Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Board - Minutes - 03/15/2018Meeting Minutes – March 15, 2018 Page 1 Fort Collins Utilities Water Board Minutes Thursday, March 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, Vice Chairperson Kent Bruxvoort, and Board Members Michael Brown, Lori Brunswig, Jim Kuiken, Phyllis Ortman, John Primsky. Board Absent: Board Members Rebecca Hill, Steve Malers, Andrew McKinley, Jason Tarry. OTHERS PRESENT Staff: Matt Zoccali, Katherine Martinez, Jeff Mihelich, Kevin Gertig, Matt Fater, Adam Jokerst, Donnie Dustin, Shane Boyle, Liesel Hans, Theresa Connor, Ken Sampley, Matt Day, Kelly DiMartino, Kurt Friesen. Members of the Public: Rich Stave Meeting Convened Chairperson Bovee called the meeting to order at 5:31 p.m. Public Comment Fort Collins resident Rich Stave commented on and inquired about the Halligan Reservoir and Glade Reservoir projects, water tap fees and water rates; and City water customers. Approval of February 15, 2018 Board Meeting Minutes Board Member John Primsky moved to approve the February 15, 2018 meeting minutes. • Board Member Jim Kuiken seconded the motion. • Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously 5-0 with one abstention. • Board Member Michael Brown abstained due to his absence at the February meeting. • Vice Chairperson Kent Bruxvoort joined the meeting at 5:39 p.m. after the vote. Introduction of New Water Engineering Field Services Operations Manager Utilities Executive Director Kevin Gertig introduced new Water Engineering Field Services (WEFS) Operations Manager Theresa Connor and thanked Interim WEFS Manager Matt Fater and Interim Field Operations Manager Andrew Gingerich. Ms. Connor thanked Mr. Gertig for the opportunity; both praised Mr. Fater and Mr. Gingerich for their outstanding work maintaining business continuity and assisting with the transition. Water Board welcomed her. Meeting Minutes – March 15, 2018 Page 2 Reimbursement Agreement Code Change (Attachments available upon request) Civil Engineer III Shane Boyle, Utilities Water Systems Engineering, provided a summary of the proposal for City Council to make changes to City Code sections related to reimbursement agreements for the construction of water and sewer mains. These sections of code define requirements for which private parties may seek reimbursement from adjacent property owners for installation of public water and sewer infrastructure. As written, the code language specifically applies to greenfield development. The proposed code changes would make the reimbursement agreements also applicable to infill, redevelopment, and existing development. Two neighborhoods are currently in the process and waiting for the code change. Discussion Highlights Board members commented on and inquired about various related topics including sewer main size; billing; fees; and the reimbursement. Board Member Mike Brown moved that Water Board recommends City Council adopt the updated City Code sections related to Reimbursement Agreement and ordinance on first reading. • Board Member Phyllis Ortman seconded the motion. • Vote on the Motion: It passed unanimously, 7-0. Whitewater Park Reappropriation (Attachments available upon request) Director of Park Planning and Development Manager Kurt Friesen introduced Deputy City Manager Jeff Mihelich who summarized the project history, which has been in process for more than three years. Mr. Mihelich stated two members of City Council asked staff to find funding for the $2 million in optional features as it is a signature project that would also provide stormwater improvements; staff proposes diverting Remington Outfall Project funds to the Whitewater Park Project; Remington (which does not have enough funding to be completed anyway) will be delayed about two years. Mr. Friesen presented an overview including total cost ($9.5 million) and optional features ($2 million). Interim Water Engineering Field Services Operations Manager Matt Fater and Stormwater Engineering & Development Review Manager Ken Sampley assisted in answering questions. Discussion Highlights Board members commented on and inquired about various related topics including land purchased (from home and business owners of seven properties); fundraising status (going well; small gap that will close within a few weeks); fencing; permitting costs; stormwater benefits (including removing structures from the floodplain); Remington Outfall Project; whether optimal flow is possible considering Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP) and Halligan Reservoir projects (staff determined flow would be sufficient); liability; and stormwater benefits compared to stormwater contributions. Meeting Minutes – March 15, 2018 Page 3 Motion: Vice Chairperson Kent Bruxvoort moved that the Water Board recommend City Council support allocation of additional stormwater funds for the increased costs for the stormwater and river enhancements associated with the Poudre River Whitewater Park where the increased costs were defined as optional features presented on page 10 of the presentation. • Board Member Mike Brown seconded the motion. Discussion on the Motion: Board members discussed refining the motion language, and Vice Chairperson Bruxvoort agreed to the friendly amendments. One board member commented on project costs; two board members indicated they would vote against the motion; one board member indicated support for the motion. Revised Motion: Vice Chairperson Kent Bruxvoort moved that the Water Board recommend City Council support allocation in the amount of $733,667 of additional Stormwater funds to go toward increased costs associated with optional features for Stormwater and river enhancements associated with the Poudre River Whitewater Park. • Vote on the Motion: It passed 5-2, with two dissenting votes. • Reasons for No votes: Board Member Jim Kuiken stated the $733,667 in optional enhancements to be paid by Stormwater funds does not offer additional Stormwater benefits. Board Member John Primsky stated as the original investment by the Stormwater Utility was 10.5% of budget ($1 million of $9.55 million) asking Stormwater Utility to fund 36.2% of the "optional" features ($734, 000 of $2.025 million) is disproportionate. In addition, he was not satisfied with the answer to his inquiry on the status of the $1.5 million in private fundraising, now increased to $2 million in the proposal. Staff Reports Water Conservation Report (Attachments available upon request) Water Conservation Manager Liesel Hans summarized new staff members, milestones and goals, program savings in 2018 compared to 2017, xeriscape incentive program update, continuous consumption outreach (leak notification), commercial programs, sprinkler audits (program is 20 years old), upcoming events, saving water hotline, and budget. The Water Conservation Annual Report will be presented during the next update. Water Resources Monthly Report (Attachments available upon request) Water Resources Division Manager Donnie Dustin summarized recent weather conditions, reservoir storage, snowpack, water demand, historic information, and proposed changes in monthly reports to Water Board that would include a water supply outlook through year-end. Discussion Highlights: Board members commented on and inquired about various related issues including water demand historic information, projected revenue versus actual revenue (affected by wet years); support for changes in monthly report, and suggestion for a Poudre River graph.