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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Board - Minutes - 07/26/2007Fort Collins Utilities' Water Board Minutes Thursday, July 26, 2007 Water Board Chairperson City Council Liaison Doug Yadon, 484-3611 David Roy Water Board Vice Chairperson Staff Liaison Gina Janett, 493-4677 DeEtta Carr, 221-6702 Roll Call: Board Present: Chairperson Doug Yadon, Vice Chairperson Gina Janett, Steve Balderson, Mike Connor, Eileen Dornfest, Johannes Gessler, Phil Phelan, Dave Pillard, Reagan Waskom and Gary Wockner Board Absent: John Bartholow Staff. Patty Bigner, Dennis Bode, Terri Bryant, DeEtta Carr, Carrie Daggett, Kevin Gettig, Joyce Grenz, Susan Hayes, Jim Hibbard, Brian Janonis, Karen Manci, Owen Randall, Dean Saye and Bob Smith Meeting Convened Chairperson Doug Yadon called the meeting to order at 5:07 p.m. 10" Anniversary Commemoration of the Fort Collins Flood of 1997 Utilities Customer and Employees Relations Manager Patti Bigner gave an update on the 10-year anniversary of the Fort Collins Flood of 1997. The Water Board was given a copy of a memo to the City Council on the activities that were scheduled for a two-part commemoration of the flood on Saturday, July 28. From 10 a.m. — Noon at the Fort Collins Museum Courtyard, there were educational booths and displays featuring emergency preparedness, flood awareness, and what was done after the 1997 flood and all the rebuilding efforts. The second event was a candlelight walk that took place at 7:30 starting at Creekside Park and ending at Spring Park. This walk was to honor the families and business owners affected, as well as the emergency responders, non-profit agencies and volunteers who helped with recovery efforts. Public Comment None Water Board Meeting Minutes July 26, 2007 Page 2 Introductions Chairperson Doug Yadon welcomed the Water Board's City Council Liaison David Roy to the meeting. The next introduction was the welcoming of new member Gary Wockner to the Water Board. Mr. Wockner has been involved in environmental issues for two decades, works at Colorado State University as a research scientist and is involved with local issues around the Poudre River. Mr. Wockner said it is a pleasure to be a member of the Water Board and hopes to be of use to the board. Approval of Minutes — May 24, 2007 Board Member Phil Phelan made a motion, seconded by Board Member Gina Janett, to approve minutes from the June 28, 2007, meeting. The motion passed unanimously. Stormwater Bond Refundinu Utilities Finance and Budget Manager Terri Bryant wanted to make the Water Board aware of a refunding issue that was just completed in the stormwater fund. Two issues were refinanced: the 1997 stormwater bonds and the 1999 stormwater bonds. They reissued about $21 million, which they won't know the exact amount until the issues go to sale. Fort Collins Utilities did a private issue with JP Morgan Chase. The bonds that were refinanced were anywhere from 4.75 to 5.50 percent. The interest rate they received was a 4.015 percent interest rate. The sale will be August 4, 2007, and September 7, 2007, with the two issues. They have to issue them separately because of IRS regulations. By refinancing, the City has a really good interest rate, the term of the loan remains the same and the City has saved about $800,000.00. Canal Importation and Ponds Outfall Stormwater Project Water Engineering and Field Service Manager Jim Hibbard said that the presentation given did not require any action at that time. Mr. Hibbard said Utilities will come before the Water Board in August and ask for a recommendation to City Council. At the July 26, 2007 Water Board meeting, Mr. Hibbard wanted to give the Water Board a brief overview of the project and pass out some information including a staff presentation that was prepared for City Council in March, which has been updated. This particular project is in the Canal Importation Basin and in the improved Stormwater Master Plan. People in this basin have been waiting for improvements for a long time. They were promised improvements right before the 1997 flood, looking forward to them and then they got flooded. The Canal Importation Drainage Basin encompasses nearly five square miles in west central Fort Collins. The basin received its name because it is crossed by irrigation canals that were built before most of the surrounding development. During storms, water from the west drains into these canals until they fill up and spill out where the banks are low. Floodwaters then flow east to Colorado State University campus, Old Town and Spring Creek. Colorado State University alone sustained $100 million in damages to buildings and property during the 1997 flood. Because surrounding development took place before Water Board Meeting Minutes July 26, 2007 Page 3 1980 when stormwater infrastructure was inadequate and prior to a stormwater drainage program, the basin has experienced flooding may times. Damages from floods in this basin have been recorded since 1902, with the most severe flooding occurring in 1997. Water flooded businesses and homes and trapped people in cars on Elizabeth and Lake Streets as water rushed toward campus. In the worst flooding ever seen in the areas, some parts on the basin received 14.5 inches of rain in 31 hours. The flood increased community awareness of the severity of the problem. The goals of the Canal Importation Ponds and Outfall project are: • Protect people and properties from flooding in the Canal Importation Basin; • Remove 150 — 200 homes from the City -regulated floodplain; and • Restore and enhance affected wildlife habitat and natural areas. The project will result in improved flood protection, better water quality and increased wildlife habitat. City Council has asked the question should the project go ahead and begin, or should more study be done on the rainfall. This will go to the City Council work session on August 28, 2007. Mr. Hibbard said that Fort Collins Utilities will be back before the Water Board on August 23, 2007, to get the Water Board's recommendation to take to the City Council on August 28, 2007. To prepare for this decision, the Water Board has been given a DVD and copies of slides of the presentation that can be referred to as the DVD is watched, and two handouts that are updated since March of schematic designs. In the Stormwater Master Plan, this project is a $21.5 million project. Fort Collins Utilities is working jointly with Natural Resources on restoration efforts. Committee Reports A. Water Supply — Reagan Waskom, Chair — Will meet end of July. B. Legislative, Finance, Liaison Issues — David Pillard, Chair — Will meet early August. C. Conservation and Public Education — Eileen Dornfest, Chair — Will meet before August meeting. D. Engineering — Steve Balderson, Chair — Did not meet during last month. Staff Reports Water Resource Manager Dennis Bode provided a quick report on water use which has remained flat considering the type of weather Fort Collins has had. Mr. Bode feels the water supply is going to be fine. Other Business Chairperson Doug Yadon asked the Water Board how they would like to discuss the questions that are coming before the board in August concerning the Canal Importation Ponds and Outfall drainage improvement project. Would you the Water Board, as a whole, Water Board Meeting Minutes July 26, 2007 Page 4 like to discuss this project or would the Water Board like the Engineering committee to provide the Water Board with information regarding the project. It was suggested that for this first project, Mr. Hibbard will present all of the information to the Water Board due to the short period of time before the project has to go to City Council's works session on August 28, 2007. A week after the July 28, 2008 Water Board meeting, Board Member Steve Balderson will send an e-mail to see if there are any burning issues Water Board members see after reviewing the material provided by Fort Collins Utilities for the review at the August 23, 2007 meeting. If there are, Mr. Balderson will inform Mr. Hibbard well in advance of the August meeting. Board Member Gina Janett mentioned that there is a bill before Congress concerning the Clean Water Act and the Legislative, Finance and Liaison Issues committes could look into this and present the information to the Water Board at a future time. Future Aeenda Items A. Conservation Plan — Laurie D'Audney B. Coordinate meeting with Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation Boards regarding NISP Adiournment The Water Board meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m. fflrceffim