HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 07/19/2016 - FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 085, 2016, AMENDINGAgenda Item 6
Item # 6 Page 1
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY July 19, 2016
City Council
STAFF
Jon Haukaas, Water Engr Field Operations Mgr
SUBJECT
First Reading of Ordinance No. 085, 2016, Amending Sections 26-98 and 26-128 of the Code of the City of
Fort Collins Regarding Fire Sprinkler Systems for Single Family Attached Homes.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this item is to create a new rate class to accommodate the short-term high flow rate water
service demands for single family attached homes with residential fire suppression systems and to make
related changes regarding water meter requirements and installation. Changes to the International Residential
Code adopted by the City in 2014 increased the short-term high flow rate water service demands for single
family attached homes (such as townhomes and condominiums) due to the inclusion of residential fire
suppression systems. Staff is proposing that a new rate class be created in order to accommodate these
demands and to make related changes regarding water meter requirements and the installation related to fire
sprinkler systems for single family attached homes.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading.
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
Ordinance No. 020, 2014 amended Chapter 5, Article II, Division 2 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins for
the purpose of adopting the 2012 International Residential Code (IRC), with Amendments. These
requirements became effective August 1, 2014. This amendment requires an automatic residential fire
sprinkler system in townhomes and two-family dwellings that are installed in accordance with Section P2904,
NFPA 13D, or NFPA 13R. These (P2904) combination fire-suppression/potable water systems use the
standard water piping to feed plumbing fixtures and the fire sprinkler heads. These systems are typically
designed by the manufacturer and are sized for the water flow when two sprinkler heads are activated. Each
fire sprinkler head requires 13 gallons per minute (gpm) of flow for a total demand of 26 gpm.
As developers began designing and submitting projects to meet these requirements, it became apparent that
the standard residential ¾-inch water service line contemplated by Code could not provide the flow necessary
to meet the IRC requirements. Further investigation by Utility staff of the underlying Codes revealed that the
IRC states a ¾-inch water service is not permitted due to pressure loss in the supply piping ahead of the fire
sprinkler system.
A 1-inch diameter residential water service or larger would be required to meet the IRC minimum
requirements.
The entire Water Cost of Service study is based on the service size, assuming typical flow rates. The typical
Plant Investment Fee (PIF) of a standard residential ¾-inch water service is $7180. Currently, all residential
water service lines are ¾-inch in diameter. A 1-inch diameter water service line is currently considered a
commercial use in the Code. The PIF for a 1-inch water service line is $19,710, a significant cost increase to
provide higher flow rates on a property that would only be needed extremely infrequently.
Agenda Item 6
Item # 6 Page 2
A. Proposed Amendment to City Code Section 26-128
In order to meet this demand in a reasonable and cost effective manner, staff is recommending the creation of
an additional residential rate class for 1-inch water service lines to single family attached homes required to
install these residential fire suppression systems. (It would not be available as an alternate rate class for
commercial properties.) This change is proposed to be effective for all PIFs due and payable on or after June
1, 2016.
These residential fire suppression systems would be activated only on rare occasions and therefore should not
have a measureable effect on average or total water use of a typical home. Staff is consequently not
proposing any related changes to the raw water requirement (RWR) for single family attached homes using a
residential 1-inch water service line, instead of a residential ¾-inch water service line. The RWR for these
single family attached homes (and all residential properties) will continue to be calculated under Code Section
26-148, which does not specify meter size in calculating the RWR.
B. Proposed Amendment to City Code Section 26-98
Under current Code, all residential water service lines are assumed to be ¾-inch in diameter. Staff is
recommending that this section be revised to expressly identify both the ¾-inch and 1-inch residential water
service line. This updated section also identifies the locations where such meters are to be located.
CITY FINANCIAL IMPACTS
There are some additional material costs due to the larger size; staff is recommending an additional cost to the
1-inch diameter water service PIF of $500 above that for ¾-inch diameter water service PIF.
The residential fire suppression systems would be activated only on rare occasions and should not have a
measureable effect on average or total water use of a typical home. The tiered water rates and surcharges for
excess use will recover all actual costs if an owner overuses the connection due to its larger size.
BOARD / COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
At its June 16, 2016 meeting, the Water Board expressed unanimous support to recommend to Council
adoption of the changes.
PUBLIC OUTREACH
These changes are being driven by recognition from the development community that there was an
inconsistency between various City Code sections. These proposed changes address the issues raised by the
public. The items were noted on the “Agenda” notice for the June Water Board Meeting.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Water Board minutes, June 16, 2016 (draft) (PDF)
Excerpt from Unapproved Water Board Minutes – June 16, 2016
City Code Updates to Chapter 26 Pertaining to Service Lines and Metering
(Attachments available upon request)
Water Engineering and Field Operations Manager Jon Haukaas explained that a change was
made to the Building Code requiring residential fire suppression in single family attached homes.
A new Plant Investment Fee rate to allow for larger sized services to provide sufficient flow
needs to be created to recognize the residential nature of the actual water use but not overcharge
this customer class. The two additional items are less time sensitive but are necessary updates to
the Code; they clean up metering language that is no longer relevant.
Sec 26-94 Individual service lines for each building required. Allowance of ‘common
private service lines’ adopted in 2014. This update clarifies language that this change was
intended for both water and sewer. The existing language was unclear.
Sec 26-98 Water meter requirements and installation. Updates the requirements for
metering services by deleting several paragraphs that no longer apply since the metering
program was completed and also includes specific information on the location of meter
installations.
Sec 26-128 Updates the water plant investment fee schedule to create a new residential
rate allowing a 1-inch service to accommodate flow requirements of residential fire
suppression.
Discussion
Board members inquired about various topics, including the 1ʺ residential line for residential
with fire suppression systems, conservation organizations, and if Utilities will have a database
that shows whether a particular residence has fire suppression or has taken advantage of any
rebates, for example. Mr. Haukaas replied that the City will have that info in the Utilities
database. A board member inquired about the almost imperceptible revisions to the code and
suggested edits to clarify. Another board member inquired about whether a lot of residences
don’t have water meters. Mr. Haukaas replied that the language refers to the old metering
system; staff is 99.9% sure everyone is metered.
Board Member Kent Bruxvoort moved that the Water Board recommend adoption by City
Council of code modifications to Sec. 26-98 Water meter requirements and installation and
26-128 Schedule C, water plant investment fees.
Board Member Phyllis Ortman seconded the motion.
Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously, 6-0.
ATTACHMENT 1
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ORDINANCE NO. 085, 2016
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
AMENDING SECTIONS 26-98 AND 26-128 OF THE CITY CODE REGARDING
FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS FOR SINGLE FAMILY ATTACHED HOMES
WHEREAS, on February 4, 2014, City Council approved Ordinance No. 020, 2014,
which, among other things, adopted the 2012 International Residential Code with amendments
(“IRC”); and
WHEREAS, the IRC requires automatic residential fire sprinkler systems in single family
attached homes, such as townhomes, which are combination potable / fire suppression water
systems that deliver water to both standard plumbing fixtures and the fire sprinklers; and
WHEREAS, the standard water meter and line for water service to single family attached
homes in the Fort Collins Utilities service area is currently three-quarter inch; and
WHEREAS, the IRC provides that a water service line of three-quarter inch or smaller is
not permitted for use in such combination potable / fire suppression water systems due to a loss
of pressure in the water service line that reduces the flow rate available at the fire sprinklers; and
WHEREAS, water plant investment fees (“PIFs”) in City Code are based on the size of
the water service line and assume typical flow rates, which do not adequately consider the short
term high flow water service needs of residential fire sprinkler systems for single family attached
homes; and
WHEREAS, the installation of residential fire sprinkler systems is not anticipated to
increase the overall use of water in typical single family attached homes, and any increased use
will be captured in existing water rates and surcharges; and
WHEREAS, requiring the installation of a one-inch water service line for single family
attached homes results in a significant increase of the PIF that is not justified based on the rarity
with which the residential fire sprinkler systems are anticipated be used; and
WHEREAS, the rates set forth herein will produce revenues sufficient to pay the cost of
operation and maintenance of the City’s water utility in good repair and working order; and
WHEREAS, the use of a one inch water meter and line for water service to single family
attached homes in the Fort Collins Utilities service area requires changes to Code Section 26-98
regarding water meter requirements and installation; and
WHEREAS, the changes to City Code set forth herein are necessary for the sound
operation and management of the water utility.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FORT COLLINS as follows:
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Section 1. That the City Council hereby makes and adopts the determinations and
findings contained in the recitals set forth above.
Section 2. That Section 26-98 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins is hereby
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 26-98. - Water meter requirements and installation.
…
(f) Unless the utility elects to install the water meter outside of the user's residential
unit, all water meters shall be installed inside the user's residential unit at the expense of
the utility. In addition, a water meter may be installed outside of the residential unit at a
user's request if the user first agrees in writing to pay to the utility, after the installation,
the difference between the utility's established cost to install the water meter inside the
residential unit and the utility's actual cost to install the water meter outside of the
residential unit. Water Meter Installations shall meet the requirements of the Utilities
standard construction specifications adopted by the Utilities Executive Director.
Additionally:
(1) Meters shall not be installed in a crawl space.
(2) Residential ¾” meters may be installed interior or exterior to the building.
(3) All meter installations for meter sizes of 1” or larger shall be installed in
an exterior location.
(4) Modifications to the installation locations required under this Subsection
(f) may be approved by the Utilities Executive Director if the Utilities Executive
Director first determines that it is not practicable to meet the requirements of this
Subsection (f) due to the physical configuration of the subject property.
…
Section 3. That Section 26-128 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins is hereby
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 26-128. - Schedule C, water plant investment fees.
The water plant investment fee prescribed in Section 26-120 shall be payable by users both
inside and outside of the City, as follows:
(1) Single-family residential buildings.
For a single-family residential lot greater than one-half (½) acre in size, the lot size
shall be deemed to be one-half (½) acre for the purpose of this fee calculation. For
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each additional tap or meters larger than three fourths (3/4)one (1) inch, the
nonresidential rate shall apply.
a. For the first three-fourths-inch water tap or meter $720.00
b. For the first one-inch water tap or meter to accommodate residential fire
suppression systems based upon the criteria established in the International Building
Code as adopted and amended pursuant to Chapter 5 of this Code.
$1,220
bc. Plus, for each square foot of lot area of a lot served by either a three-fourths
(3/4) inch or one (1) inch water tap or meter
$0.33
(2) Residential buildings of two (2) or more dwelling units
The fee will provide for one (1) tap per residential building and an adequate number
of additional taps to serve common irrigable areas, if any. The number and size of taps
shall be determined by the Utilities Executive Director based upon the criteria
established in the Uniform PlumbingInternational Building Code as adopted and
amended pursuant to Chapter 5 of this Code.
a. For each residential building unit $540.00
b. Plus, for each square foot of lot area $0.24
(3) Mobile home parks
The size of the tap shall be determined by the Utilities Executive Director based
upon the criteria established in the Uniform PlumbingInternational Building Code as
adopted and amended pursuant to Chapter 5 of this Code.
. . .
Section 4. That the modifications set forth above shall be effective for plant
investment fees due and payable on or after June 1, 2016.
Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 19th day of
July, A.D. 2016, and to be presented for final passage on the 16th day of August, A.D. 2016.
__________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
City Clerk
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Passed and adopted on final reading on the 16th day of August, A.D. 2016.
__________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
City Clerk