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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Board - Minutes - 07/17/19814 MEMBERS PRESENT STAFF PRESENT MEMBERS ABSENT Minutes MINUTES Regular Water Board Meeting July 17, 1981 Ward Fischer, Ray Anderson, Bernie Cain, Norm Evans, Tom Moore, Ev Richardson, Tom Sanders, David Stewart (alt.), Chuck Turner, George Wallace. Roger Krempel, Mike Smith, Paul Eckman, Dennis Bode, Jim Hibbard, Ben Alexander, Cliff Hoelscher, Andy Pineda, Molly Nortier. Harvey Johnson, Henry Caulfield. Approved. Chairman Ward Fischer opened the meeting. The following items were discussed: Slide/Tape Presentation of 1982 Water & Sewer Utilities Budget After viewing the excellent slide/tape presentation of the 1982 budget prepared by the Water Utilities staff, it was the consensus of the Board that the proposed budget be approved. Staff Reports Dennis Bode explained the Monthly Treated Water Production Summary as well as the Projected Water Supply and Demand for 1981. Copies of both reports were distri- buted to the Board members. At the June 19th Water Board Meeting the Board voted to reduce the City's In -Lieu - of Cash Payments from $2200 per acre foot, to $1900 per acre foot. Roger Krempel related that this recommendation was sent on to the Council through the regular process with a short memo explaining the basis for the Board's action. The City Manager requested that the staff write a more detailed explanation for the recom= mendation before the item would be placed on the Council agenda. In the meantime, the staff has complied with the Manager's directive and a more comprehensive memo has been sent to the Council supporting the Water Board's recommendation. Some members of the Water Board expressed concern that their recommendation had been delayed. Chariman Ward Fischer, with the consensus of the Board, will meet with the Manager, an ex-officio member of the !dater Board, and explore the matter with him. Roger Krempel also reported that, as a result of the June 2nd Water Conservation Hearing, the City Manager has requested, at the suggestion of City Council, that the staff do a cost/benefit study of water meters versus water development projects. The staff is responding with limited information at this time. The consensus of the Board was to direct Ward Fischer to discuss the cost/benefit study request along with the In -Lieu -of Cash reduction recommendation when he meets with the City Manager. In addition, the Board asked Mr. Fischer to extend an open invitation for Water Board Minutes Page two Council members to attend Water Board meetings, to gain a better understanding of the Board's function and responsibilities. Greg Hurst of Aqua Engineering, Inc., attended the !,later Conservation Hearing on June 2nd. As a result of the hearing, he wrote a letter to the City Manager and the City Council suggesting that the City set up some regulations for customers using metered water to irrigate large open space areas. A significant amount of water is being wasted in these areas, according to Aqua Engineering, due to inefficient design and operation of the sprinkler systems. One comment was that the City's response might be to embark on an educational program rather than instituting more regulations. However, it would be inappropriate for the City to sponsor a program which would be presented by a private firm. Therefore, the Board suggested that the staff write a letter encouraging the firm to prepare an educational program on their own. The letter should, of course, include praise for their efforts to promote more efficient use of water. New Business Roger Krempel reported that the present City Council has passed a resolution which limits to two the terms of all City Board and Commission members. The Water Board will not respond officially to this resolution, although they have historically opposed the limitation of terms for Water Board members. Tom Moore introduced the concept of a Metropolitan Water Board to evoke some reaction from Board members. Since negotiations are taking place currently for a Metropolitan Water District, Ward Fischer suggested that the staff compile some data on what the status of the City is with the various water districts and what the Board could be thinking about for the future in terms of some suggested options. Roger Krempel affirmed that an update on the negotiations and any other relevant information will be presented at the next meeting. Ward Fischer reported that he had received a letter from the Mayor stating that the City Council, in the past, had received feedback from some Boards and Commissions to the effect that they had not had an opportunity to provide input to the budget process until it had become finalized. Thus, the Council is sol- iciting the Water Board's input. There will be a hearing on July 21st at 7:30 P.M. so the Council can get the Board's recommendation regarding the 1982 budget. Since Chuck Turner has been attending the budget hearing meetings as a represen- tative of the Water Board, he will respond to the Council in writing, letting them know that the Board is kept well informed concerning Water and Sewer budget requests, and as a result of this input, the Water Board recommends approval of the 1982 Water and Sewer Budget. Ward Fischer read a letter from Alternate Board Member Tom Sanders requesting a leave of absence from the Board for a year due to a sabbatical in South Africa. The letter will be forwarded to the Mayor for Council approval with the comment that the Water Board, to the extent that it has the authority, grants the request. Water Board Minutes Page three Roger Krempel distributed copies of a three page list of Colorado Laws Enacted in 1981 of Interest to Water Users. Ward Fischer praised Senate Bill 10 which is a revision of the Water Quality Laws purging, what were thought to be, some major abuses. In addition, there will be a new Water Quality Control Commission makeup. There was also general discussion of the ramifications of Senate Bill 19 which establishes as a public authority, the Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority, to provide financing for state and local projects. Since there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:00 P.M. 27'ti ??�� 5ecretaryv