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Home My WebLink About2015 - Water Board - Work Plan1 2015 WATER BOARD ANNUAL WORK PLAN The 2015 Water Board work plan is organized consistent with the major responsibilities of Fort Collins Utilities related to water (“Water”, “Wastewater”, and “Stormwater”). Additionally, the category “Regional Issues” includes topics relevant to the Board's goal of maintaining a dialogue on regional water issues, such as those that impact the Poudre River. A number of recurring annual activities are described under the appropriate operational area below. Bulleted items are specific topics of current importance relevant to the Board. On an as- needed basis, the Water Board also provides input on quasi-judicial matters such as floodplain variances, easement dedication, and property acquisition or disposition. Key Outcome Area Alignment: Seven Key Outcome Areas have been identified for City Planning, as indicated below. The main Water Utilities business areas are aligned with one or more of these outcome areas, as indicated in the introduction to each section below. Individual items may align with several outcomes. For example, capital projects on distribution system pipes are typically coordinated with transportation projects (outcome area T) and capital projects include an art in public places component (outcome area CR). Utilities projects also often have an element of high performing government (HPG). Alignment at the business area level is indicated below. CNL – Community and Neighborhood Livability CR – Culture and Recreation ECH – Economic Health ENV – Environmental Health HPG – High Performing Government SC – Safe Community T – Transportation Water Key Outcome Area Alignment: Primary Outcome: Safe Community (SC) Secondary Outcomes: Environmental Health (ENV) and Economic Health (ECH) Significant Linked Strategic Objectives: • SC 5.10 – Provide a high quality, sustainable water supply • ENV 4.6 – Engage citizens in ways to educate and change behavior to more sustainable living practices • ENV 4.8 – Protect and monitor water quality, implement conservation efforts, and long-term water storage capability • ECH 3.5 – Sustain a high water quality to support the community and water dependent businesses • ECH 3.6 – Maintain utility systems and services, infrastructure, and competitive rates 2 1. Provide input on planning and policies related to raw and treated water supply, such as the Water Supply and Demand Management Policy. 2. Provide input on annual business such as water rates and surplus raw water rental rates. 3. Review and provide input on the water conservation annual report and conservation programs. 4. Address educational topics that prepare the Board for business related to water. 5. Participate in educational and public outreach efforts related to water. 6. Annual Capital Projects Update, including new Utilities building. 7. Provide input on specific topics that are relevant to the Board. Potential topics for 2015 include: • Source water protection planning and watershed health • Impacts of drought and water conservation on the urban landscape • Impacts of and adaptation to climate change • Use of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) to enhance City programs, including monitoring water use and progress toward water efficiency goals • Transparency in cost of service and rate structure • Water storage infrastructure: ◦ Halligan Reservoir permitting ◦ Rigden Reservoir • Land use/development, water rights, and transactions • Fluoridation Wastewater Key Outcome Area Alignment: Primary Outcome: Environmental Health (ENV) Secondary Outcomes: Economic Health (ECH) Significant Linked Strategic Objectives: • ENV 4.6 – Engage citizens in ways to educate and change behavior to more sustainable living practices • ENV 4.9 – Meet or exceed all environmental regulations • ECH 3.6 – Maintain utility systems and services, infrastructure, and competitive rates 1. Provide input on planning and policies related to wastewater, such as wastewater strategic plans dealing with infrastructure financing, workforce development, nutrient regulations, and public/private financing options. 2. Provide input on annual business such as wastewater rates and capital improvements. 3. Address educational topics that prepare the Board for business related to wastewater. 4. Participate in educational and public outreach efforts related to wastewater. 5. Annual Capital Projects Update 3 6. Provide input on specific topics that are relevant to the Board. Potential topics for 2015 include: • Performance of the upgraded Mulberry Wastewater Treatment Facility and improvements to the Drake Wastewater Treatment Facility • Impacts of new nutrient regulations • Enhancement projects such as: ◦ South Process Train Improvements (upgrades to meet nutrient requirements) ◦ Biogas to energy possibilities ◦ Carbon source projects • Industrial pretreatment program • Graywater and reuse opportunities Stormwater Key Outcome Area Alignment: Primary Outcome: Safe Community (SC) Secondary Outcomes: Environmental Health (ENV) and Economic Health (ECH) Significant Linked Strategic Objectives: • SC 5.4 – Protect life and property with natural, aesthetically pleasing flood mitigation facilities through building codes and development regulations • ENV 4.1 – Improve and protect wildlife habitat and ecosystems of the Poudre River and other urban streams • ENV 4.6 – Engage citizens in ways to educate and change behavior to more sustainable living practices • ENV 4.9 – Meet or exceed all environmental regulations • ECH 3.6 – Maintain utility systems and services, infrastructure, and competitive rates 1. Provide input on planning and policies related to stormwater, such as revisions to the Stormwater Master Plans and Low Impact Development guidelines. 2. Provide input on annual business such as stormwater rates, fees, and capital improvements. 3. Address educational topics that prepare the Board for business related to stormwater. 4. Participate in educational and public outreach efforts with emphasis on improving and enhancing customer awareness and understanding of stormwater programs. 5. Provide input on specific topics that are relevant to the Board. Potential topics for 2015 include: • Progress on water quality, stream restoration, and ecosystem modeling projects • Progress on capital projects • Update of the Poudre River Floodplain and mapping in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) RiskMAP program • MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System) permit renewal • Low Impact Development standards and results 4 Regional Issues Key Outcome Area Alignment: Regional issues typically are related to one or more Utilities business areas (Water, Wastewater, Stormwater) on a larger scale beyond the Utilities service area, and consequently interface with regional neighbors and in some cases at a state or federal level. Alignment with Key Outcome Areas depends on each item. For example, topics related to raw water supplies are aligned as per the Water business area described above. 1. Provide input on planning and policies related to regional issues that impact Fort Collins' water. 2. Participate in regional dialogue as appropriate (e.g., annual Tri-City meeting, South Platte Roundtable meetings, and coordination with other City boards and commissions). 3. Provide input on specific topics that are relevant to the Board. Potential topics for 2015 include: • Regional land-use planning, such as sustainable agriculture, agricultural and municipal water sharing agreements, and land and water conservation • Projects in the Poudre River corridor, including removal of diversion structures, stream restoration, recreational uses and impacts, development of the Woodward property, and updates regarding environmental water requirements and flows • Shared regional treated water infrastructure • Collaboration with neighboring water utilities • Greeley's Seaman Reservoir and Northern Water's Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP) permitting and mitigation • Windy Gap Firming Project • Oil and gas development, utility service to the oil and gas industry, and relationship between energy and water in general, and mineral rights development on Utilities property • State regulations related to a variety of water, wastewater, and stormwater topics, including the state impaired waters list, and water quality standards • Statewide ballot issues such as the public trust doctrine initiative • State and federal legislation and regulation related to water, including “Waters of the US” • Colorado Water Plan