HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 01/19/2016 - RESOLUTION 2016-005 AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TAgenda Item 11
Item # 11 Page 1
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY January 19, 2016
City Council
STAFF
Daylan Figgs, Senior Environmental Planner
SUBJECT
Resolution 2016-005 Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Intergovernmental Agreement with the East
Larimer County Water District Regarding the Coy Measurement Station.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this item is to authorize the City Manager to sign an agreement between the City of Fort Collins
(City) and the East Larimer County Water District (ELCO) regarding the Coy Measurement Station. The City
and ELCO each own one half (1/2) of the Coy Ditch Water Right. Two Water Court cases have been
undertaken and completed by ELCO regarding the portion of the Coy Ditch Water Right it owns. Through the
Water Court and district court processes, the City and ELCO have entered into several stipulations regarding
the Coy Ditch, including the requirement to install the Coy Ditch Measurement Station in the vicinity of the
headgate. Each stipulation also contemplates the City’s use of the measurement station subject to an
agreement between the City and ELCO that details the terms and conditions of such use. The City has a
pending Water Court application which will necessitate the City’s use of the Coy Ditch Measurement Station.
The City and ELCO have worked together to develop the agreement and City Council approval of this
intergovernmental agreement is required.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution.
BACKGROUND/ DISCUSSION
The headgate of the John G. Coy Ditch (Coy Ditch) is located on the Cache la Poudre River in the NW1/4 of
Section 12, Township 7 North, Range 69 West of the 6th P.M., Larimer County, Colorado (just downstream of
the College Avenue Bridge). A water right was decreed to the Coy Ditch by the Larimer County District Court
on April 11, 1882, in Civil Action No. 320, making it Priority 13 on the Cache la Poudre River (Coy Ditch Water
Right). The City and ELCO each own one half (1/2) of the Coy Ditch Water Right.
Since 2009, the District Court for Water Division 1 (Water Court) has approved changes to the Coy Ditch
Water Right owned by ELCO (Case Nos. 2009CW282 and 2013CW3166). Further, in Case No, 2013CV1690,
Larimer County District Court clarified title to certain lands, including the lands where the headgate of the Coy
Ditch is located. In each case, the City and ELCO entered into a stipulation that concerned, among other
things, the Coy Ditch Measurement Station to be constructed by ELCO and located in the vicinity of the Coy
Ditch headgate. Each stipulation contemplates the City’s use of the measurement station, subject to a
subsequent agreement between the City and ELCO detailing the terms and conditions of such use. The City
and ELCO have worked together to develop the needed agreement, a copy of which is attached to the
Resolution.
The Agreement identifies the terms and conditions of use and includes:
Annual operating and maintenance - ELCO and the City (the Parties) meet annually to review the
operation and maintenance needs of the measurement station and plan for future needs.
Agenda Item 11
Item # 11 Page 2
Measurement station to be kept in good working order - ELCO is required to keep the measurement
station in good working order so the data collected is acceptable to the State Engineer and Division
Engineer for Water Court.
Collection and transmission of data- ELCO downloads all data collected by the measurement station and
provides copies to the City. The City is responsible for 50% of the costs.
Maintenance, repair and replacement - if both Parties agree the measurement station is not in good
working order, ELCO shall confer with the City and take agreed actions to restore the station to good
working order. The City is responsible for 50% of the costs.
Rating - The obligation to keep the measurement station in good working order includes developing a
cross section of the river at the station and a rating curve such that the physical measurements taken can
be converted to flow rates and volumes, which are needed to use the data for water rights administration
purposes. A new rating curve is needed in the immediate future and the City has agreed to be responsible
for 100% of the cost. Costs for future rating curves, if needed, will be shared equally between ELCO and
the City.
Alterations to the measurement station - In the 09CW282, 12CV1290, and 13CW3166 stipulations, the
parties entered into an agreement regarding possible changes to the Coy Ditch diversion dam as it relates
to the Poudre River Downtown Project. In the event the City desires to make such a change, the City shall
be responsible for the costs associated with the modifications to, relocations of, and/or replacement of the
measurement station.
Natural Areas is currently seeking Water Court approval to change the use of its 50% of the Coy Ditch Water
Right in a pending case. If approved, the Coy Ditch Water Right will be used to augment out of priority water
depletions caused by the evaporation of exposed groundwater in ponds on City-owned Natural Areas adjacent
to the Cache la Poudre River. The ponds, which will be conserved by this change of water use, are
ecologically very valuable and have a very significant positive environmental impact. Data collected by the
measurement station will be required for the City’s use of the water right, if this change of use is approved in
Water Court.
CITY FINANCIAL IMPACTS
ELCO funded the initial installation of the measuring station and rating curve development. The City agreed to
fund the development of a new rating curve due to changes in the river caused by recent flooding events. The
cost is anticipated to be less than $5,000. The annual maintenance of the measuring station, estimated to be
less than $5,000, and any future rating curve development will be shared equally between the City and ELCO.
BOARD / COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
At its December 9, 2016 meeting, the Land Conservation and Stewardship Board unanimously recommended
that City Council approve the Agreement.
PUBLIC OUTREACH
The need for a water court approved plan for augmentation was identified in the 2014 Natural Areas Master
Plan.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Location map (PDF)
2. Land Conservation & Stewardship Board minutes, December 9, 2015 (PDF)
Coy Ditch Diversion
JEFFERSON ST
N COLLEGE AVE
E VINE DR
²
0 50200 100 Yards
SITE OF THE COY DITCH DIVERSION
Excerpt - Land Conservation and Stewardship Board
Wednesday December 9, 2015
ELCO IGA – Gustave Swanson NA – Coy Ditch Measuring Station
Daylan Figgs, Environmental Program Manager, gave a brief presentation on Natural Areas
entering into an IGA with ELCO Water District to partner on the operation and maintenance of
the Coy Ditch Measuring Station. Staff is seeking input and a recommendation to City Council.
The City and ELCO each own one half (1/2) of the Coy Ditch water right. Several water court
cases have been undertaken by ELCO regarding shares it owns. The City and ELCO has entered
into several stipulations regarding the Coy ditch including the requirement to install a water
measurement station in the vicinity of the headgate of the Coy Ditch. Each stipulation also
contemplates the City’s use of the measurement station subject to an agreement between the City
and ELCO regarding the terms and conditions of such use. The City and ELCO have worked
together to develop the needed agreement. Since the agreement is considered an
Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA), City Council approval of the IGA is required.
The City is responsible for the development of the new rating curve which is anticipated to be
less than $5,000. The annual maintenance, estimated to be less than $5,000, will be shared
equally between the City and ELCO saving the City 50%.
David Tweedale made a motion for City Council to approve the Agreement between the
City of Fort Collins (City) and East Larimer County Water District regarding the Coy
Measurement Station.
Gayle Dethloff seconded the motion
Motion was unanimously approved
ATTACHMENT 2
RESOLUTION 2016-005
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN
INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH THE
EAST LARIMER COUNTY WATER DISTRICT
REGARDING THE COY MEASUREMENT STATION
WHEREAS, the City and the East Larimer County Water District (the “District”) each
own fifty percent of the water right decreed to the John G. Coy Ditch (the “Coy Ditch”) by the
Larimer County District Court on April 11, 1882, in Civil Action No. 320 (the “Coy Ditch Water
Right”); and
WHEREAS, the District owns and operates a water measurement station located in the
vicinity of the head and headgate of the Coy Ditch (the “Measurement Station”) that the District
uses for the administration of its fifty percent of the Coy Ditch Water Right; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to use the Measurement Station for the administration of its
fifty percent of the Coy Ditch Water Right; and
WHEREAS, the City and the District have previously entered into stipulations, which are
identified in Exhibit “A”, that provide, among other things, that the District is willing to make
the Measurement Station available to the City for its use, provided that the City and the District
agree upon the details for doing so; and
WHEREAS, the City and the District have agreed upon the details for the City’s use of
the Measurement Station, as set forth in the Intergovernmental Agreement attached hereto as
Exhibit “A” (the “Agreement”); and
WHEREAS, the City Manager and City staff have recommended that the City Council
approve the Agreement as set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FORT COLLINS as follows:
Section 1. That the City Council hereby makes and adopts the determinations and
findings contained in the recitals set forth above.
Section 2. That the City Manager is hereby authorized to execute the Agreement
substantially in the form of Exhibit “A” with such modifications and additional terms and
conditions as the City Manager, in consultation with the City Attorney, determines to be
necessary and appropriate to protect the interests of the City or effectuate the purposes of this
Resolution.
Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins this
19th day of January, A.D. 2016.
_________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________
City Clerk
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AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS AND
THE EAST LARIMER COUNTY WATER DISTRICT
REGARDING THE COY MEASUREMENT STATION
This Agreement is entered into by and between the following Parties: the City of Fort
Collins, Colorado, a home rule municipality (“City”); and the East Larimer County Water
District, a political subdivision of the State of Colorado (“District”).
RECITALS
A. The head and headgate of the John G. Coy Ditch (“Coy Ditch”) is located on the Cache la
Poudre River in the NW1/4 of Section 12, Township 7 North, Range 69 West of the 6
th
P.M.,
Larimer County, Colorado. A water right was decreed to the Coy Ditch by the Larimer County
District Court on April 11, 1882, in Civil Action No. 320 (“Coy Ditch Water Right”). The City
and the District each own one half (1/2) of the Coy Ditch Water Right.
B. In Case No. 2009CW282, the District Court for Water Division 1 (“Water Court”)
approved certain changes to thirty-five percent (35%) of the Coy Ditch Water Right owned by
the District. See Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, Judgment and Decree of the Water
Court, Case No. 2009CW282, dated June 29, 2012 (“09CW282 Decree”). In that case, the City
and the District entered into a stipulation, dated May 16, 2012, which was approved by Water
Court order, dated May 22, 2012 (“09CW282 Stipulation”). The 09CW282 Stipulation
concerns, among other things, a water measurement station constructed by the District located in
the vicinity of the head and headgate of the Coy Ditch (“Measurement Station”).
C. In Case No. 2012CV1690, the Larimer County District Court made determinations
regarding title to certain lands, including the lands where the head and headgate of the Coy Ditch
is located. In that case, the City and the District entered into a stipulation, dated May 20, 2015,
which was approved and made an order of the Court on June 4, 2014 (“12CV1690 Stipulation”).
The 12CV1690 Stipulation concerns, among other things, the Measurement Station.
D. In Case No. 2013CW3166, the Water Court approved certain changes to fifteen percent
(15%) of the Coy Ditch Water Right owned by the District. See Findings of Fact, Conclusions of
Law, Judgment and Decree of the Water Court, Case No. 2013CW3166, dated July 1, 2015
(“13CW3166 Decree”). In that case, the City and the District entered into a stipulation, dated
April 22, 2015, which was approved by Water Court order, dated April 23, 2015 (“13CW3166
Stipulation”). The 13CW3166 Stipulation concerns, among other things, the Measurement
Station.
E. In Case No. 2014CW3176, the City seeks Water Court approval of certain changes to its
fifty percent (50%) of the Coy Ditch Water Right. The City desires to share in the use of the
Measurement Station for its purposes, including with respect to certain operations pursuant to its
pending Case No. 2014CW3176.
F. The 09CW282, 12CV1290, and 13CW3166 Stipulations each contemplate the addition of
the City’s use of the Measurement Station, subject to a subsequent agreement between the City
EXHIBIT A
Page 2 of 8
and the District regarding the terms and conditions of such use. The District desires to permit the
City to share in the use of the Measurement Station pursuant to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement.
G. The City is pursuing its Poudre River Downtown Project (“Project”), which may involve
work in the Poudre River on and around the head and headgate of the Coy Ditch and its diversion
dam and the Measurement Station. The Parties desire to identify the Project’s impacts on the
Measurement Station, the City’s obligations relating to such impacts, and the Parties’ shared use
of the Measurement Structure.
AGREEMENT AND UNDERSTANDING
1. INCORPORATION OF RECITALS. The foregoing recitals are hereby incorporated
as if fully restated in their entirety.
2. CITY’S RIGHT TO USE THE MEASUREMENT STATION. The District hereby
grants the City the right to share in the use of the Measurement Station pursuant to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement.
3. TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR THE PARTIES’ SHARED USE OF THE
MEASUREMENT STATION.
a. ANNUAL OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE CONFERRAL AND PLANNING. Each
year, on or before the third Friday of November, one or more representatives of
the District shall confer with one or more representatives of the City. The Parties
shall review the operation and maintenance of the Measurement Station during
the previous water year and plan for the operation and maintenance of the
Measurement Station during the current and future water years including, but not
limited to, agreeing upon any foreseeable maintenance of the Measurement
Station in the current water year. For the purposes of this Agreement, the water
year shall be the November 1 through the following October 31.
b. MEASUREMENT STATION TO BE KEPT IN GOOD AND WORKING ORDER. The
District shall keep the Measurement Station in good and working order, subject to
Paragraph 3.g. For the purposes of this Agreement, good and working order
means that data can be collected from the Measurement Station and that the
Parties agree that such data, in their collective opinion, is sufficiently accurate,
precise, and reliable so that it reasonably should be acceptable to the State
Engineer and Division Engineer for Water Division 1 for the purposes of
supporting both the City’s and the District’s water rights accounting.
c. COLLECTION AND TRANSMISSION OF DATA. The District shall collect all
available data from the Measurement Station, subject to Paragraph 3.g. Such data
shall include all measurements reasonably available from the Measurement
Station on a daily or more frequent basis. The District shall provide copies of all
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such data to the City in electronic format no less frequently than monthly, or as
more frequently requested by the City. The City shall designate a person or
persons to whom the data shall be sent. The initial such designated person for the
City is Daylan Figgs (dfiggs@fcgov.com). The City may change the designated
person or add additional designed persons upon written notice to the District
pursuant to Paragraph 11. The City shall be responsible for fifty percent (50%) of
the costs associated with such recording and transmission of such data, which
costs shall be reimbursed to the District pursuant to Paragraph 3.i.
d. MAINTENANCE, REPAIR, AND REPLACEMENT. In the event that the Parties agree
that the Measurement Station is not in good and working order, the District shall
take such maintenance, repair, and replacement actions as are reasonably
necessary to restore the Measurement Station to good and working order. Such
maintenance, repair, and replacement actions shall be those previously agreed
upon pursuant to Paragraph 3.a, unless additional or different maintenance, repair,
and replacement actions are reasonably necessary due to events or occurrences
that were not foreseen during the annual conferral pursuant to Paragraph 3.a. The
District shall confer with the City regarding such actions before they are taken,
unless the exigencies of the circumstances make such conferral impractical, in
which case the District shall confer with the City regarding such actions as soon
as practicable. The City shall be responsible for fifty percent (50%) of the costs
associated with such maintenance, repair, and replacement actions, which costs
shall be reimbursed to the District pursuant to Paragraph 3.i.
e. RATING. The obligation to keep the Measurement Station in good and working
order includes, but is not limited to, work associated with developing a cross
section of the river at the Measurement Station and a rating curve such that the
physical measurements taken at the Measurement Station can be transposed to
flow rates and volumes. The District has retained a consultant to develop such a
cross section of the river at the Measurement Station and a corresponding rating
curve based on current conditions. The City agrees to be responsible for one-
hundred percent (100%) of such costs, which costs shall be reimbursed to the
District pursuant to Paragraph 3.i. If similar work needs to be performed in the
future for the Measurement Station in order to keep it in good and working order,
the District shall confer with the City pursuant to Paragraph 3.a regarding how
such work is to be performed. The City shall be responsible for fifty percent
(50%) of such costs, which costs shall be reimbursed to the District pursuant to
Paragraph 3.i.
f. ALTERATIONS TO MEASUREMENT STATION. The Measurement Station currently
consists of a stilling well, a pipe, and a Sutron measuring device. Photographs of
the Measurement Station, as it exists around the time of this Agreement, are
attached hereto as Exhibit 1. The Measurement Station may be altered pursuant
to Paragraph 4 below. If one or both of the Parties desire to modify the
Measurement Station from the configuration described in this paragraph or the
configuration resulting from an alteration under Paragraph 4 below, or to change
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its location described above or the location resulting from an alteration under
Paragraph 4 below, such alteration may only occur if both Parties agree and such
agreement is reduced to writing and approved by each of the Parties.
g. FORCE FLUVIAL. The Parties recognize that the physical realities of operating a
measurement structure in the Cache la Poudre River using the technology and
means currently available may be compromised by unavoidable and/or
unpredictable weather and hydrological events beyond the District’s control
during which periods data cannot be collected. When such events occur, as soon
as practicable, the District shall take actions as are reasonably necessary to restore
the Measurement Station to good and working order pursuant to Paragraph 3.d.
h. PREVIOUS STIPULATIONS. Nothing herein is intended to alter or amend the
09CW282, 12CV1290, and 13CW3166 Stipulations. Nevertheless, to the extent
that there are any inconsistencies between this Agreement and the terms of the
09CW282, 12CV1290, and 13CW3166 Stipulations, the terms and conditions of
this Agreement shall control.
i. REIMBURSEMENT AND PAYMENT. On or before the third Friday of November,
the District shall provide the City with an itemized invoice for all costs associated
with the Measurement Station as described in this Paragraph 3 and the costs for
which the City is responsible under this Agreement for the previous water year.
The District shall further provide the City documentation supporting the amount
charged in said invoice. The City shall have sixty-three (63) days from the receipt
of said invoice to pay the District.
4. POUDRE RIVER DOWNTOWN PROJECT. In the 09CW282, 12CV1290, and
13CW3166 Stipulations, the Parties entered into an agreement regarding certain aspects of
possible changes to the Coy Ditch diversion dam. In the event the City desires to make such a
change, the City shall provide the District with at least one hundred twenty (120) days notice of
its intent to alter the diversion dam before beginning any physical work. The City shall be
responsible for the costs associated with any necessary modifications to, relocations of, and/or
replacement of the Measurement Station. The City agrees to coordinate with the District
regarding any such modifications to, relocations of, and/or replacement of the Measurement
Station.
5. TERM. This Agreement shall be perpetual unless and until it is modified otherwise by
the Parties entering into a written agreement regarding the same.
6. REMEDIES. If either Party fails to comply with the provisions of this Agreement, the
other Party, after providing written notification to the noncomplying Party, and upon the failure
of the noncomplying Party to achieve compliance within thirty-five (35) days, may seek all such
remedies available under Colorado law. In addition, if the District is unwilling or unable to keep
the Measurement Station in good working order, following reasonable conferral with the District,
the City may take such actions as are reasonably necessary to return the Measurement Station in
good working order, and may thereafter provide the District with an itemized invoice for all costs
Page 5 of 8
associated therewith, together with documentation supporting the amount charged in said
invoice, and the District shall have sixty-three (63) days from the receipt of said invoice to pay
the District.
7. FISCAL CONTINGENCY. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to
the contrary, the obligations of the City in fiscal years after the fiscal year of this Agreement
shall be subject to appropriation of funds sufficient and intended therefor, with the City having
the sole discretion to determine whether the subject funds are sufficient and intended for use
under this Agreement, and the failure of the City to appropriate such funds shall be grounds for
termination of this Agreement upon ninety-one (91) days written notice of the failure to
appropriate such funds.
8. NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES. This Agreement is entered into between the
Parties for the purposes set forth herein. It is the intent of the parties that they are the only
beneficiaries of this Agreement and the Parties are only benefitted to the extent provided under
the express terms and conditions of this Agreement.
9. GOVERNING LAW AND ENFORCEABILITY. This Agreement shall be construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado, insofar as any matter is not regulated by
applicable laws of the United States. The Parties recognize that the constitutions, statutes, and
rules and regulations of the State of Colorado and of the United States, as well as the parties
respective bylaws, city charters and codes, and rules and regulations, impose certain legal
constraints on each Party and that the Parties intend to carry out the terms and conditions of this
Agreement subject to those constraints. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement
shall be interpreted in such a manner so as to be effective and valid under applicable law.
10. WAIVER. A waiver of a breach of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall not
constitute a waiver of any subsequent breach of the same or another provision of this Agreement.
11. NOTICES. All notices or other communications hereunder shall be sufficiently given
and shall be deemed given when personally delivered, or after the lapse of five (5) business days
following mailing by certified mail-return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as
follows:
To the City: City Manager
City Hall West
300 LaPorte Avenue; P.O. Box 580
Fort Collins, Colorado 80522-0580
With copy to: Fort Collins City Attorney
300 LaPorte Avenue; P.O. Box 580
Fort Collins, Colorado 80522-0580
epotyondy@fcgov.com
and: Fort Collins Utilities
Attn: Water Resources Manager
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700 Wood Street P.O. Box 580
Fort Collins, Colorado 80522-0580
and: Natural Areas Department
745 Hoffman Mill Road
Fort Collins, Colorado 80524
jstokes@fcgov.com; dfiggs@fcgov.com
To the District: East Larimer County Water District
Attn. Mike Scheid, General Manager
232 South Link Lane
Fort Collins, CO 80524
mikes@elcowater.org
With copy to: Lyons Gaddis Kahn Hall
Jeffers Dworak & Grant, LLC
Attn: Scott Holwick
PO Box 978
Longmont, CO 80502-0978
sholwick@lgkhlaw.com
12. CONSTRUCTION. This Agreement shall be construed according to its fair meaning as
it was prepared by the Parties. Headings in this Agreement are for convenience and reference
only and shall in no way define, limit, or prescribe the scope or intent of any provision of this
Agreement.
13. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the
Parties regarding the matters addressed herein. This Agreement binds and benefits the Parties
and their respective successors. Covenants or representations not contained in this Agreement
regarding the matters addressed herein shall not bind the Parties.
14. CAPTIONS. The captions of the paragraphs of this Agreement are for convenience only
and shall not govern or influence the interpretation of the Agreement
15. REPRESENTATIONS. Each Party represents to the other parties that it has the power
and authority to enter into this Agreement and the individual signing below on behalf of that
Party has the authority to execute this Agreement on its behalf and legally bind that Party.
16. ASSIGNMENT. No Party may assign any rights or delegate any duties under this
Agreement without the written consent of the other Party.
[Remainder of Page Left Blank Intentionally]
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CITY OF FORT COLLINS, COLORADO, a
Colorado home rule city
By: ______________________________________
Darin A. Atteberry, City Manager
ATTEST:
By: ______________________________________
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM:
By: ______________________________________
City Attorney’s Office
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EAST LARIMER COUNTY DISTRICT, a
political subdivision of the State of Colorado
By: ______________________________________
Mike Scheid, General Manger
ATTEST:
By: ______________________________________
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