HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 05/21/2019 - ITEMS RELATING TO VARIOUS AMENDMENTS TO CITY CODEAgenda Item 6
Item # 6 Page 1
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY May 21, 2019
City Council
STAFF
John Phelan, Energy Services Manager
Cyril Vidergar, Legal
Eric Potyondy, Legal
SUBJECT
Items Relating to Various Amendments to City Code Chapter 26 Pertaining to Utility Services.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A. First Reading of Ordinance No. 069, 2019, Amending Section 26-491 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins
to Add and Revise Definitions Related to the City’s Stormwater System.
B. First Reading of Ordinance No. 070, 2019, Amending Section 26-391 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins
to Add and Revise Definitions Related to the City’s Municipal Electric Utility System.
The purpose of this item is to make revisions, clarifications and additions to update definitions in City Code
Chapter 26 pertaining to Stormwater and Electric Utility Services.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinances on First Reading.
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
Item A: Ordinance No. 069, 2019 - Stormwater Utility Service Definitions
The City operates under a Colorado Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit, which requires
the implementation of programs to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants to waters of the state. The
MS4 permit is issued by the State of Colorado through the Colorado Department of Public Health and
Environment (CDPHE). MS4 permittees must prohibit and enforce on illicit discharges to the storm sewer
system.
The MS4 permit defines illicit discharge as any discharge to an MS4 that is not composed entirely of
stormwater except those specifically authorized by a Colorado Discharge Permit System (CDPS) or National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit and those resulting from emergency firefighting
activities. The MS4 permit also lists types of illicit discharges that can be excluded from the permittee’s
response and enforcement program.
Municipal Code Section 26-498 prohibits the discharge of pollutants and contaminated water to the City’s
storm sewer system and local surface waters. The recommended changes to the definitions below provide
consistency with the MS4 permit definition of “illicit discharge.”
Agenda Item 6
Item # 6 Page 2
Summary of proposed changes:
Proposed Change to City Code Section 26-491 Rationale
“Pollutants” is proposed to be added to the
definition of “contaminated water,” as follows:
“Contaminated water shall mean that water which
contains pollutants or constituents at
concentrations which could cause, directly or
indirectly, impairment of human health or the
environment and which would not present in such
concentrations in a natural state.”
“Pollutants” is proposed to be added to the
definition of “contaminated water” to provide
consistency between the two definitions and to
clarify that pollutants in water contaminates it
when they are at concentrations that are adverse
to human health or the environment and are not
naturally present.
The definition of “contaminated water” includes a
list of water sources that are excluded from being
considered “contaminated water.” Two changes
are proposed to be made to that list, as follows:
“This definition does not include the following
sources of water, unless water from such a source
is determined to violate other applicable water
quality restrictions or requirements:
“(2) landscape irrigation and residential lawn
watering;
[…]
“(9) dye testing in accordance with manufacturers
recommendations.”
“Residential” is removed from the list to clarify that
discharges resulting from residential, commercial,
and industrial lawn watering will also not be
considered to be “contaminated water,” and
prohibited or enforced under the City’s MS4
permit programs. Further, discharges from lawn
watering activities are already covered under City
Code Section 26-166, which prohibits the waste of
water.
Dye testing is added to the list because it is a
necessary process and to be consistent with
CDPHE’s regulations. Dye testing is a process
used by water utilities to help detect cross-
connections between sanitary sewers and storm
sewers. Dye testing may result in a discharge of
the nontoxic fluorescent dye to a local water body.
CDPHE has recognized the need for dye testing
to remove sanitary sewer cross-connections and
has added it to the list of illicit discharges that can
be excluded from an MS4 permittee’s response
and enforcement program.
The words “contaminated water” are proposed to
be added to the definition of “pollutants,” as
follows:
“Pollutant shall mean contaminated water,
dredged spoil, dirt, slurry, solid waste, incinerator
residue, sewage, sewage sludge, garbage, trash,
chemical waste, biological nutrient, biological
Agenda Item 6
Item # 6 Page 3
Item B: Ordinance No. 070, 2019 - Electric Utility Service Definitions
Average annual electricity consumption: Adding this definition clarifies the meaning of the phrase as it
relates to calculations such as those related to the sizing of behind-the-meter solar electric systems (i.e., “net
metered” systems). This definition is related to the size estimation of a customer’s annual usage during the
application step for a net-metered solar project. The size of such customer system is affected by the 120% rule
which is found at Colorado Revised Statutes § 40-2-124. The principle behind the rule is to allow the
customer’s financial compensation through credits for the energy generated on site to be sufficient to offset the
typical annual electricity cost for the specific customer, while limiting the amount of that energy generation so
other customers can also self-generate, without requiring electric utility system reconfiguration. This statutory
definition and standard are included in Chapter 26 of the Fort Collins Code.
As Fort Collins Utilities evaluates future rate structure changes for solar energy export, the need for the 120%
sizing rule will also be evaluated; however, adding the “average annual electric consumption” now provides
clarity for ongoing solar program implementation in the meantime.
Note also that Utilities’ solar program administration has used 24 months of usage data when available. When
this amount of data is not available, alternative estimation methods can be used.
• Definition: Average annual electricity consumption shall mean the average monthly consumption of the
previous 24 months of electricity use times twelve.
Qualifying renewable technology: Staff recommends revising the definition of Qualifying renewable
technology to include technologies that store energy. This revision will allow other provisions of the City
Code, such as net metering, to apply to storage technologies. Utilities anticipates that storage technologies
will become increasingly prevalent for net metered applications in the coming years. Current City Code
definitions do not mention storage. Adding the following definition will provide clarity regarding the
application of City Code to storage technologies.
• Definition: Qualifying renewable technology shall mean a qualifying facility that generates electricity
using renewable resources such as solar, fuel cell, wind, geothermal, combined heat and power or
biomass technology, or that stores energy. (additions in italics)
CITY FINANCIAL IMPACTS
Allowing discharges from dye testing activities will eliminate the need to collect and treat the water
contaminated with dye as a waste product, saving the City money in staffing, equipment, and disposal costs.
There are no other expected financial impacts to the City as a result of the recommended code changes.
The proposed electrical Code changes will have no direct financial impact to the City.
BOARD / COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
At its April 18, 2019 meeting, the Fort Collins Water Board voted unanimously in support of the proposed
stormwater definition revisions.
At its April 11, 2019 meeting, the Energy Board voted 9-0 on April 11, 2019, to recommend approval of the
proposed Electric Service definition revisions.
PUBLIC OUTREACH
The recommended City Code changes will not affect the way the MS4 permit illicit discharge response and
enforcement activities are administered. The changes are not expected to affect the public; therefore, no public
outreach activities have been conducted.
Agenda Item 6
Item # 6 Page 4
Fort Collins Utilities has presented the Electric Service changes to the Energy Board as set forth above. Staff
has not done further public outreach as it was determined that the revisions were of a technical nature and that
ongoing program related outreach would be sufficient.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Water Board minutes, April 18, 2019 (draft) (PDF)
2. Energy Board minutes, April 11, 2019 (PDF)
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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
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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
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ash landfills. These regulations were motivated by larger disasters with coal plants on the east coast
(large facilities with dams that broke), and Mr. Wood stressed the Rawhide facility is nothing like those
plants, there are no dams to break, but the regulations are applicable to them regardless.
Platte River has been monitoring the groundwater around the landfill since the beginning of Rawhide, but
the new EPA standards required additional wells to be installed, and some of the wells are much closer.
In that process, Platte River has received a lot more data about the groundwater impact around the
landfill, and with that data they found statistically significant levels above background in the immediate
vicinity of the landfill. Platte River is in a process now where staff is working to identify the immediate
impact and then will immediately impose corrective actions.
Vice Chairperson Shores asked if there is an immediate remediation plan right now? Mr. Wood said the
plans Platte River has right now are informal, proactive, and not imposed by an agency. Platte River will
have additional, more formalized plans going forward before the regulations are implemented.
Board member Gould asked if the landfill is lined and Mr. Wood said it is not lined with a geosynthetic
layer, but the landfill is on top of a layer of pure shale, so Platte River is confident the groundwater does
not migrate offsite.
Chairperson Michell said the article in the Coloradoan said the aquafer impacted by the groundwater
issue is not presently impacting any other aquafers in the area, and asked if that was accurate? Mr. Wood
said that is one way to explain it, though it would be very difficult to follow every molecule. Ms. Clemsen-
Roberts noted Platte River has 12 wells and only two wells are showing statistically significant signs of
contamination; the other 10 wells are not showing any increased levels right now, which does not indicate
a spread. Mr. Woods said in the 35 years of groundwater monitoring prior to the installation of the new
wells, there were no concerning data points, but the two new wells are very close to the waste boundary
of the landfill. Ms. Clemsen-Roberts also reiterated Platte River has been very transparent with their
findings and self-reporting of the groundwater monitoring. it is always posted to their website. Platte River
fully cooperated with all media requests regarding the data and provided links to other scientific data on
the EPA’s website.
Mr. Phelan asked when it might be appropriate to ask what the Platte River staff has learned, recognizing
that they may not know the answer yet. Mr. Woods said they will be installing additional wells within the
next year which will provide more data.
SPRING CODE UPDATE
Adam Bromley, Senior Manager, Electrical Engineering
John Phelan, John Phelan, Energy Services Senior Manager
Janet McTague, Manager, Technical Project Management
(attachments available upon request)
Ms. McTague explained that Light & Power staff have been working together to update the code within
the Electric Service Standards (ESS); they are not looking for a recommendation at this time but wanted
to give the Board a preview of what they’re working on.
Several years ago, staff went to Council to change the responsibility for installation and maintenance of
secondary service to multifamily buildings to the contractor or owner, which was in response to how
construction has changed. City Code and ESS still reflects fourplexes and eightplexes, which are not
seen very frequently in Fort Collins, but the code change limits what the City can install to 200 amps,
which only gives each side of a duplex 100 amps before becoming a commercial service. This is
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problematic because most duplexes need a minimum of 150 amps per side, so effectively the City is not
installing service to duplexes and the ESS needs to reflect that and move the change into code.
Staff also wants the ESS to clarify that the owner of secondary service cables to meter pedestals in
mobile home parks is the owner of the park. The owners should then be able to effectively budget for that
change as they maintain the services. This process is consistent with how the Utility handles non-
residential services, like downtown buildings, since mobile home parks are businesses.
The City no longer allows master metering, except by variance through the Executive Director, so staff
wanted to bring this standard into its own section within the ESS. Board member Baumgarn asked if the
standard mostly applies to commercial condo situations, or multifamily. Ms. McTague said typically more
in multifamily situations, and variances are rarely requested on commercial properties.
Board member Gould asked how existing mobile home parks would be impacted by the code change.
Ms. McTague said it depends on the annexation because they are all operated and maintained differently,
but it should not negatively affect them, other than giving them clarity and control over when and how they
maintain their system.
Mr. Phelan said Energy Services staff has two proposed code changes, to add a definition of the Average
Annual Electricity Consumption and revise the definition for Qualifying Renewable Technology. Mr.
Phelan said these are interim steps in recognizing that there is some ambiguity in the current wording.
Within net-metering, adding a definition of average annual electricity consumption clarifies the meaning of
the phrase as it relates to calculations such as those related to the sizing of behind the meter solar
electric systems. Average annual electricity consumption shall mean the average monthly consumption of
the previous 24 months of electricity use times twelve. Chairperson Michell asked what the solution is if
there is not 24 months of data available. Mr. Phelan said there are internal practices available; they have
used as little as 12 months for new service, or square footage averages based on comparable homes.
The definition of qualifying renewable technology will be revised to include technology which stores
electric or thermal energy. This revision will allow other provisions of the code, such as net metering, to
apply to storage technologies. Qualifying renewable technology shall mean a qualifying facility that
generates electricity using renewable resources such as solar, fuel cell, wind, geothermal, combined heat
and power or biomass technology, or that stores electric or thermal energy. Board member Becker
commented that the reason to install a battery is so the user does not have to push out onto the grid, so a
customer could feasibly arbitrage the system during Time of Day peak hours. Mr. Phelan said the Finance
team was also concerned about that, so Energy Services staff ran that analysis and because Time of Day
is designed to capture the wholesale rate structure of Platte River, it actually showed a slight benefit to
the Utility on an annual basis. Mr. Phelan reiterated that this is one step of a larger process and said it’s
important to remove a barrier now while working toward the next.
Mr. Phelan asked the board for a recommendation since these changes will be proposed to City Council.
Chairperson Michell asked if it makes sense to call a customer’s standalone battery “qualifying renewable
technology” without any other renewable system, such as solar. Board member Braslau said that it does
considering Platte River Power Authority’s investments in solar and wind, and they only way that can be
handled is with progressive and proactive demand management. Mr. Michell agreed with Mr. Braslau’s
comment but said he still does not think a standalone battery qualifies as renewable technology. Mr.
Phelan said he would be shocked if City staff does not complete a comprehensive rework of code
language within the next several years, but they are not ready to do that today.
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Board member Becker moved to support the code definition language update as presented by
staff.
Chairperson Michell seconded the motion.
Vote on the Motion: It passed unanimously, 9-0
COLORADO LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY
John Phelan, Energy Services Senior Manager
Mr. Phelan became the Utilities liaison for the Council Legislative Review Committee this year. The Utility
also relies heavily on representation with CAMU (Colorado Association of Municipal Utilities), they employ
a lobbyist who reviews bills from a municipal utility perspective. Mr. Phelan displayed a list of bills that the
City is considering taking a position on and highlighted five bills that are of interest to the Energy Board.
HB19-1231, New Appliance Energy and Water Efficiency Standards, applies efficiency requirements on
products sold in Colorado. Generally, this would not fall under the City’s purview in terms of regulatory
requirements, but it would raise the minimum standards on a wide range of products sold at retailers in
Colorado.
HB19-1260, Building Energy Codes, requires jurisdictions that are adopting any part of code to adopt any
of the last three available energy codes.
HB19-1261, Colorado Climate Action Plan, revises and establishes new climate goals for the state of
Colorado from all sources: 26% carbon reduction by 2025, 50% by 2030, and 90% by 2050. It essentially
sets rule-making authority with the Colorado Department of Health & Environment and the Air Quality
regulatory bodies. There is also an electric utility goal of 80% reduction by 2030, but that language is
somewhat vague. This bill is paired with HB19-1313, Electric Utility Carbon Reduction, which says a utility
with 500,000 or more customers can submit an approved clean energy plan which would exempt the
utility from the rule-making portion of the Climate Action Plan under HB 1261.
Board member Braslau said the Climate Action Plan under HB 1261 is less aggressive than the Fort
Collins adopted CAP, and Mr. Phelan said that is correct; however, it could help the City have a stronger
influence in areas it would otherwise not have now, such as natural gas vehicles. Mr. Coen added that
he’s heard HB 1313 has weak support right now since it is basically a bill for Xcel Energy.
Board member Braslau said he just looked it up, and HB 1260 did pass the House without amendments.
He also said Mr. Phelan didn’t list SB 181, which would be of interest to the Energy Board. Mr. Phelan
said after Mr. Coen’s comment earlier, he sent a note to the team in Environmental Services who are
engaged in that.
BOARD MEMBER REPORTS
Chairperson Michell, Vice Chairperson Shores, and board members Baumgarn and Braslau all attended
the Energy Transitions Symposium last month. Chairperson Michell said there is a website with several
videos from the conference, and he plans to send a few links to the Board. Board member Braslau said
he was discouraged by the discussion of Regional Energy Markets. Mr. Davis also attended along with a
few others from Platte River, and he said he believes Xcel is in favor of an Energy Balanced Market. Vice
Chairperson Shores said she attended a discussion about transportation issues, which she found very
-1-
ORDINANCE NO. 069, 2019
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
AMENDING SECTION 26-491 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF
FORT COLLINS TO ADD AND REVISE DEFINITIONS RELATED
TO THE CITY’S STORMWATER SYSTEM
WHEREAS, the City owns and operates a municipal separate storm sewer system
(“MS4”) that is used, among other purposes, to convey stormwater to the Cache la Poudre River
and its tributaries; and
WHEREAS, said conveyance of stormwater by the City’s MS4 may constitute a
discharge of pollutants to state waters and the waters of the United States under two statutes: the
Colorado Water Quality Control Act, C.R.S. §§25-8-101 et seq. and the federal Clean Water Act,
33 U.S.C. §1251 et seq.; and
WHEREAS, under said statutes, the Colorado Department of Public Health and
Environment has issued CDPS General Permit COR090000 Stormwater Discharges Associated
with Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s) Authorization to Discharge Under the
Colorado Permit System (“MS4 Permit”); and
WHEREAS, there are certain inconsistencies between the MS4 Permit and Article VII of
Chapter 26 of the City Code, which concerns the City’s Stormwater Utility and MS4, namely
with respect to certain definitions in City Code Section 26-491; and
WHEREAS, while the MS4 Permit generally requires the City to effectively prohibit
illicit discharges of pollutants into the City’s MS4 (as those terms are used and defined in the
MS4 Permit), under Part I(E)(2)(a)(v) of the MS4 Permit, the MS4 Permit does not require the
City to effectively prohibit discharges from certain activities, including: non-residential lawn
watering and dye testing in accordance with manufacturers recommendations (together, “Subject
Activities”); and
WHEREAS, under the current definition of “contaminated water” and “pollutant” in City
Code Section 26-491, City Code Section 26-498 prohibits discharges of water to the City’s MS4
from the Subject Activities; and
WHEREAS, changing the definition of “contaminated water” and “pollutant” in City
Code Section 26-491 to state that these terms do not include water generated from the Subject
Activities will be beneficial to the City by, among other things, better aligning City Code with
the MS4 Permit, providing greater clarity regarding the City’s regulation of the Subject
Activities, and prioritizing MS4 and stormwater-related education and enforcement activities on
more significant sources of pollutants.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FORT COLLINS as follows:
-2-
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 26-491 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins is hereby
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 26-491. - Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this Article, shall have the meanings
ascribed to them in this Section:
. . .
Contaminated water shall mean that water which contains pollutants or constituents at
concentrations which could cause, directly or indirectly, impairment of human health or the
environment and which would not present in such concentrations in a natural state. This includes
any water contaminated from industrial processes, land use activities, development or other man-
induced practices. These constituents include, but are not limited to, toxic pollutants as defined
in § 26-206 of this Code, nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous, substances which promote
an excessive biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) or chemical oxygen demand (COD) as those
terms are defined in § 26-206, substances which cause the pH of such water to deviate from
acceptable standards, biological agents which may be the cause of disease in either humans or
other desirable organisms, and physical contaminants such as excess sediments and/or
temperature. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s current publication of “Quality Criteria
for Water,” and/or the State of Colorado’s “Basic Standards and Methodologies for Surface
Water” and/or any other federal or state regulation or guideline may be used to interpret the
impact of a particular constituent upon a water body. This definition does not include the
following sources of water, unless water from such a source is determined to violate other
applicable water quality restrictions or requirements:
(1) Flows incidental to emergency fire fighting activities;
(2) Landscape irrigation and residential lawn watering;
(3) Irrigation return flows;
(4) Springs, diverted stream flows and flows from riparian habitats and wetlands;
(5) Flows incidental to street, sidewalk or median sweeping and not associated with
construction;
(6) Flows from condensation formed from the operation of air conditioning equipment
installed and maintained in accordance with manufacturer's specifications;
(7) Uncontaminated pumped, infiltrated or rising ground water; and
-3-
(8) Flows from properly installed, operated and maintained and City-approved footing,
foundation or crawl space drain or pump.; and
(9) Dye testing in accordance with manufacturers recommendations.
. . .
Pollutant shall mean contaminated water, dredged spoil, dirt, slurry, solid waste, incinerator
residue, sewage, sewage sludge, garbage, trash, chemical waste, biological nutrient, biological
material, disease causing agents, radioactive material, heat, wrecked or discarded equipment,
rock, sand, automotive fluids, paint, cooking grease, process waste water, swimming pool
discharges, discharges from cleaning of heat transfer equipment, or any industrial, commercial,
construction, household, municipal, or agricultural waste.
. . .
Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 21st day of
May, A.D. 2019, and to be presented for final passage on the 4th day of June, A.D. 2019.
__________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
Chief Deputy City Clerk
Passed and adopted on final reading on the 4th day of June, A.D. 2019.
__________________________________
Mayor Pro Tem
ATTEST:
_______________________________
City Clerk
-1-
ORDINANCE NO. 070, 2019
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
AMENDING SECTION 26-391 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
TO ADD AND REVISE DEFINITIONS RELATED TO THE CITY’S
MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC UTILITY SYSTEM
WHEREAS, the City owns and operates a municipal electric distribution system to
deliver electric power purchased by the City to retail customers and to accommodate
interconnection of customer-owned renewable power generation devices; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 26 of the City Code regulates and governs the provision of utility
services and sets forth definitions of terms used to describe and applicable to conditions for
receipt of utility services; and
WHEREAS, such provisions require updating and modification from time to time, for
purposes of clarification and to ensure the Code remains a dynamic document capable of
responding to issues identified by staff, customers, and citizens and changes in the law regarding
the delivery of public utility services; and
WHEREAS, staff has proposed that identified definitions be added and amended in
Chapter 26 of the City Code to clarify how net-metered customer generation technologies are
managed, and to better inform customers and align with current utility practices; and
WHEREAS, in light of the foregoing, the City Council has determined the amendment
and supplementation of definitions in Chapter 26 of the City Code is necessary and will be
beneficial for the ratepayers of the City's Electric Utility and for the efficient administration of
Utility functions.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED 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 Section 26-391 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins is hereby
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 26-391. - Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this Article, shall have the
meanings ascribed to them in this Section:
. . .
Average annual electricity consumption shall mean the average monthly consumption of
the previous twenty-four (24) months of electricity use times twelve (12x).
. . .
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Qualifying renewable technology shall mean a qualifying facility that generates
electricity using renewable resources such as solar, fuel cell, wind, geothermal, combined heat
and power or biomass technology, or that stores energy.
. . .
Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 21st day of
May, A.D. 2019, and to be presented for final passage on the 4th day of June, A.D. 2019.
__________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
Chief Deputy City Clerk
Passed and adopted on final reading on the 4th day of June, A.D. 2019.
__________________________________
Mayor Pro Tem
ATTEST:
_______________________________
City Clerk
material, disease causing agents, radioactive
material, heat, wrecked or discarded equipment,
rock, sand, automotive fluids, paint, cooking
grease, process waste water, swimming pool
discharges, discharges from cleaning of heat
transfer equipment, or any industrial, commercial,
construction, household, municipal, or agricultural
waste.”
“Contaminated water” was added to the definition
of “pollutant” to provide consistency between the
two definitions.