HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013 - Water Board - Annual Report1
2013 Fort Collins Water Board Annual Report
January 2014
2013 Board Members
Steve Malers, Chair Duncan Eccleston Eric Garner
Brett Bovee, Vice Chair Liesel Hans Andrew McKinley
Brian Brown Becky Hill Phil Phelan*
Lori Brunswig Heidi Huber‐Stearns *retiring member
This annual report summarizes the activities of the Water Board during 2013. The formatting of this
Annual Report is consistent with 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 “General” category includes general topics. 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. Monthly Water
Board meetings consist of regular meetings and work sessions. 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 2012 annual report (discussed at Jan work session and approved at Jan regular
meeting)
Water Board officer elections (Feb)
Staff presentation on Water Board educational materials and discussion of regulations update
process (Apr work session)
Approved 2014 annual work plan (Oct)
Provided input to City’s strategic planning (Dec)
Water
Input on planning and policies related to raw and treated water supply:
o Recommended general support for updated building code changes that encourages and
endorses water reuse, water efficiency, and water quality measures that are
incorporated into the building code such as broader sprinkler coverage of residential
units, but support does not address costs and other impacts of implementing these
measures (Aug)
o Staff report on Water Supply Management (Restrictions) Action Plan (Nov)
o Recommended that City Council adopt City Code changes to discontinue the practice of
water banking (Nov)
o Agreed with staff recommendation to update the Water Conservation/Efficiency Plan on
seven year cycle (Dec)
Input on annual business:
2
o Recommended acceptance of surplus water rental procedures, rates, and delivery
charges proposed by staff (Feb)
o Recommended adoption of increasing water rates consistent with the City’s Water
Supply Shortage Response Plan (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)
o Recommended adoption of a Water Right Utilization Fee (discussed in Aug, approved
recommendation in Sep)
o Recommended adoption of proposed rate adjustments resulting in an overall 4 percent
increase for the Water Fund for the Wastewater Fund as stated in the 2013‐2014
biennial budget. Rate adjustments would be distributed by customer class to more
closely align rates with actual cost of service per the 2013 study (discussed in Aug,
approval of recommendation in Sep)
Educational topics:
o Staff report on likely water restrictions and Water Supply Shortage Response Plan (Jan).
Additional updates on restrictions occurred in staff reports each month through June
(restrictions were lifted June 1).
o Staff presentation on Rigden gravel pit update (Feb and Oct work sessions)
o Staff presentation on water treatment regionalization (Feb)
o Staff presentation on stream restoration for Fossil Creek (Feb work session)
o Staff presentation on water restriction outreach (Apr work session)
o Field trip with staff to Pleasant Valley Pre‐sedimentation Basin (May work session)
o Staff presentation on the Asset Management System (Jun)
o Staff presentation on impacts of flooding (Sep)
o Staff presentation on Lower Poudre Water Quality Monitoring Program (Sep)
o Staff presentation on Halligan‐Seaman status (Oct work session)
o Staff presentation on Watershed Health (Oct work session)
o Board Member Huber‐Stearns presentation on Colorado Conservation Exchange
Program (Oct work session)
o Staff report on Michigan Ditch maintenance (Oct)
Other specific topics:
o Recommended that City Council consider approval of an ordinance authorizing the
supplemental contract to the Pleasant Valley Pipeline Enterprise Allotment Contract, to
include the new pre‐sedimentation basin (Jun)
o Recommended that City Council consider approval of an ordinance authorizing the joint
funding of a Regional Water Treatment Solutions Study (Jun)
o Recommended that City Council approve the Water Enterprise Fund amending the
existing Intergovernmental Agreement for the Delivery of Potable Water with Fort
Collins Loveland Water District and entering into a new Intergovernmental Agreement
for the Sale of Potable Water with Fort Collins Loveland Water District (Jun)
Wastewater
Input on planning and policies related to wastewater:
o None
3
Input on annual business:
o Recommended adoption of proposed rate adjustments resulting in an overall 3 percent
increase for the Wastewater Fund as stated in the 2013‐2014 biennial budget. Rate
adjustments would be distributed by customer class to more closely align rates with
actual cost of service per the 2013 study (discussed in Aug, approval of recommendation
in Sep)
Educational topics:
o Several topics relevant to wastewater are included in Water section (e.g., rate
presentations)
o Staff presentation on brew waste carbon study (Aug and Dec work sessions)
Other specific topics:
o None
Stormwater
Input on planning and policies related to stormwater:
o Recommended revision of Poudre River floodplain regulations to include site‐specific
Emergency Response and Preparedness Plan (Feb)
o Recommended approval by City Council of amendments to the Fort Collins Stormwater
Criteria Manual relating to the exception for implementation of erosion control
structures for emergency work (Nov)
o Recommended that City Council adopt proposed Colorado Water Conservation Board
(CWCB) Floodplain Regulations and the additional proposed policy and procedural
changes and clarifications (discussed at Jun work session with recommendation
approved in Aug regular meeting)
o Recommended approval of updates to stormwater permit fees and charges (discussed
at Jun work session)
Input on annual business:
o No stormwater rate changes were recommended in 2013
o Staff presentation on annual Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)
Stormwater Permit Annual Update (Oct)
Educational topics:
o Staff presentation on capital improvement projects (Mar)
o Staff presentation on urban stormwater quality monitoring winter runoff study (Sep)
o Staff presentation on Poudre River corridor contaminated sites (Sep)
o Staff presentation on Poudre River projects (Nov)
Other specific topics:
o Recommended approval of a floodplain variance for Woodward facility at 777 E. Lincoln
Avenue (Jan)
o Recommended approval of drainage easements associated with temporary construction
easements for river restoration work adjacent to the Poudre River (Jan)
o Recommended approval of a floodplain variance for 215 Whedbee (Mar)
Regional Issues
Input on planning and policies related to regional issues:
4
o None
Participate in regional dialogue:
o Members of the Board and staff attended the annual Tri‐City meeting in Loveland (May)
Educational topics:
o The Water Board held a joint meeting with the Natural Resources Advisory Board to
focus on Poudre River topics with specific items listed under the Stormwater section
(Sep)
o Staff report on MAX Bus Rapid Transit project (Oct work session)
o Staff presentation on oil and gas regulations, and gray water regulations (Dec work
session)
Other specific topics:
o Supported Colorado House Bill 12‐1044 concerning authorization of the use of gray
water (Feb)
Report prepared by Steve Malers, Water Board Chair