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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Board - Minutes - 11/15/2012Water Board Minutes November 15, 2012 1 Fort Collins Utilities Water Board Minutes Thursday, November 15, 2012 Water Board Chairperson City Council Liaison Steve Balderson, 223-7915 Wade Troxell, 219-8940 Water Board Vice Chairperson Staff Liaison Steve Malers, 484-1954 Jon Haukaas, 221-6671 Roll Call Board Present Chairperson Steve Balderson, Vice Chairperson Steve Malers, Board Members Duncan Eccleston, Brian Brown, Becky Goldbach, Eric Garner, Liesel Hans, Brett Bovee, Phil Phelan, and Lori Brunswig Staff Present Jon Haukaas, Lisa Rosintoski, Susan Strong, Basil Hamdan, Clark Mapes, Carol Webb, Laurie D’Audney, Donnie Dustin, and Harriet Davis Meeting Convened Chairperson Balderson called the meeting to order at 5:33 p.m. Public Comment None Approval of October 18, 2012 Minutes Board Member Brunswig moved to approve the minutes of the October 18, 2012 meeting. Vice Chairperson Malers seconded the motion. Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously. * Board Member Phelan abstained due to his absence at the October meeting. Work Session Review Vice Chairperson Malers gave an update on the November Work Session. The board discussed agricultural water sharing with guests George Wallace and Lew Grant from the Larimer County Agricultural Advisory Board and Todd Doherty from the Colorado Water Conservation Board. The board also listened to a watershed presentation and discussed the 2013 Work Plan. Staff Reports Monthly Water Resources Report Water Resources Manager Donnie Dustin provided this report for the agenda packet. Staff is looking at snowpack predictions for the year. Staff will present the Water Supply and Demand Management Policy (WSDMP) to City Council on November 20, 2012. Introduction of New Customer Connections Manager Lisa Rosintoski Water Engineering and Field Services Manager Jon Haukaas introduced new Customer Connections Manager Lisa Rosintoski. The position includes managing customer accounts, Water Board Minutes November 15, 2012 2 customer support, education and outreach, key accounts, water conservation, and other programs. Ms. Rosintoski gave a brief background on her work history. LID and Streetscape Standards Policy Update (Attachments available upon request). Mr. Haukaas introduced the item and introduced Civil Engineer Basil Hamdan and City Planner Clark Mapes. The Low Impact Development (LID) Policy is developed in coordination with the Streetscape Standards. Both items will be presented to City Council in December. Mr. Hamdan presented the 2012 Green Streets Initiative. This combines four related projects: Updating Streetscape/Landscape Standards in the Larimer County Urban Area Street Standards (LCUASS); updating to Street Classifications to include more flexible urban standards, updating the Low Impact Development (LID) Policy, and the Green Street Demonstration Project. Mr. Hamdan presented information on the Public Outreach Process. This item has been presented to several boards and committees as well as a City Council Work Session. Mr. Mapes presented an arterial streetscapes map. He also presented several photographs showing existing and proposed arterial medians within the City, as well as standard arterial medians, medians in roundabouts, and parkway landscaping for local and collector streets. The purpose of the update includes the following:  New approach to “raise the bar”  Recognize the differences between arterials  Clarify components and details Mr. Mapes explained the differences between native warm-season shortgrasses and turf-type grasses. Mr. Hamdan presented information on the LID Policy Update and the LID required alternatives considered:  On-site construction of LID required for public and private development projects  Required but with an option to pay fee in lieu of construction  Incentive Based Alternatives (fee based and Climate Wise program) Mr. Hamdan presented highlights from the July Water Board presentation and the August City Council Work Session. Council doubted that using incentive based LID policies would yield a significant implementation:  Requiring a 50 percent minimum treatment of stormwater runoff using LID technologies as a starting point  Continue collaborative efforts with Colorado State University (CSU) regarding this project  Support for staff recommendation on all four related projects  LID policy based on a minimum of 50 percent requirement combined with an incentive beyond 50 percent Council requested staff’s recommendation on the policy. Water Board Minutes November 15, 2012 3 Proposed LID Criteria and Policy Update:  Minimum of 50 percent of lot area to be treated by LID-type device/technology  Minimum of 25 percent permeable for added parking areas  Designed alternative (equal or better standard)  Incentive based approach for LID level beyond the minimum 50 percent Mr. Hamdan presented examples for parkway, rain garden, and median applications. He also presented a diagram on the parking lot application for O’Dell’s Brewery expansion and shared initial costs versus life-cycle costs. Maintenance costs will be reduced. Highlights from the discussion:  A board member asked for clarification on the motion since the LID Policy Update and Streetscape Standards were combined for tonight’s meeting. Mr. Haukaas stated staff is only asking for a recommendation on the LID Policy.  A board member questioned if there will be an option to buy out of doing LID onsite in the same way as regional ponds. Mr. Haukaas stated this has been discussed. That option is not always feasible; however, the equal or better standard is feasible.  A board member expressed appreciation for staff’s work on the project.  A board member asked about the challenges with older neighborhoods. What is the lifespan for streetscapes construction? Mr. Haukaas stated this is driven by development. Most pavement rehabilitation projects are focused on driving surfaces. There are corridor studies that will look at improvements. Mr. Mapes also stated a team will be assembled to push some initiatives.  A board member asked about maintaining new types of landscapes. Will this involve the same amount of labor? Mr. Mapes stated there needs to be an increased skill level to maintain the perennials, shrubs, etc.  A board member questioned what type of properties the statement “a minimum of 50 percent of Lot Area to be treated by LID-type device/technology” refers to. Mr. Hamdan stated this applies to both public and private properties.  A board member questioned if there an opportunity for private development could lead the way on City property to get the medians in place. Is the City receptive to the idea of partnerships with developers to meet the equal or better standard? Mr. Hamdan stated typically public and private properties are separated.  A board member questioned the LID criteria related to impervious surface area. The board member stated there should be clarification for the definition of impervious. Staff is working with the City Attorney’s Office on the language.  A board member asked about the expected response on the new standards. Mr. Hamdan stated that since the updated criterion was adopted last year, there has been good response on the projects.  A board member asked about the current stormwater fee. Mr. Haukaas stated this is based on an impervious percentage and calculated on case by case basis. Board Member Brunswig moved that the Water Board recommend approval by City Council of Ordinance “B” as attached, adopting the updated City of Fort Collins LID Policy and requiring LID Criteria to be incorporated into the City Code and the Stormwater Criteria Manual as appropriate, for all new development and redevelopment. Board Member Hans seconded the motion. Water Board Minutes November 15, 2012 4 Discussion on the motion: A board member stated he does not normally approve of code updates requiring higher initial costs, but since the life-cycle costs will be reduced, he is in favor of the motion. A board member stated he would like staff to keep the option open related to “Fee in Lieu of Construction.” Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously. Proposed Amendment to the Fort Collins Stormwater Criteria Manual (Attachments available upon request). Environmental Regulatory Specialist Susan Strong presented information on this item. The proposed amendment to the Stormwater Criteria Manual relates to the exemption for implementation of erosion control requirements for emergency work. The proposed revised language will clarify that emergency work will be exempt only from advance submittal requirements, but not requirements for measures to prevent and control erosion. Background  The City operates under a state-issued MS4 permit, which requires a program to address pollutants in stormwater runoff from land disturbing activities.  The City’s MS4 permit program requires sediment and erosion control Best Management Practices (BMPs) to be implemented for land disturbing activities ≥ 10,000 square feet.  Emergency work is currently exempted from this requirement.  Except for emergency firefighting activities, the MS4 permit does not allow exemptions from this requirement. Highlights from the discussion:  A board member asked for examples of emergency work. Ms. Strong stated the criterion applies to development; however, examples would be re-vegetation activities after an emergency event. Regulatory and Government Affairs Manager Carol Webb further clarified the term by giving the example of when the City stock-piled a large amount of snow after a snowstorm. An interim detention pond had to be created to catch runoff. Water Engineering and Field Services Operations Manager Jon Haukaas also stated if BMPs failed, a developer would have to be aware of the appropriate erosion control BMPs applicable for a larger site.  A board member suggested revising the proposed language concerning an Erosion Control Plan and/or Report to include the measures. Ms. Strong stated Erosion Control Permits are not required. The permit is in the form of a Development Construction Permit. Mr. Haukaas stated staff would like to keep the requirements as broad as possible. Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously. Board Member Brown moved that the Water Board recommend approval to the City Council of amendments to Section (O) - Volume 3, Chapter 7, Subsection 1 of the Fort Collins Stormwater Criteria Manual relating to the exemption for implementation of erosion control requirements for emergency work. Board Member Goldbach seconded the motion. Water Board Minutes November 15, 2012 5 Finalize 2013 Annual Work Plan (Attachment available upon request). The board members discussed the proposed 2013 Work Plan. Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously. Proposed 2013 Meeting Schedule (Attachment available upon request). The 2013 meeting schedule was presented to the board. The board will continue to meet on the third Thursday of each month, with the exception of the third Thursday in May, when the board will attend the Tri-City Annual Meeting. Water Board Work Sessions will continue to be held on the first Thursday of each month. Other Business Water Board Vacancies The board will have five vacancies at the end of 2012. This includes three incumbents and two vacancies. The clerk’s office is currently conducting interviews to fill the positions. Water Board Meeting Schedule for December and January The board discussed cancelling their December Regular Meeting and conducting the January Work Session as a Regular Meeting. This change will be posted if it occurs. Water Board Rationale Regarding Oil and Gas Regulations Related to Water Quality and Water Resources Protection (Memo to City Council) This draft memo was e-mailed to the members for review. The proposed Land Use Code for local oil and gas development was also presented to the Planning and Zoning Board on November 1, 2012. The Planning and Zoning Board was informed of the oil and gas discussion from the Water Board’s October meeting, including the motions made and the dissenting vote. Highlights from the discussion:  A board member questioned if staff is aware of the media efforts voicing opposition to the proposed oil and gas developments within the City. The board member asked if staff knows the percentage of Fort Collins citizens opposing the issue. Ms. Webb stated it is hard to know how much of the community is represented by the opposition groups. The City’s Legislative Policy and Project Manager Dan Weinheimer maintains regular contact with the groups.  The board members discussed a few minor edits to the memo and discussed the wording concerning the dissenting vote. Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously. Board Member Goldbach moved that the Water Board approve the revised and finalized 2013 Annual Work Plan. Board Member Garner seconded the motion. Board Member Brown moved that the Water Board submit the memo as revised to City Council. Board Member Garner seconded the motion. Mr. Haukaas gave an additional update on the item: • It will be presented to City Council on December 4, 2012. Council has asked for two ordinances (Option A or Option B). One is based on the current information and one will implement additional restrictions on all permits. Future A2enda Items The board discussed the December Work Session Agenda. The following topics are on the draft agenda: • Update on High Park Fire Remediation • Mosquito Control (This item will be discussed at the City Council Work Session on January 22. 2013.) • Board Celebration Vice Chairperson Malers noted the LID and Streetscape Standards Update will be presented to City Council on December 18. 2012. He encouraged Board Member Brunswig to attend this meeting as well as the December 4. 2012 meeting for the Oil and Gas Regulations since these topics are of particular interest to her. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m. Submitted by Harriet Davis. Administrative Assistant. Fort Collins Utilities Approved by the Board on O-€_c.. O , 2012 Signed: I ) 1) I Board Secretary Date Water Board Minutes 6 November 15. 2012