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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Board - Minutes - 04/19/1996WATER BOARD MINUTES April 19, 1996 3:00 - 4:17 P.M. Water and Wastewater Utility Conference Room 700 Wood Street COUNCIL/WATER BOARD LIAISON Chuck Wanner WATER BOARD PRESIDENT Paul Clopper - Phone: W 223-5556 H 226-3377 STAFF LIAISON Molly Nortier -Phone: W 221-6681 H 493-2522 MEMBERS PRESENT Paul Clopper, President, Alison Adams, Howard Goldman, David Lauer, Robert Ward, Terry Podmore STAFF Mike Smith, Gale McGaha Miller, Dennis Bode, Ben Alexander, Molly Nortier GUESTS John Bigham, Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District (NCWCD) Sue Ellen Charlton, League of Women Voters Observer George Reed, Citizen Observer Loren Maxey, Representative from Poudre Landmarks Foundation MEMBERS ABSENT John Bartholow, Vice President, Tom Brown, Dave Frick, Tom Sanders, Ray Herrmann President Paul Clopper opened the meeting. The following items were discussed: MINUTES David Lauer moved that the minutes of January 20, 1996 be approved as distributed. Alison Adams seconded the motion and the Board's vote was unanimous. Robert Ward moved that the minutes of March 22, 1996 be approved as presented. After a second from David Lauer, the Board's approval was unanimous. Water Board Minutes April 19, 1996 Page 2 UPDATE: NORTHERN COLORADO WATER CONSERVANCY DISTRICT John Bigham distributed the Snotel results as of April 19th. He reported that the Upper Colorado River Basin is 131% of average and the South Platte is 147%. "We are releasing some water from Horsetooth Reservoir going north, and all of that is non -charge water," he said. He added that it's extra free water which nobody is paying for. The District Board set a quota of 50% with 100% of the carryover water from last year, "so that's all available." The District anticipates that the total additional water that is going to have to either be control released or spilled on the West Slope will be in excess of 150,000 ac-ft. "That's based on current projections with the most probable runoff and with average rainfall for the rest of the season; of course that could change," he said. Regarding the pump plant at Flatiron, the windings are being re -installed, and the core has been repaired. Hopefully they will be in the test mode within the next few weeks. "The Bureau of Reclamation is replacing all of the controls, all of the breakers, etc. and it appears that they will make their September deadline, if not slightly ahead of that," he related. He also mentioned that they are continuing to study the possibility of bypass. They still don't know if there will be any power operations along with that because the study is just preliminary. "Everything is running well," he stressed. There is some delivery coming out of Carter; basically just M&I water because there is no irrigation water needed at this point. "When there is a surplus situation like this, and last year. I think there was also, is there some adjustment of the amount of water that you divert from the Colorado, so that you are not diverting as much?" Dave Lauer asked. "We only divert up to the capacity of our reservoir over there, which is Lake Granby. We bring it up to that point, and anything in excess of that just runs into the Colorado," Mr. Bigham explained. "Is it true that you have more than one bucket in shadow Mountain and Grand Lake?" Mr. Lauer asked. "The only way they get water is if the District pumps water from Granby, plus the runoff from the three inlets, and anything that is in excess of what is coming through the tunnel, which flows from the spillway back into Granby anyway," Mr. Bigham replied. "In light of the study that was just done with the release from the Glen Canyon," Robert Ward began, "there is going to be extra water going down the river. Is there anyone who is going to observe what might be ecological benefits to that river as a result of those flows?" "Below with the heavy releases?" Mr. Bigham clarified. "As I understand some of Secretary of the Interior Babbitt's crew has already made some evaluations of the beaches. Some of that looked very good, and they are quite happy with the releases," Mr. Bigham responded. Mr. Ward said he was thinking of below some of the Northern District's facilities. "If you are having to release this year, it seems to me there would be a chance to observe the ecological benefits to the River, especially if you release in a way that creates a flood. "We could, but we're not going to," Mr. Bigham answered. The District will be making huge releases, "but hopefully we won't create a flood." Obviously the Division of Wildlife and the Fish & Wildlife Service will be assessing some of the impacts. "What they actually will be doing, I don't know," he acknowledged. • Water Board Minutes April 19, 1996 Page 3 LEASE WITH POUDRE LANDMARKS FOUNDATION FOR OLD WATER WORKS PLANT Mike Smith said this agenda item involves the lease of the City's old Water Works Building to the Poudre Landmarks Foundation. He explained that the building, located at 2001 North Overland Trail, was constructed in 1882-83. A brief history of the Filter Plant was included in the project description provided by the Poudre Landmarks Foundation. Board members received this in their packets. Loren Maxey was present at the meeting to represent the Poudre Landmarks Foundation. According to the background information in the agenda summary, although the building does not have any practical use as a part of the Utility's operating infrastructure, it is a valuable historic resource which should be preserved. Mr. Smith said the purpose of the proposed lease is to further that cause. In the early 1900s the plant was decommissioned. Since that time it has been there for storage, and for years there had been a caretaker on the site who lived in the residence; that remains. Mr. Smith said that in the mid 1980s the Utility spent around $88,000 to improve the structural integrity of the building. Since that time the City has been trying to find a use for the building. There have been a number of proposals from private entities through the years, to purchase the building and remodel it as a house, restaurant or art gallery, for example. "We always thought it would be better to restore it for public use," he said. About two years ago the Poudre Landmarks Foundation contacted the Utility saying that they would be interested in a project for the building similar to what they accomplished with the Avery House. The intent of the Foundation is to restore the inside of the Water Works building and develop the site into an interpretive center/museum for the history of water in the area. Also, part of the site will be sub -leased by the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program to be used for the sheltering, raising and caring of raptors. The term of the lease is for 15 years for a fee of $15.00. The 15 year period was at the Foundation's request. In general, the City will be responsible for the maintenance of the exterior of the building and the residence structure. The Poudre Landmarks Foundation will be responsible for the maintenance of the interior of the buildings. The City will pay up to $17,500 for the rehabilitation of the residence structure. The Foundation will be responsible for the rehabilitation of the interior of the Water Works building. Cost of utility service for the building will be paid by the City. Cost of utility service for the residence will by paid by the Foundation. Loren Maxey brought a copy of a photo of the building taken about 1910 which they acquired from the Denver Public Library. He added to the summary Mike Smith gave, that the lease provides for funds to renovate the house on the property to make it habitable. He said that basically the structure is quite sound, but some of the details of the renovation (particularly the roof) will be fairly costly in order to conform to the guidelines for historical structures. Amenities like insulation will also be included. Water Board Minutes April 19, 1996 Page 4 Robert Ward asked if any of the old pumps or hardware associated with the water treatment system in the 1890s are still there. "There is nothing left," Mr. Smith replied. "There would be nothing internal that relates to the original operation?" Mr. Ward continued, and "what about the ditch that flows by there; is there still water in the ditch?" "Nothing internal is left and yes there is still water in the ditch," Mr. Maxey said. He pointed out in the picture that the discharge area from the original pumphouse shows in the structure. "You can see the curved brick outline that is just above the water level that was the apparent discharge area from the turbine; not operating at that point," he explained. Some of the Landmark Foundation members have been acquiring information on turbines of that period from newspaper articles back in 1883. Paul Clopper asked if staff is comfortable with the liability issue on the property. "That's in the lease," Mr. Smith assured the Board. Mr. Clopper was interested in hearing more information about some of the educational opportunities. He also wanted to know how the facility would be run. "We plan to schedule tours by appointment and have weekend hours for the public," Mr. Maxey responded. "We hope to have a water interpretive center that includes items that could range from a model Parshall flume to valves or structures that relate to the water that either went through that facility or in conjunction with it; old fire hydrants, for example," he explained. David Lauer asked about the other structures on the property. "There is a house, a very small barn and a shed." Mr. Smith said. "Would the raptor group inhabit the house?" Mr. Lauer continued. "Yes," Mr. Smith replied. Mr. Maxey added that they would be caretakers on the property as well as being on site for the raptor program. "Any expense for modifications of the barn, or any rebuilding of the chicken shed, would be their responsibility." He pointed out that the father-in-law of a now deceased former Utility employee Ed Hilgenberg, was a caretaker in the early years; he built the barn. Staff recommended a favorable recommendation by the Board to the City Council to lease the Water Works building to the Poudre Landmarks Foundation. Robert Ward moved that the Board recommend that Council approve the lease of the Water Works building with the Poudre Landmarks Foundation. Alison Adams seconded the motion. Mr. Ward commented that he is glad to see that someone is finally going to do something with that facility, and have a place in Fort Collins where you can go to find out about "why those ditches are out there and what it means to have water flowing in them." Mr. Clopper thinks this is an exciting opportunity. He said it would be interesting perhaps to seek collaboration with some of the folks at CSU with all of the historical water elements there. Mr. Ward said there are piles of old equipment at CSU, some of them with historical significance. Mr. Maxey pointed out that Norm Evans, former Water Board president and retiree from the water community at CSU, is a member of the foundation. He also related that the Water Works Committee envisions an interactive museum that emphasizes the role that water played in the development of the west, as was mentioned in the Project Description. It Water Board Minutes April 19, 1996 Page 5 Mr. Maxey announced that there will be an open house at the Water Works plant on June 29-30, and that happens to coincide with the completion of the restoration of the caretaker house. Mr. Smith said that the lease goes to the Council at the first and second meetings in May, and the lease should be signed on June 1st. Paul Clopper called for the question. The vote was unanimous to recommend signing the lease with the Landmarks Foundation. Mr. Ward emphasized that this is a good way to have an educational ability to explain to people "why we do things the way we do. It's the beginning of what could be a large amount of public education relating to water." Molly Nortier asked Robert Ward about plans for the Water Plaza on the CSU campus. "Where the old Vet Science building was torn down earlier this year, there will be what will be called a Water Plaza." It's going to be constructed in three phases. The first phase is to re -sod the area. In the second phase they will construct a large fountain. The water will flow into what will look like a reservoir, and there will be different flow mechanisms coming out of that; a Parshall Flume, for example. It's going to flow down into what looks like an irrigation ditch into a natural wetland. The fountain is going to look like a mountain from which the water flows down for human use and goes back into the eco- system. It's right there with Fish & Wildlife, Natural Resources, Biology, Engineering, etc. "It has a lot of symbolic significance." The first phase should be completed this summer. The second phase is the expensive one, and some money needs to be raised for it; there's no firm date on that. He mentioned that, a local firm, EDAW, did the landscaping design. In the third phase they plan to landscape up against the backs of all the buildings, currently not very attractive. "Does this have anything to do with the Water Center?" Alison Adams asked. "Not directly, no," Mr. Ward replied. The Water Plaza is part of a desire of the administration to upgrade the physical appearance of the campus, and as they do that, they are trying to relate it to major themes. Part of what drives this is the 1% that must now be devoted to art with all new projects, he related. Mr. Clopper thanked Loren Maxey for representing the Poudre Landmarks Foundation in the discussion of the lease. STAFF REPORTS Treated Water Production Summary Dennis Bode reported that for March the City used 1508 Ac-ft of treated water which is 94% of what is projected for an average year. "Everything was fairly normal for March," he said. Water Board Minutes April 19, 1996 Page 6 Financial Status Report Mike Smith reported that PIFs for both water and wastewater are well above where they were at this time last year. Operating revenues are also up over last year. Mr. Smith also reported that the City is beginning the 1997 budget process. "City Council usually asks all the boards and commissions if they have any budget issues, and they usually ask in April," he said. He said he would be glad to pass along to the Council any ideas or suggestions from Board members. Water and Wastewater Utility Annual Report Board members received copies of the 1995 Utility Annual Report. Mike Smith pointed out that, as in the past, Diana Royval is responsible for producing yet another outstanding report, "and for less money," he stressed. As hard as it is to believe, "it gets better each year and cheaper!" Many people in each of the Divisions prepare the information for Ms. Royval and she organizes it and designs the layout for the document. Paul Clopper appreciated having the Stormwater information included, even though they have only been with the W&WW Utility a short time. He agreed that the report gets better every year. "How many copies do you make?" he asked. "About 200 copies," Mr. Smith replied. "It's surprising how many people like that kind of information," he added. CBT Ownership Limitations Update Dennis Bode said that as far as he knows there is no new information. Regional 201 Study Update Gale McGaha Miller reported that the finishing touches of the service agreement for the Regional 201 Study will be completed this week. "We are going to have a'kick off meeting at the end of April," she said. She also noted that the City and County planners are working on new population projections for their work, and their timing will dovetail quite nicely with when we will need that information. "What are the plans for public input on this study?" Robert Ward asked. "There will be at least three public meetings scheduled throughout the process," Ms. McGaha Miller replied. She added that there are two that are required as part of the 201 filings. One of the desires of all the state entities is that the meetings not be left until the end. "That doesn't work very well anymore because the public doesn't like it," she stressed. One of the meetings is going to occur after we have finished the service area population projections and a capacity need assessment --"who is going to need what and when," she continued. "Once we determine that, we can then decide on a variety of different options to treat for the future." "Since there are a number of different organizations cooperating, won't the entities involved have to make sure that a large number of people are aware of the meetings?" Mr. Ward wondered. "Yes, and that will be a cooperative effort among the staffs of the organizations and the consultants," Ms. Water Board Minutes April 19, 1996 Page 7 McGaha Miller answered. "Do you have a rough idea of when that first public meeting might be?" Mr. Ward asked. "I think it will be about four months into the project," she said. "We're looking at 10-12 months total at this point," she added. "Does CDM have a facilitator on their staff?" Mr. Clopper asked. "Yes," Ms. McGaha Miller replied. "Are there components to this that have to do with anything other than wastewater?" Dave Lauer asked. "It's for wastewater treatment only, not drinking water," she replied, "and there will be some assessment of total collection needs as well." She explained that it is focused on figuring out who's going to need what when and what is the best way to meet that need. A possible plant No. 3 site is one of five or six options that will be investigated in depth. "It's possible that some of the entities may not be interested in a regional treatment plant, or may not think that's the way to go. We're going to try to give all of the different options a fair hearing, and see what makes the most sense from a cost and practicality point of view," she concluded. Mr. Lauer wondered if there might be some better mileage in having public meetings before "you are four months into it. I know attendance isn't going to be too great, but you might be preventing getting into a shooting match with somebody." "As 5 or 6 options are described to the public, and you announce the meeting, I'm sure you will get a lot of people interested," Mr. Ward remarked. "Because of the golf course near the proposed plant 3 site, and the way it's expanding right now, there could be some people there who may be very upset when they realize what might happen out there," Mr. Ward asserted. He wondered how all that is currently being handled. "We have been in contact with the homeowners association there for quite awhile providing them information about the potential of a wastewater plant there," Mr. Smith responded. Basically the people staff talked to and from whom they received calls, are waiting to see what the options are. Mr. Lauer pointed out that there are some courses with large developments to the southeast as well. "We have a lot of those folks on the list too," Mr. Smith assured Mr. Lauer. "We have been frank and open in letting them know that there is a potential there for a plant," he stressed. "What would you have available by four months?" Mr. Ward asked. "We would know who was going to need capacity by what time," Ms. McGaha Miller replied. The next step would be to determine the best way of looking at those future treatment needs. The third phase would be determining the options. Alison Adams thinks it's hard to talk to people about the options until you find out what your need is. "What are you going to tell them?" "The needs themselves are probably going to be somewhat controversial," Mr. Ward observed. "It depends on how it is presented to the public," he added. Mr. Lauer pointed out that the wastewater function creates part of the water at the other end of it. "What I want to know is does this study involve the disbursement of that water as well? There are going to be issues involved with what happens to that water." Do you mean the water rights involved Water Board Minutes April 19, 1996 Page 8 with the effluent discharge? Ms. McGaha Miller asked. She assured Mr. Lauer that water rights will be evaluated. "If, for example, we wind up having a regional treatment plant discharging at Fossil Creek Reservoir as opposed to in the Poudre River, there will have to be some water rights exchanged. What any future treatment plant would be doing is taking excess capacity or excess flows that couldn't be treated at the Drake facility, so that may be response to growth, "and I don't know how those water return requirements would be handled," she said. "Most of the water that comes out of the plant belongs to the river, not us; we can't reuse it," Mr. Smith explained. "Most of those factors depend on water supply that we have now as far as how much might be reclaimable or reusable." Mr. Bode pointed out. "There may be some river administration claims through the county because of the location of the effluent." It seems to Mr. Lauer that it's going to be a bigger issue in the county than it is here, partly because the responsibility and ownership of the water treatment plants we have now. "And it will be more so if we are talking about some kind of collaborative effort. Who are the principal entities now that you envision being partners in this?" he asked. "Windsor, South Fort Collins Sanitation District, Timnath (possibly), and Boxelder Sanitation District," Ms. McGaha Miller replied. "Greeley and Loveland aren't involved in it?" Mr. Lauer asked. "No, they are not at the present," she answered. "I'm not sure how they plan to serve the growth of the northern part of their service area at this point," she added. "Loveland has only a small portion of their potential service area that will go to that drainage; the rest will go to the Big Thompson," Mr. Smith clarified. "Greeley didn't want to get involved because everything for them is so far downstream at this point." "I hope Loveland comes aboard because they are growing in that direction," Mr. Lauer remarked. "Is everything going back into Fossil Creek?" he asked. Currently the City has two discharge points from the Drake Water Reclamation Facility (DWRF); we can discharge into the Fossil Creek Inlet Ditch or into the River, Mr. Smith explained. The way the River is administered by the local Water Commissioner, they prefer to have the water in the Ditch so they can put it into the reservoir and manage it better, "but we can discharge to the River," he said. "Are there no water quality problems in the reservoir?" Mr. Ward asked. "I wouldn't say that," Mr. Smith replied. "I think there is some potential there that we are looking at for the future. Our plans are that we will have the facilities designed so that we can discharge 100% into the River. Discharging to reservoirs is tricky business," he added. "Is there evidence of eutrophication in Fossil Creek Reservoir?" Mr. Clopper asked. "There is some," Mr. Smith replied. Drinking Water Quality Annual Report Gale McGaha Miller prepared the Drinking Water Quality Annual Report which she distributed at the meeting. She gave credit to the division managers who contributed the information included in the report. Mike Smith remarked that "we have another good piece of work by the staff." He explained that, when the Water Board recommended that Council adopt the Drinking Water Quality Policy, part of that was to provide them with an annual report. Ms. Nortier suggested that Board members replace this with the 1994 report in their policies notebook. Water Board Minutes April 19, 1996 Page 9 Update on Current Proposed Legislation Ms. McGaha Miller said there isn't much going on at this point. There is one bill that Robert Ward expressed some interest in recently, SB170, the Severance Tax Bill. It finally got off the ground; it passed the Senate and is now in the House Agriculture Committee. There was a minor amendment that made it clear that some of the money from that severance tax could be used for environmental projects as long as there wasn't an emergency from clean-up projects that would require the money first. Mr. Ward pointed out that the Farm Bill, just passed by Congress, had a provision in it to set up a Water Rights Task Force. "Do you know anything about that?" John Bigham reported that a Water Rights Task Force has been set up. He isn't sure, at this time, what all the functions are for the group. "It's really kind of a media target at this point," he remarked. Mr. Ward thinks it's interesting that we already have a Western Water Policy Review Advisory Commission that was part of the 1992 Omnibus Water Bill, and now we have this Water Rights Task Force, "and it's Congress doing it. I don't understand what it all means," he admitted. Possible Date for Meeting of Regional Water Boards Molly Nortier sent out possible dates to Board members in their packets. She asked that members turn in their preferences, so a date can be selected as soon as possible. She also announced that the City of Greeley has selected a new water utility director who will be at the meeting. Mr. Smith said that once we select a date he will try to get either Jim Lockhead or Doug Robothan from the state to give a presentation on the negotiations about the recovery plan in Nebraska. COMMITTEE REPORTS Water Supply Dennis Bode reported that the Committee met last Friday for about two and a half hours. They talked about a number of topics in somewhat philosophical terms, but no recommendations came out of the meeting. "We discussed some background information on the cash in -lieu -of rate. The next step will be to gather more information on water prices and the history of the cash in -lieu -of rate and come back to the Committee or the Water Board. The Committee also discussed the Meadow Creek Reservoir. Staff has been looking at an opportunity to possibly purchase some additional capacity in that reservoir. That's the one over in the North Park area that the City uses to provide replacement water for Michigan Ditch diversions. Some of the owners over there would like some additional capacity through the outlet works. There is also a need to make improvements in the existing outlet works. He reiterated that it looks like there may be an opportunity for the City to purchase some additional capacity in the reservoir which would provide some additional yield from the Michigan Ditch, and also provide a mechanism for some funds for the rest of the owners to replace the outlet works. Water Board Minutes April 19, 1996 Page 10 The third item the Committee discussed was North Poudre Irrigation Company shares. "We talked extensively about the outlook on how we use those shares and whether the City should be buying more shares, or just how those might be used in the future," he said. "As a sidelight, we have been meeting with some of the other M&I owners of North Poudre shares to try to come up with a long term view of how we might use that water," he said. Legislative and Finance No report - The Committee will meet briefly following the meeting today to set up a time to meet when consultant Scott Harder is available. Conservation and Public Education No report Engineering No report REGIONAL WATER SUPPLY STRATEGY No report REGIONAL WASTEWATER SERVICE ISSUES No report OTHER BUSINESS Conflicts for May Meeting Date Mr. Clopper said that he and Dave Frick will be out of town during the May Water Board meeting. He was wondering if anyone else will have to miss that meeting. It was decided that the May meeting will not be changed. John Bartholow, the vice president, will be asked to preside. ADJOURNMENT Since there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:17 P.M. mom, 7�1. Water Boartl Secretary