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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010 - Water Board - Annual ReportFORT COLLINS WATER BOARD 2010 Annual Report Water Board Members Gina C. Janett, Chair Johannes Gessler Retiring members Steve Balderson, Vice Chair Phil Phalen Mike Connor Bruce Brown Gary Wockner David Pillard Reagan Waskom Duncan Eccleston Eileen Dornfest I. ACTION ITEMS A. Stormwater/Floodplain Management The Board made recommendations to the Council in favor of: 1. Stormwater Enforcement Code Changes – The proposed changes were related to abatement and enforcement of pollutants spilled, leaked or released from tanker trucks into stormwater. The changes make it easier to enforce and fine those who violate the code. 2. NE College Outfall Project Financing – The proposal would authorize the stormwater utility to loan funds for a joint stormwater retention area to be paid back by participating land owners. The proposal provided an alternative mechanism to satisfy storm drainage needs jointly for multiple land owners. 3. Colorado’s Proposed New Floodplain Regulations ‐ The Board reviewed the State’s proposed floodplain regulations and prepared recommended comments for the Mayor to submit. Much of the content was similar to the City’s existing regulations so the impacts of possible passage would not be that difficult to implement. 4. Fort Collins Floodplain Regulations – During the fall 2009 repurposing review of the city’s stormwater and floodplain rules, the Water Board recommended that the City Council consider prohibiting new structures in the 100 year floodplain of the Poudre River. The staff completed their work to review the proposal, develop alternatives and recommended to the Board the prohibition of new structures in the floodplain to minimize risks to life and safety, reduce costs to private and public landowners, and to reduce impacts to public infrastructure and city services. B. Water Utility The Board review and recommended favorable action on: 1. Easements – The Board recommended approval of a renewal of the easement for the irrigation ditch by the old Fort Collins water treatment plant. This ditch delivers water to Collindale Golf Course, Poudre School District, Hewlett Packard and other places that use raw water for irrigation The Board also recommended approval of several easements to allow Greeley to run their new water pipeline under the city’s existing water mains near La Porte. 2. PRPA IGA Agreement Extension – The Board recommended a one‐year extension of the IGA with PRPA to enable completion of negotiations to continue in regards to privacy policies, credit reporting and identity theft. 3. Smart Water Meter Appropriations – The Board supported appropriations for the proposed new interactive water meters that will allow the city to collect real time water use data and consumers to better monitor their water use. 4. Building Code Fire Suppression Changes – The new International Building Code recommends the installation of fire suppression sprinklers in residential units. The Board spent a lot of time asking questions to understand the cost and other impacts of this proposed change. One concern is the issue of shutting off water for non‐payment of user fees and how that might impact the customer’s fire suppression sprinklers in the event of a fire. The Board recommended delaying adoption of this section of the code until 2014 to give more time to resolve the shut off issue. C. Wastewater Utility 1. Code Changes – The Board recommended amending the city code to update the Industrial Pretreatment rules and for temporary wastewater services, and to adjustments for evaporation losses for commercial customers who have significant differences between water delivered and wastewater discharged. 2. Meadow Springs Ranch Grazing Lease Extension – The Board was pleased with the success of grazing on the ranch and recommended the lease be extended. D. Other 1. Financial Issues –The Board reviewed and recommended approval for the water rental rates and delivery charges for 2010 and made recommendations on 2011 utility user fees. The Board also reviewed made recommendations on the 2011‐12 Utility Budgets. 2. Plan Fort Collins – The plan’s goals and objectives were reviewed and suggestions made at various stages of the plan. The Board reviewed and commented at least three different times. By the final draft, the Board could see that many of their recommendations had been incorporated into the final draft. Presentations The Board heard presentations and held discussions on the following topics: • Green Building Code changes • Urban Stream Health Assessment report • The Utility’s Asset Management Program that will plan for replacement of aging capital equipment and infrastructure • Water and Wastewater Treatment Master Plans • Water Technology Cluster • Halligan and Seaman Reservoir Project • Customer Satisfaction Survey • 2009 Drinking Water Quality Report • Shared Visioning Process for review of the preferred Halligan‐Seaman reservoir expansions • Pharmaceutical and Contaminants in water supplies • Updates from the Water Supply; Engineering; Water Conservation and Public Education; Legislation, Financial and Liaison; and Instream Flow Committees. 2011 Activities The Board has a challenging workplan for 2011 with a review and update of the Water Supply and Demand Management Policy and continued work on stormwater action items as the top issues. It is also hoped that there will be recommendations forthcoming on the preservation and restoration of instream flows to the Poudre River.