HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 10/17/2023 - Memorandum From Ken Sampley Re: Hill Pond Feasibility Study – Project Update
Utilities
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PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.212.2900
V/TDD: 711
utilities@fcgov.com
fcgov.com/utilities
MEMORANDUM
Date: October 8, 2023
To: Mayor and City Councilmembers
Through: Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
Jill Oropeza, Sr. Director, Integrated Water Sciences & Planning
From: Ken Sampley, Director, Stormwater Engr, Floodplain Admin & Water Dev Review
Subject: Hill Pond Feasibility Study - Project Update
Bottom Line
The purpose of this memo is to inform City Council of a change to the public engagement process and
project timeline for Hill Pond Feasibility Study. No action is needed.
Background
The Hill Pond Feasibility (“Study”) was initiated in June 2023 for the purpose of assisting the interested
parties in identifying and evaluating potential solutions for mitigating shoreline erosion issues occurring
around Hill Pond, a private lake situated adjacent to Spring Creek and the Spring Creek Trail.
Based on feedback received during the first round of community engagement meetings, City staff
identified the need to revise the public engagement process. The new approach will convene all
interested parties at a single community workshop where they can voice concerns and explore potential
solutions together. This differs from the original approach, where the City was to prepare a set of
recommended alternatives based on feedback from smaller group meetings, where dialog between the
interested parties was more limited.
The new approach is intended to be responsive to feedback received from participants and designed to
provide a more equitable representation of values, concerns, and ideas, and ultimately to promote
community ownership of the Study alternatives and outcomes. City staff will continue to support the
community engagement process and technical evaluation of the recommended alternatives, with
assistance from the Study consultant.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 743EDF88-FC8A-4103-8CD8-BBA7659CB27C
Interested Parties
Hill Pond is situated on properties owned by two different homeowners’ associations (HOAs) – Windtrail
on Spring Creek HOA and Hill Pond HOA. The water in Hill Pond is used by Arthur Ditch Company (“Ditch
Company”) to facilitate the diversion of the Ditch Company’s water into its lateral irrigation ditches
immediately downstream. The City has an easement along the south side of the pond for Spring Creek
Trail, the City’s most highly trafficked bike and pedestrian trail. The City’s primary interests in this project
are maintaining safe access to Spring Creek Trail and ensuring an unimpeded floodway for Spring Creek.
The interested parties invited to participate in the public engagement process include community users of
Spring Creek trail, the two HOAs, the Ditch Company, Colorado State University (downstream landowner)
and the City Parks Department and Stormwater Utility.
Revised Engagement Process
City staff are planning to send invitations to interested parties to participate in an additional half-day
engagement event on Saturday, November 4 from 8:30 AM -12:30 PM (location to be determined).
Participants will collectively decide which alternatives should be studied by the consultant and identify the
criteria needed to evaluate each alternative (e.g., aesthetic and habitat value, cost, etc.). Staff will report
back to the parties with the planned approach, and the Study consultant will then proceed with the
technical feasibility evaluation. Once complete, City staff and the Study consultant will share findings with
the interested parties. Any subsequent actions steps will be determined at that time, as needed.
City Staff Roles & Responsibilities
The City has provided $60,000 in funding and project management in support of the Study.
Implementation of the selected alternative is beyond the scope of the Study. The extent to which the City
participates in or funds future solutions will depend on the degree to which the City’s interests are
involved. Any future financial commitments would be subject to Council’s approval.
Impacts to Project Budget and Timeline
There is no increase in the project budget due to this change in approach. However, the additional time
needed to complete the additional engagement meeting and process feedback will extend the completion
date from December 2023 to March 2024. Please contact Ken Sampley at ksampley@fcgov.com or (970)
224-6021 with any questions.
CC: Kendall Minor, Utilities Executive Director
Jason Graham, Utilities Water Director
Mike Calhoon, Director, Parks
Douglas Groves, Manager, Utilities Stormwater Maintenance
Heather Young, Manager, Utilities Community Engagement
DocuSign Envelope ID: 743EDF88-FC8A-4103-8CD8-BBA7659CB27C