HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 3/27/2018 - Memorandum From Lisa Rosintoski And Matt Fater Re: Discontinuance Of Irrigation Curb-Stop Turn-OffsUtilities
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222 Laporte Avenue
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.212.2900
utilities_csd@fcgov.com
fcgov.com/utilities
M E M O R A N D U M
DATE: March 19, 2018
TO: Mayor Troxell and Councilmembers
FROM: Lisa Rosintoski, Utilities Customer Connections Manager
Matt Fater, Special Projects Manager
THROUGH: Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Jeff Mihelich, Deputy City Manager
Kevin R. Gertig, Utilities Executive Director
RE: Discontinuance of Irrigation Curb-Stop Turn-Off’s
Bottom Line:
Beginning September 2017, Fort Collins Utilities discontinued turning water service off at the
curb-stop to irrigation only accounts (accounts labeled “SPKR”). After reviewing the service,
Utilities staff determined the cost as compared to the benefits of continuing the service was not
suitable for Utilities ongoing operations. Customers can manage their winter irrigation
maintenance just as effectively. There are approximately 500 SPKR accounts that received
notice on the discontinuance of the service. Utilities will continue to include materials when
notifying the customers on the best practices in managing turning off water service beyond the
curb stop prior to the winter season.
Summary:
As part of Utilities Program Management Office, regular reviews are performed of existing
programs and services. The purpose is to ensure optimization of resources and costs through a
plan-do-check-act (PDCA) approach. This was recently performed on an existing service titled
“Irrigation Curb-Stop Turn-Off.” It was found, that in the early 1980s meter readers would stop
visiting and reading meters at some point in the fall, then start reading them again in the spring,
assuming zero use during that period. Some meters, however, continued using water through the
winter and as a result, their first bill in the spring would be large and unexpected. This spurred
the start of the official on/off request process. Meter readers would typically still check the
meters regularly, which could be difficult in winter conditions.
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This service should be discontinued for the following reasons:
It is not necessary to turn water off at the curb stop to winterize irrigations systems.
These systems should be equipped with an on/off valve to be properly winterized without
Utilities intervention.
This service requires staffing and equipment resources that could be more effectively
utilized on higher priority Utilities projects.
Billing of services is suspended during the months the service is off and results in
unbilled monthly base charges and a financial loss to Utilities. This loss is estimated to be
more than $50,000 per month.
This service is only provided to about 500 accounts, it is not offered to other customers
with irrigation systems.
This service will be discontinued in two phases:
Phase 1 – Discontinued water curb stop turn offs
Mailed notification to all active SPKR accounts regarding changes (June/July 2017)
o Water will not be turned off at curb stop
o Ensured system is in good condition and had necessary turn off/on valve for
winterization
September 2017, discontinued turn-off of water curb stops (Mailed reminder post card)
Continued to accept requests to stop the billing for the 2017/2018 winter season
Materials distributed that included the best-practices for winterizing an irrigation system
Staff continued to remind other involved stakeholders, such as irrigation and landscape
contractors.
Phase 2 – Discontinue deactivation of billing
Billing will resume in the Spring of 2018 by customer request or when consumption
resumes.
In the fall of 2018, billing- including base charges, will continue uninterrupted so long as
water is being used.
Monthly base charges will be applied to all accounts for all 12 months beginning in 2019,
as long as water service is available to the account
If you need further clarification, please contact Lisa Rosintoski at lrosintoski@fcgov.com or call
416-2432.
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