HomeMy WebLinkAboutResponse To Constituent Letter - Mail Packet - 11/1/2022 - Letter From Mayor Jeni Arndt To Water Commission Re: Recommendation To Budget Offer 4.47: Utilities: 1.0 Fte Project Manager (Civil Engineer Ii)
Mayor
City Hall
300 LaPorte Ave.
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.416.2154
970.224.6107 - fax
fcgov.com
October 27, 2022
Water Commission
c/o Jason Graham, Staff Liaison, Director of Water Utilities
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
Dear Chair Tarry and Commission Members:
On behalf of City Council, thank you for providing us with the October 20, 2022 memorandum
regarding the Water Commission’s Recommendation to Fund Offer 4.47: Utilities: 1.0 FTE
Project Manager (Civil Engineer II). We appreciate your thoughts regarding how this position
would be a first step in replacing aging infrastructure on a planned schedule to reduce cost
inefficiencies associated with emergency replacement projects.
The 2023-2024 Budget is scheduled for Council consideration on first reading at the November 1
regular meeting. We encourage you to view the proceedings that night and remain engaged in the
conversation.
Thank you for the expertise and perspectives that you bring to the Water Commission and
sharing them with City Council.
Best Regards,
Jeni Arndt
Mayor
/sek
cc: City Council Members
Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
1
M E M O R A N D U M
DATE: October 20, 2022
TO: Mayor Arndt and City Council
FROM: Jason Tarry, Water Commission Chairperson
THROUGH: Jason Graham, Director of Water Utilities
RE: Water Commission’s Recommendation to Fund Offer 4.47: Utilities: 1.0
FTE Project Manager (Civil Engineer II)
At the October 6th Water Commission work session, Jason Graham presented on which 2023-2024 BFO
offers that were funded and not funded in the City Manager’s Recommended Budget. The Water
Commission generally approves with the funded offers presented. However, the Water Commission
believes that one offer that was not funded, offer 4.47: Utilities: 1.0 FTE Project Manager (Civil Engineer
II), should be funded in the 2023-2024 budget.
The Water Commission believes that the Fort Collins Water and Wastewater Utilities should prioritize
increasing the rate of replacement of aging water distribution and wastewater collection piping throughout
the service area. The Water and Wastewater Utilities have a goal of replacing underground pipe
infrastructure on a 100-year life cycle based on the useful age of the pipe. This rate of replacement
equates to a 1% annual replacement rate or approximately 5.5 miles of pipe per year. The Utility’s current
rate of replacement falls far below this rate. The Utility is not able to spend their current allocation of
replacement funding due to limited staffing and project management capacity.
The Water Commission identifies that the number of emergency projects completed by the Utility’s staff
to address water breaks or sewer backups is high. These emergency projects have a substantial impact on
the service to the users and the costs of construction. Costs to replace a water main break are significantly
higher than the costs of replacing the same waterline as part of a planned replacement project.
Funding this offer and hiring a project manager is the required initial step to improve on the rate of aging
infrastructure replacement and reduce the cost inefficiencies associated with emergency replacement
projects.
The Water Commission voted to pass the motion (vote 6 for and 0 against).
CC: Lance Smith, Financial Planning & Analysis Director
Kendall Minor, Utilities Executive Director
DocuSign Envelope ID: 3ABA49F7-7614-4532-BAB4-F03EED66C7A2