HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018 - Water Board - Work Plan1
2018 WATER BOARD ANNUAL WORK PLAN
Approved by Water Board on September 21, 2017. Revised on February 14, 2018.
The 2018 Water Board work plan is organized consistent with the major responsibilities of Fort
Collins Utilities related to water (“Water”, “Wastewater”, and “Stormwater”). Additionally, the
category “Regional and System-wide Issues” includes topics relevant to the Board's goal of
maintaining a dialogue on broader water issues, such as regional issues that impact the Poudre
River.
A number of recurring annual activities are described under the appropriate subject areas below.
Bulleted items are specific topics of current importance relevant to the Board. On an as-needed
basis, the Water Board also provides input on quasi-judicial matters such as floodplain variances,
easement dedication, and property acquisition or disposition.
Key Outcome Area Alignment:
Seven Key Outcome Areas have been identified for City Planning, as indicated below. The main Water
Utilities business areas are aligned with one or more of these outcome areas, as indicated in the introduction to
each section below. Individual items may align with several outcomes. For example, capital projects on
distribution system pipes are typically coordinated with transportation projects (outcome area T) and capital
projects include an art in public places component (outcome area CR). Utilities projects also often have an
element of high performing government (HPG). Alignment at the business area level is indicated below.
NLSH –Neighborhood Livability and Social Health
CR – Culture and Recreation
ECH – Economic Health
ENV – Environmental Health
HPG – High Performing Government
SC – Safe Community
T – Transportation
2
Water
Key Outcome Area Alignment:
Primary Outcome: Environmental Health (EH)
Secondary Outcomes: Economic Health (ECH) and High Performing Government (HPG)
Significant Linked Strategic Objectives:
ENV 4.2 – Protect and provide a high quality water supply and implement appropriate conservation
efforts and long-term water storage capability.
ENV 4.3 – Engage citizens in ways to educate and change behavior to more sustainable living
practices
ENV 4.7 – Increase the community’s preparedness and resiliency for changes in climate, weather,
and resource availability
ENV 4.9 – Meet all regulatory requirements while supporting programs that go beyond compliance.
ECH 3.7 – Sustain a high water quality to support the community and water dependent businesses
HPG 7.8 – Optimize the use of City assets through capital improvement planning, preventative
maintenance and asset management
1. Provide input on planning and policies related to raw and treated water supply, such as
the Water Supply and Demand Management Policy and raw water acquisition policies.
2. Provide input and guidance on regional water supply collaboration opportunities.
3. Provide input on annual business such as water rates and surplus raw water rental rates.
4. Review and provide input on the water conservation annual report and conservation
programs recommended in the water efficiency plan.
5. Address educational topics that prepare the Board for business related to water.
6. Participate in educational and public outreach efforts related to water.
7. Review and provide input on annual capital projects and capital improvement plans.
8. Provide input on programs that protect water sources and improve watershed health.
9. Provide input on specific topics that are relevant to the Board. Potential topics for 2018
include:
Best practices and innovations in water conservation, including rate structures,
messaging, land development policy, and considering the impacts of water
conservation on the urban landscape
Development of the Water Supply Vulnerability Study, including impacts of and
adaptation to climate change and changes in regional water demands
Use of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) to enhance City programs, including
monitoring water use and progress toward water efficiency goals
Transparency in cost of service and rate structures, including historical data and
projections
Water storage infrastructure:
◦ Halligan Reservoir permitting
◦ Additional gravel pit storage
◦ Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR)
Consideration of the nexus between land use / development and water supply
planning, and development of forward-thinking City policy regarding future water
demands
Review water rate structures with a focus on covering Utility fixed costs while also
promoting water efficiency
3
Wastewater
Key Outcome Area Alignment:
Primary Outcome: Environmental Health (ENV)
Secondary Outcomes: High Performing Government (HPG)Significant Linked Strategic Objectives:
ENV 4.3 – Engage citizens in ways to educate and change behavior to more sustainable living
practices
ENV 4.5 – Work towards long term net zero energy goals within the community and the City
organization using a systems approach.
ENV 4.6 – Work towards long term zero waste goals within the community and the City
organization.
ENV 4.8 – Expand, improve, restore and protect wildlife habitat, urban forests, and the ecosystems of
the Poudre River and other urban ecosystems.
ENV 4.9 – Meet all regulatory requirements while supporting programs that go beyond compliance.
HPG 7.8 – Optimize the use of City assets through capital improvement planning, preventative
maintenance and asset management
1. Provide input on planning and policies related to wastewater, such as wastewater
strategic plans dealing with infrastructure financing, workforce development, nutrient
regulations, and public/private financing options.
2. Provide input on annual business such as wastewater rates and capital improvements.
3. Address educational topics that prepare the Board for business related to wastewater.
4. Participate in educational and public outreach efforts related to wastewater.
5. Review and provide input on annual capital projects and capital improvement plans.
6. Provide input on specific topics that are relevant to the Board. Potential topics for 2018
include:
Planning for new and emerging nutrient regulations
Enhancement projects such as:
◦ Biogas to energy possibilities and opportunities
◦ UV disinfection at the Drake Water Reclamation Facility
◦ Carbon source projects, such as a food waste collection facility
Industrial pretreatment program
Graywater and reuse opportunities, particularly in the commercial sector
Regional Wasteshed Engagement
4
Stormwater
Key Outcome Area Alignment:
Primary Outcome: Safe Community (SC)
Secondary Outcomes: Environmental Health (ENV) and High Performing Government (HPG)
Significant Linked Strategic Objectives:
SC 5.5 – Protect life and property with natural, aesthetically pleasing flood mitigation facilities
ENV 4.3 – Engage citizens in ways to educate and change behavior to more sustainable living practices
ENV 4.8 – Expand, improve, restore and protect wildlife habitat, urban forests, and the ecosystems of
the Poudre River and other urban ecosystems.
ENV 4.9 – Meet all regulatory requirements while supporting programs that go beyond compliance.
HPG 7.8 – Optimize the use of City assets through capital improvement planning, preventative
maintenance and asset management
1. Provide input on planning and policies related to stormwater, such as revisions to the
Stormwater Master Plans and Low Impact Development guidelines.
2. Provide input on annual business such as stormwater rates, MS4 (Municipal Separate
Storm Sewer) reporting and program accomplishments.
3. Address educational topics that prepare the Board for business related to stormwater.
4. Participate in educational and public outreach efforts with emphasis on improving and
enhancing customer awareness and understanding of stormwater programs.
5. Review and provide input on annual capital projects and capital improvement plans.
6. Provide input on specific topics that are relevant to the Board. Potential topics for 2018
include:
Use of ecosystem modeling tools and report
Permitting and development of the planned whitewater park
Review and provide input on stream restoration activities of the Natural Areas
program
Update of the Poudre River floodplain mapping in conjunction with the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) RiskMAP program
Review of the Low Impact Development (LID) standards, with specific focus on
effectiveness and maintenance of installed LID measures
Review of the City flood warning system, including periodic system testing
Updates or review of the City’s Stormwater Criteria Manual, which includes the Low
Impact Development (LID) Implementation Manual
5
Regional and System-wide Issues
Key Outcome Area Alignment:
Regional issues typically are related to one or more Utilities business areas (Water, Wastewater, Stormwater)
on a larger scale beyond the Utilities service area, and consequently interface with regional neighbors and in
some cases at a state or federal level. System-wide issues impact one or more Utilities areas. Alignment with
Key Outcome Areas depends on each item. For example, topics related to raw water supplies are aligned as per
the Water business area described above.
1. Provide input on planning and policies related to regional issues that impact Fort Collins'
water.
2. Participate in regional dialogue (e.g., annual Tri-City meeting, South Platte Roundtable
meetings, and coordination with other City boards and commissions).
3. Provide input on specific topics that are relevant to the Board. Potential topics for 2018
include:
City’s open data policy and ability to access Utilities data
Review of Utilities performance metrics
Regional land-use planning, such as sustainable agriculture, agricultural and
municipal water sharing agreements, and land and water conservation
Projects in the Poudre River corridor, including removal of diversion structures,
stream restoration, recreational uses and impacts, and the Natural Areas flow
augmentation project
Short and long-term planning and management for ditch and reservoir companies
where Utilities owns shares, with an emphasis on asset management and effects on
the City landscape
Continued collaboration with neighboring water utilities, and support of the
collaboration working groups
Northern Water's Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP) permitting and
mitigation issues, including the review of City comments on the Final EIS, the
continued development of the mitigation plan, and development of operational
policies for river conveyance of Project releases through Fort Collins
Impacts of Thornton’s water pipeline on local water resources, the Poudre River, and
ditch ownership and use
Statewide ballot issues such as the public trust doctrine and Colorado Water Plan
funding
State and federal legislation and regulations related to water, including “Waters of the
US,” water quality standards, and impaired waters listing
Wasteshed