Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Board - Minutes - 01/18/2018Meeting Minutes – January 18, 2018 1 Fort Collins Utilities Water Board Minutes Thursday, January 18, 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, Steve Malers, Andrew McKinley, Phyllis Ortman, John Primsky, and Jason Tarry Board Absent: Vice Chairperson Kent Bruxvoort and Board Member Michael Brown OTHERS PRESENT Staff: Carol Webb, Katherine Martinez, Eric Potyondy, Linsey Chalfant, Kevin Gertig, Owen Randall, Matt Fater and Dan Evans Members of the Public: John Baum, Brad Anderson Meeting Convened Chairperson Bovee called the meeting to order at 5:31 p.m. Public Comment None Approval of October 19, 2017 Board Meeting Minutes Board Member Jim Kuiken moved to approve the December 7, 2017 special meeting minutes with a minor correction.  Board Member John Primsky seconded the motion.  Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously 8-0 with 1 abstention. Board Member Jason Tarry abstained due to his absence at the December meeting. Baum Appeal of Utilities Executive Director’s Decision on Monthly Stormwater Fee (Quasi-Judicial Proceeding) (Attachments available upon request) Meadors Court Reporting began recording the appeal hearing. Chairperson Brett Bovee explained the hearing agenda. See attached transcript. Board Member Jim Kuiken moved that the Water Board finds the Utilities Executive Director’s findings of facts and determinations dated December 13, 2017 to be reasonable, and upholds his decision.  Board Member John Primsky seconded the motion.  Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously 9-0. Meeting Minutes – January 18, 2018 2 Stormwater Capital Improvement Project Overview and Magnolia Street Outfall (Attachments available upon request) Interim Water Engineering and Field Services Operations Manager Matt Fater and Special Projects Manager Linsey Chalfant summarized the project, stormwater priorities, and reviewed flood risk and stormwater history in Fort Collins, including the Spring Creek Flood of 1997, updated rainfall criteria in 1999, and 2004 Updated Stormwater Basin Master Plans. This is the start of staff’s education and outreach on this project. Before staff proceeds with project design and next steps, they would like Water Board’s feedback. The Magnolia Street Outfall (MSO) is one project in the Old Town Masterplan improvements. Background: Flooding within the Old Town Basin is primarily the result of encroachment and urbanization of natural drainage corridors east of the Larimer County Canal No. 2. Flood hazards throughout the Old Town Basin are generally caused by the inability of the existing system of streets and storm sewers to adequately convey storm runoff from moderate to large storm events. This situation is exacerbated by the basin’s heavy reliance on the street system to convey storm flows on a widespread basis. In addition, few detention ponds have been constructed in the basin, and the few actual detention ponds that do exist serve only small, local areas. Many of the detention areas in the Old Town Basin are inadvertent detention resulting from ponding behind the crowns of streets. In the Old Town Basin, storm runoff is conveyed primarily along the east-west streets. One area identified in the Old Town Master Drainage Plan as having severe hydraulic conditions was the Magnolia/Mulberry Street Corridor. The Magnolia Street Outfall (MSO) system would primarily serve to reduce flooding along Magnolia and Mulberry Streets, and along all cross streets between Magnolia and Mulberry, west of College Avenue. This system would also reduce flood flows along both Myrtle and Mulberry Streets east of College Avenue, as well as street flows on College Avenue and Mason Street north of Magnolia Street. The MSO Project will also improve the function of the existing storm sewer within Whedbee Street north of Magnolia, allowing it to more closely provide 100-year-flood protection for the corridor along Whedbee and Oak Streets to the Cache La Poudre River. Staff’s next steps: In 2017, the project had $300,000 to develop the preferred concept plan, update masterplan cost estimates, and complete a project guidance document. For 2018, staff will initially use $300,000 of the $1.2 million appropriated and begin the alternative analysis phase, evaluate the Stormwater financial strategic plan, and report back to the Water Board mid-year with findings. The project’s steering committee (which includes four Water Board members) will continue to meet. Discussion Highlights Board members commented on or inquired about various related topics including design criteria; details of maps showing Stormwater Capital Improvement Project (CIP) priorities; estimated cost of damage ($60 million/$157 escalated cost) in the project area (367 impacted structures) if a 100-year flood event (3.67 inches of rain in two hours) were to happen; clarification on how much water could move a car or sweep people off their feet (6 inches of floodwater depth to move a car); estimated total project cost ($82 million) and project phases; construction details involving tunnels; project timeline (estimated 3.5 years); and financial scenarios. Staff Reports Meeting Minutes – January 18, 2018 3 Financial Report The financial report will be presented at a future meeting. 2017 Annual Report Chairperson Brett Bovee emailed board members a draft of the annual report, which is due January 31 to the City Clerk’s Office.  Chairperson Bovee will add information on committees that board members serve on: Fee Working Group (reviewing all city building and development fees), Magnolia Street Outfall, and Water Supply Vulnerability Assessment.  Staff will add committee reports to future agendas. Board Member Phyllis Ortman moved to approve the annual report and submit it to the City Clerk with modifications discussed tonight.  Chairperson Brett Bovee seconded the motion.  Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously 9-0. Officer Nominations and Election  Chairperson: Board Member Jim Kuiken nominated Chairperson Bovee for a second term. Vote: 9-0  Vice Chairperson: Chairperson Bovee nominated Vice Chairperson Kent Bruxvoort for a second term. Vote: 9-0 Chairperson Bovee encouraged board members to consider serving as chairperson or vice chairperson in 2019. Other Business Update on Turbidity Violation/Water Production Division Water Resources and Treatment Operations Manager Carol Webb explained the events of December 14, which was a result of a lime equipment malfunction, resulting in increased turbidity for 18 minutes. (“Public Notice of Drinking Water Turbidity Single Exceedance, Dec. 14, 2017”: https://www.fcgov.com/news/?id=7046 ) Staff made corrective measures and turbidity returned to acceptable levels before water entered the distribution system to customers. Staff reported the violation in the monthly operating report but the state requires 24-hour notification, which escalated the violation from Tier 2 to Tier 1. Staff has modified and added turbidity alarms, is revising protocols, is developing training for plant operators, and is committed to learning from the incident and continuous improvement. Ms. Webb noted she received approximately 30 emails from the public and a few voicemails commenting on appreciation for the public notice and inquiring about water quality. Discussion Highlights Board members inquired and commented on related issues, including last year’s Tier 3 reporting violation and a suggestion of regular testing of the alarm system. Staff Reports The Water Resources Division Monthly Report was included in the meeting packet. Staff attends meetings quarterly to give a verbal report.