HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Board - Minutes - 05/26/2005City Council Liaison
David Roy
Staff Liaison
DeEtta Carr 221-6702
Fort Collins Utilities Water Board Minutes
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Water Board Chairman
Ted Borstad 226-6158
Secretary
Leslie Mooney 416-2703
Roll Call:
Board Present:
Chairman Ted Borstad, Steve Balderson, Eileen Domfest, Jim Finley, Johannes Gessler, Gina
Jarrett, Rami Naddy, Debra Sweetman and Reagan Waskom.
Absent:
John Bartholow and Doug Yadon
Visitors:
Kevin Darst, James Thompson and Jim Woodward
Staff.-
Dennis Bode, DeEtta Carr, Kevin Gettig, Jim Hibbard, Cliff Hoelscher, Brian Janonis, Leslie
Mooney, Mike Smith and Dennis Sumner.
Meeting Convened
The meeting convened at 3:10 p.m.
Approval of Minutes
Board member Reagan Waskom suggested the word "board" on page 2 be changed to
"committee" in the minutes of the April 28, 2005 meeting. Board member Gessler made a
motion, seconded by Board member Reagan Waskom to approve the minutes as amended. The
motion passed unanimously.
Water Board Meeting Minutes
May 26, 2005
Page 2
Public Participation
There was no public participation.
Update on Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District — Gene Schleiger
Gene Schleiger of the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District stated that this is his last
presentation to the Water Board since he will be retiring from the District. He reported that the
snow melt runoff is raising Lake Granby about a foot a day but they have about 300,000 acre feet
of storage still available in the system. He noted that the runoff on the Upper Colorado and
South Platte River Basins has decreased the snow pack by 34-44 % in the past ten days.
Chairman Ted Borstad thanked Gene for his many years of attending the Water Board meetings
and keeping the Board informed on the District's water supply.
Consumer Confidence Report — Kevin Gertig
Water Production Division Kevin Gertig, explained the drinking water quality brochure that all
City water customers received in the mail. He stated that the water utility surpassed all state and
federal health standards for drinking water.
Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report — Kevin Gertig
Kevin Gertig also summarized the 2004 Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report. This was
the tenth annual water quality report since Council adopted a drinking water policy in 1993. It
establishes the following goals:
• The City will provide water services that meet or exceed customer expectations for
quality, quantity and reliability.
• The City will protect and maintain high water quality in the development of all codes,
policies, plans and specifications related to the acquisition, production and delivery of
water services to its customers.
• The City's water supply, treatment storage, delivery and laboratory facilities will be
planned, designed, constructed, maintained, staffed and operated to assure safe, reliable
and cost-effective service to the residents of Fort Collins and all those served by the
City's water utility.
The report lists the strategies and summarizes the action taken in 2004.
Water Board Meeting Minutes
May 26, 2005
Page 3
Discussion on City Council's Request to Change Water Rates — Mike Smith
Mike Smith, Utilities General Manager, informed the Board that during a Council work session
on May 10, 2005 a number of Council members expressed an interest in changing the current 4-
tiered water rate structure back to a 1 tiered or flat rate structure which was in place prior to
January 2003. In January 2003, the City Council had approved a 5-tiered water rate structure to
encourage water conservation but changed it again in May, 2004 to a 4-tiered rate structure to
lessen the severity of the costs to customers with large lots.
At the May 24, 2005 work session, another Council member suggested an idea of a " no fixed
charge" at all rate and requested a comparison of the three (4-tiered rate, flat rate and no fixed
charge rate). Council also directed staff to come back on June 7, 2005 with an ordinance to
change the rate to the flat rate structure on first reading with the option of the no fixed charge rate
structure if the flat rate structure does not pass.
Board member Rami Naddy asked what has prompted Council to want to change the rate
structure. Mike replied he wasn't sure but he thought that some Council members thought the
tiered rate was a temporary tool to help reduce water use during the drought and others thought it
was a permanent tool. Also, there is an equity issue with customers with large lots because they
had paid for more water allotment and are being penalized for using them. He stated that in
February 2004, staff had recommended the "water budget rate" to address this problem, but
Council chose to adopt the 4 tiered rate instead because it was easier for the customer to
understand and because the water budget rate is more complex and would take some time to
educate the public.
Board member Reagan Waskom stated that he was concerned that doing away with the current 4
tiered conservation rate at this time could jeopardize the permitting of Halligan Reservoir and
that he felt the water budget rate addressed the issue of fairness to customers with large lots while
still encouraging conservation. He made a motion to strongly support staff's recommendation
that City Council keep the existing rate structure in effect until January, 2006 and at that time
implement the water budget rate structure. Board member Jim Finley seconded the motion.
The Board discussed the lack of time to consider this item and questioned the necessity for such
urgency to change the rates without an opportunity for the Board to make a recommendation to
Council. Chairman Borstad stated that he may oppose the motion because he has not had enough
time to consider the recommendation.
Chairman Borstad called for a vote: Yeas: 8; Nays:1. The motion passed.
Board member Eileen Domfest made a motion, seconded by Board member Debra Sweetman to
request Council give the Board more time to discuss this issue. Board member Gina Janett
requested a friendly amendment to the motion to encourage Council, in the future, give the Board
more time to study issues and make recommendations. Board members Dornfest and Sweetman
agreed to the amendment. The Chairman called for a vote: Yeas: 6; Nays: 3. The motion passed.
Water Board Meeting Minutes
May 26, 2005
Page 4
Committee Reports
Water Supply and Engineering Committees- Rami Naddy, Engineering Committee Chair,
submitted a draft memo of the committees' consensus in regards to the proximity of the Colorado
Department of Wildlife research facility being located close to the City's water treatment facility
and the concerns associated with the potential exposure of chronic wasting disease prions to the
City's drinking water. The Board reviewed the draft memo and made minor suggestions to the
wording. Chairman Borstad thanked Rami and the members of the committees for an excellent
job.
Board member Reagan Waskom made a motion, seconded by Board member Rami Naddy that
the Fort Collins Water Board recommend to the City Council to approve the short and long term
goals that are contained in the memo. The motion passed unanimously.
Conservation and Public Education - Debra Sweetman, Conservation and Education Committee
Chair, stated they are currently looking at potential water conservation measures. Laurie
D'Audney, Water Conservation Specialist, and the committee will be reviewing program costs,
staff time and implementation, potential water savings and customer acceptance and
participation.
Other Business
Chairman Borstad reminded the board of the Tri-City Meeting tonight at the Country Club from
6-8 p.m. and of the Water Board Retreat on July 19, 2005 from 4-8 p.m.
Adjournment
Board member Rami Naddy made a motion, seconded by Board member Debra Sweetman to
adjourn. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 5:04 p.m.
Leslie Mooney, Water Board S F etary