HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022 - Water Commission - Work Plan
Utilities – Water Commission
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.416.2146
fcgov.com
2022 WATER COMMISSION ANNUAL WORK PLAN
The 2022 Water Commission 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 Commission'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 Commission. On an as-
needed basis, the Water Commission also provides input on quasi-judicial matters such as
floodplain variances, easement dedication, and property acquisition or disposition.
In even years City staff typically focus on the Budgeting for Outcomes (BFO) process during
which the budget for the following two years is determined and in odd years staff typically focus
on updating strategic plans. Therefore, the Water Commission will engage in the BFO process in
2022.
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
Water
Key Outcome Area Alignment:
Primary Outcome: Environmental Health (EH)
Secondary Outcomes: Economic Health (ECH) and High Performing Government (HPG)
Significant Linked Strategic Objectives:
• SC 5.5 – Address water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure needs for the protection of people,
property and the environment.
• ENV 4.1 Achieve Climate Action Plan (CAP) 2020 goals and continue progress toward the 2030 goals.
• ENV 4.5 – Develop strategies to improve the community’s climate resiliency.
• ENV 4.6 – Provide a reliable, high-quality water supply.
• ENV 4.7 – Continually improve environmental regulatory performance.
• ECH 3.6 – Invest in utility infrastructure aligned with community development.
• HPG 7.8 – Maintain assets to reduce lifecycle costs while improving reliability and accessibility.
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 ditch company share rentals and other surplus raw water rental rates.
4. Review and provide input on water conservation programs and activities.
5. Address educational topics that prepare the Commission 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 Commission.
Specific topics of interest to the Commission in 2022 include:
a. Utilities’ response to the Halligan Water Supply Project Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS), ongoing mitigation planning and continued implementation of the
design phases of the reservoir project
b. Impacts of Cameron Peak Fire on water supply amount and quality and Utilities’
implementation of post-fire watershed recovery plans
c. Utilities’ plan for incorporating analysis of the recently produced Water Supply
Vulnerability Study Draft Report into operation plans, policy, projects, integrated
resources planning etc.
Other potential topics for 2022 include:
i. A field trip to a water supply site (e.g. Gateway Park, Horsetooth outlet, fire-
damaged watershed)
ii. Develop conservation metrics and scale funding based on response and progress
iii. Public education for raw water usage, e.g. irrigation of parks
iv. Landscape standards and relationship to allotment fees for new and existing
commercial customers.
Wastewater
Key Outcome Area Alignment:
Primary Outcome: Environmental Health (ENV)
Secondary Outcomes: High Performing Government (HPG) Significant Linked Strategic Objectives:
• SC 5.5 – Address water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure needs for the protection of people,
property and the environment.
• ENV 4.1 Achieve Climate Action Plan (CAP) 2020 goals and continue progress toward the 2030 goals.
• ENV 4.3 – Achieve 2020 Energy Policy goals and work towards Climate Action goals for carbon
neutrality. Work towards long term net zero energy goals within the community and the City
organization using a systems approach.
• ENV 4.4 – Achieve the 2020 Road to Zero Waste goals and work toward the 2030 zero waste goals.
• ENV 4.7 – Continually improve environmental regulatory performance.
• ENV 4.8 – Protect and enhance natural resources on City-owned properties and throughout the
community.
• HPG 7.8 – Maintain assets to reduce lifecycle costs while improving reliability and accessibility.
1. Provide input on planning and policies related to wastewater, such as wastewater
strategic plans dealing with infrastructure financing, workforce development, nutrient
regulations, tertiary treatment, 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 Commission 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 Commission.
Specific topics of interest to the Commission in 2022 include:
a. Developing partnerships to reduce nonpoint source pollution of Nitrogen and
Phosphorous into the Poudre River as a way to reduce spending the money on
treatment at the Drake and Mulberry Water Reclamation Facilities.
b. What new and emerging nutrient regulations may require in additional protocols,
equipment and expense
Other potential topics for 2022 include:
i. Industrial pretreatment program
ii. Graywater and reuse opportunities, particularly in the commercial sector
iii. Impact of micro-plastics in the Poudre River watershed upstream and downstream
of Fort Collins
iv. State of the art in wastewater treatment and Utilities’ consideration and
implementation of plans regarding biomass, biogas, fertilizer capture, and treated
water reuse
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 – Address water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure needs for the protection of people,
property and the environment.
• ENV 4.1 Achieve Climate Action Plan (CAP) 2020 goals and continue progress toward the 2030 goals.
• ENV 4.7 – Continually improve environmental regulatory performance.
• ENV 4.8 – Protect and enhance natural resources on City-owned properties and throughout the
community.
• HPG 7.8 – Maintain assets to reduce lifecycle costs while improving reliability and accessibility.
1. Provide input on planning and policies related to stormwater, such as revisions to the
Stormwater Master Plans and Low Impact Development (LID) guidelines.
2. Provide input on annual business such as stormwater rates, MS4 (Municipal Separate
Storm Sewer Systems) reporting and program accomplishments.
3. Address educational topics that prepare the Commission 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 Commission.
Specific topics of interest to the Commission in 2022 include:
a. An update on RiskMAP including a discussion of changes to the timeline and
comments provided by Utilities
b. Discussion of Council and staff priorities for stream restoration projects
c. Ongoing design efforts for Downtown basins such as the Oak Street project
Other potential topics for 2022 include:
i. Funding and application of Canal Importation Ponds and Outfall (CIPO) style
improvements to basins other than West Spring Creek
ii. Explanation of prioritization of Stormwater capital projects and the messaging to
the public of that prioritization
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 Commissions and commissions).
3. Provide input on specific topics that are relevant to the Commission.
Specific topics of interest to the Commission in 2022 include:
a. Update on the state of Utilities’ billing software improvements
b. Develop and maintain partnerships with water districts and neighboring cities and
towns for issues such as fire recovery and watershed restoration, stream restoration
and other issues that impact multiple entities
c. Development of a longer-term arrangement with North Poudre for exchanging
agricultural and Colorado-Big Thompson (CBT) rights during dry years
d. Short- and long-term impact of COVID-19 on staffing, operations, and financials
across all water utilities
e. Coordination of water utilities planning with the City’s Climate Action Plan efforts
Other potential topics for 2022 include:
i. Projects in the Poudre River corridor, including removal of diversion structures,
stream restoration, recreational uses and impacts, and the Natural Areas flow
augmentation project
ii. Continued development of mitigation measures for impacts of the Northern
Integrated Supply Project (NISP) and Halligan Water Supply Project
iii. Leadership in development of a Regional Integrated Resources Program
iv. Continue coordination and collaboration with the North Front Range Water
Quality Planning Association