HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Board - Minutes - 12/06/2010Water Board Chairperson City Council Liaison
Gina Janett, 493-4677 David Roy, 217-5506
Water Board Vice Chairperson Staff Liaison
Steve Balderson, 223-7915 Brian Janonis, 221-6702
Roll Call
Board Present Chairperson Gina Janett, Vice Chairperson Steve Balderson, Board Members
Brett Bovee, Brian Brown, Duncan Eccieston, Phil Phelan, Reagan Waskom, and David Pillard
Board Absent Board Members Eileen Dornfest and Johannes Gessler
StaffPresent Brian Janonis, Jon Haukaas, Kevin Gertig, Carrie Daggett, Robin Pierce, Susan
Smolnik, Dennis Bode, Roger Buffington, Gary Schroeder, and Felix Lee
Guests Mel Hilgenberg, George Reed, Mary Veronin, and Mike Will; Katie Wiktor and Dan
Moore, City of Greeley
Meeting Convened
Chairperson Janett called the meeting to order at 5:33 p.m.
Public Comment
None
Recognition of David Pillard’s Service to the Board
Utilities Executive Director Brian Janonis thanked Board Member Pillard for his service to the
hoard and presented him with a Downtown Business Association gift card in appreciation from
the City of Fort Collins. Board Member Pillard expressed his gratitude to the board and Council
for the opportunity to serve. He has enjoyed the chance to take part in discussions with his board
colleagues on many topics. Board Member Waskom recognized his leadership on the
Legislative, Finance, and Liaison Committee.
Minutes of October 21, 2010, Meeting
Vice Chairperson Balderson moved to approve the minutes from the October 21, 2010, meeting.
Board Memher Brown seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously with edits to Page 3 — 8
percent in 2011 and 8 percent in 2012 pertaining to sewer rate and Page 4— Mayor’s letter of
support on the proposed State floodplain regulations.
Conveyance of Easement for Greeley Pipeline
Water Resources Engineer Susan Smolnik introduced staff from the City of Greeley, Katy
Wiktor and Dan Moore who have been involved with pipeline construction for treated water
delivery to Greeley from their Belivue treatment plant. The pipeline will cross a small amount of
the City ditch, a Fort Collins Utilities-owned property and a 27-inch Utilities-owned pipeline.
Water Board Minutes
December 6, 2010
Fort Collins Utilities Water Board Minutes
Monday, December 6, 2010
The easement is required to make a way for construction equipment to reach the area for boring.
The City of Fort Collins’ Real Estate department has worked with Greeley staff on both the
required temporary and permanent easement; a total of thirty different easements are involved.
Staff recommended the Board supports the request for the easement.
Board discussion:
Are other permits involved? Staff is in the process of acquiring a nationwide permit, which is a
form of permit from the Arniy Corps of Engineers.
Will any type of bentonite mud he used? Bentonite material will be used in a limited amount to
provide lubrication as the pipe goes through the dirt.
How will subsidence be managed? Surveys will take place befoi-e and after the operation to
insure no more than a half inch of subsidence occurs. Crews will bore under the location to
avoid disturbance of the ditch.
Some easement oilers are still being developed, and some offers have been sent to land owners.
As a result, some permissions have been acquired on this segment.
Is it best to drill when no water is in the canal? Crews prefer to drill in the wintertime, hut due
to the depth of the boring, they will encounter groundwater.
Will there be a restoration requirement? Any surface disturbance will be treated within the City
of Fort Collins’ Natural Resources standards for restoration.
Capacity of the pipe is quite a bit larger than the water rights Greelev owns to go through it.
What are the plans
ftr
using the capacity ofthe pipe? This pipeline positions Greeley for the
future and prevents the need to go through this area again. Some water rights have been acquired
presently. The pipe will carry water from the Colorado-Big Thompson watershed, as well as
Water Supply and Storage Company water. The flows do not represent any that would have
come through Fort Collins anyway. The point of diversion will be changed to a point higher
upstream.
Can staff speak to pros and cons? Ms. Smolnik noted, as a City utility, we often have to request
similar easements to serve our customers and would like to he cooperative in these types of
actions when other cities request easements of us. Greeley’s request has been sensitive to our
Natural Areas guidelines. These are fairly small impacts. Greeley went through the location and
extent approval with Larimer County.
Motion: Board Member Waskom moved the Water Board recommends
that
City
Council
grant
the easements requested by the City of Greeley for a water pipeline.
Board Member Pillard seconded the motion.
There was no further discussion on the motion. Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously.
Green Building Program Update
Energy Services Engineer Gary Schroeder and Green Building Code Pmject Manager Felix Lee
provided an update to the hoard. Staff will return to the February 17 hoard meeting to seek a
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December 6, 2010
recommendation before the final ordinance goes to Council in March. Recent efforts have
focused on code amendments.
The National Building Standard and National Green Construction Code were used initially for
templates, but early in the Technical Review Advisory Committee (TRAC) process, it was
decided to develop a core set of amendments. The City recently adopted the 2009 International
Building Codes, which provide the foundation for the green building code amendments. More
information is available at www.fcgov.com/gbp such as timeline, Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQ5), and team member details. Council will be offered several optional Green Building
Practices for consideration.
Staff explained data related to cost-benefit analysis, mortgage rates (increase in base price of
home), and cost savings realized over time. Some recommendations are related to community or
ecosystem benefit rather than economic benefit. Standards will be mandatory. A ranch-style
home measuring 1600 square feet with a basement would see a net savings of $50- 175 annually.
The monthly mortgage impact is between 15 and 30 percent.
High efficiency fixtures (showerheads, lavatories, and high efficiency Water Sense toilets) are all
competitive with current pricing of standard fixtures. The current plan would not require small
remodel projects to meet the new standards.
Implementation is proposed for January 2012. Some standards being recommended are pre
empted by federal standards.
Landscaping standards are addressed in the Planning Department as a land use issue. High
efficiency, low flow irrigation systems are recommended.
Board discussion:
What about energy efficiency jbr air sealing and building envelope jr gas versus electric heat?
Is there reduced heat leakage jr one versus the other type of heat? Do you want more air
exchange with combustion in the home? Electric resistance heat is 2.5-3 times more costly than
gas heat. A provision was part of previous codes requiring additional insulation; however, it
wasn’t included in the City’s latest revision of the standard code set. Many of these are
performance-related, such as insuring proper installation.
Are there maxinzum fixture flow rates? This represents the maximum limit.
Related to the actual water efficiency proposed standards, is there any reason why Water Board
would want to say “must meet or exceed” standards? Where do these standards put Fort Collins
in comparison to others? Longmont implemented the National Green Building Standards.
Boulder has had progressive green standards for many years. Fort Collins’ focus is on placing
requirements on the 2009 standards already in place that they be tested, inspected, and verified in
terms of energy and water efficiency — “do the basics well and verify it”.
Plan Fort Collins
The draft Environmental Resources segment of Plan Fort Collins will be discussed at Council on
January 11. The board reviewed the ENV 18-29 Principles. There’s a purpose to leaving the
policies less prescriptive and more open-ended to allow adaptability for the next 5-25 years. A
third level of detail will be added to represent the steps to achieve this policy goal.
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December 6, 2010
Board discussion:
Question on Policy ENV 20.4 — To better manage stormwater for ten individually developed
parcels, the public partnership can take the lead to improve stormwater management to benefit
all. Compact development is encouraged to open the pervious areas. This policy is guided
toward redevelopment activities. The board feels this statement could be clarified.
Board members suggested another policy be added under Principle Number 21 to mention
watershed quality monitoring and protection for upstream watershed.
The board sees a real benefit to a particular recreational opportunity by planning sites for
kayaking which brings people to the center of town and provides economic benefit. The City of
Golden has done this. Water Engineering and Field Services Manager Jon Haukaas
recommended this be placed in the Culture, Parks, and Recreation section.
Board Member Phelan left the meeting at 7: 13 p.m.
The board continues to be concerned with the use of conditional language (see Principle ENV
29, “When feasible and appropriate...”).
As it relates to Policy ENV 24.5 Coordinate to Provide Adequate Instrearn Flows, the Instrearn
Flow Committee’s recommendation to the full board was introduced for the purpose of asking
Council to adopt a quantifiable, daily minimum instrearn flow goal and initiate greater effort
beyond the policies in the Plan. Board Member Waskorn noted the necessity to specify
coordination with the water diverters and users. “Consult and coordinate with stakeholders,
water users, and appropriate agencies,” is the recommended wording. The placement of a
specific minimum flow of 20 cfs was determined to be better suited for the strategy layer of the
Plan. The term, “quantify” will be added to the ENV 24.5 Policy statement. The Board teds
Natural Resources is the correct department to take the lead on instream flows.
Water Resources and Treatment Manager Kevin Gertig expressed concern about statement lb.
under Economic Benefits, related to providing additional flows for dilution of treated effluent
from the City’s wastewater treatment plans. This impacts how staff approaches treatment, and
staff prefers this be omitted.
Its conilnon to see single digit base/lows through town. What does it look like to get to the
recommended 20 cfs inflows? Is it feasible? Should we look at month/v triggers? The
committee looked at maintaining a minimum flow.
The hoard determined this is not ready to move forward. A board work session will he
scheduled and a task for the Instream Flow Committee added to the 2011 Work Plan to develop a
recommendation concerning adequate Poudre River Ilows.
Board Annual Business
The 2011 Annual Work Plan draft was reviewed for final approval.
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December 6, 2010
Motion: Board Member Waskom moved to adopt the 2011 Annual Work Plan. Board
Member Brown seconded the motion.
There was no further discussion on the motion. Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously.
The 2011 Proposed Meeting Schedule was presented with a recommendation that the meetings
return to the 5:30-7:3() p.m. time slot.
Motion: Vice Chairperson Baiderson moved to adopt the 2011 Meeting Schedule.
Board Member Bovee seconded the motion.
There was no further discussion on the motion. Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously.
Committee Reports
Engineering Committee (Vice Chairperson Balderson): No report was given.
Water Conseri’ation Committee (Board Member P/me/an): No report was given.
Legislative, Finanre and Legal Committee (Board Member Pillard): No report was given.
Instream Flow Committee (Chairperson Janet!): No report was given.
Water Supply Committee (Board Member Gessler): The committee discussed the Water Supply
and Demand Management Policy update and the new diversion structure to protect our water
right near the Environmental Learning Center and to keep water in the historical channel as well
as the new channel. The City is preparing to do a change case to change water rights from
agricultural use to municipal use.
Staff Reports
Water Resources Manager Dennis Bode provided the Monthly Water Use Report (94 percent).
The early season Snotel Report was also provided.
Mulberry Water Reclamation Facility Project Report: Mr. Gertig noted the various start-up steps
which are underway now. Pre-commissioning, or running the equipment, will conclude in mid-
December, and commissioning, or running the system with raw sewage, will begin in January.
The plant will he seeded with water from the Drake Water Reclamation Facility.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
Submitted by Robin Pierce, Utilities Administrative Services Supervisor
Fort Collins Utilities
Approved by the Board on
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S igned:
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Board Secretary Date
Water Board Minutes 5
December 6, 2010