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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Board - Minutes - 02/21/2019WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING February 21, 2019, 5:30-8:00 p.m. 222 Laporte Avenue, Colorado River Community Room 02/21/2019 – MINUTES Page 1 1. CALL TO ORDER 5:33 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL • Board Members Present: Brett Bovee, Kent Bruxvoort, Phyllis Ortman, Steve Malers, John Primsky, Michael Brown, Jr., Jason Tarry, Jim Kuiken, Andrew McKinley, Randy Kenyon • Board Members Absent – Excused: Greg Steed • Staff Members Present: Theresa Connor, Katherine Martinez, Andrew Gingerich, Liesel Hans, Shane Boyle, Linsey Chalfant, Matt Fater, Coy Althoff, Sandra Bratlie, Dan Evans, Pete Iengo, Ken Sampley • Members of the Public: Alan Braslau, Randy Ross, Brian Smith, State Rep. Jeni Arndt 3. AGENDA REVIEW • Chairperson Brett Bovee proposed moving the officer elections to the end of the meeting. Board members agreed. 4. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION • No public comments 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Board Member Brown moved to approve the January 17 meeting minutes not including the transcript. Board Member Ortman seconded the motion. Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously, 10-0. 6. NEW BUSINESS a. Staff Reports (Attachments available upon request)  Water Conversation Update Presentation Summary: Water Conservation Manager Liesel Hans provided an overview of 2019 priorities and sought board members’ feedback on what they would like to see at the June update. 2019 priorities include capital improvement plans, Halligan Water Project, Broadband/Oasis (new Fort WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING 02/21/2019 – MINUTES Page 2 Collins Utilities customer information and billing system). Utilities Customer Connections Service Unit 2019 Priorities are Oasis, water allotments, public engagement, day-to-day operations, and Business Engagement Action Plan (partnership with Economic Health Department). Discussion Summary: Board members commented on and inquired about related topics such as the water allotment management program timeline; review of discussion highlights from water allotments topic discussed at the February 4 Water Board Work Session; incentives for water conservation related to landscaping; whether the alert system for continuous consumption (more than 24 hours) can also be used for Water Shortage Response Plan; contractual position was not converted to classified in the 2019-2020 City budget; request to include in annual report activities for existing customers with older homes and what will be most impactful for new homes.  Water Resources Monthly Report (meeting packet only/no discussion)  Financial Monthly Report (meeting packet only) Discussion summary: Financial report covered the 2018 fiscal year; question about line item on financing services: court settlement on how some water shares were calculated; Staff Liaison Theresa Connor will consult staff on the settlement and provide details to the board.  Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) Award Proclamation Presentation Water Field Operations Director Andrew Gingerich, who had attended the recent AMWA awards event https://www.amwa.net/platinum-award-utility-excellence with Utilities Executive Director Kevin Gertig and received the Platinum Award on behalf of Fort Collins Utilities, reported highlights from the event: that Fort Collins Utilities is one of the smaller members, but no matter the size, water utilities are facing the same problems, such as replacement of aging infrastructure, workforce development and retention; keynote speaker Mark Coopersmith of Berkeley-Haas Entrepreneurship Program recommended water utility leaders collaborate with think tanks and use other creative ideas to solve challenges; Mr. Gertig gave a presentation at the AMWA event on the City of Fort Collins’ performance excellence journey to receiving a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. The event also focused on resiliency, strategic financing and planning, climate change and how it and other factors might affect water utilities in 25 years.  State Legislation Overview State Rep. Jeni Arndt presented a proclamation recognizing Fort Collins Utilities Water Department’s achievements. Rep. Arndt stated other organizations want to copy Fort Collins, and she recommends collaboration and consulting community WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING 02/21/2019 – MINUTES Page 3 members (such as the Water Board) and customizing creative ideas to their specific community. State Rep. Arndt reported that a joint budget committee plans legislation for $30 million to fund the state’s water plan. One bill about self-funding mechanism for mining; one bill about the Colorado River that is expected to pass; several tax bills; two bigger bills are related to the Poudre River about keeping more water in the river and responding to some of the drought contingency plans; meeting on block- chain for water rights, potential legislation; State Rep. Arndt sought board members’ ideas and suggestions. Discussion Summary: Board members inquired about related topics such as when Utilities would apply again; staff mentioned Fort Collins Utilities is eligible to apply after three years for the Sustainable Water Utility Management Award. Utilities won the 2015 AMWA Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance, which qualified it to apply for this 2018 AMWA Platinum Award for Utility Excellence; severance tax: Gov. Jared Polis has prioritized tax credits; nutrient credit program (State Rep. Arndt replied she hasn’t heard anything about it yet but would like to receive more information from board members and can discuss it with the state agricultural director)(Ms. Connor stated Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) will address new nutrient regulations; direct potable reuse. b. Regular Items • Northeast College Corridor Outfall (NECCO) Stormwater Improvements (Attachments available upon request) Presentation Summary: Development Review Engineer Shane Boyle summarized milestones, next steps, and the proposed funding mechanism that would allow Fort Collins Utilities to recoup $6 million of the $12 million project costs. Project purpose: provide a stormwater outfall for the area north of Vine Drive and east of College Avenue to solve flooding problems and allow for efficient development in the area. Cost share is based on proportional costs for areas draining to each section of NECCO system. Development and redevelopment pay proportionate share of costs when connecting into the system. City will stop allocating costs once development share of system has been collected. This agenda item will go to Council Finance Committee in March and City Council in May. Discussion Summary: Board members commented on and inquired about various related topics including a ditch north of Vine Drive on the system WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING 02/21/2019 – MINUTES Page 4 schematic; the timing of Old Town North and Aspen development and whether they already bought in to the NECCO project (Mr. Boyle replied yes, those developments paid $32,000/acre); redevelopment; the City’s share; Ms. Connor explained regionalizing stormwater infrastructure; Mr. Boyle stated the master plan sizes infrastructure for existing conditions, not full build-out; the development The Crowne at Old Town North. Chairperson Bovee moved that Water Board recommend City Council adopt an ordinance approving, affirming and ratifying the funding of non-city share of the NECCO Project by offering developers of property within the NECCO area the opportunity to pay a proportionate buy-in to connect to the NECCO system in lieu of providing separate stormwater facilities to meet City development standards. Board Member Tarry seconded the motion. Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously, 10-0. Magnolia Street/Old Town Stormwater Improvements Update (Attachments available upon request) Presentation Summary: Water Engineering Division Special Projects Manager Matt Fater introduced the project team: Special Projects Manager Linsey Chalfant; primary consultant Brian Smith of ACE Water; Stormwater Steering Committee: Board Members Bruxvoort, Kuiken, and Tarry. Mr. Fater summarized the issues: downtown Fort Collins was built over a century ago, lack of stormwater infrastructure, significant flood risk; downtown history and flooding; public health and safety; economic impacts, such as loss of business revenue; urban flooding is a national issue. Floodplain and existing outfalls: Howes Street, Oak Street, Lincoln and Willow, and Locust Street outfalls. 2003 Master Plan recommendations: updated $140 million total cost of improvements including Magnolia Street project. Staff is reviewing other alternatives and will report back to Water Board. Downtown challenges: lack of public space, high property values, distance to river, railroad crossings, road crossings, parking. Staff is reviewing innovative approaches (repurposing right-of-way for medians, green infrastructure, etc.) and opportunities for collaboration (Downtown Plan, utility infrastructure replacement, Nature in the City, streetscaping). Discussion Summary: Board members inquired and commented on various related topics including flooding around the Oak Street Outfall; wide roads downtown such as WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING 02/21/2019 – MINUTES Page 5 Magnolia might support innovative approaches; response from Downtown Business Association (Mr. Fater replied that Water Board is among the first to see these concepts and that staff will seek feedback during public engagement process); detention and conveyance; Ms. Chalfant mentioned land value and whether you can offset cost of a large pipe; ballpark figure for basic pipe in the ground (Mr. Fater stated it is less than half the cost of the total project); construction impacts on businesses: some small businesses operate month-to-month and could be wiped out by two months of decreased revenues. 7. OTHER BUSINESS • Chairperson Bovee mentioned Water Board may hear two more floodplain variance requests in the next few months, and asked board members for their thoughts on the hearing process. Ms. Connor inquired whether the board would like more educational opportunities. Board members discussed various issues including a desire for more background information to prepare for the hearings, such as floodplain mapping; agreement on more structure and less dialogue. 8. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS • None 9. NEW BUSINESS (CONTINUED) • Water Board Officer Elections o Chairperson nomination: Board Member Tarry nominated Board Member Michael Brown, Jr. Vice Chairperson Bruxvoort seconded. Vote 9-0. Board Member Brown abstained. o Vice Chairperson nomination: Board Member Brown nominated Board Member Tarry. Chairperson Bovee seconded, Vote 10-0. 10. ADJOURNMENT 8:19 p.m.