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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Board - Minutes - 08/20/2020 WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING August 20, 2020, 5:30-7:30 p.m. online via Zoom 0 8 /20/2020 – MINUTES Page 1 1. CALL TO ORDER 5:33 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL • Board Members Present: Steve Malers (Chairperson), Kent Bruxvoort (Vice Chairperson), Cibi Vishnu Chinnasamy, Randy Kenyon, Jim Kuiken, Nicole Ng, Phyllis Ortman, John Primsky, Greg Steed, Jason Tarry • Board Members Absent - Excused: Michael C. Brown, Jr. • Staff Members Present: Theresa Connor, Mark Kempton, Matt Fater, Katherine Martinez, Jason Graham, Donnie Dustin, Alice Conovitz, Tawnya Ernst, Gregg Stonecipher, Amy Johnson, Shane Boyle, Dan Mogen • Members of the Public: Cort Nickel of Northern Colorado Water Association (NCWA) 3. AGENDA REVIEW • Chairperson Steve Malers briefly summarized items on the agenda. 4. COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION • None 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chairperson Malers asked for comments and revisions on the July 16 minutes other than a minor correction previously shared with staff. Board Member Ortman moved to approve the July 16 minutes as presented. Board Member Kenyon seconded the motion. Vote on the motion: it passed unanimously, 10-0 6. NEW BUSINESS a. Staff Reports (Attachments available upon request) i. Staffing Changes WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING 0 8 /20/2020 – MINUTES Page 2 Interim Water Board Staff Liaison Matt Fater provided a summary of recent staffing changes in the Utilities Executive Director and Utilities Deputy Director – Water Resources and Treatment Operations roles. Interim Utilities Deputy Directors Liesel Hans (Water Resources, Water Conservations, Environmental Regulatory Affairs) and Mark Kempton (Water Production, Water Reclamation and Biosolids) are sharing the role vacated by Carol Webb. Discussion Highlights A board member requested a summary of hiring plans. Interim Utilities Executive Director Theresa Connor shared that the Deputy City Manager position is currently being advertised. After that position is filled, the City will follow with the hiring process for the Executive Director, followed by the Deputy Director. ii. Financial Monthly Report No discussion. Chairperson Malers stated that Utilities Strategic Finance Director Lance Smith could address any questions in his presentation on the 2021 Budget Update. iii. Water Resources Monthly Report No discussion. Water Resources Manager Donnie Dustin stated resources have been good, but impacts of the Cameron Peak Fire, which began on August 13, could change that. iv. Water Quality Spring Update No discussion. v. Updated Water Demand Management Approach for Horsetooth Outlet Project (HOP) (meeting packet only; no presentation; staff available for questions) A board member inquired about impacts on HOP by the Cameron Peak Fire. Water Conservation Analyst Alice Conovitz stated the HOP project team is emphasizing that safety is a top priority and is monitoring the fire and water resources (Joe Wright Reservoir, Michigan Ditch) and referring community members to the HOP website for information. vi. Halligan Water Supply Project Special Projects Manager Eileen Dornfest and Water Resources Manager Donnie Dustin were available to answer questions. WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING 0 8 /20/2020 – MINUTES Page 3 Discussion Highlights A board member recommended that staff contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers about the Cameron Peak Fire being one example of why the City needs additional water storage. Ms. Dornfest stated this probably wouldn’t affect the Corps’ decision or change the pace of its work on the Final Environment Impact Statement (EIS), which is expected to be released to the public in early to mid-2021. She stated the Halligan project team has assembled a design and construction team, which will oversee borings in the ground and testing of the existing dam, providing more information on which to base the design. The team this week posted a two-minute animation/video summarizing comments received on the draft EIS (https://www.fcgov.com/halligan/ ). The team continues to work with landowners and work on easements. vii. Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) and the Drinking Water Quality Policy Report A board member commented on the 87 million gallons per day (MGD) capacity of the Water Treatment Facility and inquired about pipe break impacts on water quality. Interim Utilities Executive Director Theresa Connor stated that if a big break occurs, it impacts pressure in the system, such as the major pipe break of an old cast iron pipe downtown at Jefferson and Riverside last December; sediment that settles at the bottom of pipes was stirred up, resulting in customers’ calls about color in the water; Utilities experiences about 100 pipe breaks a year. The board member recommended specifying the source of complaints in these cases, such as 50 percent of complaints were due to that incident, if that was the case. viii. Cameron Peak Fire Update Interim Utilities Deputy Director Mark Kempton provided a summary on the fire (in Poudre Canyon near Cameron Pass and Chambers Lake), which has grown to 16,000 acres and is at zero percent containment due to dry/hot conditions, high winds, critically dry fuel (dense timber stands), and steep/rugged terrain that restricts fire-fighting to operations from the air and Highway 14. “Cameron Peak Fire - Live Briefing” is available on Facebook Live daily at 5:30 p.m. (https://www.facebook.com/CameronPeakFire ) and information is on the City’s website (https://www.fcgov.com/news/index.php?id=7836 ) (https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6964/ ). The most active fire front is near Joe Wright Reservoir, one of the City’s water supply storage areas. A big concern WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING 0 8 /20/2020 – MINUTES Page 4 is the Michigan Ditch and the watershed. Staff has given the Forest Service shape files for the City’s assets and has requested fire breaks at Cameron Pass. Discussion Highlights Board members commented on or inquired about various related topics including impacts of the fire on the watershed; water quality; perception of high water use due to hot, dry conditions; Horsetooth Outlet Project (HOP); consequences of impacts to Joe Wright Reservoir; scenarios; and recovery. Mr. Kempton stated HOP will proceed as planned because risks and water supply could be worse in October 2021 if the project is delayed; from a water restriction standpoint, the Water Shortage Action Committee is working on response. Water restrictions in the HOP plan are voluntary but could become mandatory. Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed met and discussed recovery similar to that of the High Park Fire in 2012, which caused high turbidity in the river, making water treatment impossible and resulting in Utilities going off the river water supply for 100 days. Water Conservation Analyst Alice Conovitz mentioned that in a community survey, 70% of respondents indicated water restrictions were acceptable in the event of fire and other threats to the watershed. A board member inquired about plans should water restrictions need to be implemented within hours; Ms. Conovitz responded that staff would comply with guidance in the Water Shortage Action Plan. ix. 2021 Budget Update Utilities Strategic Finance Director Lance Smith presented a financial overview of 2020 budget reductions; year-to-date finances; revised year-end revenue forecast; utility revenue stability; long-term financial models; 2020 to 2030 financial comparison; and timeline of the City budget process: City Manager Recommended Budget will be submitted on September 1 and discussed by City Council beginning with a work session on September 8, followed by public hearings and more work sessions through October 13. First and second readings of the budget ordinance are scheduled for November 3 and 17. Discussion Highlights Board members commented on or inquired about various related topics including explanations of debt issuance and plant investment fees (PIF); impact of the Cameron Peak Fire on the budget (staff teams are calculating estimates); and scheduling a special Water Board work session in September or devoting the regularly-scheduled October work session to reviewing water- WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING 0 8 /20/2020 – MINUTES Page 5 related Budgeting For Outcomes (BFO) offers. b. Regular Items (Attachments available upon request) i. Waterline Easement Request Across Meadow Springs Ranch (MSR) Water Reclamation & Biosolids Manager Jason Graham introduced Technical Services Specialist Jennifer Ward and Real Estate Senior Specialist Tawnya Ernst. Ms. Ward presented a summary of the project. Northern Colorado Water Association (NCWA) requested a waterline easement on Meadow Springs Ranch. Context and reasoning include similar utility easements approved in the past, compensation paid to City; MSR operations will not be impacted. Discussion Highlights No questions. Board members commented on Meadow Springs Ranch as part of Water Reclamation and Biosolids, for the benefit of new Water Board members; solid waste from the plant is spread on the property, which is 26,000 acres just south of the Wyoming border. Board Member Kuiken moved that the Water Board recommend City Council approve conveyance of a waterline easement and temporary construction easement to Northern Colorado Water Association on Meadow Springs Ranch. Board Member Ng seconded the motion. Vote on the Motion: it passed unanimously, 10-0 ii. Poudre School District (PSD) Prospect Site Stormwater Plant Investment Fee (PIF) Deferral Request Dan Mogen, Development Review Engineer/Water Utilities Engineering, summarized the project and staff request. He and Shane Boyle, Development Review Manager/Water Utilities Engineering, answered questions. Poudre School District is in the process of planning/building a new school at the northwest corner of County Road 5 and Prospect Road. This site is currently in Fort Collins, but it is anticipated the site will deannex from Fort Collins and annex into Timnath. PSD is pursuing a deferral/waiver of Stormwater Plant Investment Fee. The deferral sunsets in December 2021. WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING 0 8 /20/2020 – MINUTES Page 6 Staff requests the Water Board recommend Council adopt the proposed resolution “DEFERRING PAYMENT OF THE STORMWATER PLANT INVESTMENT FEE FOR THE POUDRE R-1 SCHOOL DISTRICT’S SCHOOL SITE LOCATED ON EAST PROSPECT ROAD” Discussion Highlights Board members commented on and inquired about various related topics including whether development review fees are still being collected for the project (yes); reason for PSD’s plans (regional school to be build first, then PSD will complete deannexation process); the existing Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) approves deannexation plans; this staff request is merely procedural. Board Member Steed moved that the Water Board recommend City Council adopt the proposed resolution on first reading. Board Member Kenyon seconded the motion. Vote on the Motion: it passed unanimously, 10-0 7. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS None 8. OTHER BUSINESS None 9. ADJOURNMENT 7:32 p.m. These minutes were approved by the Water Board and Chairperson Steve Malers on September 17, 2020.