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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017 - Water Board - Annual Report1 2017 Fort Collins Water Board Annual Report January 2018 2017 Board Members Brett Bovee, Chair Michael Brown John Primsky Kent Bruxvoort, Vice Chair Lori Brunswig Andrew McKinley Steve Malers Jim Kuiken Phyllis Ortman Jason Tarry Kent Bruxvoort This annual report summarizes the activities of the Water Board during 2017. The formatting of this Annual Report is consistent with the Annual Work Plan. Alignment of Water Board activities with the City’s Strategic Plan and Key Outcome Areas is achieved through the Annual Work Plan. Water Board activities listed below are organized by the major responsibilities of Fort Collins Utilities related to water (“Water”, “Wastewater”, and “Stormwater”). The “Regional Issues” category includes topics related to maintaining a dialogue on regional water issues. Within each heading are listed Water Board activities and the month of the meeting in which they occurred. Additionally, the “General” category includes general topics that span Utilities or the City. The “Public Comment” category summarizes public comments made at meetings during the year and efforts to respond to these comments. Regular Water Board meetings are held each month and work sessions are held in even months. Meeting minutes for regular meetings are available on the Fort Collins website. During work sessions, no actions are voted on and no minutes are recorded. For this annual report, a separate category is provided on the topics discussed at the work sessions in 2017. Public Comment  Several citizens spoke in opposition to the City’s proposed plan to begin discussions with Northern Water regarding the Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP). The Water Board took their comments into consideration when deliberating whether to recommend City pursuit of NISP discussions with Northern Water (January).  A citizen spoke about a slide he provided for a presentation at a recent public meeting showing NISP’s economic detriment that was omitted from the staff presentation on NISP at the March 21 City Council meeting. City staff stated that an inquiry would be made with Natural Areas (March).  A citizen who owns shares in the Josh Ames ditch spoke in favor of the proposed agreement between the City and shareholders, and spoke about the 1.5‐year process working with the City on the agreement (March). General  One Board member participated in the Development Fee Working Group looking at the costs and fees of land development within the City from multiple sectors.  Unanimously approved the 2016 Annual Report (January)  Reviewed the Water Board’s charter and meeting protocol (February)  Reviewed 2017 legislative priorities and efforts of the City, and learned about the City’s legislative tracking document and process (February). 2  Received a quarterly update from the Utilities Executive Director on 2017 priorities and quantifiable results based on specific metrics tracked by utilities (March, November).  Reviewed the results of a Utilities Customer Satisfaction Survey (March).  Reviewed Utilities financials for 2016 and the first quarter of 2017, and reviewed proposed rate adjustments, capital project and enhancement offers in the BFO process (April).  Discussed future financial planning activities, such as collaboration with Water Resources on revenue projections, fixed rate and alternative rate structures, and cost of service studies (April).  Discussed the potential impact of the broadband initiative on Utilities capital expenditure plans (September).  Received a summary presentation on the City volunteer tracking software (September).  Unanimously approved the 2018 Water Board Work Plan with minor edits (September).  Discussed the City Climate Economy Action Plan (October).  Reviewed the BFO budgeting and strategic planning processes of the City (November). Water  Three Board members participated in a committee to participate in the development of the Water Supply Vulnerability Study being completed by the Water Resources Department.  Received a quarterly update from City staff on the status and progress of the Halligan Water Supply Project (February, June, September, December).  Reviewed the legislative standards and rule‐making activities for graywater use in Colorado (February).  Unanimously recommended approval of the 2017 raw water rental rates and delivery charges, including the use of both formulas and fixed rates for different water assets (February).  Reviewed the Water Efficiency Plan developed in 2015 and approved in 2016, and discussed where City would target future efforts in conservation and efficiency (March).  Received a summary report on the Michigan Ditch Tunnel Project which was completed in October 2016 (March).  Unanimously recommended that City Council adopt a Resolution and Ordinance authorizing the City Manager to execute a proposed agreement with the holders of Josh Ames Certificates (March).  Reviewed the Watershed Program run by Utilities, which includes collaborative water quality monitoring efforts (April).  Discussed various topics related to ditch companies operating within the City and in which Utilities holds shares for water supply purposes, including a review of the SWOT analysis conducted by City staff (April).  Reviewed the 2016 Water Conservation Annual Report and discussed water efficiency activities of Utilities (June).  Approved (with two dissenting votes) of changes to the Utilities raw water dedication requirements for new water service, including changes to the cash‐in‐lieu rate (July).  Reviewed the 2016 Drinking Water Quality Annual Report, and discussed one Tier 3 water quality violation in spring 2017 related to chlorine testing (August).  Unanimously approved an update to the City Cross‐Connection Control Manual (August).  Unanimously approved a 5% rate increase for water service in 2018, and discussed various alternative rate structures (August).  Received a summary update on the Utilities Watershed Program and monitoring objectives (November). 3 Wastewater  Reviewed City analysis of options for diverting organics from the county landfill (April).  Unanimously approved a 3% rate increase for wastewater in 2018, and discussed alternative rate structures (August).  Unanimously approved a right‐of‐way conveyance by Utilities for a proposed extension of Sharp Point Drive near the Drake Water Reclamation Facility (December). Stormwater  Reviewed the Stormwater Program master plan projects, including a timeline of master plans completed and pending, and discussed various aspects related to master plan and stormwater projects prioritization and funding (June).  Reviewed the MS4 permit requirements and permanent stormwater control measures required by the City under the Stormwater Criteria Manual and LID Manual (August).  Unanimously approved the adoption of an updated Stormwater Criteria Manual, including the LID Manual, into City Code, following a review and discussion of various technical inquiries on the manual and a broader discussion of increasing stormwater topics at Water Board meetings (September).  Received a history and status update on the Boxelder Basin Regional Stormwater Authority from mayor pro‐tem Gerry Horak, and discussed various questions around the future of the Authority (October).  Discussed the financial status and a proposed intergovernmental agreement regarding future asset management of the Boxelder Basin Regional Stormwater Authority (November).  Four Board members participated in a committee to discuss and plan the initial stages of the Magnolia Street Outfall project. Regional Issues  Unanimously approved a lease agreement between the City of Fort Collins and The Landowners Association for Phantom Canyon Ranches for recreational use of Halligan Reservoir and adjacent property (January).  Recommended (with one dissenting vote) that the City adopt a process whereby City staff would meet with Northern Water to discuss the City’s key goals and issues related to NISP and especially to reduction of adverse impacts to the City while regularly reporting in the public process to City Council (January).  Received an update on the Regional Water Collaboration Steering Committee which was formed to promote collaboration among City municipal water providers (April).  Hosted the annual Tri‐City meeting to discuss regional water issues (May).  Received a summary and update on the City efforts to comment on the proposed Fish and Wildlife Mitigation and Enhancement Plan for NISP (July).  Approved a memo summarizing the Water Board work sessions on NISP for submittal to City Council (December). Work Sessions  Received a presentation on the State of Poudre Report and Report Card (April).  Received an update presentation on the City Climate Action Plan (April).  Conducted a workshop to determine two priority issues for work session in 2017/2018. Selected NISP and ditch companies as the priority issues (May). 4  Organized three work sessions dedicated to discussing NISP: o Impacts and benefits of NISP to City Growth Management Area (GMA) (June). o City action alternatives and water supply alternatives to NISP (August). o Mitigation and Water Board recommendations (October).  Received information on the Growing Smart workshop attended by City staff (October).  Reviewed the objectives of the work sessions on ditch companies within the City GMA, and participated in a mapping inventory of ditch companies in the City GMA and those in which Utilities holds shares for water supply purposes (December). Report prepared by Brett Bovee, Water Board Chair.