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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-09-21 WSB MINUTES• • • WATER AND SEWER BOARD MINUTES September 21 , 2010 The meeting was called to order at 5:04 p.m. Members present: Members absent: Also present: Burns, Clark, Cassidy, Wiggins, Woodward, Habenicht Higday, Mccaslin Stewart Fonda, Director of Utilities Bill McCormick, Operations Supt -Utilities John Bock, Utilities Manager of Adm.in. Amy Sundine, Billing Supv. Tom Brennan, Utilities Engineer 1. MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 10, 2010 MEETING. The Englewood Water and Sewer Board received the minutes of the August 10, 2010 meeting. Mr. Bums moved ; Mr. Habenicht seconded: Ayes: Abstain: Nays: To approve the minutes of the August 10 , 2010 meeting as written. Burns, Clark, Cassidy, Wiggins, Woodward, Habenicht Olson, Cassidy None • • • Members absent: Higday, McCaslin Motion carried. 2. APPEAL TO ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLIANCE ORDER 333 W. HAMPDEN A VE. -CHIPOLTE GRILL. Pam Arnold, Pretreatment Administrator for the Littleton/Englewood Wastewater Treatment Plant, appeared before the Board to review the circumstances involved in the Administrative order issued July 23, 2010. She explained that oil and grease pumpers are regulated under pretreatment regulations. Oil and grease is prohibited in the sanitary sewer system, and pumping services are expected to know proper removal procedures. Pam explained that the grease interceptor in the Chase Bank Building at 333 W. Hampden Ave. was not pumped out before flushing and resulted in a backup of the grease an:d oil interceptor resulting in damage and removal ofthebasement carpet and odor resulting from the discharge. Businesses were adversely affected, and in some cases customers left because of the unpleasant odors . Ms . Arnold also noted that the owner of the flusher , Mr. Brandse, has also been previously sited for dumping about 1,000 gallons of mud and water from a construction site in a drainage way in the Cherry Creek Basin in Arapahoe County. Ms . Arnold had requested to inspect his facility and equipment. He stated that he did not have a garage and his one pump truck is parked in a field near Titan Road, which is a remote undeveloped area. When two male inspectors from the Pretreatment Division arrived, Mr. Brandse denied them entry for inspection and did not wish to be interviewed . He also indicated he would seek legal counsel. She also noted that the $5,000 fine resulting from the Pretreatment Division's Administrative Order was based on lack of cooperation, compliance history and the harm to the environment/public property. Ms. Arnold asserts that Pro GTS should have emptied the contents of the interceptor into the tanker truck prior to jetting, which would have been the proper way to dispose of the liquid waste. Frank Brandse addressed the Board to explain the circumstances of the backup. Two portable jetters were dispatched to flush the trap and line to dislodge an obstruction causing slow drainage. Mr. Brandse believes the spill was due to an aggressive jetting operation on an incorrectly plumbed system . He claims that Ms. Arnold is assuming that they were pushing liquid waste, not water, through the lines. Mr. Brandse is asking for a reduction or dismissal of the fine, stating the resulting financial hardship could put him out of business. He also noted that he has paid restitution for the bank building clean-up . • • • The Board requested further information to be presented at the next meeting -Chipotle's grease trap pumping history and any violations, the Enforcement Reponse Plan and how Ms. Arnold calculated the $5,000 fine . 3. APPEALING LATE SEWER FEE ON 7248 S. BROADWAY. Mr. Jordan Braunstein has written a letter requesting that the Utilities Department waive the sewer bill late fees on his rental property located at 7248 S. Broadway. He noted in his letter that he was focused on an eviction and did not notify the Utilities Department of his address change. Ms. Sundine, the Utilities Billing Supervisor, reviewed the call-in history and dates of discussion about this bill. The property was purchased December, 2007 and the bill was from June, 2009 . The Board received a memo from the City Attorney's office stating, "When a person purchases a property, part of their due diligence is that they should ensure that all utility fees are paid. The sewer charges and any lien run with the land not with the owner." It was also noted that a certified letter was sent to Mr. Braunstein, which he signed for . Mr. Clark moved; Mr. Habenicht seconded: Ayes : Nays: Members absent: Motion carried To deny Mr. Braunstein's request to waive the sewer late fee on 7248 S . Broadway. Bums, Clark, Cassidy, Wiggins , Woodward, Habenicht, Olson, Cassidy None Higday, McCaslin 4. PIPING CITY DITCH -HURON & OXFORD Mr. Norman Henry appeared as an unscheduled guest to discuss an idea from Water Board member Robert Cassidy about a water feature in the City Ditch right-of-way. A circulating water pump in a channel over the soon-to-be piped ditch was discussed. Mr. Tom Brennan, the Utilities Engineer, noted that grading for a channel with water pumping abilities could be investigated. Mr. Fonda discussed that a water feature with a recirculating pump and an outlet would be possible pending the conditions that an acceptable design is submitted, that all adjacent • • • neighbors agree on the amenity and a License Agreement is submitted and approved by Water Board and City Council. Mayor Woodward and Clyde Wiggins noted that the funding for the construction, operating costs and maintaining the amenity would not be City funded. Bill McCormick, Operations Supt. discussed possible accommodations that could be investigated. Mr. Fonda noted that piping is proceeding on November 1. Councilperson Gillett was present and questioned if the Water Board has been informing the adjacent homeowners of the decision process in piping the City Ditch in this area. Discussion ensued regarding the information given the residents and the attendance of citizens for and against piping the City Ditch at Oxford and Huron at the January, February, April, May and July, 2010 Water Board meetings. The Board directed the Utilities Engineer to investigate designing the grading and the inlet location on the City Ditch to allow a water feature, with the conditions that it is to be funded by the adjacent homeowners and all adjacent homeowners agree . The feature will be installed in the City Ditch easement after the City Ditch is piped. 5 . WATER & SEWER CONNECTION FEES . John Gallagher, of Red Oak Consulting, appeared to discuss the methodology used for updating the water and sewer connection fees. Connection fees, or tap fees, are a one- time charge for connectors to pay for a proportionate share of capacity in the City's water treatment plant, distribution system, sewer collection system and wastewater treatment plant. The Board reviewed various tables comparing rates based on original cost, original cost less depreciation, replacement cost and replacement cost less depreciation. Mr. Gallagher noted that the 5/8" tap has been obsolete for quite a while and has been eliminated from the calculations. The Board compared the proposed rates using a %" residential tap and found the existing rate for both water and sewer is $2900, replacement cost less depreciation would be $4710 and straight replacement would be $6700. Englewood's existing and proposed rates were compared to nearby municipalities and were found to be competitive. Mr. Cassidy moved; Mr. Burns seconded: To recommend increasing water and sewer connection fees using a replacement cost basis . • • • Ayes: Nays: Members absent: Motion carried. Burns , Clark, Cassidy, Wiggins, Woodward, Habenicht, Olson, Cassidy None Higday, Mccaslin The next issue discussed was determining mixed use connection fees, which would cover developments having multiple intended purposes within a single structure, usually a combination of multifamily residential and commercial. Currently, connection fees are determined using water meter size only. The proposed mixed use connection fees would be determined by factoring a multifamily fee using the number of units and a commercial fee based on the number of fixtures. Mr. Gallagher noted that the mixed use fees were becoming more standard. The final tap fees would be the greater of meter size and mixed use fees. The Board will discuss at the next meeting. 6 . CITY DITCH CROSSING AGREEMENT AND TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTON EASEMENT -FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST -3701 S. LOGAN ST. The First Church of Christ has submitted a City Ditch Crossing Agreement and a Temporary Construction Agreement to install a replacement electrical line and an additional electrical line for construction of four bollard lights for the front of the church located at 3701 S. Logan St. The Licensee expressly assumes full and strict liability for any and all damages and the City reserves the right to make full use of the property necessary in the operation of the City Ditch. Englewood's City Attorney has reviewed the agreements. Mr. Bums moved Mr. Cassidy seconded: Ayes: To recommend Council approval of the License -City Ditch Crossing Agreement and the Temporary Construction Agreement for the First Church of Christ, Scientist at 3701 S. Logan St. Bums, Clark, Cassidy, Wiggins, Woodward, Habenicht, Olson, Cassidy • • • Nays: None Members absent: Higday, Mccaslin Motion carried 7. WATER & SEWER SERVICE RATE COMPARISON. The Board received a copy of a memo given to City Council comparing water and sewer service rates in the Denver Metro area. Various rate tier structures , based on monthly consumption, were noted. 8. ALLEN FILTER PLANT -BRONZE ENVIRONMENTAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD. The Allen Water Treatment Plant was awarded a Bronze Environmental Achievement Award from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The award recognizes the voluntary and significant environmental achievements of local government agencies. Bill McCormick, Operations Superintendent, commended Jason Clark, the Water Productions Supervisor, and the Allen Plant staff for their role in achieving this award. The Board recommended that it be put an article in the next Pipeline publication and a lunch be arranged for the Allen Plant crew . 9. LEGAL UPDATE FROM DAVID HILL DATED AUGUST 10, 2010 . The Board received an update from Mr. David Hill dated August 10 , 2010 on developments in water litigation cases in which Englewood is involved. 10 . 2010 BALLOT MEASURES -AMENDMENTS 60 AND 61. Mr. Fonda discussed a memo dated September 15 , 2010 that was given to Council discussing the Utilities Department's facilities that could be taxed under the proposed Amendments 60 and 61. Facilities included could be the Allen Water Treatment Plant, water tanks and storage reservoirs, the Englewood/Littleton Wastewater Treatment Plant and the farmland in Byers used for biosolids application, along with the McLellan and Meadow Creek Reservoirs. Mr. Fonda noted that if these amendments pass it would • • • require substantial rate increases, without improvements in service or infrastructure upgrades. Water rates would have to approximately double, and the sewer rates would increase about 17%. 11. CITY DITCH LINING AT US 285 ANDS. CLARKSON ST. Bill McCormick was present to discuss the City Ditch pipe at Hwy. 285 and S . Clarkson Street that was inspected and found to be deteriorated and collapsing. Methods considered were cured-in-place pipe, slip lined steel, PVC, HCPE or centrifugally cast fiberglass reinforced polymer mortar pipe or spiral-wound PVC liner. Three bids were received. Tom Brennan, Utilities Engineer, reviewed the bids and recommended Wildcat Civil Services as the lowest acceptable bid in the amount of $104, 720.00 for the CIPP product and a new manhole to be installed at the transition site where it changes from 48" to 36" pipe . Mr. Habenicht moved; Mr. Clark seconded: for Ayes: Nays: Members absent: Motion carried. To recommend Council approval of the bid lining the City Ditch at Hwy. 285 and S. Clarkson Street and a manhole. Burns, Clark, Cassidy, Wiggins, Woodward, Habenicht, Olson, Cassidy None Higday, McCaslin 12. PIPING CITY DITCH AT LEE GULCH. Bill McCormick, Operations Superintendent, was present to discuss a bid from Left Hand Excavating for piping two areas along Lee Gulch at W. Euclid Ave. and S. Prince St. The ditch bank was in failure and an adjacent home and a South Suburban ball field were in danger of flooding and causing severe erosion. Two sections of 90 ' and 150' of 48" concrete pipe will be installed. The new pipe will accommodate higher flows through the ditch in this area. Left Hand Excavating's bid was $42,415.00 and does not have to go to •• • • Council since it is under $50,000, but Mr. Fonda was seeking concurrence of the bid from the Board . Mr. Burns moved; Mr. Cassidy seconded: To concur with proceeding with Left Hand Ex cav ating 's bid of $42 ,415.00 for piping the City Ditch along Lee Gulch at W. Euclid Ave. and S . Prince St. 13 . DISCUSSION ON APPEAL TO ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLIANCE ORDER 333 W. HAMPDEN AVE. -CHIPOLTE GRILL. The Board reviewed information receiv ed from Pam Arnold and Mr. Brandse regarding the Administrative Compliance Order and resulting fine. The requested additional information will be forwarded to the Board and discussed at the next meeting . The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m. The next meeting will be held Tuesday, October 12 , 2010 in the Community Development Room . Respectfully submitted, Isl Cathy Burrage Recording Secretary