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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Board - Minutes - 11/15/2018WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING November 15, 2018, 5:30-7:30 p.m. 222 Laporte Avenue, Colorado River Community Room 11/15/2018 – MINUTES Page 1 1. CALL TO ORDER 5:30 p.m. Board Member Malers filled in as Chairperson. 2. ROLL CALL • Board Members Present: Phyllis Ortman, Steve Malers, John Primsky, Lori Brunswig, Jason Tarry, Jim Kuiken, Andrew McKinley • Board Members Absent – Excused: Chairperson Brett Bovee, Vice Chairperson Kent Bruxvoort, Michael Brown, Rebecca Hill • Staff Members Present: Carol Webb, Katherine Martinez, Theresa Connor, Eileen Dornfest, Abbye Neal, Liesel Hans, Andrew Gingerich, Kirk Longstein, Owen Randall • Members of the Public: Cade Dannels, Will Seest, Kristen Horodyski 3. AGENDA REVIEW • Changes announced at the meeting by the Chairperson: None 4. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION • No public comments 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS • None 6. NEW BUSINESS • Approval of Meeting Minutes o Board Member Primsky moved to approve the October 18 minutes as amended o Board Member Tarry seconded the motion o Vote on the Motion: It passed unanimously, 6-0, with 1 abstention Board Member Brunswig abstained due to her absence at the October meeting. • Staff Reports (Attachments available upon request) o Water Resources Monthly Report (meeting packet only) A board member inquired about demand and supply chart data and whether Utilities takes flow off the Poudre River in winter (it does year- WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING 11/15/2018 – MINUTES Page 2 round and less in winter). Staff Liaison/Utilities Deputy Director Carol Webb stated she would invite Water Resources staff to answer questions at the December 20 meeting. Financial Monthly Report (meeting packet only) A board member inquired about whether negative numbers on unrealized investment is due to the market and lost revenue (Ms. Webb stated she would confirm with staff). • Regular Items o Water/Wastewater Linear System Master Plan (Attachments available upon request) Special Projects Manager Matt Fater and Civil Engineer III Andrew Gingerich presented an overview of the master plan. Presentation Summary: Fort Collins Utilities operates and maintains more than 450 miles of wastewater mains and more than 550 miles of water mains. Strategic replacement of these assets is critical to maintain levels of service. Staff has tracked main breaks since the mid-1990s. The presentation and discussion focused on the Utility’s approach and challenges associated with linear asset (pipes) replacement, including the 10-Year Capital Improvement Plan. Discussion Summary: Board members inquired and commented on various related topics including how main breaks are repaired (using steel clamps); frequency of breaks (more during winter); flow meters (used as needed); street repair and maintenance related to water main repairs; master plan priority projects; funding for repairs (separate from funding for new development); useful life of pipes (75 to 100 years for PVC pipes according to industry) and rate of deterioration and replacement as it relates to reliability and service; metrics and scorecard related to level of service; Downtown Business Association (City partners and coordinates with DBA) alley improvement and Downtown Improvement Plan; age of water distribution system and capital planning; the asset management system; whether budget reserves can be used for repairs. o Building Energy and Water Scoring (Attachments available upon request) Energy Services Project Manager Kirk Longstein, Water Conservation Specialist Abbye Neal, and Water Conservation Manager Liesel Hans presented an overview and answered questions. WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING 11/15/2018 – MINUTES Page 3 Presentation Summary: In 2016 the City’s Building Energy Scoring initiative was funded through a budget offer to support the City’s Strategic Plan, Climate Action Plan, Energy Policy, and Open Data Policy. Subsequently, water was incorporated into Building Energy Scoring initiatives to achieve the goals outlined in the Water Efficiency Plan, which was adopted by City Council in 2016. Specifically, the initiative would increase commercial water efficiency and community water literacy. In 2017 The City created a working group of building owners and development professionals to receive feedback on commercial Building Energy Scores. In addition to the working group, Staff conducted community outreach and a 2017 pilot program to determine data management and customer service needs. City Council will consider the Building Energy and Water Scoring ordinance on November 20. The discussion will focus on definitions of building energy and water scoring; ordinance requirements of (1) benchmarking, (2) reporting and (3) transparency; and the year-long process of community engagement. Staff asserts that a critical mass of commercial Building Energy and Water Scores will give the community the ability to select the lowest operating cost option before renting or buying a building. The program encourages voluntary improvement of efficiency. Comparing energy and water performance of one building against another allows commercial real estate stakeholders, such as building owners, investors, brokers and tenants, to evaluate the highest-performing, lowest-operating cost option, and monitor their performance in the marketplace. • Discussion Summary: Board members commented on and inquired about various related topics including whether the scope includes other water providers; program goals; desire for marketing green buildings (customers in other cities are paying a premium for such buildings); setting goals and baseline years; fines and compliance; how to fairly compare businesses to businesses (restaurants vs. retails shops) because gallons won’t work for everyone; debate about whether cities adopting water and building scoring are driving businesses out of town; fairness of scoring and possible need for a longer pilot program (nationwide push toward scoring; EnergyStar scoring and national standards); desire for incentives rather than punitive measures (staff stated that fines are standard practice for cities with similar programs); the local Chamber of Commerce and Board of Realtors haven’t taken positions on this program; Energy Board and WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING 11/15/2018 – MINUTES Page 4 other boards voted to support the program; concerns about water scoring being more complicated than building energy scoring; concerns about compliance and unintended consequences for building owners; concerns that behavior regarding water use will not change due to it being a small portion of customers’ costs. Board Member Brunswig moved for Water Board to recommend City Council adopt the Building Energy and Water Scoring Ordinance as proposed by staff. Board Member Kuiken seconded the motion Discussion on the Motion: None. Vote on the Motion: It did not pass, 1-6. Reasons for No votes: • Jason Tarry: Program should offer incentives/benefits rather than penalties; unfair to report scores publicly because tenants’ water and energy use is out of property owners’ control. • Jim Kuiken: I don’t like the idea of getting the data from customers; City and Utilities can provide it. I don’t like the idea that government is stepping in to do this when the market hasn’t demanded it: Zillow provides property costs, credit bureaus provides credit scores, but there’s no service providing energy and water scores because nobody cares. Also, this is a foot in the door for more regulation; it’s just a matter of time before everybody is required to do it. This is a prophylactic that keeps businesses away; it’s a drag on the economy. • Phyllis Ortman: Agrees with Board Members Tarry and Kuiken. If I were starting a business, I’d start it in Timnath. • Andrew McKinley: Agrees with board members’ statements; nothing to add. • Steve Malers: More time to understand the program would be helpful. On the energy side, there’s history but the water side is more complicated; I work with water data all the time, and support open data; concerned about a blanket approval of ordinance before seeing more information. Board supports the program goals and outcomes, but has questions about the specifics of the ordinance. • John Primsky: It’s another layer of regulation on business and it’s punitive in nature. Ms. Webb stated that staff would need to discuss how to address concerns, such as revising or removing the water portion. She expressed regret this wasn’t brought to the Water Board in a work session; understands the Water Board has broader concerns than compliance. Acknowledged the Water Board didn’t have enough information to make an informed decision, such as WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING 11/15/2018 – MINUTES Page 5 input from the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce and Fort Collins Board of Realtors; and didn’t have the benefit of knowing what City Council said in its work session addressing this topic. City Council may decide to approve the program at its meeting next week, or the agenda item may be scheduled again for further discussion. o Halligan Reservoir Contract Extension (Attachments available upon request) Special Projects Manager Eileen Dornfest provided an overview and answered questions. Presentation Summary: Continuity in team and design is essential to the success of the project, which has been in the permitting process with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for 13 years. Staff expects to need more than five years for the contract but less than 10 years. Construction is slated to start in 2020 and last two years. Staff seeks the Water Board’s recommendation to City Council for the November 20 Work Session. Discussion Summary: A board member commented that staff’s proposal is wise. Board Member Kuiken moved for Water Board to recommend to City Council adoption of the ordinance authorizing the Purchasing Agent to enter into contracts for services, professional services and construction in excess of five years through completion of the proposed enlargement of Halligan Reservoir. Board Member Primsky seconded the motion. Discussion on the Motion: None. Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously, 7-0. 7. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS • Magnolia Outfall Steering Committee. Board Members Brunswig, Kuiken and Tarry serve on the committee. The recent meeting focused on the four alternatives, discussing the baseline alternative for large-scale regional detention upstream to decrease flows, threshold in pipe diameters (72-inch is good threshold) and cost effectiveness, how much detention this would require; also reviewed subregional detention with microdetention options, and examined the 50-year option, which didn’t offer much cost savings. Special Projects Manager Matt Fater stated the next step is to review the entire basin, and determine opportunities to optimize improvements. The WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING 11/15/2018 – MINUTES Page 6 committee plans to present an update to the Water Board in January. 8. OTHER BUSINESS a. December 6 Work Session Cancelled b. Work Plan due November 30 • Board members discussed Low-Impact Development (LID) and also asked staff to confirm that Outcome Areas language is up to date. Board Member Primsky moved to approve the 2019 Water Board Work Plan. Board Member Ortman seconded the motion. Discussion on the Motion: None Vote on the Motion: It passed unanimously, 7-0 c. Annual Report due January 31 d. December 20 regular meeting: • Board Member Malers asked members to notify staff if they’re unable to attend. 9. ADJOURNMENT 7:57 p.m.