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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-04-13 WSB MINUTES• • WATER AND SEWER BOARD MINUTES April 13, 2010 The meeting was called to order at 5:08 p .m. Members present: Members absent: Also present: Clark, Olson, Cassidy, Wiggins, Woodward, Mccaslin, Habenicht Bums, Higday Stewart Fonda, Director of Utilities Bill McCormick, Operations Supt. Tom Brennan, Utilities Engineer Bruce Behrer, Engineer, Muller Engineering Jason Clark, Water Production Supv . John Bock, Manager of Admin . -Utilities 1. MINUTES OF THE MARCH 9, 2010 MEETING. The Englewood Water and Sewer Board received the minutes of the March 9, 2010 meeting. Mr. Woodward moved; Mr. Wiggins seconded: Ayes: Nays: Members absent: To approve the minutes of the March 9, 2010 meeting as written. Clark, Olson, Cassidy, Wiggins, Woodward, Mccaslin, Habenicht None Bums, Higday • Motion carried. • • • 2. ACF PROPERTY MANAGEMENT RE: 8505 E. ARAPAHOE RD. The Board received a copy of sewer bills from ACF Property Management about a property they manage at 8505 E. Arapahoe Rd. They had taken over the management of the property and neither the owner nor the management company transferred the mailing address . As a result, the 2008 and 2009 sewer bill was not paid and late fees were added. ACF is requesting the $684.89 late fees be waived. John explained the policy of the bill being premise based, and it being the owner's responsibility to request the bill be sent to an alternate address. John also reviewed the billing and delinquent notice process . Mr. Clark moved; Mr. Habenicht seconded: Ayes : Nays : Members absent: Motion carried. To deny the request to waive the late fees from ACF Property Management for the sewer bill at 8505 E. Arapahoe Rd. Clark, Olson, Cassidy, Wiggins, Woodward, McCaslin, Habenicht None Burns, Higday 3. CITY DITCH -HURON & OXFORD. A group of citizens appeared to discuss the issue of piping the City Ditch at Oxford and Huron Court. Mr. Bruce Behrer of Muller Engineering was present to answer questions about the March 8, 2010 engineering report that assessed site conditions, evaluated alternatives and recommended the closed conduit reinforced concrete pipe option. Mr. Behrer noted that the City Ditch in this area is currently an earth lined channel that is sloughing along the east bank, which is evidence that the bank is unstable. Muller Engineering 's report also notes that further degradation could include roadway failure and lea.king through the bank on the west side caused by roots and wildlife. Warren Nedry, Norman Henry, Alisa Osemwengie and Kim Kerchesky appeared before the Board requesting that the City Ditch remain open. They discussed aesthetic reasons , • • • property values , wildlife and that their children play in the ditch. The citizens passed around a photo of a ditch with a waterfall at Sanderson Gulch as a solution and the proposed bike path along the City Ditch in Littleton. Mr. Fonda noted that if the proposed bike path is constructed in Littleton, a requirement is that the ditch be piped in the areas adjacent to the City Ditch. Mr. Brennan noted that the Sanderson Gulch project was for different ditch conditions. Shannon Faires, Joyce Faires, Larry Faires and Jim Burrage appeared before the Board in support of piping the City Ditch. They expressed their opinion that the entire City should not pay an extra $55,000 for the ditch to remain open for three residences. They also expressed their concerns for the safety of children and the possibility of a drowning, especially during a storm event. Liability and the danger of downstream users flooding was also a concern. Mayor Woodward noted that Shane Dottenwhy had called and was unable to make the Water Board meeting, but wanted to express his opinion that the ditch should be piped and Englewood residents should not have to pay for the more expensive option . Mr. Fonda noted that the ditch can be piped for about $25,000 and this amount would be approximately half the amount shown in the engineer's report because the distribution crew could install the pipe. Ms. Kurczewski asked ifthe crew could do the work where the options leave the ditch open. Stu noted that our crew does not have the expertise or equipment for those options . Gray Clark stated that the open ditch creates safety issues. He noted that the engineer is approved by Urban Drainage and Flood Control, and he is satisfied with the study and options that were presented. Mr. Fonda discussed options for the adjacent homeowners once the ditch is piped . He noted that, if adjacent homeowners unanimously agree, a license agreement could be granted for the adjacent owners to install a garden or park area, to be maintained by the homeowners. Fencing was also discussed. Mr. Henry asked if City funds are available to landscape the area. Mr. Fonda stated that is not an option. Ms . Kurczewski requested that a decision be postponed for another month to allow them to consult with friends that are engineers. Mr. Clark felt that there has been enough time to explore options and recommended that a vote be taken. Mr. Clark moved: Mr. Wiggins seconded: That City Ditch be piped in the Oxford and S. Huron Court area, per the Muller Engineering recommendation of March 8, 2010 . • • • Ayes: Nays: Members absent: Motion carried. 4 . TAP FEE RATE INCREASE . Clark, Olson, Cassidy, Wiggins, Woodward, Mccaslin, Habenicht None Burns, Higday Mr. Bock appeared before the Board to review the proposed changes in water and sewer connection fees . The options and methodology that was used to calculate the recommended development fees for Englewood were reviewed. It appears that the proposed fees would still be very competitive with other municipalities in the Denver area. The proposed rates are based on the proportionate share of capacity in the City's . water treatment plant and distribution system, sewer collection system and wastewater treatment plant. Optional fees were calculated using standard valuation approaches to determine original cost, original cost less depreciation, replacement cost and replacement cost less depreciation . The Board recommended that staff proceed drafting a council communication and an ordinance using the replacement cost option for both water and sewer taps. The Board also directed that the mixed use option be prepared. The Board requested that the drafts be presented to the Board at a future meeting. 5. LETTER TO DENVER WATERDATEDMARCH30,2010RE: CHATFIELD RELEASES. The Board received a letter that Joe Tom Wood of Martin and Wood Water Consultants sent to Denver Water Department, dated April 2, 2010. Englewood is attempting to revive negotiations concerning the water quality problems that occur when Denver's diversions reduce the flow of water from Chatfield Reservoir, creating hard water issues for Englewood. The letter reviews Englewood 's history of negotiations with Denver. Stu discussed negotiation options and softening alternatives . The Board will be apprised of any developments . • • • 6 . MICROSCOPIC PARTICULATE ANALYSES CHART . Mr. Jason Clark, Water Production Supervisor, appeared to review the Microscopic Particulate Analysis Chart that shows the results of required State testing. He noted that the goal of the Allen Filter Plant is to meet and exceed State requirements . Utilizing existing equipment and reevaluating operational procedures has resulted in a greater than 99.99% particulate removal, above the State requirement. This is a marked improvement over past years. 7 . WATER RIGHTS UPDATE FROM DAVID HILL DATED MARCH 30, 2010. The Board received from David Hill , Englewood 's Water Attorney, a water rights update dated March 30, 2010. Stu noted developments in water litigation cases in which Englewood is involved . 8. ARTICLES -"SAVING U.S. WATER AND SEWER SYSTEMS WOULD BE COSTLY," AND "RECESSION IS SENDING WATER BILLS UP FOR MANY.'' The Board received an article from the March 14, 2010 New York Times, "Saving U.S. Water and Sewer Systems Would Be Costly." The article discusses George Hawkins, the head of the Washington D.C.'s Water and Sewer Authority, and his successful fight to increase rates to replace all its pipes over the next 100 years. An article from msnbc.com, "Recession Is Sending Water Bills Up For Many," discusses that many water utilities are raising rates because water use is down. The decrease in water sales is attributed to tourism being down, home foreclosures and commercial businesses going out of business . The meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m. The next meeting will be Tuesday, May 18, 2010. Respectfully submitted, Isl Cathy Burrage Recording Secretary