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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Board - Minutes - 05/24/2007Fort Collins Utilities' Water Board Minutes Thursday, May 24, 2007 Water Board Chairman City Council Liaison Doug Yadon, 484-3611 David Roy Water Board Vice Chairman Staff Liaison Gina Janett, 493-4677 DeEtta Carr, 221-6702 Roll Call: Board Present: Vice Chairman Doug Yadon, Steve Balderson, John Bartholow, Mike Connor, Johannes Gessler, Gina Janett, Phil Phelan and Dave Pillard Board Absent: Eileen Dornfest and Reagon Waskom Visitors: Jennifer Orgolini from New Belgium Brewery Staff.- Dennis Bode, DeEtta Carr, Kevin Gertig, Joyce Grenz, Sharon Held, Jim Hibbard, Jenny Lopez Filkins and Bob Smith Meetin¢ Convened Vice Chairman Doug Yadon called the meeting to order at 3:09 p.m. Public Comment None Approval of Minutes — February 22, 2007 Board Member Mike Connor made a motion, seconded by Board Member Johannes Gessler, to approve minutes from the April 26, 2007, meeting. The motion passed unanimously. Potential Water Quality Impacts/Studies Water Production Manager Kevin Gettig presented an update on the Collaborative Watershed Monitoring Program for the protection of our drinking water supplies. The City of Fort Collins is working with the City of Greeley and Tri-Districts staff on watershed programs for the Colorado Big Thompson (CBT) and Cache la Poudre (CLP) supplies. The focus is on the monitoring of our drinking water supplies. Water Board Meeting Minutes May 24, 2007 Page 2 One purpose of the watershed program is to design and maintain ongoing monitoring in both watersheds that previously had only been on the CBT area. The program plans to share costs where feasible. This program includes the following waters: • Upper Cache la Poudre (CLP): water at or above our intake, including the North Fork; • Horsetooth Reservoir; and • Components of the Colorado Big Thompson Project (CBT) that impact water quality within Horsetooth Reservoir: o Has been primarily addressed by Big Thompson Watershed Program; and o Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District (NCWCD) has taken lead on nutrient studies. Current collaboration efforts include: Monthly watershed meetings with Tri-District and City of Greeley; Design of a comprehensive, collaborative monitoring program for the CLP with Colorado State University (Dr. Jim Loftis and graduate student); and NOM workshop held May 10-11, 2007, with NCWCD, Tri-District Managers, City of Greeley and Fort Collins Utilities staff. Fort Collins Utilities recently invited an expert to design a comprehensive study on the characterization of Natural Organic Matter (NOM) in both of our watersheds. This work is essential for design and future regulatory requirements. Fort Collins Utilities hopes to have a formal proposal by the end of July. Current estimates for this work are $130,000. Work would be completed at UCLA with Dr. Billica managing the work. Upper Cache la Poudre special projects include: • Completed work with George Weber: Cooperative Monitoring Program for CLP Source Water, working with Greeley and soldier Canyon; • Project with Dr. Jim Loftis: Retrospective statistical analysis of upper CLP data collected and analyzed to date by Water Quality Laboratory is 70 percent complete; • NISP/Glade Reservoir Project: Address water quality issues, primarily total organic carbon (TOC). Model and preliminary work completed; and • Halligan -Seaman Water Management Project: provide input on water quality issues (on -going 2007). Horsetooth Reservoir Monitoring and Big Thompson Watershed Forum (BTWF) activities: • Participate in BTWF — Carol Webb on Board of Directors; in -kind and cash contributions; • Attend work sessions and meetings related to nutrient loadings, water quality monitoring, data analysis, Horsetooth Reservoir 303 (d) listing; • Collect Horsetooth Reservoir water samples; • Analyzed by Water Quality Laboratory; Water Board Meeting Minutes May 24, 2007 Page 3 • Analyze and submit of data to BTWF; • Document Horsetooth Reservoir Monitoring Program (goals, procedures, QA/AC, etc.); and • Conduct NOM workshop and scope of work UCLA — summer 2007. Mr. Gertig reiterated that his primary objective of this presentation was to update the Water Board on the subtle changes that have been taking place. Collaboration takes a lot of work because different entities have different perspectives, needs and views. The different entities are working staff -to -staff, and it seems to be working very well. They are trying to utilize local resources where applicable, including Colorado State University. Because of data and focus, this collaboration on the Watershed Monitoring Program has been making major gains. Fort Collins Utilities has a water quality that most utilities would love to have, and, by participating in these programs, hope to keep the source water quality very high. Letter to Council Re2ardina Term Limits Vice Chairman Doug Yadon requested that the Board review membership terms of the Water Board. Most of the issues dealt with by the Water Board are characterized by their history, longevity, ongoing changes in conditions and technologies and technical complexity. These issues include stormwater with evolving criteria and variances, water supply with drought storage, water rights acquisition, water quality, rates and fees, and other problems. The "learning curve" for most new board members is steep and long. The Board's experience is that it takes at least the first term, and sometimes beyond, to reach a point where a board member feels they have developed the depth and breadth of knowledge and understanding of the issues involving water utilities to contribute effectively to the work of the water board and its committees. In order to provide the Council with the quality of knowledge and experience -based service they, and the citizens of Fort Collins, deserve on critical water -related issues, Mr. Yadon was inquiring of the Water Board to see if they felt it necessary to make a change in the term limits of the Water Board members. After a discussion by the Water Board, it was determined that this had been a very useful discussion but because Fort Collins Utilities has an excellent technical staff to answer the questions of the Water Board, it is not necessary to pursue the matter at this time. All the other boards for the City of Fort Collins are on the same term limits. Election of Officers — Chairman and Vice Chairman Vice Chairman Doug Yadon asked if there was a nomination for the position of Chairman. Board Member Mike Connor motioned that Vice Chairman Doug Yadon be nominated for Water Board Chairman. John Bartholow seconded that motion. The motion passed unanimously. Gina Jarrett volunteered for the position of Vice Chairman. John Bartholow Water Board Meeting Minutes May 24, 2007 Page 4 seconded Gina Janett's volunteering to be the Vice Chairman. The motion passed unanimously. The Water Board's new Chairman is Doug Yadon and the new Vice Chairman is Gina Janett. Staff Reports There were no committee reports from the committees. The new committees and chair are: Engineering: Conservation and Public Education Steve Balderson — Chair Eileen Dornfest - Chair John Bartholow Steve Balderson Mike Connor Gina Janett Johannes Gessler David Pillard Phil Phelan Legislative, Finance and Liaison Issues: Water Supply: Dave Pillard — Chair Reagan Waskom - Chair Mike Connor John Bartholow Eileen Dorntest Johannes Gessler Reagan Waskom Gina Janett Staff Reports Water Resource Manager Dennis Bode gave a quick report on water supply outlook. Mr. Bode said Fort Collins Utilities is in better shape this spring than last year. Mr. Bode said the water supply was fairly good even though we are below average for precipitation for the year. Other Business None Future Aeenda Items Board members requested that in the future they would like to have presentations such as the Glade Reservoir and the Poudre River discussions or some other citizen advocate groups they are hearing about in the newspaper. The Water Board feels their input would be very helpful to advise the City Council regarding policy on water projects. These discussions would be informative as part of the agenda in future meetings. It could be started at the committee level and then brought to the Water Board so that both sides could be heard. It was suggested that David Roy, the Water Board Liaison, could be asked to attend the Water Board meeting and explain what he sees as the role of the Water Board in advising the City Council. Water Board Meeting Minutes May 24, 2007 Page 5 Other future agenda items include: Conservation Plan — Laurie D'Audney Consumer Confidence Report — Kevin Gertig Annual Drinking Water Quality Policy Report — Kevin Gertig Adiournment The Board meeting adjourned at 5:15 p.m.