HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014 - Water Board - Annual Report1
2014 Fort Collins Water Board Annual Report
January 2015
2014 Board Members
Steve Malers, Chair Michael Brown1 Alex Maas1 (July 15)
Becky Hill, Vice Chair Lori Brunswig Andrew McKinley
Brett Bovee1 (April 15) Duncan Eccleston Phyllis Ortman1 1new member
Brian Brown Heidi Huber‐Stearns 2retiring member
This annual report summarizes the activities of the Water Board during 2014. The formatting of this
Annual Report is consistent with the Annual Work Plan. Alignment of Water Board activities with the
City’s Strategic Plan and Key Outcome Areas is achieved through the Annual Work Plan. Water Board
activities listed below are organized by the major responsibilities of Fort Collins Utilities related to water
(“Water”, “Wastewater”, and “Stormwater”). The “Regional Issues” category includes topics related to
maintaining a dialogue on regional water issues. Within each heading are listed Water Board activities
and the month of the meeting in which they occurred. Additionally, the “General” category includes
general topics that span Utilities or the City. The “Public Comment” category summarizes public
comments made at meetings during the year and efforts to respond to these comments. Regular Water
Board meetings are held each month and work sessions are held in even months. With respect to this
annual report, work sessions are indicated to help understand chronology of discussion. A summary of
work session discussion typically can be found in the minutes of the regular meeting following the work
session; however, no actions are voted on at work session meetings and minutes are only recorded for
regular meetings. Meeting minutes for regular meetings are available on the Fort Collins website.
General
Annual review of Board charter and conduct/review for easement and variance process (Jan).
Approved 2013 Annual Report (Jan), and discussed 2014 Annual Report (Dec work session).
Water Board officer elections (Feb).
Staff overview of Utilities Executive Director hiring process (Feb work session).
Water Board City Council liaison overview of Boards and Commissions Function & Structure
Review (Feb work session).
Provided input to City’s Budgeting for Outcome process (Apr work session, Jun work session, Jul,
Aug work session, Aug). A memorandum summarizing Water Board budget recommendations to
City Council and City Management was approved at the August regular meeting.
New Utilities Director Kevin Gertig provided overview of challenges facing the City (Jul).
Moved to support the community solar project proposed on City property at 500 Riverside (the
“old pickle plant site”) and support the authorization of a 25‐year operating lease to Clean
Energy Collective LLC (Aug).
Moved to support an ordinance appropriating funds for a new Utilities Building, but expressed
concerns that the appropriation was not part of the Budgeting for Outcomes process (Aug).
o Moved that the Vice Chair connect with the Council Liaison and communicate the
Board’s wishes regarding the motion (Sep).
Staff presentation on public comment process, and motion process (Oct work session).
2
Modified the format of the annual work plan to achieve alignment with the City’s strategic plan
(Nov, Dec work session). Due to changes, the Water Board 2015 Annual Plan is expected to be
approved at the January 2015 regular meeting.
Discussion of changes to staff support for Water Board (Nov).
Public Comment
A citizen expressed concern about the Boxelder Stormwater Authority’s plans to build a facility
to hold stormwater in the event of a flood (Feb).
A citizen expressed concerns about the effects of manganese and fluoride on
neurodevelopment (Feb). Utilities staff at the meeting indicated that Fort Collins Utilities follow
State of Colorado standards and are below these levels for manganese and fluoride.
A citizen stated the desire of Clydesdale Park residents to recover the $80,000 balance of a
Public Improvement District fund (Sep). The Clydesdale Park neighborhood is being annexed by
the City of Fort Collins. This request was initially denied (Sep) but the City was later able to
determine how to refund some or all of the HOA money (Oct).
A citizen complained about fees paid to the Boxelder Basin Regional Stormwater Authority
(BBRSA) and legitimacy of the BBRSA (Sep).
Several students from Colorado State University attended meetings throughout the year as part
of course requirements.
Water
Input on planning and policies related to raw and treated water supply:
o Recommended revisions to Municipal Code, Chapter 26, Article II, Division 6 to make the
“failure to repair” violation timeframe more practical for corrections of problems (Mar).
o Recommended to City Council that revisions to the Water Supply Shortage Response
Plan to remove permit requirement for essential power washing and allow unrestricted
splash park use at all levels (Mar).
o Recommended to City Council that Council direct staff to consider placing educational
signage at splash parks under any level of water restrictions to provide information
regarding water consumption of splash parks (Mar).
Input on annual business:
o No water rate changes were recommended in 2014.
o Recommended acceptance of surplus water rental procedures, rates, and delivery
charges proposed by staff (Feb).
o Staff presentation on drinking water quality and annual customer confidence reports
(Jun).
o Staff presentation on Water Conservation Annual Report (Aug work session).
Educational topics:
o Staff presentation on Halligan‐Seaman status (Apr work session, Jun work session).
o Staff presentation on Advanced Meter Fort Collins (AMFC) Web Portal Demonstration
(Apr work session).
o Staff report on Utilities strategic planning (Jun work session).
o Staff presentation on adjustments to commercial water allotments (Jun).
o Staff presentation on the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) (Sep).
o Staff presentation on Watershed Health (Oct work session).
3
o Staff presentation on Climate Action Plan (Dec work session).
Other specific topics:
o Recommended that City Council consider approval of an Ordinance authorizing
conveyance of a permanent utility easement to Nunn Telephone Company on the City
property Meadow Springs Ranch (Jun).
o Recommended that City Council consider authorization of a License to Enter and
Perform Work to the Colorado Department of Transportation, for the Mulberry bridge
replacement (Jun).
Wastewater
Input on planning and policies related to wastewater:
o None.
Input on annual business:
o Recommended to City Council to adopt the proposed rate change of 3% for 2015 for the
Wastewater Utility (Sep).
Educational topics:
o Several topics relevant to wastewater are included in Water section.
Other specific topics:
o Recommended adoption of ordinance for appropriation of unanticipated grant revenue
into the wastewater fund for the Drake Water Reclamation Facility’s Nutrient Grant
Project for South Process Train Improvement (Feb). Funding was from a Colorado
Department of Public Health and Environment grant.
o Staff presentation on Meadow Springs Ranch Easement to allow private property
owners to access adjoining private properties, which will allow the Platte River Power
Authority to construct a solar farm on its property on an abandoned county road (Nov).
Stormwater
Input on planning and policies related to stormwater:
o Recommended that City Council approve the ordinance to provide an exception to the
critical facilities definition found in Chapter 10 of City Code to allow for parallel‐
connected solar and wind power generation.
Input on annual business:
o No stormwater rate changes were recommended in 2014.
o Staff presentation on annual Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)
Stormwater Permit Annual Update (Oct).
Educational topics:
o None.
Other specific topics:
o Regarding the Clydesdale Park neighborhood annexation, supported staff
recommendation to deny the request for a “phased in” stormwater fee unless the
Stormwater Fee is reimbursed (Sep).
o Recommended that City Council consider other means to reimburse the homeowners of
the Clydesdale Park HOA for the balance of the PID funds accepted by the City during
annexation (Sep).
4
Regional Issues
Input on planning and policies related to regional issues:
o None.
Participate in regional dialogue:
o Members of the Board and staff attended the annual Tri‐City meeting in Fort Collins
(May).
Educational topics:
o Staff presentation on legislative update (Feb work session).
o Natural Areas staff report on Poudre River Downtown Project (Jun work session).
o Natural Areas staff report on Natural Areas Master Plan (Jun work session).
o Staff presentation gray water legislation update (Oct work session).
Other specific topics:
o Recommended that City Council evaluate the potential impacts of Public Trust Doctrine
ballot initiatives on the City of Fort Collins and consider adoption of a resolution
expressing the City Council’s position regarding those effects (discussion at Mar
meeting, motion at Jun meeting).
o Recommended that Council adopt the Poudre River Downtown Master Plan (Sep).
Report prepared by Steve Malers, Water Board Chairperson