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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Board - Minutes - 02/18/20161 Water Board Minutes February 18, 2016 Fort Collins Utilities Water Board Minutes Thursday, February 18, 2016 Water Board Chairperson City Council Liaison Steve Malers, 970-484-1954 Wade Troxell, 970-219-8940 Water Board Vice Chairperson Staff Liaisons Rebecca Hill, 970-402-1713 Jon Haukaas, 970-221-6671 Carol Webb, 970-221-6231 ROLL CALL Board Present: Chairperson Rebecca Hill, Vice Chairperson Brett Bovee, and Board Members Steve Malers, Michael Brown, Alexander Maas, Phyllis Ortman, Andrew McKinley, Lori Brunswig, Kent Bruxvoort, Duncan Eccleston, Jason Tarry. OTHERS PRESENT Staff: Carol Webb, Donnie Dustin, Eric Potyondy, Adam Jokerst, Susan Smolnik, Jill Oropeza, Liesel Hans, John Stokes, Katherine Martinez. Members of the Public: None Meeting Convened Chairperson Malers called the meeting to order at 5:32 p.m. Public Comment None Approval of January 21, 2016 Board Meeting Minutes Board Member Brett Bovee moved to approve the minutes of the January 21 meeting. Board Member Michael Brown seconded the motion. Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously, 11-0. Officer Elections Board Member Phyllis Ortman nominated Rebecca Hill as Chairperson. Board Member Duncan Eccleston seconded the motion. Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously, 11-0. Board Member Phyllis Ortman nominated Brett Bovee as Vice Chairperson. Board Member Lori Brunswig seconded the motion. Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously, 11-0. 2 Water Board Minutes February 18, 2016 Staff Reports (Attachments available upon request) Staff Liaison Carol Webb reported that Lisa Rosintoski and Pete Iengo’s presentation on Low Income Assistance will be rescheduled for a future Water Board meeting due to this item being postponed by City Council. The agenda item on Boxelder Basin Regional Stormwater Authority was rescheduled to the March 17 regular meeting. Halligan Draft EIS Status Update Water Resources Engineer Adam Jokerst summarized the status of the Halligan Water Supply Project and the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The scope of the water quality study exceeds that previously contemplated. As a result, the schedule for release of the EIS has been extended to the first half of 2017. The additional water studies will cost about $475,000. Mr. Jokerst stated this is the 10th year of permitting, and it’s been a long and expensive process, but progress is occurring. Monthly Water Resources Report Water Resources Manager Donnie Dustin stated that the monthly Water Resources report will continue to be provided for board meetings, and presentations at Water Board meetings will now occur every three months. 2016 Raw Water Rental rates and Delivery Charges (Attachments available upon request) Water Resources Engineer Susan Smolnik summarized the 2016 proposed rental rates for surplus raw water, and Rule 11 transfer fees. Staff will seek City Council approval of rates and charges for the rental and delivery of the Utilities raw water supplies, and asked Water Board to recommend that City Council adopt the proposed rental rates and delivery charges. These rates and charges are used to invoice agricultural, contractual and other raw water users. The City is a shareholder in several local irrigation companies and also holds allotment contracts for the delivery of Colorado Big-Thompson Project (CBT) water. The main use for these raw water sources is in the treatment and delivery of potable water for the Utilities’ ratepayers, along with delivery obligations to provide raw water shares for use by homeowners associations (HOAs), the Poudre School District, and several City departments. After treated and raw water demands are met, there is surplus water most years that can be rented to other water users. Staff again proposes two categories for pricing: rental rates to set prices for surplus water and delivery charges to set prices for sources where the Utilities has an on-going obligation to provide raw water that is used to irrigate some HOA greenbelts, Poudre School District’s fields and the City’s parks, golf courses, and cemeteries. Highlights of the fees: • City pays a transfer fee on all CBT water transferred from North Poudre Irrigation Company (NPIC) • No off-sets • Fee equals municipal assessment minus $1.50 divided by quota • 2016 fee is ($35.50-$1.50)/70% or $48.57 assuming a 70% quota 3 Water Board Minutes February 18, 2016 • Fee makes City’s rentals too expensive for most farmers Discussion Highlights Board members inquired about various aspects of the proposed rates, including CBT water storage; whether there are water users, such as farmers, who need short-term supplies (staff replied that it’s difficult to predict); and whether it’s possible to establish “permanent” users (staff replied it’s not likely; users of 10 years could be a possibility for example); Halligan Reservoir is primarily used for City water storage; staff doesn’t expect to use it for CBT water. Board Member Alex Maas moved Water Board recommend that the formulas and fixed rates for 2016 raw water rental rates and delivery charges as proposed by Utilities staff be adopted by the City Council. Board Member Phyllis Ortman seconded the motion. Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously, 11-0. Review of Harper Property Easement Request (Discussion & Action: 25 minutes) Watershed Specialist Jill Oropeza summarized the request. Mr. Harper is seeking an easement to keep in place a road that was recently cut to his home site and which passes through an adjacent City-owned property in the Poudre Canyon. The roadway was constructed partially on City property without the City’s permission. Mr. Harper is seeking options for maintaining safe access to his property while also helping the City improve Poudre River water quality by addressing post-fire runoff and erosion that originates on his and neighboring properties. The greatest net benefit to the City is to keep the exiting road cut and landowners to work with Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed (CPRW) www.poudrewatershed.org to complete additional post-fire restoration projects within the basin. Discussion Highlights Board members inquired about various aspects of the easement request, including whether other homeowners have made similar requests, and the expense involved if the easement request is approved; staff replied that Mr. Harper is clear on his responsibilities if City Council approves the easement request, including a formal agreement with CPRW to complete the work. If the work is not done, the City would be able to revoke the agreement, per the City Attorney. Board Member Duncan Eccleston moved that the Water Board recommend City Council consider approval of the conveyance of an access easement on City Property to Peter and Crystal Harper, consistent with Staff’s recommendation. Board Member Michael Brown seconded the motion. Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously, 11-0. 4 Water Board Minutes February 18, 2016 Water Efficiency Plan (WEP) (Attachments Available Upon Request) Water Conservation Manager Liesel Hans gave a presentation on the Water Efficiency Plan (WEP) at the Water Board February 4 Work Session. She summarized the update process, which began in early 2015 and included a technical advisory group, community engagement, and Water Board input. Staff presented to City Council at the October 13, 2015 Work Session, in which Council indicated support for the plan and adoption by resolution at an upcoming Council Meeting. WEP is an agenda item at the March 1 regular City Council session. The plan will replace the 2010 Water Conservation Plan. Board Member Steve Malers moved that the Water Board recommend City Council approve and adopt the 2015 Water Efficiency Plan. Board Member Alex Maas seconded the motion. Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously, 11-0. Agreement Phase I Instream Flow Augmentation Program (Attachments Available Upon Request) John Stokes, Natural Areas Director explained the agenda item is to seek Council approval of a proposed agreement between various parties to implement Phase I of a three-phase project to develop an instream flow augmentation plan on the Poudre River through and near Fort Collins. For several years, staff has been participating in the Poudre River Runs Through It (PRTI), a group of regional water leaders convened by Colorado State University’s Colorado Water Institute. The group’s focus is to promote dialogue and explore options for creating the world’s best example of a healthy, working river. The program needs City Council approval because it requires an intergovernmental agreement. The agenda item is scheduled to go to City Council on March 1. Discussion Highlights Board members inquired about various aspects of the agreement and project, including interest among water districts to participate; Mr. Stokes gave examples of other organizations’ interest in the project, which include environmental and conservation issues. Parts of the plan may include bridges over diversions and the installation of related measurement instruments. Board Member Steve Malers moved that the Water Board recommend Council approval of the Agreement Regarding Phase I (Development) of a Multi-Phase Plan for an Instream Flow Augmentation Plan on the Cache la Poudre River. The parties to the Agreement include the City of Fort Collins, City of Greeley, Cache la Poudre Water Users Association, Northern Water, and the Colorado Water Trust. Board Member Phyllis Ortman seconded the motion. Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously, 11-0.