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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Board - Minutes - 09/17/2020 WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING September 17, 2020, 5:30-7:30 p.m. online via Zoom 0 9 /17/2020 – MINUTES Page 1 1. CALL TO ORDER 5:32 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL • Board Members Present: Steve Malers (Chairperson), Kent Bruxvoort (Vice Chairperson), Michael C. Brown, Jr., Cibi Vishnu Chinnasamy, Jim Kuiken, Phyllis Ortman, John Primsky, Greg Steed, Jason Tarry • Board Members Absent - Excused: Nicole Ng, Randy Kenyon • Staff Members Present: Theresa Connor, Mark Kempton, Matt Fater, Katherine Martinez, Donnie Dustin, Alice Conovitz, Lance Smith, Randy Reuscher, Tara Muller, Lisa Schroers, Mariel Miller, Jamie Gaskill • Members of the Public: None 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 August 20 minutes. Board Member Bruxvoort moved to approve the August 20 minutes with minor corrections noted. Board Member Ortman seconded the motion. Vote on the motion: it passed unanimously, 8-0 Board Member Steed joined the meeting at 5:49 p.m. after the vote 6. NEW BUSINESS WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING 09/17/2020 – MINUTES Page 2 a. COVID-19. Question regarding wastewater monitoring. i. Discussion Highlights A board member inquired about the wastewater monitoring project Utilities is participating in. Mark Kempton replied that the City signed the intergovernmental agreement about five weeks ago; results will be shared. The Water Board requested staff notify them via email of the results. b. Staff Reports (Attachments available upon request) i. Financial Monthly Report (meeting packet only; no presentation) Discussion Highlights A board member commented on and inquired about the relation between revenue and development, which typically slows in winter, and the possibility of challenges next spring if development fees are down and residential water use is up (Strategic Finance Director Lance Smith referred board members to the revenue forecasting from last month); and wastewater revenue in relation to residential water (Mr. Smith stated the wastewater number is based on the average of winter quarter months November/December/January). ii. Water Resources Monthly Report (meeting packet only; no presentation) Discussion Highlights A board member commented on the hot and dry conditions similar to last month; there were no questions. Board Member Steed joined the meeting at 5:49 p.m. iii. Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) Code Changes Utilities Community Engagement Program Specialist Supervisor Jamie Gaskill summarized reasons for the code changes, which were approved by City Council on consent agenda on September 15; reviewed the five assistance programs Utilities offers to customers who qualify; and outlined the difference between Utilities as a LEAP vendor vs. not a LEAP vendor. Ms. Gaskill will return to WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING 09/17/2020 – MINUTES Page 3 WB in November to present more information. Discussion Highlights Board members commented on and inquired about various related topics including regulatory requirements; unclaimed funds used for one-time payment assistance program; Income Qualified Assistance Program (IQAP); an affordable housing complex in another water provider’s district; issues of equity and affordable housing becoming more prominent. iv. Horsetooth Outlet Project (HOP) and Cameron Peak Fire Updates Water Conservation Analyst Alice Conovitz summarized HOP, an infrastructure maintenance and repair project that requires reduced treated water demand to typical winter (indoor) levels this October to reduce risk. Other staff attended to answer any Water Board member questions: Interim Water Conversation Manager Mariel Miller; Interim Utilities Deputy Director-Water Resources and Treatment Operations Mark Kempton; Interim Utilities Executive Director Theresa Connor. Interim Utilities Deputy Director Mark Kempton provided an update of the Cameron Peak Fire and showed photos of the burn area, including Trap Lake and Chambers Lake, and of U.S. Forest Service personnel in the burn area analyzing on the ground what satellite imagery shows. The majority of the fire is in the Poudre Basin and up into Rocky Mountain National Park. Utilities staff are waiting for this information to determine what post-fire treatments will be needed (mulch, etc.) for the recovery effort. 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/ ). Horsetooth Outlet Project (HOP): www.fcgov.com/water-restrictions and www.fcgov.com/HOP. Discussion Highlights Board members commented on or inquired about various related topics including wildfire containment percentage and burn area; WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING 09/17/2020 – MINUTES Page 4 lawn care companies booked for the next month for sprinkler blowouts; websites and messaging of other water providers and cities; The Poudre Runs Through It community group will hear a presentation tomorrow by Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed; airplanes with infrared technology (Mr. Kempton stated an airplane with infrared technology flies every night and GIS files updating boundaries are posted; the fire boundary is staying the same post-snow storm with small hot spots; https://fire.airnow.gov/ satellite detection; concern about hot weather over the next few days. v. 2021 Budget Overview Interim Deputy Director-Water Engineering Matt Fater provided an overview of highlights from the 2021 City Manager’s Recommended Budget related to the wet utility funds: water, wastewater, stormwater. City Council work sessions and public hearings are underway. Mr. Fater asked for Water Board members’ feedback and questions to discuss in the October 1 work session. More information: www.fcgov.com/budget. Discussion Highlights Board members commented on and inquired about various related topics such as the statistics on water main breaks and alignment with industry standards; budget information to review in detail before the October 1 work session; method of sharing comments with City Council; consequences of not funding a project now and how it would be funded in future years; letter to the editor in The Coloradoan newspaper about the budget document being difficult to understand. c. Regular Items (Attachments available upon request) 1. 2021 Rates and Fees Utilities Strategic Finance Director Lance Smith and Utility Rates Lead Analyst Randy Reuscher presented a summary of the proposed rate increases: 3% increase to plant investment fees, excess water use, and water supply requirements. Monthly utility rates: no change for water, WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING 09/17/2020 – MINUTES Page 5 wastewater, or stormwater; 3% increase to electric. More information: www.fcgov.com/budget Discussion Highlights Board members commented on or inquired about various related topics including a news article that the Town of Wellington is tripling water rates to make new development pay for itself; the proposed electric rate increase and the hope that it doesn’t continue to increase; inflation; and renewable energy costs. Vice Chairperson Bruxvoort moved that the Water Board recommend City Council approve the proposed changes to 2021 water utility rates and fees, as presented by staff. Board Member Chinnasamy seconded the motion. Vote on the Motion: it passed unanimously, 9-0 7. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS Boards & Commissions: Chairperson Malers encourage Water Board members to attend the online Boards & Commissions Super Issue Meeting on September 28 regarding the “Reimagining Boards and Commissions” initiative. The Water Board Work Session on October 1 will focus on the City Manager’s Recommended Budget. A board member commented on the state of office space during the pandemic and utility costs, and whether the City is considering ideas. Interim Staff Liaison Matt Fater asked the Water Board members to email any questions and comments to him in preparation of the work session. The Water Board will discuss its 2021 Work Plan at the October 15 regular meeting; Vice Chairperson Bruxvoort will share the draft with the Water Board via email for review and comments. Approval is scheduled for the November 19 regular meeting. 8. OTHER BUSINESS WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING 09/17/2020 – MINUTES Page 6 Water Board Remote Meetings and City Employees’ Remote Working: A board member inquired about whether a date has been identified when Water Board will return to in-person meetings and when City staff will return to physical offices. Ms. Connor replied that no date has been identified regarding Water Board meetings. The latest target date for City employees to return to the physical office, on a voluntary basis, is early January; this was in consideration of employees managing the virtual learning at home for their school-age children. 9. ADJOURNMENT 7:04 p.m. These minutes were approved by the Water Board and Chairperson Steve Malers on October 15, 2020.