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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Board - Minutes - 03/31/2009Fort Collins Utilities Water Board Minutes Thursday, March 31, 2009 Water Board Chairperson City Council Liaison Gina Janett, 493-4677 David Roy, 217-5506 Water Board Vice Chairperson Staff Liaison Steve Balderson, 223-7915 Robin Pierce, 221-6702 Roll Call Board Present Chairperson Gina Janett, Vice Chairperson Steve Balderson, Board Members Brian Brown, Mike Connor, Eileen Dornfest, *Johannes Gessler, Duncan Eccleston and Phil Phelan *Board Member Johannes Gessler left the meeting at 4:33 p.m. as noted in the minutes. Board Absent Board Members Reagan Waskom, David Pillard and Gary Wockner StaffPresent Brian Janonis, Robin Pierce, Roger Buffington, Kevin Gertig, Terri Bryant, Dennis Bode, Lisa Voytko, Jim Hibbard, Steve Comstock, Susan Hayes, Carrie Daggett and Chris Lochra Guests Fred Walker and Randy Siddens, Boxelder Sanitation District; Mel Hilgenberg, Kat Sever, Courtney Hawkins, Ty Johnson, Scott Brunmeier, and Michael Buckley Meeting Convened Chairperson Janett called the meeting to order at 3:04 p.m. Introduction of New Water Board Member Board Member Brian Brown was introduced as a new board member. Brian is employed as a civil engineer and has a personal interest in stormwater. His background with the water industry varies from grant writing to open space development. Board Member Brown looks forward to working with the Water Board in the future. Public Comment None Minutes of February 23, 2009, Meeting Amendments to the February 23, 2009 meeting minutes are as follows: Under the Budgeting For Outcomes portion of the minutes, there was a motion to recommend a change of wording from Safe Community to Public Health and Safety, and add drinking water Water Board Minutes 1 March 31, 2009 supply and treatment, wastewater treatment and flood protection. The vote was seven for and two against. The motion passed. Under the same portion of the minutes, there was a motion regarding a revision to the wording of Environmental Health to delete "with adequate, high quality water supply", and make the results statement for the Public Health and Safety outcome read "Fort Collins is a safe place to work, live, learn and play including safe drinking water, water treatment and flood protection". Board Member Yadon made the motion and Board Member Gessler seconded. The vote was unanimous in favor of the motion. Under the Officer Elections portion of the minutes, Board Member Wockner was nominated for Vice Chairperson by Chairperson Janett rather than by Board Member Connor. Board Member Connor moved to approve the minutes as amended from the February 23, 2009, meeting. Board Member Phelan seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. Utilities Finance Update: Budgeting For Outcomes (BFO) and Water Bonds Refunding Utilities Finance and Budget Manager Terri Bryant will be forwarding the Board's feedback on the BFO outcomes and results statements to Chief Financial Officer Mike Freeman via a memo to David Roy, Council Liaison. Recommendations from all City boards will be presented to the new City Council at their early May retreat. The Request For Results documents will be ready after May 11, and Ms. Bryant will bring these to the Legislative, Finance and Liaison Committee of the Board first, then to the Board at large. The Request For Results team will develop strategies for the outcomes, and departments will form their offers to the strategies. There have been some cross -departmental offers in the past, and some are anticipated again with this budgeting cycle. Ms. Bryant also shared information regarding water bonds refunding (1997-98 series). Approximately $10 million in bonds were previously refunded through a private sale, receiving a 3.4 percent interest rate. The remainder of the $21 million in bonds will now be refunded, approximately $11 million. The current interest rate is 4.5 to 5.7 percent. If the market is not favorable, the bonds will be held. Boxelder Sanitation District Request for Service Utilities Executive Director Brian Janonis introduced the presentation. This request is part of a regional cooperation plan for the wastewater treatment plant. In 2006, the City of Fort Collins conducted a reorganizational review which led to the current departmental structure. The Utilities department has many opportunities to explore and work with many different partners in our region. Water Reclamation and Biosolids Manager Steve Comstock presented an opportunity for the City of Fort Collins to provide wastewater treatment services to the Boxelder Sanitation District (the District). The District approached the City of Fort Collins with this request for service since the District borders the City's wastewater utility service area (in the vicinity of the air park). The District provides wastewater services to customers in portions of Fort Collins, Timnath, and Larimer and Weld counties. The District operates sewer lines, an industrial pretreatment program Water Board Minutes 2 March 31, 2009 and a wastewater treatment plant, which is a lagoon system. Fred Walker, representative from Boxelder Sanitation District, stated the timeline for a new plant would be October 2015, and the District hopes to make a decision now about the future need. The District will need to modify or build a new facility with a capacity of 8-10 million gallons per day (mgpd) and, as an alternative to modifications or new construction, the District approached the City to determine whether they could provide these services. If so, this arrangement could eliminate the addition of a new plant and increase efficiencies throughout the region. The Fort Collins facility currently has available capacity due to water conservation efforts and could accommodate this request. Discussion: From a technology perspective, would it be more efficient to have one large plant or several small plants? It is more cost effective to have one large plant to control and process water. The Mulberry plant is just finishing the design. If we are considering adding services for the District, would they have to look at the design? The Drake plant would be the plant to share capacity. Are process and recommendations being reviewed? The preliminary plans are currently being studied, and this item would be brought back to the Board if it becomes concrete after negotiations between Council and the District. How long is the investigation? The City's investigation would take six to eight months, and the District's would take longer. Are the Boxelder District boundaries concrete? Where does this fall in the land use plan? The District boundaries border us and are not a decisive land use issue. They will not take over service areas. Is there a similar proposal with Loveland and South Fort Collins districts? Not at this time. They recently upgraded their facility and are positioned further south. Industrial pretreatment at Boxelder is governed by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and the State of Colorado. We're not aware of any issues, but an in-depth look would occur during negotiations. Permit limits are very stringent and will be a concern, so data will have to be studied closely. Board Member Gessler made a motion to accept the recommendation for the City Manager to be authorized to investigate options for and to negotiate a cooperative agreement with Boxelder Sanitation District (the District) to provide wastewater treatment services to the District. Board Member Dornfest seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous in favor of the motion. Water Board Minutes 3 March 31, 2009 Water Treatment Capacity Discussion with Tri-Districts Utilities Executive Director Brian Janonis introduced a similar concept and request for an agreement with the Tri-Districts, comprised of East Latimer County Water District, Fort Collins - Loveland Water District and North Weld County Water Districts (Tri-Districts). Under a cooperative agreement, we provide wholesale water and treatment for the Tri-Districts. This request represents another opportunity for the City of Fort Collins to work within the region for services. Water Resources and Treatment Operations Manager Kevin Gettig introduced Lisa Voytko, Water Production Manager. Ms. Voytko presented information to the Board with a recommendation to provide water treatment services to the Tri-Districts. The City has been approached by the Tri-Districts with a request to authorize the use of our under-utilitized part of the water treatment facility as an option to avoid expanding the Soldier Canyon Filter Plant or constructing a new plant. Water sharing already occurs between the City and the Tri-Districts, because both take water from the same sources. Water is transferred through an inner tie. The City's water demand has decreased due to conservation efforts, tiered rates and reduced demand. The Tri-Districts would like approximately 10 mgpd. There are currently segments of the City's system which require a minimum flow capacity, and the additional flow created by this arrangement would benefit the City. The 10mgpd would be in reserve capacity. Discussion: Are there additional capital costs for the city? Assuming we can distribute and take the flow where needed, there would be no additional costs involved. On a smaller scale, instruments may be needed at the inner tie. Other than the cost of chemicals, are there any additional operation and maintenance (O&M costs? Not at this time. We have the reserve capacity, and the Tri-Districts would help fund the capacity. How far would expense sharing be taken? Do we already receive discounts? The Tri-Districts use different chemicals than the City of Fort Collins uses at the facility. Chlorine is used by both for disinfection, and we do receive a discount on it. Fort Collins adds different chemicals to treat potential issues. Soldier Canyon does not have the capability to add the same chemicals. Do they buy electricityfrom us? Both plants are Xcel Energy customers. What is the time frame? The master plan is being reviewed now, and the Tri-Districts would like an answer this year. There is a possibility of the Tri-District buying and owning part of our plant and its capacity. The Tri-Districts' goal is to purchase wholesale rather than assume any of the additional O&M costs. Water Board Minutes 4 March 31, 2009 Would water quality be negatively impacted if just one plant is operated? The City has a water quality policy to ensure very high quality water, but the City and the Tri- Districts follow the same regulation standards. Benefits also exist related to blending for water quality. When the Poudre River quality is poor, typically Horsetooth Reservoir's quality is better (and vice versa), so blending the water improves quality. The Tri-Districts also have this blending capability. Any thought of combining districts into a mega -district? Regional cooperation, activities and a mega -district are all options being studied, but staff s current focus is on the Tri-Districts' request. This request represents a regional solution which benefits the City by maximizing the use of idle capacity and reducing debt load on its rate payers, while also providing a benefit to the Tri-Districts. Is this the last plant or do we need to build out? Fort Collins is confident we will never need another plant and have no reason to build out. Board Member Brown made a motion to support the resolution authorizing the City Manager to investigate options for water treatment service and to negotiate a cooperative agreement with the Tri-Districts. Board Member Gessler seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous in favor of the motion. NCRHMP (Northern Colorado Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan) Flood Hazard Section Update Chris Lochra, Civil Engineer with Stormwater Master Planning, presented the 2009 update to the Northern Colorado Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan. The plan contains resources and information to assist with hazard planning. This is a public document and a resource for natural and man-made hazards. Loveland, Greeley, Fort Collins and Larimer County were involved in developing the 2004 plan. An update is required this year. Presenting the update to the Board is part of the public hearing process. Poudre Fire Authority (PFA) will be involved, and the final plan will be reviewed and formally accepted in Summer 2009. Differences between the 2004 plan and the 2009 update were highlighted: • Flood warning system; • The addition of staff, • Upper Cooper Slough Drainage Master Plan; • Dry Creek Project (completed in 2008) added by FEMA; • Canals and Importation Ponds and Outfalls Project (CIPO) in progress; • A new flood risk map developed; • Increased outreach and education via Flood Awareness Week in the city; and • New flood preparedness video for the public. In 2008, the City conducted a four hour regional training using a flash flood simulation. The training pointed out areas for improvement to our stormwater plan. Participants included Larimer County, the City of Loveland and the City of Fort Collins. Water Board Minutes 5 March 31, 2009 Which agency acts as our Office of Emergency Management (OEM)? Poudre Fire Authority is the lead OEM command. Chairperson Janett commented about the last line on the first page which states, "natural hazards that are a conflict with nature". She recommended a change in wording before this is presented. *Board Member Johannes Gessler left the meeting at 4:33 p.m. Odor Buffer Changes Utilities Executive Director Brian Janonis introduced a change to State regulations regarding the odor buffer from the wastewater treatment facility. There must be 1000 feet between habitable structures and the wastewater treatment facility. By reducing the buffer, this will have the indirect result of making the area more attractive for development in the corridor. Our priority is the protection of our customers. The map shows the current buffer zone and the proposed buffer area. The other line represents the natural areas buffer around the Poudre River. Is Lincoln Greens in a flood fringe? Some of the area is in the 100 year floodplain, and all of the area is subject to flooding. Is there anything built where the current red line is on this map? There are no habitable structures (houses), but there are some retail facilities, permissible according to regulations. The Drake Water Treatment Facility was built prior to the surrounding areas. This item will be brought as an action item to the Board at the April 23 meeting. Committee Reports Engineering Committee (Chairperson Balderson): Committee members include Eileen Dornfest, Mike Connor, Brian Brown and Steve Balderson. There was no report, but there is a tentative meeting in April to discuss upcoming capital projects and May to discuss stormwater best management practices. Water Conservation Committee and Public Education (Chairperson Phelan): Committee members include Duncan Eccleston, Phil Phelan, Steve Balderson and Gina Janett. Chairperson Phelan sent out notes from the March 18 meeting. However, there was not a quorum present. The meeting will be rescheduled in April to discuss the Water Conservation Plan. Legislative, Finance and Legal Committee (Chairperson Pillard): Committee members include Mike Connor, Reagan Waskom, Gina Janett and David Pillard. There was no report. Instream Flow Committee (Chairperson Wockner): Committee members include Duncan Eccleston, Mike Connor, Gina Janett and Gary Wockner. There was no report. Water Supply Committee (Chairperson Waskom): There was no report. Water Board Minutes 6 March 31, 2009 Staff Reports Treated Water Production Summary and Water Supply Outlook Report: Dennis Bode, Water Resources Manager, would like to point out the graphs are several days old due to the weather and cancellation of the original meeting. There are improvements in the snow pack with an additional three inches, and the moisture last week was helpful. Water use has been low and consistent. We are fairly close to the yearly average and will have more snow sites next month. This time of year, the Northern Colorado Conservancy District appropriates a 60% quota and will evaluate the snowpack. Other Business Jim Hibbard announced the Stormwater Best Management Practices will be coming through the Board at the next few meetings. Council requested repurposing of the stormwater program at an October 2008 meeting. An informational work session in April was requested to provide background on the initial segments of the plan, and a special meeting will be scheduled in May. This item will involve a comprehensive review of policies and best management practices. Board Member Dornfest would like more information regarding Glade Reservoir. The Coloradoan had an article recently pointing out the reservoir might not be necessary. Staff responded they continue to collect and share data regarding Glade Reservoir. According to the data, the project is not as valuable as once thought, but staff must consider the worst case scenario. More data modeling and analysis of the plume and intake are needed. All of the information regarding Glade Reservoir is also available on our website. Future AlZenda Items Stormwater Best Management Practices at a May special meeting (TBD). Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 5:17 p.m. Submitted by Meagan Peil, Board Secretary h Approved by the Board on J , 2009 Signed Meagan Mil L119-)O9 Date Water Board Minutes 7 March 31, 2009