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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Board - Minutes - 02/14/1975WATER BOARD February 14, 1975 3:30 P.M. Present: Ward Fischer Raymond Anderson Bernard Cain, Jr. W. G. Wilkinson Karl E. Carson Norman Evans James Waltz Robert Brunton Absent: Everett Richardson Henry Caulfield Harvey Johnson Staff members present: Liquin, Hays, Alexander, Hilgenberg, Cain, and Lewis Also: City Attorney March Chairman Fischer was detained so Board member Carson called the meeting to order. Minutes of Regular Meeting of January 17, 1975, approved Board member Carson inquired if there were any correction to the minutes. Hearing none, he declared the minutes approved as published. Procedures for Determining Monies Available for Studies and Recommendation on Priorities City Manager Brunton advised the Water Board of the studies which have been completed recently and the studies which are still under way. He discussed the Environmental Impact Statement by McCall -Ellingson and the Water Re -Use Study by Bittinger and Associates. The main studies of concern to the Water Board which are not completed are the Preliminary Economic Comparison of Water Meters Versus Joe Wright by a graduate student at CSU, the second phase of a Water Re -Use Study by Bittinger, and additional diversionary facilities at Horsetooth Reservoir. Mr. Brunton stated that even though funds may not be presently budgeted for a particular study, that funds could be made available if the study was justified. He hopes to have more studies done in-house. Chairman Fischer stated that the Water Board carefully consider the priorities of studies, so they did not recommend one that was merely desirable, and not necessarily essential. Any study that was deemed to be required, can be put into the budget. r Mr. Brunton stated that when the major studies under way now are completed, we can then analyze them, and then see what other studies are needed for 1976, and that is when we should talk about the allocation of funds for 1976 studies. Appointment of Subcommittee to Study Current Legislation Chairman Fischer inquired if there was a desirability to have a subcommittee that could be kept informed of any legislation, state or national, that would be either to the benefit or detriment to the City of Fort Collins. The committee would keep the Water Board informed of any such legislation, so they could make recommendations and take appropriate action. Board member Carson stated that there was certain legislation that the Water Board as a body should be aware of, and it would be helpful to have a subcommittee to keep the Water Board informed. It was the consensus of the Water Board that a subcommittee should be appointed to the Colorado Legislative Subcommittee. The Chair appointed Karl Carson as head of the Committee, and appointed Henry Caulfield and Norm Evans to be on the Committee. Report Concerning Platte River Power Authority Assignment Chairman Fischer reported that the Municipal Subdistrict Board met February 13. It was reported that there is substantial unanimity of agreement between the attorney for the Subdistrict Mr. Sayres, City Attorney March and other City Attorneys, and the attorney for Platte River Power Authority, that it is contemplated the City of Fort Collins will transfer its allotment to Platte River, and the Cities of Loveland and Estes Park will transfer a portion of their allotments to Platte River. Their suggestions have been incorporated into a new contract, which has been sent back to the Bonding Counsel for their approval. If the contract is approved by the Bonding Attorneys, Mr. Sayres, and the City, the Board set a final date of 60 days for the Cities to sign the contract. In the event there is not agreement, the Board will consider it at their next regular meeting, which is the second Friday of March. If this is the case, the deadline will be 60 days from that date. Our assignment to Platte River appears to be worked out. City Attorney March stated the present intention is to send the contract back after it is approved, have the City sign it, and immediately in turn assign the contract to Platte River. Platte River will take the assignment over and that will be the 'lend. Chairman Fischer stated the City of Fort Collins will not pay until Platte River gets their contract. Everybody has paid but Fort Collins. Director of Public Works, Mr. Liquin, advised the Water Board that the Subdistrict will not pick a consulting engineer to initiate the study until everyone has paid. -2- ` 0 • Report on Raw Water Supply The Director of Public Works, Mr. Liquin, stated that the concern was the administration of irrigation water this year. The main concern is on Arthur Ditch and New Mercer, whether we should lease the water or whether transfer will be far enough along where North Poudre would own the water. City Attorney March advised that we should hold out 23.1421 shares of Arthur Ditch, 10.5598 shares of New Mercer, and .4243 shares of Latimer No. 2, which will satisfy what we intend to use for that purpose, and lease the rest. City Clerk Lewis stated we use our own Latimer No. 2 on the golf course, and some Pleasant Valley & Lake on the cemetary. It was the consensus of the Water Board to hold out the above amounts and lease the rest according to requests. Establishing Date for Discussion on Water Meters City Manager Brunton stated the graduate student from CSU had the defense of his Master's Thesis. His advisors made several revisions. They changed the title to read A Preliminary Report on the Economic Analysis of Water Meters versus Joe Wright. CSU will give us the final draft after they make the needed changes, and the County will print the report. Hopefully, in the next 2 weeks the report will be finished. Mr. Brunton advised the Water Board that this was not the final answer, just one approach. Chairman Fischer inquired as to whether Mr. Brunton would like to set a date when the Water Board could discuss it. It was decided the Board will authorize a special meeting to discuss the report. Progress Report on Joe Wright Environmental Impact Study Director of Public Works, Mr. Liquin, stated that the Environmental Impact Study began with a 9 member team, each member writing his own report. Those reports have been turned into McCall -Ellingson, and they have taken the important data out of those 9 reports and have consolidated that into a single report. This is the final report in preliminary form. We will review it and then it will go to the Forest Service. We have had several meetings with the Forest Service, and we are now correcting the final draft of the preliminary report. Chairman Fischer inquired what was the future schedule, and was advised by Mr. Brunton that it depended on the Forest Service. Mr. Fischer then inquired if there was any time estimate. Mr. Liquin commented that the Environmental part of it will take the year of 1975, with design in 1976, and construction the seasons of 1977 and 1978. -3- r Other Business 1. Board member Wilkinson requested to hook up to City sewer. He is outside City limits, but is already on City water. Mr. Liquin stated that there is a sewer main on Vine Drive, and others on Vine Drive are connected. The Chairman put the motion which was unanimously adopted. 2. Mr. Bill Hansen, a member of the audience, inquired if there were any procedures or criteria by which a specific consultant was chosen, and what are the factors which the Board or the administration uses in determining who is going to do the work. Chairman Fischer advised him that he could only speak for the Water Board. Most all consultants used in connection with the Water Utility on major projects are picked by a committee of the Water Board. Services for minor studies are retained on the basis of knowledge in that particular need. 3. The next regular meeting of the Water Board will be March 14, 1975. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned. ATTEST: Secretary Chairman -4-