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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Board - Minutes - 04/18/2019WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING April 18, 2019, 5:30-7:30 p.m. 222 Laporte Avenue, Colorado River Community Room 04/18/2019 – MINUTES Page 1 1. CALL TO ORDER 5:32 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL • Board Members Present: Michael C. Brown, Jr., Jason Tarry, Phyllis Ortman, Steve Malers, Greg Steed, Brett Bovee, Andrew McKinley • Board Members Absent – Excused: Randy Kenyon, John Primsky, Jim Kuiken, Kent Bruxvoort • Staff Members Present: Theresa Connor, Marisa Olivas, Donnie Dustin, Eileen Dornfest, Susan Strong, Mark Kempton, Abbye Neel, Jason Graham, Link Mueller, Mark Cassalia, Liesel Hans • Members of the Public: None 3. AGENDA REVIEW • None 4. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION • No public comments 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES • Chairperson Brown postponed approval of the February 21 and March 21 meeting minutes approval to the May 16 regular meeting due to a lack of quorum. 6. NEW BUSINESS a. Staff Reports (Attachments available upon request)  Utilities Customer Satisfaction Survey Mark Cassalia, Utilities Customer Support Manager Presentation Summary • Utilities Customer Support Manager Mark Cassalia gave an overview of the 2018 Customer Satisfaction Survey results; the 2018 survey was taken around implementation of Time of Day (TOD) Rates, which could have had an impact on results. The survey scale was from 1 (extremely dissatisfied) to 5 (extremely satisfied) rating. WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING 04/18/2019 – MINUTES Page 2 No key accounts were surveyed for 2018; they are surveyed every other year. The 2018 survey saw a residential satisfaction decrease and commercial satisfaction remained stable. The Utility maintained high results in trustworthiness, accuracy of bills, convenience of bill payment options, reliability and quality of electric and water services, and courteousness of customer service. The Utility has made great strides in increasing customer service response and helpfulness, online security, and employee knowledge. Slipping survey trends included cost of services and the number of programs and incentives offered for conservation. Mr. Cassalia agreed that some modifications will need to be made, but also believes there could be a disconnect between residents/businesses’ perceptions about the Utility versus what the Utility is actually doing. Discussion Summary • Board members commented on and inquired about related topics such as if the survey offered a dialogue or if the survey is simply a rating scale (Mr. Cassalia confirmed it is rating only). Board members suggested including an open-ended question that provided the opportunity for survey takers to tell the Utility what could be done better. It was also suggested to track if the data is coming from the same customer, from year-to-year, to see changes in opinion.  Water Resources Monthly Report Donnie Dustin, Water Resources Manager Presentation Summary • Water Resources Manager, Donnie Dustin, reviewed the Water Resources Monthly Report. A notable item was that the month of March saw colder temperatures (around 6° below average). Water demand was lower than projected. There was a slightly-above- average snowpack. On Thursday April 11 Northern Water set the Colorado Big Thompson (CBT) quota at 70%. CBT is a supplemental source for the Northern Colorado region, so by looking at snowpack, what is in storage regionally, and an estimate of district demands a quota is recommended by staff. A 70% quota is about average and gives the City adequate supplies. Discussion Summary • Board members commented on and inquired about related topics including wondering if supplies are typically higher in an average year. Mr. Dustin confirmed they are higher, but the projection is what the WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING 04/18/2019 – MINUTES Page 3 City would get after considering treatment processes at the plant.  Halligan Water Supply Project Quarterly Report Eileen Dornfest, Special Projects Manager Presentation Summary • Special Projects Manager, Eileen Dornfest stated that the main update is the Draft Environmental Impact Study (EIS) release date has been revised from mid-2019 to late 2019. Discussion Summary • Board members commented on and inquired about various related topics including more details regarding land acquisition and easements (these would act as temporary and long-term access to the land for construction and after construction. There are a few cases that may require lease or purchase); a request for clarification of the wording for the project’s anticipated cost (design is yet to be done, and the vague wording opens the window for unexpected costs to occur during design), and concern for the lack of boring (boring has not taken place because of the dam location, and engineering consultants must determine how to build on top of the dam).  Financial Monthly Report (meeting packet only/no discussion) b. Regular Items  U.S. Bureau of Reclamation WaterSMART Grant Resolution Abbye Neel, Water Conservation Specialist Liesel Hans, Water Conservation Manager (Attachments available upon request) Presentation Summary • Water Conservation Specialist, Abbye Neel, and Water Conservation Manager, Liesel Hans asked the board if they would support the Water Conservation Staff in their application for the United States Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) WaterSMART grant. Water Conservation is applying for a Reclamation WaterSMART grant to be able to provide financial incentives to support waterwise transformation of Home Owner Associations (HOAs) and commercial landscapes. All grant applicants are required to include an official resolution adopted by City Council that commits the applicant to the legal and financial requirements, if awarded, as outlined by the Reclamation. If awarded, WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING 04/18/2019 – MINUTES Page 4 the grant will fund commercial-scale landscape transformation projects that expand upon the already successful residential Xeriscape Incentive Program. These funds could also support participants, potentially in 2019, in the proposed Allotment Management Program (AMP), if AMP is approved. Discussion Summary • Board members commented on and inquired about various related topics including whether the grant allows activities such as putting in sprinklers (Ms. Neel confirmed; funding will be available for such requests)’ if funding could be available to take action in 2019 (Council passed the purposed Allotment Management Program in the context that a waiver could be applied for this year and funding would be received early next year), and what work is being done for City departments, like Planning and Utilities, to better support each other (Water Resources, Water Conservation, Finance, Planning, and Zoning are working on changing ordinances within the departments). Board Member Bovee moved that the Water Board support Water Conservation Staff in their application for the United States Bureau of Reclamation WaterSMART grant. Board Member Steed seconded the motion. Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously, 7-0.  Utilities Spring Code Updates Susan Strong, Senior Environmental Regulatory Specialist (Attachments available upon request) Presentation Summary • Senior Environmental Regulatory Specialist, Susan Strong, explained the amended definitions of “contaminated water” and “pollutant” to City Code Section 26-491, which will ensure consistency with the City’s MS4 permits. The 26-491 proposed amendments would add “pollutants” to the definition of “contaminated water” and will add “contaminated water” to the definition of “pollutant”. The definition of contaminated water does not include landscape irrigation and watering or dye testing in accordance with manufacturers recommendations. These changes will help to prohibit and enforce on “illicit discharges” to the storm sewer system. There are some discharges that are WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING 04/18/2019 – MINUTES Page 5 considered low-risk and do not require action from MS4. Discussion Summary • Board members commented on and inquired about various related topics including exceptions that came to mind for action on illicit discharges. Board Member Malers moved for Water Board to recommend the approval by City Council the amendments to Section 25-491 of Municipal Code relating to definitions of “contaminated water” and “pollutant”. Board Member Steed seconded the motion. Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously, 7-0.  Horsetooth Supply Line Shutdown Intergovernmental Agreement with Tri-Districts Mark Kempton, Water Production Manager (Attachments available upon request) Presentation Summary • Water Production Manager, Mark Kempton gave background information to explain the need of an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA). The Water Treatment Facility has two primary drinking water sources (Horsetooth Reservoir (HT) and Poudre River). Northern Water did work on the line and found two issues with valves and the trash racks on the inlet, inside the reservoir, that needs to be replaced. This means that the HT pipeline must be shut down for 45 days. Since the only water sources will be the Poudre River during this time, it requires staff to mitigate risks associated with the plan (forest fires, vehicles in the river, tanker trucks in the river, etc.). The proposal is to enter an IGA with the Tri-Districts to look at risk mitigation strategies and possibly to structure temporary water supplies during the 45 days. Some preliminary ideas have been discussed, such asking Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to restrict truck traffic in Poudre Canyon during the 45 days. The final plan alternatives will be selected in late summer . The line would be shut down in October 2020. Discussion Summary • Board members commented on and inquired about various related topics including what HT’s lowest water level would be ( about 100 feet, a typical WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING 04/18/2019 – MINUTES Page 6 autumn level), how the 45-day-timeline was chosen (Mr. Kempton said the original plan was for 60 days, but this was reduced with a proposal for a seven- days-a-week schedule. Coating of the pipeline alone takes 7-10 days before water can be run through the line); the reason for the October 2020 shut down (October is the best month because demands decrease and it is also when Northern Water requested the shut-down to take place), anticipated costs of the project (possibly $20,000-30,000 in engineering fees), and clarification of the risk (the risk isn’t the water supply, but the immediate acute risk of an unexpected event happening and the water can’t be treated). Board Member Bovee moved that the Water Board recommend to City Council the adoption of an Inter-Governmental Agreement with the Tri-Districts authorizing the City to enter into a contract to develop alternate water supply and mitigation strategies for the planned shutdown of the Horsetooth water supply line in the Fall of 2020. Board Member Ortman seconded the motion. Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously, 7-0.  Budgeting for Outcomes (BFO) Offer 6.56 Drake Water Reclamation Facility (DWRF) Sidestream Treatment Additional Appropriation Request Link Mueller, Special Projects Manager Jason Graham, Plant Operations Director (Attachments available upon request) Presentation Summary • Special Projects Manager, Link Mueller explained the need for an additional appropriation of $1.1 million dollars for the DWRF Sidestream Project. The Sidestream Treatment Project will remove soluble phosphorus with an Airprex System that chemically precipitates phosphorus out of the liquid stream. DWRF doesn’t currently meet Regulation 85 phosphorus limit (< 1mg/L). The Airprex System will remove 90% of soluble phosphorus from the sludge. The sludge centrate loading accounts for 25% of total plant phosphorus load. By treating the sludge, prior to dewatering, it removes the phosphorus and some of the ammonia while also improving the dewatering capabilities. The newly proposed construction start date is July 19, 2019. The System must be on-line and operational by December 31, 2020. The reason for an off- WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING 04/18/2019 – MINUTES Page 7 cycle appropriation is because with a mid-cycle appropriation, DWRF could obtain funding but it couldn’t be spent until January 1, 2020. Discussion Summary Board members commented on and inquired about various related topics including if the struvite is harmful to the system (although some facilities have struvite issues, DWRF doesn’t; The struvite will be formed in the reactor and initially sequestered in the biosolids. A future project could modify the process to allow struvite harvesting from the reactor); why Airprex was chosen for the phosphorus removal process (Airprex has already gone through Colorado state process and it fit best with DWRF’s system); whether there is an “Option B” (DWRF needs to meet compliance. There is not necessarily an “Option B” at this point, but there is another project that involves carbon addition and will help ensure DWRF meets the phosphorus limit); if there is a way to avoid appropriation requests in the future (Budgeting for Outcomes process provides more transparency and accountability, so appropriations will at times need to occur); and a suggestion to include information about the Colorado incentive fund to Council (If DWRF meets compliance of Reg. 85 in 2020 and then meets Reg. 31 by 2028, incentive credits could be earned. Funding to meet these future requirements has been set aside in the Wastewater Fund reserves). Board Member Bovee moved that the Water Board recommends to City Council the approval of the additional appropriation request of $1.1 million dollars from Wastewater Fund reserves for the DWRF Sidestream Project as recommended by City staff. Board Member Ortman seconded the motion. Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously, 7-0. 7. OTHER BUSINESS a. In February the board asked about non-traditional revenues ($200,000) shown in the monthly financial report, which Utilities Deputy Director and Staff Liaison Theresa Conner confirmed was for payment to the City for a claim against a law firm regarding the Halligan Reservoir Additional Water Rate. 8. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING 04/18/2019 – MINUTES Page 8 • Chairperson Brown asked board members to share topic ideas with him for the June 6 work session. o Board Member Bovee stated he would like a work session on nutrient credit trading. • Board members agreed with Mr. Graham’s suggestion to receive updates from DWRF. • Ms. Conner will not attend the May 16 regular meeting. Liesel Hans will act as Staff Liaison to the board. 9. ADJOURNMENT 7:48 p.m.