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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Board - Minutes - 09/16/1983• MINUTES Water Board September 16, 1983 MEMBERS PRESENT Norm Evans, Henry Caulfield, Tom Sanders, Dave Stewart, Neil Grigg, Mort Bittinger (alt.), MaryLou Smith (alt.) STAFF PRESENT Mike Smith, Dennis Bode, Ben Alexander, Curt Miller, Webb Jones, Andy Pineda, Paul Eckman - Asst. City Attorney, Carol Osborne - Assistant to the Public Works Director MEMBERS ABSENT Ward Fischer, Bernie Cain, Ev Richardson, Ray Glabach, Tom Moore In the absence of Chairman Ward Fischer, Vice -Chairman Norm Evans opened the meeting. The following items were discussed: Minutes The minutes of the August 19, 1983 meeting were approved. Raw Water Requirements Mike Smith reiterated some of the background for this item. This study was begun due to the apparent water right discrepancies among the City and the Water Districts. The City began meeting with the Districts to look at the raw water rights. Norm Evans is the Water Board representative on the District Steering Committee. The preliminary report which was completed recently and distributed to Water Board members was written for the Advisory Committee and not necessarily for the Council or the Water Board. Dennis Bode, one of the members of the committee that produced the study, explained pertinent segments of the report; basically, how they came up with their figures and conclusions, etc. Mike Smith suggested that the Board ask questions which should help clear up some of their reservations, and then approve the report in concept. Subsequently, a meeting will be held with a group of developers to receive their comments and questions and, it is hoped, their approval before the actual ordinance is drafted by Assistant City Attorney Paul Eckman. Norm Evans, a member of both the Steering Committee and the combined Engineering and Legislative Committees asked what this document accomplishes. Mike Smith answered that the motivation behind this study was that the City has customers within its boundaries who are being served by the Districts. The City Council contends that since those customers live in the City, they should not be treated differently from any other City residents. Thus, it was concluded that the committee should satisfy this discrepancy with raw water rights that are equitable. Mr. Smith added that the City's own water rights requirements have some inequities as well. The City needs to require rights that reflect the actual usage. Water Board Minutes September 16, 1983 Page 2 Following these initial questions and explanations, Dennis Bode used some charts and graphs from the report to explain what the committee tried to accomplish. They : (1) Determined the water use for residential customers, and (2) Tried to tie the raw water requirements to the water use and determine a relationship. There were a number of questions relating to.the flat rate usage versus the metered use, particularly how the flat rate usage was determined. Following his presentation, Mr. Bode answered more questions from the members and clarified some of the committee's procedures and conclusions. Norm Evans suggested that before the Board agrees to support this report in concept, they should ask themselves if this analysis is fair to the City's interests and whether it could represent a common basis for further negotiations with the districts. Mike Smith affirmed that there is already general agreement on the fairness of this analysis for future negotiations with the Districts. On the other hand, he said, you need to ask, "Are we comfortable with the 95% confidence level?" Also, "What do you do about water for the parks?" Tom Sanders inquired if, with this system, the City is going to require less water from developers. Mike Smith answered, "Yes, for single family, but more for multi -family." Tom Sanders also asked if, with the new system, the City maintains as much "buffer" or extra water as before. Dennis Bode explained that it would be an improvement over what the City currently has. It was the consensus of the Board that they would accept, in concept, the approach in the report for calculating the raw water requirements subject to the Board's being advised of subsequent developments. Mike Smith added that this study related exclusively to residential requirements. The committee is now preparing to work on the commercial requirements. That could prove to be an even more difficult assignment! Resolution on Water Treatment Plant No. 1 Mike Smith explained that three members of the Water Board attended a work session with the City Council recently. At that meeting a proposed resolution establishing Policies Regarding Water Conservation and the Relocation of Water Treatment Plant No. 1 (Res. No. 83-) was discussed. Since that time, the resolution has been revised several times. As a result, the copy that was sent to the members in their packets did not reflect the latest changes. On the Monday afternoon prior to the Water Board meeting, the Mayor revised the resolution to incorporate some of his ideas. The latest copy was distributed at today's meeting. Mr. Smith said that the Council, essentially, agrees with the Water Board about the relocation of Water Treatment Plant No. 1. However, attached to that agreement, they wish to include statements, resolutions or policies on water conservation. Basically, the latest resolution includes both the water treatment plant direction and an expanded water conservation program. The Council intends to pass some kind of a resolution and they seek the Water Board's input on what that resolution says regarding water conservation. Norm Evans added that the Council had agreed that, prior to a phased -in metering program, a drought study and rate study should be completed. Thus, the Water Board is directed to propose to the Council some basis for phasing in a metering program. Board members with the help of Assistant City Attorney Paul Eckman, discussed the resolution agreeing on certain changes as they went along. These revisions to the resolution which will be forwarded to the City Council are attached. Water Board Minutes September 16, 1983 Page 3 Policy Regarding Basin -Wide Study and Storage Needs The City Council requested through the City Manager that the Water Board draft a policy statement with regard to damming the Poudre. It seems that the public perceives the City as favoring the building of dams on the main stem of the River and the Council wishes to dispel that perception. The combined Engineering and Legislative Committees of the Water Board met and discussed this directive from the Council. The committee concluded that they want to reaffirm the consistently stated policy of the Water Board for a basin -wide study, adding that they wish to remain flexible with regard to Wild & Scenic designation for certain segments of the Poudre River. Following a short discussion, the Board concurred with the combined committee's recommendation. Consequently, the above statement will be forwarded to Roger Krempel and, subsequently, to the Council. Other Business Raw Water Requirement Amendment Paul Eckman distributed another revision to the raw water requirement amendment. Following discussion, Henry Caulfield moved that the Raw. Water Requirement Amendment be approved as changed. Tom Sanders provided a second and the members voted unanimous approval. The amendment ag changed reads as follows: E. Notwithstanding the requirements as provided in paragraphs (A) and (B) above, in the event that the Director of Water Utilities shall determine that said requirements are inadequate to compensate the City for the actual water usage of a development requiring water service, then the Director shall determine the volume of raw water that shall be necessary to so compensate the City, and require the furnishing thereof. Since there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:05 p.m. % // 2X, c C - wateecretary RESOLUTION 83- OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS ESTABLISHING POLICIES REGARDING WATER CONSERVATION AND THE RELOCATION OF WATER TREATMENT PLANT NO. 1 WHEREAS, the citizens of Fort Collins established a water utility in 1882 for the purpose of providing the City with a safe and adequate supply of water; and WHEREAS, the City constructed its first water treatment plant (Water Treatment Plant No. 1) in the Poudre Canyon in the early 1900's and for the last seventy years the City has made numerous improvements and modifica- tions to the plant; and WHEREAS, in 1977 the City was required to meet or exceed new water quality standards for drinking water as promulgated,by the State and Federal governments; and WHEREAS, Water Treatment Plant No. 1 was not originally designed to meet the new water quality standards and could not do so without reducing its capacity fron 20 million gallons per day to 13 million gallons per day; and WHEREAS, recognizing the need to make extensive repairs to•Water Treatment Plant No. 1, the City engaged a consulting engineer in 1981 to study and make recommendations regarding the various age and process related problems at Water Treatment Plant No. 1; and WHEREAS, the City Council, Water Board, and City staff have reviewed the consulting engineer's reports and have discussed the various alterna- tives at Water Board meetings and City Council Work Sessions; and WHEREAS, it is the finding of the Council of the City of Fort Collins, based upon the recommendations of the Water Board, that it is in the best interest of the City, now and in the future, to abandon the existing Water Treatment Plant No. 1 and construct a new water treatment plant to be located near the mouth of the Poudre Canyon; and WHEREAS, the construction of a new water treatment plant would: 1. Expose the City to less risk of future financial loss and disruption of service due to potential flooding on the Poudre River. 2. Provide more flexibility in utilizing the City's present and future water rights. 3. Provide more expansion capability. X 4. Provide more potential for possible regionalization of water treatment operations with adjacent waterX districts. and WHEREAS, the neighboring cities of Loveland, Longmont and Boulder have instituted water metering; and �C WHEREA er�the e currertexistsi thCit���280% ffere ial tr d usa ;l�evdaieated w �dwa1MIT tietwe and WHEREAS, the City has entered into cooperative agreements with adjoining water. districts who have adopted water metering; and WHEREAS, it has been demonstrated that through education that the citizens have responded Y LXJ(XXEMUng water conservation programs, which reduce PMXM5 Xwater demands.(to) NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT- RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS that Section 1. For the purpose of constructing a new water treatment plant, the City staff should proceed to acquire the necessary property, obtain operating agreements with other agencies (if necessary), and select a consulting engineer to provide conceptual, preliminary, and final design and inspection services. Section 2. The existing Water Treatment Plant No. 1 site should be preserved as a park for the residents of the City of Fort Coilins. As part of the park development, provisions should be made to protect the unique environment of the site which presently exists. Section 3. The Water Board and the City staff should proceed to develop a comprehensive Water Conservation Program for the purpose of delaying future water treatment plant expansions by reducing peak day demands. Such a program should review and may include, but not be limited to the following: X including rate studies a. A cost effective phased metering program,/which, upon passage of an appropriate ordinance amending section 112-33 of the City Code, may *require the installation of water meters in all new construction and the installation of meters upon the transfer of property where meters were not previously in- stalled. b. An expanded water conservation education program and water conservation enforcement pro ram. )Cc. A st dy of the cgmmunit bepeTi of and interest in the continued maintenance of a exis ing green lawn i of the f_itty� Section The Water Board and ��ie L�yity staff sPfould continue to work with the adjacent water districts on the concept of establishing a regional water authority. X Section 5. The Water Board and staff will initiate a drought hazard study including an assessment of water supply strategies for drought periods. If this "may" is changed to "will", X escrow account be established. -2- the Water Board recommends that an