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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021 - Water Board - Annual Report2021 WATER COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT Commissioners: Michael Brown Randy Kenyon Kent Bruxvoort, Chairperson Phyllis Ortman Cibi Chinnasamy John Primsky Tyler Eldridge Greg Steed, Co-Chairperson Paul Herman Jason Tarry City of Fort Collins Staff: John Song, Business Specialist Matt Fater, Staff Liaison to the Water Commission Mark Kempton, Staff Liaison to the Water Commission The Water Board changed its name in May 2021 to the Water Commission. The 2021 Water Commission Annual Report is organized, similar to the 2021 Water Board Work Plan, consistent with the fourfold major responsibilities of Fort Collins Utilities related to its water utilities: water, wastewater, stormwater, and regional/systemwide issues. The Water Commission met fifteen times in 2021: on the third Thursday of the month for regular sessions in all months except July, and on the first Thursday of the month for work sessions as workload items required during the months of February, April, June, and August. Its meetings, the topics addressed during those meetings, and the specific monthly reports, memoranda, and presentations by staff are aligned with seven key outcome areas identified for City planning. 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. Water Key Outcome Area Alignment Primary Outcome: Environmental Health Secondary Outcomes: Economic Health and High Performing Government Significant Linked Strategic Outcomes: • 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 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. The Water Commission attended field trips at the Water Treatment Facility and at the Halligan Dam and Reservoir and surrounding area. The Water Commission read about, heard about, discussed, and in some cases acted upon, the following water-related topics during 2021: • Monthly and Quarterly Reports o Water Resources monthly reports o Halligan Water Supply Project quarterly updates • Updates, Memoranda and Presentations o 2020 Fall Water Quality Update – Upper Cache la Poudre Watershed o Memo regarding upcoming City Council work session on Montava o Memo regarding water shortage evaluation and response planning efforts to-date o Halligan Water Supply Project year-in-review update o Memo regarding raw water rental rates and leadership planning team question o Memo regarding an update for establishing rental rates and delivery charges for the use of water o Cache la Poudre Instream Flow Project o Water Supply Requirement Update o 2020 Water Conservation Annual Report o Memo regarding an update on water shortage planning efforts and the potential for restrictions in 2021 o Water Utility overview o Water supply requirement update o Halligan Water Supply Project – dam alignment alternatives o Memo regarding a post-fire water status update o Water resources matters in the Fort Collins Growth Management Area o Safe Water Action Program o Memo regarding the second quarter post-fire water status update o Memo regarding the 2021 spring water quality update – Upper Cache la Poudre Watershed o Memo regarding the voluntary water shortage watch continuation o Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report and Consumer Confidence Report o Cash-in-lieu rate for water supply requirements o Memo regarding the 2021 summer water quality update – Upper Cache la Poudre Watershed o Memo regarding the end of the water shortage watch o Memo regarding the quarterly Cameron Peak Fire update o Memo regarding the 2021 Sprinkler Checkup Program Report • Action Items o Raw water rental rates and delivery charges o Watershed fire recovery Intergovernmental Agreement and appropriation o Update on water shortage planning efforts and potential for restrictions in 2021 o Water supply requirement update The Commission considered information provided by staff and staff’s requested action by the Commission, and passed a motion similar to, if not identical to, that recommended by staff for Action Items 1, 2, and 4 above. The Commission considered information provided by staff and supported the direction being followed by staff for Item 3 above, with no other action taken. Wastewater Key Outcome Area Alignment Primary Outcome: Environmental Health Secondary Outcomes: High Performing Government Significant Linked Strategic Outcomes: • 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 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. The Water Commission read about, heard about, discussed, and in some cases acted upon, the following wastewater-related topics during 2021: • Updates, Memoranda and Presentations o Wastewater Utility overview o Environmental Regulatory Affairs Division overview o Environmental Regulatory Affairs quarterly update o Water Reclamation and Biosolids overview o Introduction to the North Front Range Water Quality Planning Association o Partnership for Clean Water Program • Action Items o Industrial pretreatment local limits and recommended code change updates The Commission considered information provided by staff and staff’s requested action by the Commission, and passed a motion similar to, if not identical to, that recommended by staff for the above Action Item. Stormwater Key Outcome Area Alignment Primary Outcome: Safe Community Secondary Outcomes: Environmental Health and High Performing Government Significant Linked Strategic Outcomes: • 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 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. The Water Commission read about, heard about, and discussed the following stormwater-related topics during 2021: • Updates, Memoranda and Presentations o Mail Creek stream rehabilitation project o Feedback request on the Floodplain Variance Process o Low Impact Development (LID) o Fort Collins floodplain update and discussion o Memo regarding Oak Street Stormwater Improvements Project o Oak Street design project overview o Urban lakes water quality management guidance and policy development update o Stormwater Utility overview Regional and Systemwide 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. Systemwide issues impact one or more utilities business areas. Alignment with key outcome areas depends on each item The Water Commission read about, heard about, discussed, and in some cases acted upon, the following regional and system wide topics during 2021: • Monthly and Quarterly Reports o Financial monthly reports o Utilities Interim Executive Director quarterly updates • Updates, Memoranda and Presentations o Reimagine boards and commissions project o Asset management – Maximo update o Water Board overview o Utilities structural realignment study o Memo regarding cybersecurity o Budgeting For Outcomes 2022 introduction o Memo regarding US Bureau of Reclamation WaterSMART grant o Utilities customer satisfaction survey o Reimagine boards and commissions o Memo regarding utilities affordability programs update and proposed changes o 2022 work plan discussion o 2022 budget update o 1041 regulations o Building code updates o Approval of 2022 Water Commission work plan • Action Items o 2021 utilities locating supplemental resources o Recommendation to City Council regarding an amendment to the metro district evaluation process o Utilities Income-Qualified Assistance Program update and proposed changes o 2022 utility rates and fees The Commission considered information provided by staff and staff’s requested action(s) by the Commission, and passed a motion (or motions) similar to, if not identical to, that recommended by staff for all four of the above Action Items.