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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Board - Minutes - 01/09/1976• 0 WATER BOARD Regular Meeting January 9, 1976 - 3:30 P.M. Present: Raymond Anderson Bernard Cain, Jr. Karl E. Carson Henry Caulfield Norman Evans Ronald Fulkrod James Waltz Robert Brunton Absent: Ward Fischer Harvey Johnson Everett Richardson Staff members present: Cain, Hilgenberg, Krempel, Lewis, and Liquin Minutes of Regular Meeting of October 24, 1975, approved In that Chairman Fischer was not able to attend the meeting, Vice President Evans called the meeting to order. Dr. Evans inquired if there were any corrections to the minutes. Hearing none, he declared the minutes approved as published. Boards and Commissions Manual Water Utility Director Krempel distributed to the Board members the parts of the Boards and Commissions Manual that was pertinent to the Water Board. The following corrections were recommended by Mr. Krempel and accepted by the Water Board: The City Manager's name, which was omitted, should be added to the list of members, Charles Liquin's name should replace Verna Lewis, and Kaye Norris should be added as the recording secretary. Board member Waltz corrected his address and telephone number, and Board member Caulfield requested Jr. be added to his name. Dr. Evans stated there is a provision in the Manual for each Board to establish by-laws. As the Water Board does not have by-laws at this time, Mr. Krempel suggested that a small committee be appointed to prepared them. Dr. Evans stated that he will ask Chairman Fischer to appoint a committee. Mr. Krempel stated that the question had been raised as to whether the Water Board should continue to have their meetings regularly scheduled once a month and whether monthly meetings were too frequent, because in the past, meetings have been cancelled when there was not sufficient agenda material. Board member Carson stated that there might be better attendance at the meetings if they were regularly scheduled. Dr. Evans stated that if there was not sufficient topics of consideration, there was always business that could be done in terms of looking ahead and policy questions to hold a monthly meeting anyway. Board member Caulfield suggested that some of the Board members could make a list of the topics that could be discussed at the meetings. Dr. Evans stated it would be wise if some of the Board members got together with the staff to make a list of topics. The Board agreed to continue to regularly schedule their meetings once a month. If it appears there is not sufficient business and the meeting is cancelled, the members will be advised in advance. Mr. Krempel stated he will send a copy of the Water and Sewer Utility's Goals and Objectives to the Water Board members with a copy of the minutes. Mr. Charles Liquin, Water Project Engineer, stated that in regard to absences, if a member cannot attend a meeting, he can call the Water Utility office instead of Chairman Fischer. Acquisition of Mirror Lake Mr. Liquin stated a real estate firm had contacted him to give the City first option to acquire Mirror Lake, which is located on private land near the north- west corner of Rocky Mountain National Park above Pingree Park. It is a crater with approximately 850 acre feet of water, 450 acre feet of which is in the crater and can't be used, so there is approximately 400 acre feet of storage. Mr. Liquin had contacted Chairman Fischer and Dugan Wilkinson, and due to the access to the lake, the operation of it, and the fact that it has only a temporary decree, they recommended the City should not buy it. Because the City was contacted, Mr. Liquin felt the Water Board should make a recommendation to the City Council that the City should not acquire this lake at this time. Board member Anderson inquired as to how much the agency was asking for the lake. Mr. Liquin stated the agency would be willing to use this water as credit for the raw water the City requires for the development of land and the City would then acquire the lake. There has been no discussion of a set price, and there has been no study done on the hydrology, etc. The Water Board members agreed that on the basis of the amount of inquiry that has been made into this matter, they did not know enough about it to say this lake is of no value to the City and turn this offer down. Mr. Krempel stated he would be happy to provide a more indepth report to the Water Board. Board member Carson made a motion to table this item until further information is made by the Water Utilities staff. Dr. Evans put the motion, which was unanimously adopted. -2- Out -of -City Utility Services Mr. Krempel stated that the U.S. Postal Service was requesting a 3/4" metered water tap for a new facility in Bellvue. He added that by mutual agreement, there is a moratorium on water taps in Bellvue due to the size of the water main. Mr. Ed Hilgenberg stated the new site is about two blocks beyond the location of the present post office. The postal service would like to transfer the location of service from the present site to the new site and there will be no added use on the water main. Mr. Krempel recommended that this tap be approved in that this is a public facility. Board member Cain made a motion, seconded by Mr. Fulkrod, that the Water Board approve the request from the U.S. Postal Service to relocate the water tap. The Chair put the motion which was unanimously adopted. Mr. Liquin stated that there is a request for an out -of -City sewer tap at 1100 East Vine Drive. This property is at the northeast corner of Vine Drive and 9th Street and is served by the Andersonville sewer. He stated that an easement was obtained by the City from the property owner for the Andersonville sewer line. In keeping with the policy of not exchanging taps for right-of-ways, the City paid for the cost of a sewer tap for the easement, and they are now in turn requesting permission to connect to the sewer. He recommended this tap be approved. Board member Carson made a motion, seconded by Mr. Caulfield, that the request for an out -of -City sewer connection at 1100 East Vine Drive be approved. The Chair put the motion, which was unanimously adopted. Revised Drought Study Mr. Krempel stated that there had been several questions raised on the Drought Study by the Water Board members. The writer of that report has added in the City owned shares of the North Poudre Irrigation Company, however, in checking the report, there are a number of mathematical errors in it. Mr. Krempel stated this would be corrected and distributed at the next Board meeting. Report on Joe Wright Reservoir A progress report on Joe Wright Reservoir was furnished to each of the Water Board members with the agenda. Board member Caulfield inquired if the City had commitments from anybody to buy this water for irrigation as part of the loan application. Mr. Liquin advised him that the City has a commitment for the 431 acre feet that the City owes North Poudre Irrigation Company for the acquisition of Joe Wright/Michigan Ditch. This amounts to 7% of the annual storage going to irrigation, which the Bureau termed as being sufficient to meet the multiple use project. It is anticipated to make 5,000 acre feet of water available to irrigation the first year and reducing that amount by 200 acre feet per year for the next 19 years. Mr. Liquin stated he also has a resolution from the Cache La Poudre Water Users Association that they support the project and are interested in the water. -3- Board member Anderson inquired whether, in the case of a drought situation, the City could use this 5,000 acre feet of water rather than allocating it to irrigation. Mr. Liquin advised him that the City could use this water, and this would then adjust our interest payments. Board member Caulfield inquired as to why the City was not applying for a grant in respect to recreation. Mr. Liquin stated that the City will make the reservoir available for recreation in cooperation with the Forest Service, but the City will not apply for a grant for this purpose. A grant would complicate the amount of money that will be credited to M & I and irrigation after the value and benefits of fisheries had been subtracted. Mr. Krempel stated that the Forest Service is so burdened now with operation and maintenance expenses that they do not want the expense of maintaining recreation at Joe Wright Reservoir at this time. Mr. Caulfield stated that if the City would have a conservation pool that could maintain a good fishery, the Federal Government would be willing to give the City a grant, 50% of which would be allocated to fish and wildlife. He stated he could see why the Forest Service and the City is reluctant to take on the responsibility of operating and maintaining recreation. He inquired whether the City had asked the Colorado Division of Fish and Wildlife or the Division of Outdoor Recreation if they would be interested in operating this. Mr. Liquin stated that the State was contacted through the State Planning Department by means of the A-95 Review, and these two division, through their comments, did not indicate any interest in this project. Board member Caulfield inquired if recreation might be developed at a later date. Mr. Krempel advised him that recreation could be developed at any time, but the City would lose the opportunity of receiving a grant. Board member Caulfield stated that for the record, he is disappointed at the situation the City is confronted with, where it doesn't seem practical to develop recreation at Joe Wright Reservoir that would add to the fishing capabilities to the people of this area. Board member Evans inquired whether the City should ask these two divisions directly whether they would be interested in operating this or whether this would lead to more complications. Mr. Krempel stated that the City will consider recreation at Joe Wright Reservoir in the future, but at this time it could delay construction for another year. Other Business For the Water Board's information only, Mr. Krempel advised the Board that he and Mr. Mort Bittinger, of M.W. Bittinger & Associates, had talked of using solar energy to keep the water flowing in the Michigan Ditch in the winter. They had learned the Federal Government was supporting research on the practical application of solar energy. He added it would take money to draft a proposal to apply for funds for this project. Mr. Bittinger stated that there are three problems in which the application of solar and wind energy could be utilized: (1) The problem of getting water flowing as early as possible in the spring, (2) reducing the risk of the ditch overtopping caused by ice and snow dams, and (3) the problem of men and machines having to work in adverse and dangerous conditions. He felt this was too narrow of an objective to interest federal -4- 0 funding agencies, but that there were related applications, for example, in high mountain communities overcoming the problems of frozen pipes and hydrants, and icy intersections, parking lots, public building steps, etc. Mr. Krempel stated that the Water Department has acquired two snowmobiles to monitor the flow of the Michigan River in the winter, and it is quite substantial at this time. They were thinking of a way to heat the water slightly and send it down the Michigan Ditch to Joe Wright Creek. He stated he wants to get a little more information on this before it is presented formally to the Water Board. Mr. Brunton stated that the City, County, the various water and sewer districts, REA, and Public Service had a meeting to discuss utility service control as a technique for growth management. This meeting was held in response to a report entitled "Fort Collins Utility Services and Growth Management" prepared by Dr. Norman Wengert. He stated that the Water Board should receive a copy of this report and he would like some input from the Board on this in the future. He added this is a highly complicated area. Board member Caulfield stated that the problems and fundamental policies regarding serving the areas outside the City limits are being reexamined. Dr. Evans stated that this subject had been discussed in the past and had been dropped, and it needs to be handled with much perception and sensitivity. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned. Secretary -5-