HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 07/17/2001 - FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 121, 2001, AMENDING AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY ITEM NUMBER: 33
FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL DATE: July 17,2001STAWe Smi'Jim Hibbard/
Susan Hayes
SUBJECT:
First Reading of Ordinance No. 121, 2001, Amending Chapter 26 of the City Code to Reflect the
Adoption of a New Master Drainage Plan for the Canal Importation Basin.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on First
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The Canal Importation Basin Master Plan has identified$51.5 million in capital improvements that
are necessary to address flooding in the Basin. Funding of the Master Plan will be from stormwater
fees collected in the City. During the bi-annual budget process, specific projects will be scheduled
110 and funds appropriated based upon a city-wide priorit ization of drainage projects.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The Canal Importation Basin is a highly urbanized area encompassing approximately 3,200 acres
in west central Fort Collins. Most of this Basin was developed prior to drainage criteria being in
place. Therefore, drainage channels are too small or non-existent, irrigation canals and detention
ponds overflow, streets and intersections flood, and there are many structures in the 100-year
floodplain that are exposed to flood damage.
The total estimated cost of the proposed storm drainage improvements in the Canal Importation
Basin Master Plan is $51.5 million. Due to the highly urban character of this basin, the
recommended solutions are also highly urban or structural in character.In general,projects include
construction or enlargement of detention ponds, construction of open channels and storm sewers,
and enlargement of road culverts.
The net benefit provided by the projects is over$109 million in today's dollars. Comparing this to
the estimated cost of implementing the proposed drainage projects, the benefit-cost ratio for the
master plan is 2:1. Although the cost of the Plan is high, its effectiveness is shown by its highly
favorable benefit-cost ratio.
DATE: July 17, 2001 2 ITEM NUMBER: 33
The Master Plan has been prepared with significant staff and public input. A technical review team,
consisting of City staff from key departments and representatives from the ditch companies and
CSU, has provided input. Staff in the Golf, Parks and Recreation, and Natural Resources
departments have been directly involved in the review of the proposed projects. The Water, Golf,
Parks and Recreation,Natural Resources,and Planning and Zoning Boards have had an opportunity
to comment on the Plan. There have been three public open houses. Meetings have taken place with
the Chamber of Commerce, neighborhood associations and property owners in the Basin. City
Council discussed the Master Plan at the May 22, 2001 Study Session.
As part of the Master Plan, a 100-year floodplain map has been prepared and is currently being
regulated. Council's action on the 17th will be adoption of the Master Plan only. Council adoption
of the floodplain is not required,as City Code requires regulation of known problem areas. There
has been significant public feedback regarding the floodplain regulations. Staff has sent out over
100 floodplain information letters for individual properties, and worked with property owners on
specific project proposals.
There has been additional public feedback about the prioritization of projects and which projects will
be done first. The current project schedule is based on both the Old Town and Canal Importation
Basins being high priorities, particularly those areas hardest hit by the 1997 storm.
BACKGROUND:
The Canal Importation Basin is a highly-urbanized area encompassing approximately 3,200 acres
in west central Fort Collins. Most of this Basin was developed prior to drainage criteria being in
place. Therefore, drainage channels are too small or non-existent, irrigation canals and detention
ponds overflow, streets and intersections flood, and there are many structures in the 100-year
floodplain and exposed to flood damage.
For drainage Basin master plans, the City uses the 100-year storm to identify problems and has
adopted the policy to provide 100-year protection only if the benefit of projects outweigh their cost.
This means it is possible to provide less than 100-year protection. However, the regulatory
floodplain is still mapped using the 100-year storm and property and structures remaining in the
floodplain after projects are built are subject to the floodplain regulations. The enforcement of
floodplain regulations ensures new problems are not created with the development or redevelopment
of areas in the floodplain.
In 1999, a higher rainfall standard was adopted based on a technical analysis of rainfall patterns in
the region. This higher rainfall has resulted in higher runoff and larger floodplain. This requires
all master plans to be updated to reflect the higher rainfall, and reevaluate the needed capital
improvements. The Canal Importation Master Plan is the first to be completed since the adoption
of the higher rainfall standard.
Due to the highly-urban character of this Basin,the recommended solutions are also highly urban
or structural in character. The purpose of these capital improvements is to correct the problems
created in the past when development took place without consideration for storm runoff. In general,
projects include construction or enlargement of detention ponds,construction of open channels and
storm sewers, and enlargement of road culverts.
DATE: July 17, 2001 3 ITEM NUMBER: 33
The overall plan reduces or eliminates the majority of damages caused by flooding in the Basin.
Structures in the 100-year floodplain will be reduced from 704 to 65. Flooding along W.Elizabeth
will be reduced, but not eliminated. Flows onto CSU at Elizabeth and Shields will be reduced by
over half.
To the extent possible,the proposed projects provide opportunities to enhance and expand wetlands
and natural habitat areas to improve the quality of storm runoff. The New Mercer Canal project is
the one major project which will drastically alter the existing vegetation and ditch corridor. The
improvements to the New Mercer Canal will provide the desired flood protection while leaving the
Larimer County No. 2 Canal virtually untouched.
The total estimated cost of the proposed storm drainage improvements is $51.5 million. This is an
increase compared to the cost to build the remaining projects in the original Master Plan. Two
factors contribute to the cost increase: the increased rainfall and expansion of the scope of the
Master Plan to address additional local problem areas that were identified during the development
of the Master Plan.
Table 1 summarizes the damages due to current flooding and the damages expected when all
improvements are built. These amounts do not include other costs such as damage to public
infrastructure, emergency response, clean-up, etc.
Table 1
Current Damages Damages After Improvements
(in millions of dollars) (in millions of dollars)
Single 100-year Event $25 $2.38
Average Annual Damages $6.84 $0.84
Value of Average Annual
Damages in Today's Dollars $125 $15.3
(over 50 years)
The net benefit provided by the improvements is over$109 million in today's dollars. Comparing
this to the estimated cost of implementing the proposed drainage improvements, the benefit-cost
ratio for the Master Plan is 2:1. Put another way,the"rate of return"for the Master Plan is 11.6%.
The Master Plan has been prepared with significant staff and public input. A technical review team,
consisting of City staff from key departments and representatives from the ditch companies and
CSU, has provided input. Staff from the Golf, Parks and Recreation, and Natural Resources
departments have been directly involved in the review of the proposed projects. The Water, Golf,
Parks and Recreation,Natural Resources,and Planning and Zoning Boards have had an opportunity
to comment on the plan. There have been three public open houses. Meetings have taken place with
the Chamber of Commerce, neighborhood associations and property owners in the Basin. City
Council discussed the Master Plan at the May 22, 2001 study session.
The Canal Importation Basin Master Drainage Plan seeks to balance the interests of the community
by proposing to:
provide flood protection at the 100-year level for the majority of the Basin;
reduce the incidence of overtopping and flooding of major streets and irrigation canals;and,
DATE: July 17, 2001 4 ITEM NUMBER: 33
to the extent possible,enhance and expand wetlands and natural habitat areas to improve the
quality of storm runoff.
Although the cost of the Plan is high,its effectiveness is shown by its highly favorable benefit-cost
ratio.
Attached is a staff memo and documentation about the Master Plan. The majority of information
was presented with the May 22 study session packet. All new information since the study session
is included on yellow paper.
ORDINANCE NO. 121, 2001
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
AMENDING CHAPTER 26 OF THE CITY CODE TO
REFLECT THE ADOPTION OF A NEW MASTER DRAINAGE PLAN
FOR THE CANAL IMPORTATION BASIN
WHEREAS, Section 26-543(a)(8) of the Code of the City of Fort Collins adopted by
reference and declared a part of the City Code a master drainage plan for the area now known as the
Canal Importation Basin, entitled Diversion of Stormwater Runoff through Irrigation Canals from
Mulberry Street to Spring Creek,prepared by Resource Consultants,Inc.,dated July 1980(the"1980
Plan"); and
WHEREAS, City staff has developed an updated master drainage plan for the Canal
Importation Basin, entitled Canal Importation Master Drainage Plan, prepared by Anderson
Consulting Engineers, Inc.,dated April 2001 (the"Updated Plan"), which Updated Plan is on file
in the office of the City Clerk and available for public inspection; and
WHEREAS,the Updated Plan has been reviewed by the City's Water Board, Golf Board,
Parks and Recreation Board,Natural Resources Advisory Board, and Planning and Zoning Board,
and comments received from these boards have been addressed in the final preparation of the
Updated Plan; and
WHEREAS, staff presented the Updated Plan to the City Council for review at its Study
Session of May 22,2001,and at that time indicated that staff would present the Updated Plan to the
Council for adoption; and
WHEREAS, the amendment of City Code Section 26-543(a)(8) so as to provide a current
reference to the Updated Plan instead of the 1980 Plan will assist the public in identifying the
appropriate plan associated with the Canal Importation Basin; and
WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to amend Section 26-543(a)(8) of the City Code in
order to reflect the approval of the Updated Plan for the Canal Importation Basin.
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS that Section 26-543(a)(8) of the Code of the City of Fort Collins is hereby amended to
read as follows:
See. 26-543. Master drainage plans.
(a) Master drainage plans are hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a
part of this Article for the following stormwater basins of the city:
(8)
Mulberry Street to Spring Greek,prepared by Reseuree ,
pdta ieison GcitItte E�i .tz w 'It datg N 1
Introduced and considered favorably on first reading and ordered published this 17th day of
July,A.D. 2001, and to be presented for final passage on the 21 st day of August,A.D. 2001.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
Passed and adopted on final reading this 21 st day of August,A.D. 2001.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk