HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Board - Minutes - 06/21/2018Meeting Minutes – June 21, 2018 Page 1
Fort Collins Utilities Water Board Minutes
Thursday, June 21, 2018
Water Board Chairperson City Council Liaison
Brett Bovee, 970-889-0469 Wade Troxell, 970-219-8940
Water Board Vice Chairperson Staff Liaison
Kent Bruxvoort, 970-219-2832 Carol Webb, 970-221-6231
ROLL CALL
Board Present: Chairperson Brett Bovee, Vice Chairperson Kent Bruxvoort, and Board
Members Lori Brunswig, Phyllis Ortman, John Primsky, Steve Malers, Jason Tarry, and Andrew
McKinley.
Board Absent: Board Members Rebecca Hill, Michael Brown, and Jim Kuiken.
OTHERS PRESENT
Staff: Carol Webb, Katherine Martinez, Richard Thorp, Jill Oropeza, Honore Depew, Theresa
Connor, Donnie Dustin, Jason Graham.
Members of the Public: None.
Meeting Convened
Chairperson Bovee called the meeting to order at 5:32 p.m.
Public Comment
None.
Approval of March 15, 2018 Board Meeting Minutes
Board Member Phyllis Ortman moved to approve the March 15, 2018 meeting minutes.
• Board Member Lori Brunswig seconded the motion.
• Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously 5-0 with 3 abstentions
• Board Members Jason Tarry, Andy McKinley, and Steve Malers abstained due to their
absences at the March meeting.
Approval of April 19, 2018 Board Meeting Minutes
A board member mentioned a minor correction to one statement.
Board member Jason Tarry moved to approve the April 19, 2018 meeting minutes.
• Board Member Andy McKinley seconded the motion.
• Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously 7-0 with one abstention.
• Board Members Steve Malers abstained due to his absence at the April meeting.
Meeting Minutes – June 21, 2018 Page 2
Watershed Update
(Attachments available upon request)
Water Quality Services Manager Jill Oropeza introduced Watershed Specialist Richard Thorp
who gave a summary of watershed monitoring, reporting, and programs, including highlights
such as: the City has been monitoring water quality at Horsetooth Reservoir for 20 years, and in
2018 renewed its memorandum of understanding with Northern Water for collaborative
monitoring; staff is working on an application for the American Water Works Association
Exemplary Source Water Program Award. All reports are available at
https://www.fcgov.com/utilities/what-we-do/water/water-quality
Discussion Highlights
Board members inquired about various related topics including monitoring areas and types of
contaminants (e.g. opiates and methamphetamine may be added to the list); sampling frequency;
regionally specific types of contaminants; Big Thompson Watershed Forum and collaborative
monitoring program; examples of wildfire mitigation projects (such as prescribed fires, etc.), and
how climate change affects planning. Water Resources Manager Donnie Dustin mentioned that
the current Water Vulnerability Study considers climate change. Ms. Oropeza explained Poudre
River Resiliency Plan considers how to handle climate change, such as reviewing forest health,
forest fuel types, and other factors that would affect water supplies. Other questions included E
coli (some residents are on septic tanks) and Total Maximum Daily Load Studies.
Staff Reports
Water Resources Monthly Report
(Attachments available upon request)
Water Resources Manager Donnie Dustin summarized the report and mentioned tentative plans
by Northern Water to shut down Horsetooth Reservoir (the City’s second water source) for a
month in the fall for maintenance. City staff is in discussions with Northern Water about the
project’s timing.
Discussion Highlights
Board members commented on and inquired about various related topics including monthly
water deliveries, water sales, and projections.
Regional Wasteshed Project
(Attachments available upon request)
Environmental Sustainability Senior Specialist Honore Depew summarized the project with a
presentation he gave at the City Council Work Session in May detailing the path forward for the
waste stream, and asked for board feedback. The project is in conjunction with a regional
coalition including Larimer County, and aligns with waste reduction and climate goals. No tax
revenue is involved in the cost projections; the project is set up as an enterprise fund. New
infrastructure takes a long time to build; construction timeline includes permitting, design,
construction; all facilities to be operational by 2025 when the current landfill is projected to
reach capacity. An intergovernmental agreement would include the county committing to
financing and constructing facilities, and municipalities committing to adopting rules for waste
handling.
Meeting Minutes – June 21, 2018 Page 3
Discussion Highlights
Board members commented on and inquired about various related topics including types of
facilities, the changing relationship between people and the materials they handle; City of
Boulder requiring the separation of organic material (but because Boulder began the project
before having infrastructure in place; it therefore must spend money on transporting materials to
Weld County facilities); the recycling conundrum with China, which is backing off on buying
materials; sorting materials; limited options for recycling tires; Climate Action Plan; Denmark
using incineration; anaerobic conversion used at Drake Water Reclamation Facility; the county’s
certainty that landfill will be completely full in 2025 (100% sure); need for more education on
recycling properly so that materials are not contaminated.
Budgeting for Outcomes (BFO) Water Fund Offers
Utilities Deputy Director Carol Webb reviewed the Water Fund and Customer Service &
Administration Fund budget offers: revenue projection, current offers, capital projects, and
enhancements (to best maintain or improve level of service, such as in water conservation, water
resources, new full-time equivalent (FTE) positions, etc.). Staff limited ongoing offers to 2%
growth for inflation.
Discussion Highlights
Board members commented on and inquired about various related topics such as the amount of
FTEs requested; prioritization of offers; withdrawn offers due to internal prioritization
discussions; the possibility of using Art in Public Places money for the Fort Collins Water Works
Interpretive Museum (staff will research); the best time for the board to make recommendations
to Budget Lead Team and City Council; and budget offers related to asset management.
Chairperson Brett Bovee will compile board member questions regarding specific budget offers
and forward them to Ms. Webb and Water Engineering and Field Services Manager Theresa
Connor, who will act as Staff Liaison at the July 19 Water Board meeting.
Committee Reports
Magnolia Outfall Committee: will meet next week, and the four board members will report back
at the next regular Water Board meeting.
Water Vulnerability Study Committee: work is on track to complete study by end of 2018. Staff
will provide update to Water Board in September 2018.
Other Business
Joint Board Meeting
Chairperson Bovee asked board members if they agree to attending a joint board meeting on
Tuesday, August 21 with Natural Resources Advisory Board and Land Conservation
Stewardship Board regarding Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP) Final Environmental
Impact Statement (FEIS) and how the City should respond. The FEIS is expected to be released
July 1, and staff will present at a City Council Work Session in August. Board members