. Staff will be examining the statements Water Board Minutes Page 5 January 27, 1984 and narrow the list down to 6 or 8 and then a request will be sent out to those people to submit a full proposal on the project. Next, staff will review the proposals and select a smaller number to interview and from those choose a consultant. Ben Alexander was asked about the snow at the Michigan Ditch. He said that the water content in the snow for this time of year is unusually high --about 20 inches. Some places up there, the snow is close to 200% of normal. Dave Stewart asked if the possible high run-off is going to be a problem with the water plant dam. Of course that depends on how much water comes down. Mike Smith assured the Board that on the river crossings, especially on the sanitary sewer line which came apart last spring, the consulting firm of Brown & Caldwell has been selected to do a design that will prevent it from coming apart again. Since there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned+at 4:20 p.m. Water Boarfd 5eCretary