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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Board - Minutes - 07/18/2019WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING July 18, 2019, 5:30-7:30 p.m. 222 Laporte Avenue, Colorado River Community Room 07/18/2019 – MINUTES Page 1 1. CALL TO ORDER 5:32 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL • Board Members Present: Michael C. Brown, Jr. (Chairperson), Phyllis Ortman, Greg Steed, Brett Bovee, Randy Kenyon, Kent Bruxvoort, Andrew McKinley, Jim Kuiken • Board Members Absent - Excused: Steve Malers, John Primsky, Jason Tarry (Vice Chairperson) • Staff Members Present: Theresa Connor, Marisa Olivas, Mark Kempton, Liesel Hans, Ken Sampley, Dan Evans, Matt Fater, Linsey Chalfant • Members of the Public: Joseph Chafey, Brad Anderson/Anderson Consulting 3. AGENDA REVIEW None 4. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION None 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES • Chairperson Brown asked for a motion to approve the June 20 minutes. Board Member Bovee moved to approve the June 20, 2019 minutes. Board Member Bruxvoort seconded the motion. Discussion on the motion: Board Member Kuiken noted a typo in the date. Vote on the motion: It passed 6-0 Board Members McKinley and Kuiken abstained due to their absence at the June meeting. 6. NEW BUSINESS a. Staff Reports (Attachments available upon request)  Water Resources Monthly Report (meeting packet only)  Financial Monthly Report (meeting packet only) WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING 07/18/2019 – MINUTES Page 2  Water Efficiency Plan Annual Report Water Conservation Manager Liesel Hans shared that Water Efficiency Plan actions in 2018 saved 133 million gallons of water. The goal is to reduce community use to an average of 130 gallons per person per day by 2030. There is a combination of approaches to measure water efficiency. Ms. Hans went into further detail on programs and the Water Shortage Response Plan. There is additional data available online at fcgov.com/opendata regarding treated water demand and water rate history. Discussion Highlights: Board members commented on and inquired about various related topics including where the City stood by the average use goal (as of 2018 average use is at 143 gallons, per person per day); how the City compares to other cities in the Front Range (difficult to compare due to different factors that make up cities’ volumes (i.e. residential, industrial, agricultural, etc.). Fort Collins is generally on the mid-to-low end of other communities); what it would take to move gallons per capita (GPC) to 5% and/or if it can be done; if a full-time equivalent (FTE) position will be proposed in the next budget (converting one position to classified position has been approved; it will focus on commercial sector use).  Stormwater Master Planning Update Stormwater Engineering & Development Review Manager Ken Sampley and Stormwater Master Planning Manager Dan Evans summarized the purpose of the master plan: to identify projects to reduce flood damage to homes and businesses and reduce overtopping of arterial roads, guidance for new developments, guidance for enhancements to riparian habitat along stream corridors, guidance for stabilizing streams where necessary, and improvements to water quality. The multi-objective policy includes flood protection, water quality, stream rehabilitation, and low impact development. The master plan required updates of more accurate topography, new development, accounting of completed capital projects, an enhance in modeling techniques, integration water quality and stream rehabilitation, update to costs, and more detailed study areas.  Magnolia Street Outfall/Downtown Stormwater Improvements Director of Civil Engineering Matt Fater and Special Projects Manager Linsey Chalfant summarized the improvements needed for Old Town Basin to better address the flood hazard. The flooding in this area is unique because it is urban flooding that is not necessarily associated with a stream or river. Streets flood from storm sewers that get overwhelmed, and this leads to a risk of flooding in homes and structures. A flood damage assessment was completed for Old Town Basin that includes an economic analysis of expected damages that may come from areas of risk. This considered flood WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING 07/18/2019 – MINUTES Page 3 depths (e.g. whether a 10 or 100-year storm) and elevation of structures (e.g. some at finished floor elevation (FFE), others with basements). More than half the structures in the Old Town Basin have basements. Estimated flood damages included structure damage, content damage, and basement damage. The new draft plan would remain at a similar cost estimate as the previous version ($140-$150 million) and did validate the need for such an expense. Ms. Chalfant noted that they are looking at project priorities and plans include collaborative efforts with other City departments. Public engagement and outreach are underway. Discussion Highlights: Board members commented on and inquired about various related topics including whether the old assessed values or new assessed values for structures were used for calculations (They decided to present a range to account for the change in years and property assessments); why the Maple Street line extends past the 100-year flood zone into the Mountain Avenue line (there are areas outside the 100-year flood plan that still have local flooding, and the capacity of the Oak Street outfall is limited); project construction approach; elevation site; whether grass pavers on parking lots have merit in helping with runoff (they have merit for water quality treatment but not necessarily flood risk. Utilities Deputy Director Theresa Connor explained that water quality treatment is for everyday rain events, but in a 100-year flood event a large amount of rainfall needs to be managed in a two-hour timeframe so grass pavers don’t have as much impact in those scenarios. b. Regular Items  Adoption of Three Stormwater Master Plans (Attachments available upon request) Stormwater Master Planning Manager Dan Evans discussed the three Master Plan updates that are portions of the larger basin master plans: North College Drainage Improvements Design (NCDID), Buckingham/Lincoln Corridor Outfall, and Stone Creek. Each master plan update provides direction for capital projects and development in each basin. City Code allows the Utilities Executive Director to approve these updates rather than City Council. Discussion Highlights: Board members commented on and inquired about various related topics including wondering why the Water Board was being asked to make recommendations regarding projects that have been built already (Ms. Connor noted that one project has not yet been built and these efforts are to keep the master plan accurate and updated); whether the budget contains money for the projects (all projects will go into a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and later be included in the next Budgeting For Outcomes (BFO) cycle). WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING 07/18/2019 – MINUTES Page 4 Board Member Bruxvoort moved that Water Board recommend the Utilities Executive Director adopt the NCDID, Buckingham/Lincoln Outfall, and Stone Creek Stormwater master plan updates. Board Member Ortman seconded the motion. Discussion on the motion: None Vote on the Motion: It passed unanimously, 8-0  Intergovernmental Agreement with Northern Water for Improvements to the Munroe Canal Inlet Structure (Attachments available upon request) Water Production Manager Mark Kempton shared that the project protects the Munroe Canal Inlet Structure from debris flows and vehicle accidents. The structure is part of the Pleasant Valley (PV) Pipeline system and is owned by Northern Water. North Poudre Irrigation Company operates and maintains it. The City of Fort Collins and the Tri-Districts (East Larimer County Water District, Fort Collins-Loveland Water District, North Weld County Water District) pull water from it through the PV Pipeline. It is located within the High Park Fire burn area. The High Park Fire in June 2012 burned 87,415 acres of the Poudre River Watershed. In July 2013 a storm caused wildfire debris to fill the entire basin intake. To protect the diversion, Northern Water has designed a steel grate, beams headworks cover and a corrugated steel flume cover with an access hatch. The project is scheduled to start in October and work into early spring 2020. Cost estimate is $800,000. As a Tri- District participant of the PV Pipeline, Fort Collins would contribute a sixth of the cost. Discussion Highlights: Board members commented on and inquired about various related topics including whether the flume could be diverted under the tunnel without a huge open pit at the bottom of the drainage (the tunnel contains a large partial flume; a large flume is needed to measure the amount of water that flows through); the life expectancy of the corrugated steel (the bridge-like corrugated steel structures could last 50 plus years or more if maintained well); why concrete wasn’t used instead (concrete is more expensive and would take longer to place); what would occur if the debris flow was heavier than planned (Mr. Kempton assumed they took into account a safety factor for taking on additional load; the structures are designed to take on more than 3 feet of cover and have actual truck loadings and various weights on it). Board Member Brett moved that the Water Board recommend City Council WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING 07/18/2019 – MINUTES Page 5 adopt the resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute an agreement between the City of Fort Collins, the East Larimer County Water District, the Fort Collins-Loveland Water District, the North Weld County Water District, Norther Colorado Water Conservancy District, and North Poudre Irrigation Company regarding improvements to the Monroe Canal Diversion Structure. Board Member Bruxvoort seconded the motion. Discussion on the Motion: None Vote on the Motion: It passed unanimously, 8-0 7. OTHER BUSINESS a. Chairperson Brown and Ms. Connor discussed a scheduling conflict. The August 15 Water Board regular meeting falls on the same day as the City’s employee and volunteer appreciation event, which the Water Board has been invited to. Ms. Connor will check with Northern Water on rescheduling date options. Board Member Ortman asked that Ms. Connor not schedule Northern’s presentation during the October regular meeting, because she will be out of town. The board agreed to cancel the August regular meeting and receive the regular staff reports via email. 8. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS None. 9. ADJOURNMENT 7:30 p.m.