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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008 - Water Board - Annual ReportUtilities - Water Board City 700 Wood St. of Fort Collins Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 97 970.221.6702 970.416.2208 - fax fcgov. com Fort Collins Water Board 2008 Annual Report Following is a summary of the 2008 activities of the Fort Collins Water Board. The report focuses on topics addressed during the year plus actions taken on the 2008 Work Plan. Water Board Members Doug Yadon, Chairperson Gina Janett, Vice Chairperson John Bartholow Steve Balderson Mike Connor Eileen Dornfest Johannes Gesler Phil Phelan Dave Pillard Reagan Waskom Gary Wockner Action Items Raw Water Rental Rates and Delivery Charges — Each year the Water Board reviews water rental rates and delivery charges for City controlled raw water as proposed by Utilities staff. Discussion included the procedures that the City would utilize to award available rental water in a fair and equitable manner. The Board endorsed staff's recommendations to City Council of the 2008 rental rates and delivery charges by unanimous vote. Upper Cooper Slough Stormwater Master Plan Update — Water Board voted unanimously to affirm the Upper Cooper Slough Stormwater Master Plan Update to City Council with a recommendation that special care be taken in development of the Upper Basin to utilize best management practices (BMPs) to provide protection to the environment of the Lower Cooper Slough Basin. This affirmation follows a prior approval of the Update by the Utilities Executive Director as allowed under City Code. Floodplain Variance for 806 West Magnolia Street — The Water Board unanimously approved this variance request to allow a basement with the lowest floor and heating, hot water, electrical and other mechanical equipment located below the regulatory flood protection elevation. The approval included the following conditions recommended by staff: basement not to be used or converted to living space; a deed restriction prohibiting future conversion of the basement to living space; and the first floor, foundation walls, and top of window wells to be constructed to the regulatory flood protection elevation. An additional condition was added by the Water Board that addition of a sewer line be prohibited at any time in the future. Cfty of ort Co [ins Boxelder Master Plan and Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) — The Utilities staff requested the Water Board's comments and recommendations regarding the Boxelder Master Plan and IGA. This Master Plan would mitigate flooding impacts affecting several entities in addition to the City of Fort Collins, including the Town of Wellington and Larimer County. These three entities cooperated in funding and preparing the Master Plan and in developing a proposed IGA to implement the Master Plan. A motion to recommend City Council's approval of the Master Plan and IGA failed on a vote of three (3) aye, six (6) no and one (1) abstention by the Water Board. Among the reasons expressed by those voting no were: concerns with the benefit -to -cost methodology utilized (not including presumed increased future property values and tax revenues as benefits and environmental impacts as costs); potential environmental impacts to the floodplain the absence of the Town of Timnath as a project participant, and the availability of flood insurance to future developers in the basin (in place of mitigation of flooding risk). This topic was addressed in a July 8, 2008 memorandum to City Council prepared by the Vice Chairperson of the Water Board. Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP) DEIS — A Special Meeting was held by the Water Board on June 19, 2007 to review the NISP DEIS and discuss potential recommendations to City Council. Information was presented by Utilities staff at this meeting to support the Board's review and discussion. No action was taken at this Special Meeting. The Water Board considered four (4) separate motions relative to the NISP DEIS at the regular meeting on June 26, 2008. The first motion to endorse the Utilities staff submission to City Council of comments identifying omissions and concerns with the DEIS passed by a vote of eight (8) aye and two (2) no. The second motion to recommend that City Council insist that the final EIS provide mitigation measures for Alternative Two to address at least the issues of TOC, TCE and minimum flows in the Poudre River passed by a vote of seven (7) aye and three (3) no. The third motion recommending that City Council request that the Corps of Engineers (COE) produce a supplemental draft EIS to address the City's concerns passed unanimously. The fourth motion recommending that City Council formally oppose the permitting of NISP should the COE opt not to issue a supplemental draft EIS failed on a vote of two (2) aye and eight (8) no. This topic was addressed in a July 8, 2008 memorandum to City Council prepared by the Vice Chairperson of the Water Board. Floodplain Variance for Raptor Center School, 720-750 East Vine Drive — The Water Board denied by unanimous vote a variance request to change the use of an existing building at 720 East Vine Drive located within the Poudre River 500-year floodplain to a school, and to later expand the existing building with an addition that would be part of the proposed school. The basis of the variance denial in the motion was that the proposed use of the existing building and the proposed future addition as a school was specifically prohibited by Chapter 10 of the City Code. Water, Wastewater and Stormwater Utilities Budget Updates — The Water Board recommended to City Council by a vote of six (6) aye and two (2) no adoption of Utilities staff's proposed 2009 water, wastewater and stormwater appropriations, with budget exceptions for fuel costs and security expenses. The proposed appropriations include: a projected 31 percent increase in the water utility budget primarily due to capital project expenditures related to the Halligan Reservoir Enlargement; a projected 60 percent increase in the wastewater utility budget due to resources required to fund the Mulberry WRF improvements; and a projected 5 percent decrease Cft art` Collins in the stormwater utility budget as a result of the CIPO and Dry Creek projects being in the construction phase during 2008, with the Dry Creek project substantially complete. Reimbursement Resolution for Mulberry WRF Project — By a vote of seven (7) aye and one (1) abstention the Water Board recommended a reimbursement resolution to City Council that would allow use of reserve funds to pay for ongoing engineering, architectural and consulting services for the Mulberry plant project. This resolution allows the City to lock in current prices prior to anticipated future increases using available reserve funds, and then replace the reserves from future bond proceeds. Refunding of Series 1998 Revenue Bonds — A recommendation supporting refunding of all outstanding Series 1998 water fund revenue and improvement bonds was passed by the Water Board by a vote of seven (7) aye and one (1) abstention. This refunding is estimated to result in a savings to the City estimated at $1.2 million. Proposed Source Water TOC Project — The Water Board voted unanimously to recommend to City Council approval of a Joint Funding Agreement to redirect reimbursed costs from the UCLA total organic carbon (TOC) study to a proposed two-year project with the University of Colorado to develop focused management tools for processing data from the UCLA study. The proposed project would concentrate on the use of fluorescence to investigate the relationship between dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the watershed and disinfection byproducts (DBPs) at the City water treatment plant. Instream Flow Proposal Request for the Lower Poudre River — The Water Board established a special committee to investigate potential alternative means and methods to improve instream flows in the Poudre River through the City of Fort Collins. The committee held a number of meetings during the year at which information was presented by Utilities staff and invited guests, and discussions of various issues were held. At the recommendation of the committee, a formal request was made to staff by unanimous vote of the Board to identify, evaluate and develop estimated costs for five (5) conceptual -level scenarios to improve instream flows. The results of this study by staff are anticipated in spring 2009. Wastewater Debt Issue — By a unanimous vote the Water Board recommended City Council approval of an ordinance to issue $30 million in revenue bond debt on behalf of the wastewater utility for major capital expenditures related to improvements at the Mulberry WRF. It is understood that sale of these bonds is contingent on a ceiling of seven (7) percent coupon rate. Stormwater Program Mission Statement — The Water Board reviewed several alternative stormwater program mission statements developed by Utilities staff at the direction of City Council. The Board developed an additional alternative mission statement incorporating many of the key elements of staff s preferred alternative, but placing a greater emphasis on protection of the public and property, while still strongly endorsing an environmental ethic. The revised mission statement was adopted by unanimous vote of the Board and will be forwarded to City Council by Utilities staff together with staff s recommended mission statement. 2009 Water Board Work Plan — The Water Board adopted by unanimous vote its 2009 Work Plan after input from Committee Chairpersons and discussion by the Board. Fort` Collins Water Board Bylaws Update — The Water Board Bylaws were reviewed in detail by the Board Chairperson and Vice Chairperson in consultation with the Board's legal counsel. An updated set of draft Bylaws was developed to ensure compliance with current relevant requirements of the City Code and provide for efficient and effective performance of Board duties and responsibilities. The updated Bylaws were adopted by the Board by unanimous vote. Water Conservation Plan — At the request of Utilities staff, a motion was passed by the Water Board on a vote of nine (9) aye and two (2) no to request staff, with the support of the Board's Conservation and Public Education Committee, to draft a memorandum to City Council supporting the Water Conservation Plan with certain agreed minor amendments and such qualifications or clarifications staff may find appropriate. The draft memorandum is to be brought to the Water Board for action at the January 2009 regular meeting. Strategic Issues Discussions — A proactive initiative was begun during 2008 to review and then discuss as other Board priorities allowed key strategic issues for the future of the water and wastewater utilities. The issues discussed are those presented in a report titled Strategic Research Initiatives by the American Water Works Association Research Foundation (AWWARF). Topics discussed during 2008 included: Population and Demographics; Health Trends; Medical Trends; and Regulatory Trends. Presentations to the Water Board 2006 International Building Code Amendments — Mike Gebo/Building Codes/Inspections Administrator Green Building Roadmap — Dana Leavitt/Green Buildings Program Manager Northern Integrated Supply Project — Brian Werner/Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District Watershed Protection Program Update — Kevin Gertig/Utilities Staff Water Conservation Annual Report Update — Laurie D'Audney/Utilities Staff Box Elder Master Plan — Bob Smith/Utilities Staff Chronic Wasting Disease Update — Kevin Gertig/Utilities Staff CoWARN Issue — Kevin Gertig/Utilities Staff and Carol Webb/City Staff 2007 Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report and Consumer Confidence Report — Kevin Gertig/Utilities Staff Quagga Mussels Report — Kevin Gertig/Utilities Staff A Utility for the 2 1 " Century, Building a Sustainable Utility — Brian Janonis/Utilities Director Joint Front Range Climate Change Vulnerability Study — Dennis Bode/Utilities Staff CKY of Fort Collins Upper Cache La Poudre Watershed Water Quality Monitoring Program — Dr. Judy Billica/Utilities Staff Source Water TOC Projects — Dr. Judy Billica/Utilities Staff Stormwater Program: Update from 10/14/08 Council Work Session and Stormwater Best Management Practices Review Project— Jim Hibbard/Utilities Staff Shared Vision Planning Update re: Halligan Reservoir Enlargement Project — Kevin Gertig/Utilities Staff and Cliff Hoelscher/Utilities Staff MS4 Permit Update — Susan Strong/City Staff Shared Vision Planning - Kevin Gertig/Utilities Staff and Mark Lorie/Consultant Water Board Committee Reports — Committee Chairpersons Treated Water Monthly Summaries — Dennis Bode/Utilities Staff