Minutes - Water Resources - 6/28/2007CITY OF BOULDER, COLORADO
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MEETING SUMMARY FORM
NAME OF BOARD/COMMISSION: Water Resources Adviso Board
DATE OF MEETING: June 28, 2007
NAME/TELEPHONE OF PERSON PREPARING SUMMARY: Kaaren Davis, 303-441-3229
NAMES OF MEMBERS, COUNCIL, STAFF, AND INVITED GUESTS PRESENT:
BOARD MEMBERS -Jim Knopf, Robin Byers, Bart Miller, Kelly DiNatale, Wiliiam DeOreo
STAFF -Ned Williams, Randy Crittenden, Annie Noble, Suzanne Givler, Bob Harberg, Carol Linn, Carol
Ellin house, Brett Linnenfelser, Kaazen Davis- Secre
WHAT TYPE OF MEETING BOLD ONE REGULAR SPECIAL UASI-JUDICIAL
Agenda Item 1- Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7:07 p.m.
Agenda Item 2- Meeting Minutes -May 21, 2007
Motion: Byers-to accept the meeting minutes as submitted.
Seconded: DeOreo
Vote: 5-0 in favor, Passed
Agenda Item 3- Public participation and comment.
-Sheila Horton: Have a number of inembers who have queried for water budget adjustments. Tum around
time seems to be about 6 weeks. It sounds as though some past payment are being refunded and re-billed.
Some delay. So far no one has been through the entire process. Longest time so far 73 days.
Agenda Item 4-5
Matters From Staff-
• Fluoride Processes feedback from Richard Knaub. Unclear whether Knaub will be able to attend a
future meeting as he is potentially relocating to out-of-state. Staff will check on that.
• Copies of the Utilities Annual Report and the 2007 Water Quality Report have been provided and
staff will be happy to answer questions after this meeting or at another
Matters trom Board -
• Byers: Valmont Butte update requested: Williams: mitigation is proceeding but has not begun
fill or prairie dog relocation. Appraisal in process and will provide numbers when available.
• Byers: Fire Training Site Environmental assessment update requested.
• DiNatale: Gave an update on the Greenways CIP.
• Knopf: Initiated a discussion reguding the City Manager's email to Council detailing his
responses to WRAB recommendations to Council regarding water budget issues. (Ordinance 4-20-
25)
• DeOreo: Asked for clarification and initiated discussion regarding Neighborhoods/HOA's and
water budgets.
• Byers: South Boulder Creek Flood StudyBernazdi property. County has schedWed a hearing on
July 12~'. Should be available sVeaming online. Suggest city staff be present.
Motion:
DiNatale: WRAB direc[s two of its members (DeOreo and Knop~ to meet with City Manager and
the Mayor or their designated representatives (elected representative in the case of the Mayor's
inability to attend) prior to the next WRAB meeting, and to bring before them the concerns
referenced in the resolutians from the May meeting and the Manager's response to the May WRAB
recommendations.
2"a: DeOreo
Vote: 5-0
Motion Passes
Agenda Item 6- Final Recommendatian on the Integrated Evaluation ot Boulder Reservoir Water
Treatment Plant Source Water Protection and Treatment Improvements Study.
Noble, Hazberg Chris Tadanier (Black and Veatch) and Linnenfelser made the presentation.
WRAB guestions and comment:
WRAB Summary
lune 28, 2007
Page No. 1
• Byers: Requested clarification on comparison between additional treatment -vs- protection of
source by Pipeline
• Byers: Conceming ROW, inquired about potential ROW conflicts with FasTracks development.
• Miller: Initiated discussion with WRAB regarding water quality goals and their role in the
assessment.
Public Hearing:
• There was no public input.
Motion:
DiNatale: WRAB recommends that City Council delay construction of Boulder's portion of the
Carter Lake Pipeline and consider it as a future phase for implementation after the following actions
have occurred:
1) Construction of Boulder Reservoir Water Treatment Plant improvements (CI02 and UV or
alternates)
2) Implementation of the canal bypasses, BMP's and other protective measures for the Boulder
Feeder Canal
3) Existing bonded indebtedness has been significantly reduced.
The actions of other potential participants in the Carter Lake pipeline project should be monitored
to ensure that segments constructed by others would not preclude the possibility o[ Boulder
constructing a pipeline in the future. Actions by Boulder may include over sizing of upstream
segments constructed by others or acquisition of adjacent right ot way.
WRAB has carefully reviewed all of the staff and consultant information and has the following
findings:
1) Construction of the pipeline would require in excess of $22 million in funds Gom the city of
Boulder and result in significant rate increases and tie up revenues needed for other
unidentified future needs. Staff projections for rate increases beginning in 2009 needed to
finance system improvements including the Carter Lake Pipeline are 10%, 10% and 12%
for the three year period over and above the 3%, 4% and 4% increases the three previous
years.
2) The pipeline is an attractive enhancement to the City's operations and would result i~ more
consistent, high quality water, but is not essential for the successful operations of the City's
water system.
3) Water currently delivered out otthe Boulder Reservoir Water Treatment Plant is of good
quality, meeting all Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
4) Water quality goals established by staft for non-primary drinking water standards are too
restrictive and render infeasible any other option than the Carter Lake Pipeline.
5) Water quality risks in the Boulder Feeder Canal can and should be addressed via measures
such as canal bypasses, stormwater best management practices and land use controls.
6) The technical peer review of the Black & Veatch report by Dr. Susumu Kawamaura is
consistent with findings 3& 4.
7) There are minor improvements to the Boulder Reservoir Water Treatment Plant
(alternative 2) that can and should be implemented to ensure continued high quality water.
Znd: DQ~700
Friendly Amendment: Knopf: to amend motion as discussed to section 1, items 2 and 3. Section 2,
items 5, 6 and 7(changes already reflected in the body of the motion above)
Accepted by DiNatale.
Discussion:
The WRAB discussed the merits of delay -vs- proceeding as per staff recommendation.
Conclusion:
Vote: 3-2 (Knopf, DiNatale, DeOreo [or; Byers and Miller against)
Byers votes against for the following reasons:
1) She believes it is a health, safety and welfare risk to continue the current system and that it is
oecessary for long term community health to ensure the purest source water possible. It is
better to do it now than to wait.
WRAB Summary
June 28, 2007
Page No. 2
2) Would likely help reduce mitigation costs to aIl parties involved with the Boulder Feeder
Canal Trail.
Miller votes against for the following reason: "I am not comfortable sewnd guessing the water
quality standards set by staff without concrete evidence that it is in error. I assume those decisions
were made tor good reason and based on concrete water quality informatioo. "
Agenda Item 7- Final recommendation on the Utilities 2008 Budget a~d CIP.
Linn presented the item.
WRAB Discussion:
• The WRAB asked for clarification on various points of the budget and CIP. Staff provided
clazifications as requested.
Motion:
DeOreo: WRAB accepts the 2008 budget and CIP with the exception of striking the line items
103 and 105 (water utility fund) dealing with the Carter Lake Pipeline, and adjusting the
proposed rate increases (line 13, water utility fund fioancial) downward to reflect this removal.
2nd: Miller
Vote: 4-1 B ers votes "no° to maintain consistenc with her vote on a enda item 6
Agenda Item 8- Discussion of schedule for future meetings.
Agenda Item 9- Adjournment
Motion: Motion to adjourn by Knopf
Seconded by: Byers
Vote: 5-0 in favor, passed.
Meeting adjourned at 10:42 PM
Date, Time, and Location of Next Meeting:
The ne# meeting will be Monday, July 16 - 7 p.m, regular meeting, Municipal Services Center, 5050 East
Pearl Street unless otherwise decided b staff and the boazd.
These are summary minutes. Audio tapes for full record are available through Cenual Records.
Minutes approved by: l~N ~ 1%
Date: ~~
WRAB Summary
lune 28, 2007
Page No. 3