HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005 - Water Board - Annual ReportFort Collins Water Board
2005 Annual Report
Following is a summary of the 2005 activities of the Fort Collins Water Board. The
report focuses on topics addressed during the year plus actions taken on the 2005 Work
Plan.
Water Board Members
Ted Borstad, Chairperson
Doug Yadon,Vice Chairperson
Steve Balderson
John Bartholow
Eileen Dornfest
Jim Finley
Action Items
Surplus Water Rental Rates
Johannes Gessler
Gina Janett
Rami Naddy
Debra Sweetman
Reagan Waskom
Each year prior to the irrigation season and after the irrigation companies have
established their annual assessments for water shares, the Water Board recommends to
City Council various rental rates and delivery charges for the use of the City's raw water.
The Water Utility uses its annual raw water rates and charges set by City Council for the
purpose of charging for various uses of its raw water. These uses include rental to
agricultural users, meeting various raw water delivery obligations and use by other City
departments.
The Board approved staff's recommendation to City Council that agricultural rentals of
the Colorado Big -Thompson Project (CBT) water be charged at the rate of $35 per acre
foot and that CBT water rented for municipal of industrial (M&I) purposes be charged at
$50 per acre foot to offset the higher assessments charged to M&I shareholders.
Floodplain Variance
The Board approved a variance request for Old Town North project located north of Vine
Drive and east of College Avenue. The request was to waive all floodplain requirements
in Chapter 10 of City Code including elevating the lowest floor of all structures 18 inches
above the flood elevation, floodplain use permits, and site certification for all lots in the
Old Town North development which would allow for the possible construction of
basements.
Plant Investment Fees
The existing plant investment fees for water and wastewater were adopted in 1998. At
that time the calculations for fees, including inflationary costs and capital improvements,
were identified through 2002. A five-year review and update of the fees was planned for
2003, however, other priorities in the Utilities demanded staff time.
Existing stormwater development fees are unique to each sub -basin in the City. They
were based on the previous rainfall standard and master plans, which included regional
elements sized to handle additional runoff from development. The recently approved
City-wide master plan includes a change in approach and all new development must now
provide on site detention. The current stormwater financing plan uses a pay-as-you-go
approach for stormwater capital improvements funded from rates. The proposed revision
to stormwater development fees reflects the change in master planning and philosophy.
The electric development charges are typically updated on an annual basis as an
administrative process. The Board reviewed and approved the proposed methodologies
for plant investment fees.
2005 Utilities Rates and Fees
The Board recommended City Council approve all proposed increases:
Water Fund — No rate increase in 2006 and a 5% rate increase in 2007
Wastewater Fund — 5% rate increase in 2006 and a 5% rate increase in 2007
Stormwater Fund — There will be no rate increases in 2006 or 2007.
Presentations
The following presentations were discussed during the year:
• Treated Water Production Summary & Water Supply Outlook — monthly updates
on snow pack and water supply.
• Halligan Reservoir Updates — monthly updates on the progress of the Halligan
Reservoir project.
• Consumer Confidence Report — Explanation of the drinking water quality
brochure that all City water customers received. It was noted that the water utility
surpassed all state and federal health standards for drinking water.
• Mercury Pretreatment Program Update - The implementation of a 2004 ordinance
which requires dental offices installing amalgam separators to reduce the amount
of mercury in wastewater discharged to the water reclamation facilities. The
ordinance went into effect July 1, 2005. The program should reduce the mercury
in the wastewater by approximately 25-40%.
• 2005 Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report — This was the tenth annual
water quality report since Council adopted a drinking water policy in 1993. The
report listed the strategies and summarizes the action taken during the year.
• Chronic Wasting Disease — The Board reviewed a letter from the Larimer County
Department of Health Environment in response to the risk to the public of the
proximity of the Water Treatment Plant and the Department of Wildlife research
facility.
• Water Conservation Annual Update — Staff summarized some of the water
conservation programs and activities that took place during the year.
• Stormwater Quality Annual Report - An overview is given of the Stormwater
Quality program and its accomplishments as it relates to the Colorado discharge
permit requirements. The newest program is the routine maintenance and
operation of individual retention ponds.
• Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District Updates
• Legislative, Finance, Liaison Committee Updates
• Conservation & Public Education Committee Updates
• Engineering Committee Updates
• Water Supply Committee Updates