HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Board - Minutes - 01/25/2007Fort Collins Utilities' Water Board Minutes
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Water Board Vice Chairman City Council Liaison
Doug Yadon, 484-3611 David Roy
Staff Liaison
DeEtta Carr, 221-6702
Roll Call:
Board Present:
Chairman Doug Yadon, Steve Balderson, John Bartholow, Mike Connor, Paul Czarnecki,
Johannes Gessler, Gina Janett, Phil Phelan and Dave Pillard
Absent:
Board Members Eileen Domfest and Reagan Waskom
Visitors:
Jennifer Orgolini from New Belgium
Staff.
Dennis Bode, DeEtta Carr, Carrie Daggett, Joyce Grenz, Sharon Held, Jim Hibbard, Jenny
Lopez-Filkins, Bob Smith, Mike Smith and Dennis Sumner
Meetine Convened
Vice Chairman Doug Yadon called the meeting to order at 3:05 p.m.
Public Comment
None
Approval of Minutes — December 7, 2006
Board Member Steve Balderson made a motion, seconded by Board Member John
Bartholow to approve minutes from the December 7, 2006, meeting. The motion passed.
Board Member Steve Balderson abstained.
Introduction of New Members
New Board Members, Mike Conner and Dave Pillard attended their first meeting and are
already actively participating and providing valuable input. The Board welcomes its two
new members and appreciates the quality of all members appointed by the City Council of
Fort Collins.
Water Board Meeting Minutes
January 25, 2007
Page 2
Review of Floodplain Variance Policies and Procedures
Assistant City Attorney Carrie Daggett provided a helpful primer for the new members,
and a review for the rest of the Water Board, on the roles and responsibilities in the
Board's varied actions on floodplain variances. When a floodplain variance is to be
presented, the Water Board needs to be informed if they can't be there. If there is a
conflict of interest, it would be best for the Water Board member to be excused from the
room. Many questions were posed and an enlightening discussion was held. Topics
included how to deal with known or potential conflicts of interest and the importance of a
clear and thorough record of the proceedings, among others.
Dry Creek Basin Flood Control Proiect Update
Jim Hibbard, Water Engineering and Field Services Manager, presented a concise and
informative update on the Dry Creek project, which is one of the key aspects of the Water
Board's work on stormwater issues. Copies of the floodplain map are posted on the Web.
Jim explained that there are floodplains that are mapped and regulated by FEMA, others
that are mapped by City staff. FEMA can review all the City's records, so the City strives
to do its best. FEMA has said the floodplain variances the City of Fort Collins submits are
among the best they receive. FEMA has scored the City of Fort Collins at a Class 4 among
the top five in the in the nation. There are approximately four or five cities with a Class 4
or above.
The Dry Creek Basin, one of eleven or twelve basins in the City of Fort Collins, joins the
Poudre River near Timberline and Mulberry. The basin extends northwest almost to the
Wyoming border, for over 62 square miles. A large flood event in the Dry Creek Basin
would generate very large amounts of water with a great potential for damage to the
number of houses and trailer parks where people reside.
The City of Fort Collins Stormwater Master Plan called for a capital project that would
reduce the risk of flooding in this area called the Dry Creek Flood Control project. It has
been under design and construction for the past three years at a cost of $10 million.
North College has been removed from the floodplain area by completing this project.
Because of the basin's size, the City will have ample warning of a flash flood. Monitors
and rain gages are used in the basin providing 1.5 to 3 hours warning before the crest of
the flood hits.
The automated gates and various backup schemes will give the City time to close the
canal, making room for the additional flow. This has been a very massive, award winning
project. In the 100-year flood, the water was flowing at 6,000 cubic feet per second in the
canal. Since the project, the water would be flowing at 800 cubic feet per second in the
canal, and then it is diverted back to the river. The result of this project was better than
anticipated.
Water Board Meeting Minutes
January 25, 2007
Page 3
As the project was nearing completion, staff discovered it was going to take one to two
years to receive FEMA's approval, instead of the six to 12 months it had in the past. City
staff is working closely with the FEMA staff in Denver to make final approval as close to
one year as possible.
The point of this presentation was to show how the floodplain has been lessened in the
North College Area. The City has established Urban Renewal Authority, with Tax
Increment Financing, and the area is looking for a bright future for redevelopment. More
work remains, but it is local in nature and not related to floodplains.
Until the map is approved, FEMA says the area is still in a floodplain and property owners
would still have to get floodplain insurance. The Water Board will likely receive variance
requests for the area until FEMA approves the map. This should not be a problem in terms
of City floodplains, but in terms of the FEMA floodplain in this area, careful coordination
with our legal department will be critical. A variance hearing is scheduled for the
February 22, 2007, meeting and this information will be very helpful to the Water Board.
The City's legal department will ensure the Water Board has information for each
variance presented.
Committee Reports
Conservation and Public Education
They did not meet.
Engineering
Met at a joint meeting with Water Supply Committee (see below in Water
Supply)
Legislative, Finance and Liaison Issues
They did not meet. They are watching a bill that is before the Legislature.
Water Supply
The Joint Engineering and Water Supply Committee met prior to the full Water
Board meeting on the topic of the Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP) Water
Quality Analysis Project. An excellent presentation, arranged by Brian Janonis of
the Utilities Department, was made by consultants Intera and CH2M Hill. Due to
time constraints, it was agreed that Utilities staff will schedule a follow-up joint
committee meeting to permit the consultants to complete their presentation
followed by a question and answer session. One issue of potential concern for the
Utilities Department appears to be with the NISP project involving TOC levels in
Horsetooth Reservoir as a result of inflows from the proposed Glade Reservoir.
Much work remains to firm up the evaluation of this issue, and the Water Board
will continue to follow the results of these studies.
Water Board Meeting Minutes
January 25, 2007
Page 4
Staff Reports
Dennis Bode, Water Resources Manager, gave a quick presentation on treated water
production and the water supply outlook. Last year was very dry until July and August
when precipitation was more normal. From October on, the precipitation was higher. The
water demand for 2006 was about five percent higher than normal. There were drawings
to monitor the snowpack. The jump in the charts was from the December storm. The
other storms did not add to the snowpack in the mountains as much, as the snow fell on the
plains and along the foothills. The snowpack in the mountains is sitting at ten percent
above average for January.
Other Business
Due to the full agenda anticipated for the February meeting, the election of new officers
(Chairman and Vice Chairman) is rescheduled for the March meeting.
The Water Board will discuss a letter to the City Council regarding term limits at the next
meeting.
Board Members Phil Phelan, Doug Yadon and John Barthalow attended a program by
Northern Water Conservancy District Headquarters on Public Policy Dialog water
Conservation. The City of Centennial gave a presentation on its water conservation
efforts. They felt the presentation was very helpful and well done.
Adiournment
The Board meeting adjourned at 5:40 p.m. Board Member Steve Balderson made a motion
to adjourn, and Board Member Phil Phelan seconded the motion.
J y e rent, Water BqXrd Secretary