HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Board - Minutes - 02/15/2018DRAFT Meeting Minutes – February 15, 2018 Page 1
Fort Collins Utilities Water Board Minutes
Thursday, February 15, 2018
Water Board Chairperson City Council Liaison
Brett Bovee, 970-889-0469 Wade Troxell, 970-219-8940
Water Board Vice Chairperson Staff Liaison
Kent Bruxvoort, 970-219-2832 Carol Webb, 970-221-6231
ROLL CALL
Board Present: Chairperson Brett Bovee, and Board Members Lori Brunswig, Rebecca Hill, Jim
Kuiken, Phyllis Ortman, John Primsky, and Jason Tarry.
Board Absent: Vice Chairperson Kent Bruxvoort and Board Members Michael Brown, Steve
Malers, and Andrew McKinley.
OTHERS PRESENT
Staff: Carol Webb, Katherine Martinez, Meagan Smith, Donnie Dustin, Jason Graham, Tanja
Rauch-Williams, Mariel Miller, and Matt Fater.
Members of the Public: Jake McKillip, Matt Mills, Kodi Bay, Samuel L. Less, Riley
Breitenbach, Josh Braun, Skip Larson, Rich Stave, and Katrina Symist.
Meeting Convened
Chairperson Bovee called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
Public Comment
None
Approval of January 18, 2018 Board Meeting Minutes
Board Member Jim Kuiken moved to approve the January 18, 2018 meeting minutes.
Board Member John Primsky seconded the motion.
Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously 7-0.
Halligan Recommendation Memo to Council
Staff recommended postponing approval of the board’s memo, due to a meeting with the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers in late February. City staff is also postponing a meeting with Council
on the cost update. Board members agreed to postpone the memo and will plan to revise it at the
March 15 regular meeting.
Staff Reports
Water Resources Division Monthly Report
(Attachments available upon request)
Report was included in the meeting packet. Staff attends quarterly to provide a verbal report.
DRAFT Meeting Minutes – February 15, 2018 Page 2
Water Supply Vulnerability Assessment Update
(Attachments available upon request)
Water Resources Engineer Meagan Smith thanked the Water Board for supporting funding for
the study, and provided a summary and update. Topics included water supplies, water supply
planning policy, assessment funding, supply and demand vulnerabilities, key milestones,
ongoing efforts and next steps. The study, which is on budget and on schedule, kicked off in
August and staff has hosted workshops on climate change and literature review, study approach,
hydrological approach, etc. Staff will meet with the consultant next week on hydrology models.
Next steps include moving forward with scenario analysis, kicking off extensive modeling, and
determine how to best use the information, which will be used in next Water Supply and
Demand Policy in 2020.
Discussion Highlights
Board members commented on and inquired about various related topics including the water
demand estimation tool used for the assessment and approaches to estimating demand in the
City’s service area. A board member thanked staff for conducting this important study. Water
Board members indicated they’d like to be updated on the study periodically; Ms. Smith stated
she could return in June to report on scenario development.
2018 Raw Water Rental Rates and Delivery
(Attachments available upon request)
Water Resources Engineer Meagan Smith provided background information and an overview of
the proposed 2018 rental rates and delivery charges. Topics included two pricing categories,
typical rentals, delivery agreements, water types (early agricultural, agricultural, and multiple
use), Rule 11 transfer fee, etc. The current process requires City Council approval annually and
creates pricing uncertainty for the rental community. Staff proposes setting the formula-based
and fixed rates and delivery charges for a three-year term: formula-based rate setting ensures
City recoups costs, increases planning certainty for rental community, and reduces administrative
burden to rental program. Ms. Smith asked for the Water Board’s feedback on the proposed
changes.
Discussion Highlights
Board members commented on and inquired about various related topics including the possibility
of promoting and actively soliciting water rentals because it generates revenue (staff indicated
the priority is ensuring treated water customers receive the water they need, but promoting raw
water rentals is a possibility in the future, although policy is to support agriculture and seek only
to recover costs); rental revenue last year ($981,231); impact of proposed changes on water
districts’ budgets; other options for reusable water; questions on the proposed $400 per acre-foot
for fully consumable sources (down from the current $600) and whether staff could add language
for the fee to be “$600 or less” based on an annual adjustment at the Utilities Executive
Director’s discretion, to allow flexibility according to market conditions (staff will consult with
City Attorney’s Office); a board member agreed the $400 reduced proposed free is reasonable
and understood staff’s rationale.
DRAFT Meeting Minutes – February 15, 2018 Page 3
Motion: Chairperson Brett Bovee moved that Water Board recommends City Council
adopt the proposed formulas and fixed rates for the raw water rental rates and delivery
charges for a term of approximately three years through March 2021, as proposed by
Utilities staff.
Discussion on the Motion: A board member inquired whether it is necessary to limit the term to
three years. Staff suggested providing information to the Water Board on an annual basis on
market rates.
Revised Motion: Chairperson Brett Bovee moved that Water Board recommends City
Council adopt the proposed formulas and fixed rates for the raw water rental rates and
delivery charges ongoing with an annual report to the Water Board and if Water Board
suggested changes to the fully consumable rate.
Board Member Jim Kuiken seconded the motion.
Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously 7-0.
Staff Liaison/Water Resources and Treatment Operations Manager Carol Webb noted that staff
is working with the board of North Poudre Irrigation Company (NPIC) to be less conservative
with its allocations, because conservative allocations has resulted in NPIC giving away free
water and therefore eliminating the possibility of recouping expenses.
Other Business
2018 Work Plan
Board members briefly discussed Mayor Wade Troxell’s emailed request that they include the
topic “Wasteshed” to the “Wastewater” and “Regional and System-Wide Issues” sections of the
Water Board’s 2018 Work Plan. Ms. Webb stated she would invite staff to provide an update on
this topic at a future meeting.
Staff Reports
Legislative Update
(Attachments available upon request)
Staff Liaison Carol Webb addressed questions submitted by board members about the City’s
2018 Legislative Policy Agenda regarding such topics as instream and environmental flows,
protecting the City’s water rights, the term “enterprise zone” (which staff stated is not used by
the City), etc.
Committee Reports
None
Future Agenda Review
The six-month City Council Planning Calendar is available at
http://www.fcgov.com/cityclerk/planning-calendar.php.
Discussion Highlights