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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWORK SESSION SUMMARY-10/14/2008-Work SessionCity of Fort Collins MEMORANDUM Date: October 17, 2008 To: Mayor and City Council Members Through: Wendy Williams, Acting City Manager "t4� LAI' Diane Jones, Deputy City Manager Brian Janonis, Fort Collins Utilities x cutive Director From: Jim Hibbard, Water Engineering and Field Operations Manager Utilities 700 wood St. PO Box 580 Fort Collins. CO 80522 970.221.6700 970.224,6619 - fax fcgov.com Reference: October 14, 2008 Work Session Summary - Stormwater Program Review Brian Janonis, Fort Collins Utilities Executive Director, Jim Hibbard, Water Engineering and Field Operations Manager, and consultants Barbara Cole of Community Matters and Neil Grigg of Colorado State University, presented Council with a brief overview of the feedback from the interviews with Council regarding changes to the Stormwater program. Council members present included Mayor Doug Hutchinson, Mayor Pro Tem Kelly Ohlson, David Roy, Diggs Brown, Ben Manvel, and Lisa Poppaw. Council members reviewed and discussed materials provided and provided feed back on key policy areas which should be examined and evaluated. Key discussion areas and apparent conclusions by Council: 1. Evaluate the Program Now. The time is right to review the overall stormwater program and the review should be finished by March 31, 2009. This comprehensive view of the Utility would include: capital improvements; water quality or best management practices; floodplain management; and emergency response. 2. Re-examine Adopted Policies. While the stormwater staff is doing competent work and follows current policy, Council wishes to thoroughly evaluate current policy, specifically the appropriate level of flood protection. Is the intensity of the capital projects reasonable? A clear explanation of program objectives is needed, to include issues such as protecting from wet basements versus protecting against major, life - threatening floods. Council would like to see details such as the events that cause risk and the consequences of various actions. 3. Revise the Mission Statement. The stormwater program needs a new mission statement to reflect a 21" Century Utility and needs a greater environmental emphasis. 4. Evaluate Community benefits through Budgeting for Outcomes. The City needs to evaluate how the program fits in with the bigger picture of the community. What Fort Collins is the outcome of decreasing Stormwater rates to allow for increases in other needed City services? The placement of the stormwater program in the Safe Community Result Area in the Budgeting for Outcomes process should be revisited 5. Review Capital Projects: Council wants to assess capital expenditures. What are we protecting against? What is gained if the build out period is changed? Are there other viable alternatives that will result in an appropriate level of protection such as moving citizens from the floodplain instead of protecting them? What is the result if we cut all capital projects? What is the resulting rate for only on -going operations and maintenance? How do the City of Fort Collins rates compare with that of like communities? A review of staff methods to analyze and prioritize capital projects should be conducted, with a focus on holistic and environmental impacts. 6. Evaluate the Rate Structure: Who pays and who benefits? Review how monthly rates are calculated and how they relate to customer impacts on the stormwater system. Larger lots with more impervious areas should pay more. Fewer improvements are needed in the newer south part of town than the older north part, should the City maintain a city-wide fee structure for distributed community benefits? Some Council members feel that the city-wide fee is appropriate; others need to better understand how the rate structure creates additional benefits. A study is needed of whether, under current criteria, runoff rates from vacant ground are higher than runoff rates from developed ground and whether there is a "double charge" when impact fees are collected. 7. Understand Land Use Implications. A review is needed of policies for removal of vacant land from floodplains. Areas of the review should focus on environmental and equity perspectives. Of particular interest is whether other cities recover specific benefits of removing vacant property from the floodplain from landowners. Should the City allow development within the floodplain? How does this promote the objectives of other City programs, especially Natural Areas, Transportation, and Water Quality as well as health and safety? 8. Enhance the Environmental Ethos of the City. Is the City doing all it can to ensure that the capital projects result in true environmental enhancements? The stormwater program should emphasize stormwater best practices and Low Impact Development (LID) to protect water quality. How does Fort Collins compare to other cities with respect to water quality treatment systems? Other innovations, such as a "rain barrel" approach to capture stormwater for irrigation purposes, which might require a change in state law, should be considered. Council specifically requested staff prepare additional information on program finance and water quality and environmental management. Council requested the following specific information: • How does Fort Collins compare to like municipalities with respect to rates, rate structure, level of protection and the additional items covered in the Black and Veatch Stormwater Utility Survey? ■ What is the condition of the stormwater infrastructure? What is the status of the debt of the stormwater utility? What could be gained if the Utility paid off or refinanced current bonds? What impact[s] do publicly owned lands, such as roads, parks, school districts, CSU, etc. have on the overall system? What fees do they pay? 2 City of ,,-F6rt Coltins • What is the result of water quality monitoring? Report on the water quality monitoring and the health of the streams and provide the report on an annual basis. • What water quality best management practices are in place today? What more can be done? Staff will prepare an outline and course of action to address the materials requested, prepare alternatives and staff recommendations for presentation at future work sessions, and final council consideration by the end of March, 2009. City of F6rt Collins Memorandum DT: October 15, 2008 TO: City Council TH: Darin Atteberry, City Manager -atfs ' Diane Jones, Deputy City Manager. Jeff Scheick, Planning, Development & Transportation Director FM: Joe Frank, Advance Planning Director Christina Vincent, URA City Planner Advance Planning 281 North College Avenue PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.221.6376 970.224.6111 -tax fcgov. corn/advanceplanning RE: October 14, 2008 Prospect South Urban Renewal Plan — Work Session Summary Council Members Present: Doug Hutchinson, Mayor Kelly Ohlson, Mayor Pro-Tem David Roy Ben Manvel Lisa Poppaw Diggs Brown Work Session Participants: Jeff Scheick, PDT Director Joe Frank, Advance Planning Director, URA Program Manager Christina Vincent, URA City Planner Direction Soueht/Ouestions to be Answered: Does the Council have any questions regarding establishing an Urban Renewal Plan for the Prospect South area? 2. Does the Council agree there is sufficient reason to bring forward for adoption an Urban Renewal Plan for the Prospect South area? Council's Direction: City of Fort Collins • Council wanted to know more about the road infrastructure costs associated with improvements on College Avenue within the plan area, especially the intersection of College and Prospect. In addition, Council requested to know what the commitment of the URA is to improving the streets and railroad by including them in the plan area. • Council wants to be informed on the Stormwater practices the developer intends to take regarding the existing floodplain on the Capstone site. • Council requested clarification of the TIF on school district funding applicable in Urban Renewal areas. • Council would like clarification on the plan for preservation of the existing trees on the Capstone site. • All members of the Council present are ready to continue the process of establishing an Urban Renewal Plan for the Prospect South area.