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Home My WebLink About2018 - Water Board - Annual ReportWATER BOARD 2018 Annual Report January 17, 2019 222 Laporte Avenue, Colorado River Community Room 2018 ANNUAL REPORT Page 1 This annual report summarizes the activities of the Water Board during 2018. The formatting of this Annual Report is consistent with the Annual Work Plan. Alignment of Water Board activities with the City’s Strategic Plan and Key Outcome Areas is achieved through the Annual Work Plan. Water Board activities listed below are organized by the major responsibilities of Fort Collins Utilities related to water (“Water”, “Wastewater”, and “Stormwater”). The “Regional Issues” category includes topics related to maintaining a dialogue on regional water issues. Additionally, the “General” category includes general topics that span Utilities or the City. The “Public Comment” category summarizes public comments made at meetings during the year and efforts to respond to these comments. Regular Water Board meetings are held each month and work sessions are held in even months. Meeting minutes for regular meetings are available on the Fort Collins website. During work sessions, no actions are voted on and no minutes are recorded. For this annual report, a separate category is provided on the topics discussed at the work sessions in 2018. 1. WATER BOARD MEMBERS Brett Bovee, Chair Michael Brown John Primsky Kent Bruxvoort, Vice Chair Lori Brunswig Andrew McKinley Steve Malers Jim Kuiken Phyllis Ortman Jason Tarry Rebecca Hill Water Board members also served on various committees in 2018: • Magnolia St. Outfall Steering Committee: Jim Kuiken, Jason Tarry, Kent Bruxvoort • Water Supply Vulnerability Working Group: Phyllis Ortman, Kent Bruxvoort, Steve Malers • City Impact Fees Working Group: Rebecca Hill 2. PUBLIC COMMENT • Received public comment from Mr. Baum regarding his appeal of stormwater rates (see Stormwater section below). • Received public comment via email supporting the continued 1% allocation for Art in Public Places for all projects, including the broadband construction project. (July) • Mr. Wocker from Save the Poudre provided public comment that the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP) violates Federal law and that his organization plans to file a lawsuit in Federal Court. He invited the City to join the lawsuit. (August Joint Work Session with Energy, Natural Resources, and Land Conservation and Stewardship Boards) • Three members of the public, Mr. Campana, Mr. Shibata, and Mr. Kelley, all spoke in favor of the City considering some form of waiver for the excess water use fees, citing examples of the significant fee payments for relatively unorganized Home Owners Associations (HOAs) to respond to in a short time. WATER BOARD 2018 Annual Report 2018 ANNUAL REPORT Page 2 3. GENERAL • Discussed legislative policies and topics based on the City’s 2018 Legislative Policy Agenda. (February) • Board recommended that City Code be updated to allow reimbursement agreements to apply to infill, redevelopment, and existing development. (March) • Approved of the Utilities planned Income Qualified Assistance Program on an 8-1 vote, conditioned on the program being a 3-year pilot with not to exceed costs and a requirement to see measurable conservation benefits. (April Special Meeting). Subsequently, discussed the Utilities Affordability Portfolio, including the Income Qualified Assistance Program. (April, Joint Meeting with Energy Board) • Received an update from the Utilities Executive Director on recent accomplishments and Fiscal Year 2018 priorities. (April, Joint Meeting with Energy Board) • Reviewed the results of the Utilities Customer Satisfaction Survey for 2017. (April, Joint Meeting with Energy Board). • Reviewed and discussed the City’s Regional Wasteshed Project to separate organic materials from the waste stream and process them at a separate facility. (June) • Reviewed and discussed the various Budgeting for Outcomes (BFO) offers set by Utilities for the three water enterprise funds (June), reviewed and commented on specific offers (July), and approved BFO offers identified by City staff and recommended funding of a specific budget offer to convert a contractual Water Conservation staff position to classified (September). • Discussed the Art in Public Places program and specifically whether the 1% allocation is reasonable for underground projects such as broadband construction. (July) • Submitted a Periodic Review Questionnaire to City Council. (July) • Reviewed a summary findings paper from the City’s Fee Working Group looking at development and impacts fees. (August) • Supported adoption of 2018 series building code amendments, with a focus on the specific recommendations of the City’s Water Conservation staff. (September) • Discussed and ultimately recommended against adoption of the Building Energy and Water Scoring Ordinance by a vote of 1-6 because of concerns about unnecessary regulation and punitive nature. (November) 4. WATER • The Board was updated on and discussed a turbidity violation that occurred at the water treatment plant on December 14, 2017. (January) • Discussed the status, next steps, and preliminary findings of the Water Supply Vulnerability Assessment. (February) • Approved of formulas and fixed rates to annually determine the City’s raw water rental rates and delivery charges as an ongoing method, with annual reporting. (February) • Reviewed the Water Conservation Program efforts and achievements (March), and reviewed the 2017 Water Conservation Annual Report (July). • Discussed the quarterly status report for the Halligan Water Supply Project. (March) • Discussed the status of changing the power supply to the water treatment facility from Xcel Energy to the City’s Light & Power utility. (April, Joint Meeting with Energy Board) WATER BOARD 2018 Annual Report 2018 ANNUAL REPORT Page 3 • Reviewed the City’s watershed monitoring and reporting programs. (June) • Reviewed the Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report. (August) • Discussed the proposed Water Quality Services Laboratory Master Plan. (September) • Received an update on the Halligan Water Supply Project, with part of the discussion focused on reintroduction of greenback cutthroat trout as an environmental enhancement. (October) • Discussed the Water & Wastewater Linear System Master Plan. (November) • Supported the request by Utilities to authorize the purchasing agent for the Halligan Water Supply Project to enter into contracts in excess of 5 years through project completion. (November) • Recommended approval of the Parks Department plan to enter into a water lease agreement for irrigation ditch shares back to the seller for agricultural use until the Parks Department needs to utilize the water for parks irrigation. (December) • Discussed and provided comments on program ideas to waive excess water use fees for customers. (December) 5. WASTEWATER • Discussed the proposed transmission line easement through Meadow Springs Ranch to accommodate Platte River Power Authority plans to develop the Roundhouse Renewable Energy project in Wyoming (April, Joint Meeting with Energy Board). Subsequently participated in a roundtable discussion of the proposed easement (August Joint Work Session with Energy, Natural Resources, and Land Conservation and Stewardship Boards) and then approved of the easement (December). • Discussed the Water Reclamation and Biosolids Master Plan. (August) 6. STORMWATER • Mr. Baum appealed the decision of the Utilities’ Executive Director to modify the stormwater fees specific to his property. The Water Board heard the appeal as a quasi-judicial proceeding and upheld the decision of the Executive Director on stormwater fees by a 9-0 vote. (January) • Reviewed Stormwater capital improvement projects, specifically the planned Magnolia Street Outfall project. (January) Subsequently formed a steering committee of four water board members to stay engaged on the Magnolia Street Outfall Project. (March) • Reviewed and discussed a request to re-appropriate stormwater improvement capital funds from the Remington Outfall Project to the over-budget Whitewater Park Project. The Board approved the re-appropriation of funds on a 5-2 vote. (March) • Reviewed and approved a 2% increase to stormwater monthly rates for 2019. (October) • Recommended City Council approval of a Fort Collins Stormwater Criteria Manual to replace the previous Urban Drainage and Flood Control District Criteria Manual with specific Fort Collins Amendments. (October) • Received an update on interim findings of the Magnolia Street Outfall Project from the steering committee. (November) • Received an annual update on the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit program and compliance. (December) WATER BOARD 2018 Annual Report 2018 ANNUAL REPORT Page 4 7. REGIONAL ISSUES • The Board discussed the Thornton Water / Pipeline Project, including recent news articles and the Larimer County 1041 permit process. (January & March) • Attended the Tri-City and Districts Annual Water Board Meeting in Greeley. (May) • Reviewed and discussed the Final Environmental Impacts Statement (FEIS) for the Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP), including City comments on the FEIS. (August). Participated in a roundtable discussion of the City’s planned response to the FEIS (August Joint Work Session with Energy, Natural Resources, and Land Conservation and Stewardship Boards). Reviewed and unanimously approved support for the City’s comments regarding NISP, with a focus on developing an environmental pool in Glade Reservoir, identifying mitigation measures, and including language on City capital expense damages. (September) • Discussed the City’s efforts, through the Natural Areas Program, to develop an instream flow augmentation plan for the Poudre River. The Board approved by 7-0 vote to fund a Phase 2 agreement between multiple parties to continue these efforts. (August) • Discussed the impacts of a truck crash in the Poudre Canyon which caused a spill of hydraulic fracturing fluid. (August) 8. WORK SESSIONS • Reviewed a cost update for the Halligan Enlargement Project and provided recommendations for revising the updated costs to reflect best available information. (February) • Reviewed staff information materials and discussed the financial status and plans for the three Utilities wet funds. Provided ideas to staff on future goals for financial policy. (April and June) Discussed alternative rate structures for water, considering relatively high fixed costs, water conservation objectives, and the current rate structure. (November)