February 27, 2023 — Water Resources Advisory Board Regular Meeting

Transcript

Captions from City of Boulder YouTube recording.

[0:07] Okay, recording has begun. We can start right. Jump in. I forget how to do this in versus okay. First item on our agenda is calling the new order. We have all of our round Members Board members present here according to this, here as well. and so then, that I know there's approval of the September minutes we haven't had a meeting since September. Has everyone had a chance to review the minutes. any questions or notifications? I had one suggested Very minor. that File

[1:12] H: 2 under the rat Board discussion this question: If you don't. all right. Yeah, it changes. We have a motion. Okay. except for that second

[2:01] I I forget about it. Since I wasn't there. I I think the Board members who are there. Oh, yeah. right? That is public comment. We have folks online who are interested in providing Covid to the Board. Possibly. But let me read the zoom guidance, and then I will explain how books indicate that they are ready for public comment. If that works for you. Thanks, Joanna. All right. You're welcome. Hi! My name is Joanna Bloom, and i'm serving as the technical host. For this meeting. We'll start with sharing a few slides of the virtual meeting rules that we follow. These rules are in place to find a balance between transparency with the community members, and security that minimizes disruption. We do need a full name associated with each person's participation in public comment, and we cannot unmute you without it. If your full name is not currently displayed, please change it, or send it to me in the Q. A. Box, and i'm happy to change it for you.

[3:10] and there is no chat feature for this meeting but the Q. A. Function is enabled so you can use it to address any technical issues. If you have any difficulty using that Q. A. Box, you're welcome to text me at (303) 817-1742 members of the public may be unable to control their audio and video features. Video is limited to city officials, employees and invited speakers only I will unmute when you're recognized, to speak on the phone. You may need to press Star 6 to unmute yourself. and you can indicate your desire to participate in public comment by using the raise hand function that should be found either at the top or bottom of your screen. If you've joined us by phone. You can press Star 9 to raise your hand. and i'll call your name when it's your turn to speak and announce the name of the next speaker on deck

[4:06] after I've unmuted you, please say your first name first and last name, and a 3 min timer will be displayed, and we'll start with you. Begin your comments. Thanks for participating. and I will go ahead and look at the list again. If you want to speak at public. or you can send a. Q. A. If you're having trouble using it. we'll give it just 1 s. Okay, I do not see anybody wishing to speak this evening. I just saw one attendee raise their hand, Joanna. Oh. just to I done it right now. Okay, i'm single. I will go ahead. Karen. Do you have a timer. I do have a timer. I will get that screen share. I can find it here.

[5:03] I have that Great and Lynn. You should be able to speak now. Yeah, I just got a big 3 min time or facing me really unpleasant. I'd rather that that were just in one of the window video windows. but I guess I don't have any. Say. I wanted to find out about what's going on with twenty-second and pearl at the planning board where it was entertained for 45 units. And someone spoke about having had multiple interactions with utilities regarding sewage backups in that area, and that major infrastructure needed to be replaced somehow in that area as an argument for this project not to go forth. And I know, with all of the other development, I know that it

[6:01] Folsom and Spruce. There's a project going in that Papillios. That was 63 units. Originally they spent a year and a half trying to get for sale units, which they never succeeded in doing an increase density. And now it's 165 units, from 63 to 165, and taking over all the service uses in that same area. so that drives the need for the services that were lost and the service industry jobs that can't afford to live here. The drive for increased density and the demand for more water services, be it sewer or just water

[7:00] demand. For, see you south, etc. So I just wonder where Rab is on on. Who's going to pay for all of this, you know. with the inflation from the north stream to being blown up by the United States. And now our gas prices elevated along with the inflation from the pandemic. it doesn't provide a whole lot of leeway for communities to survive, especially when there's a greater and greater wealth divide there's probably hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars damage from the homeless math users in the libraries the best station. And now I can't use the bathroom at the library. So what? Who's paying for all of this? Besides the library district which I voted against, because

[8:05] I don't think we need it to sell off our library. and it lowers our bond rating by thanks, Lynn. I think that is the only person that's indicated that they wanted to speak. Great. Thank you. Thanks, Lynn. Thank you, Joanna. Next item is an informational item here in review. All right. Well, thank you, Trisha. Good evening, everyone. I'm. Joe, Ted Auchi. I'm the Director of Utilities. And here we are, After how many years back in, and Kirsten have to dust off our in-person skills, and

[9:00] we learn how to do that. But yeah, the first item on the agenda tonight is an information. Item. It's a 2022 year in review. This particular information item is is one that has a lot of value for us as staff to put together. We used to do an annual report every year, and it was like this thick, and we would find some years that we would just run out of steam to get it completed. And so the prior director landed on the approach of doing that, doing an information item to wrap. So it's nice for us to put together and kind of document everything that all the highlights from the past year, and then for us to be able to share that with the board. and it's also a good opportunity for newer staff to participate in a board item, and also to learn about our department. So tonight we have Isabel Laerte, and she is a project manager in our water Resources Group

[10:03] does a lot of our water rights accounting. and so she'll be leading the presentation tonight, and then we have various staff here from other areas of the department. This is as the Chris. Are you muted? I know technical time out. I think I got it. Try it again. Testing. Yeah, that's I. I just can't talk. Anyway, this this item is actually one of my favorite ones of the year, and I always look forward the whole staff team from across the departments with this written item together and work together.

[11:09] and then, when it Finally, when it gets to me for review, it's all I've always blown away by the the amount that happens each year. So with that I will turn it over. Thank you, Joe. Hi. My name is is Valerie Tay. I'm in a Water Resources Group. I I've been here about 2 and a half years, so i'm slowly coming back to in person things as well. Hi. So, Karen, I think. Did you say that I'll be sharing? Yes, okay, share your screen. and that will.

[12:05] Okay. Thank you, Bye. So thank you again for having us having me this evening. I want it before I start. I just wanted to thank all the staff members and utilities who contributed their time and information to putting this this memo and the on to the presentation together. It was they. We're super responsive. When I went around to all the groups to get to get everybody's update. So, thanks to all this stuff and we appreciate the opportunity to share. I work with you. Just an overview of what i'll run through. The presentation will cover revenue Operations and maintenance project highlights from this past year as well as a few upcoming projects going forward.

[13:01] starting with revenue in 2022 city council approved rate increases with the primary focus on addressing aging infrastructure needs all 3 funds, water, waste, water, and stormwater flood received higher revenue than expected. and one interesting example of revenue detail, which would show a nice graph is that we saw an increased water use trend this year in the commercial, industrial and institutional section sector. or C. I, during the pandemic revenue from this sector was greatly impacted, and on the graph you can see the drop after 2,019, which is represented by the blue line. However, we've seen study growth each year since then, which is a good indicator that business is picking back up since the beginning of the pandemic with the highest recovery. So far last year, in 2,022. So revenue provides the funding required for the operations and maintenance. That utilities carries out every day. After a couple of years of operating through the challenges the pandemic. Last year we seemed to be getting back to more normal operations.

[14:15] focusing on core maintenance and rehabilitation activities essential to the health and safety of the community. In each of the 3 groups within utilities water covers everything related to our source. Water, treatment. hydro power, and distribution. Waste water is the collection and treatment of waste, water and storm, water and flood management provides and maintains effective storm, water, collection. and flood management systems throughout the community a quick overview of our water supply and demand from last year on the supply side. Here we can see in the graph that although the years started out relatively dry throughout the region. we had good snow pack through the winter and spring.

[15:06] and then we also had pretty regular summer monsoons during this. that throughout the summer. as a result, we ended the year around average for precipitation, and we were able to meet all demands without restrictions in terms of demands. Demand last year was relatively average, and although here you can see spring irrigation demand ramped up more rapidly than usual since we had a warm, dry spring. At the end of the year. The annual demand was very close to the 5 year average shown in this graph here last year's demand was is shown in blue, and the gray line is the 5 year average. So if we look at annual demand trends over a longer period, going back about 30 years water demand has decreased. Actually, since the drought year of 2,002, we had implemented water, use restrictions, and we had not Since that time

[16:10] those restrictions seem to have encouraged behavioral changes that have continued forward, for example, irrigation, habits, or the use of more efficient household fixtures, etc. And interestingly, we also saw a similar trend in our waste water flows. About 20 years ago we averaged about 16 million gallons per day, whereas now the average is around 12 million gallons per day, so overall our water use has decreased substantially in recent years. so i'll just cover a few of the highlights from this past year projects for improving critical infrastructure throughout the system.

[17:02] So if we start at the top of the system. here are a couple of projects that address, source, water, storage, and Delivery. We completed the first year of the Albion Day and Rehabilitation. a 3 year project which will improve the dam stability and storage volume of Albion Reservoir in the city's upper watershed and the picture on the left you can see some cracks and other deterioration in the country on the upstream. I I think that dam is probably on the order of a 100 years old, so it's it's been around for quite a while. because this reservoir is located about 10,000 feet. The construction season is limited to summer months, and although conditions can be challenging at this altitude, the first year of this project was quite successful. Parker gravity, pipeline delivers water from Barker Reservoir in Netherlands down to the tasks of water Treatment. Plant

[18:04] as well as the Boulder Canyon Hydro facility. We've reached the halfway point in the 12 Year Rehabilitation Project this project to involve shutting down the pipeline in the winter, when demands are low, and lining the pipe to provide more structural integrity and reduce leakage. using the mine technique in the existing pipe rather than doing open cuts to replace entire pipe sections, reduces the environmental impact and disruptions. So for this project, about 90% of the project is done with lining, and only about 10%. We use traditional open cut methods only where necessary. So, for example, the this project will extend the useful life to the pipeline far into the future, and work is currently on track, with plans to continue for another 6 years until completion.

[19:01] Further down in the system the electrical and high Service pump station project at the 60 Third Street Water Treatment. Plant out at Boulder Reservoir. We'll approve the power supply and electrical components throughout the plant as well as replace and upgrade the High Service pump station. This important treatment plant project will allow for more flexibility and source, selection. improving system, redundancy. and the ability to meet future demands. It's currently on schedule in construction, and should be complete in 2,000 and 25 so after water is treated at either of the treatment plants. Water gets distributed through the system for delivery to the end user where it's metered. So we know how much is being and collecting that data can be pretty time and labor intensive. So utilities maintenance is implemented a new software called Beacon Ama.

[20:01] I need to read the software makes the meter reading process much more efficient. For example. either reads can be done by 4 employees simultaneously instead of just one at a time. and the number of days per month needed for this task has dropped from 17 down to to just 4 days per month, so that allows staff more time to focus on other important projects that they might not have had time for otherwise. And this is just one of several improvements in the use of data across utility standards. So several projects were completed to improve the collection and transmission of waste, water and storm water. The wastewater collection system, Master Plan previously identified a few high priority made sewer improvement projects, one of which was completed this year.

[21:00] Baseline and foothills trunks to a replacement project involved in installing a higher capacity pipeline to reduce the risk of backups during significant rain events, such as the 2,013 flood. It's important project, valued at about 5 million dollars is part of several major sewer improvement projects A second similar but much larger project, identified in the master plan is slated for next year at Belmont and Bute mail roads. and extends out to the water resource, recovery, facility, or the worth at 75 stream. and this one next year involves rehabilitating the old pipe with lining shown in the blue line in that figure on the right. and installing new pipe to increase total capacity, which is the red line once completed, these projects will provide a more resilient collection system very significant. What weather events!

[22:02] The sanitary sewer rehabilitation project lined over 12 miles of sanitary pipes this year to improve the structural integrity of those pipes since they began in 2,015 over 90 miles of pipe have been lined, and work will continue in the coming years to complete finding the system. the storms to a rehabilitation project Again, the first of 7 years of cleaning and inspection throughout the system. and over 12 miles we're completed this year in several projects, were identified for future improvements as well. The canyon. I think Flood Mitigation project at Ithaca and Wildwood and South Boulder included numerous improvements. such as replacing outdated infrastructure. storm, water, inlet, pipe, and outfall improvements. and 2 yeah drop structures project improvements. Lower the flood plain elevations by over one foot in this neighborhood, it near an elementary school to minimize future flooding.

[23:09] and this was just one of several storm, water and flood mitigation projects completed in terms of couple of plan Updates City Council approved the comprehensive Flood and Stormwater Master Plan. This plan is the guiding document for the storm, Water and flood management utility. and includes numerous additional projects and improvements to be addressed in future years. Upcoming projects will be evaluated. Using the project prioritization framework from this plan which shifts emphasis from the cost, benefit, ratio to other important considerations, such as equity in the community. Utilities also completed the drought plan update, which I think you guys are intimately familiar with at this point, and work through formal adoption steps with Rob, City, manager, and City council for the plan, and related regulatory changes.

[24:10] a few regulatory updates. The State is in the process of looking at several regulatory updates that would affect utilities, including like in reservoir water quality, criteria, P. Fast and wet, and copper staff is monitoring or participating in to varying degrees. In these processes, and a few other specific examples are shown here. Nutrient reductions or regulation. 85, 22 completed the fifth year of the CD ph voluntary incentive program for early nutrient reductions. Our waste water effluent and so far the annual nitrogen concentrations in our affluent have remains the low target. the goal of the E Coli total maximum daily load or Tmdl implementation plan

[25:01] is to identify, investigate, and mitigate point sources of E. Coli and Border Creek. We're completed in this program will help inform future water quality. Permit sampling requirements. Staff also updated city code related to the industrial pre-treatment program in line with industry, best practices and Us. EPA guidelines changes include electronic compliance, reporting which saves staff time, and also improves accuracy and improve point, source mitigation requirements through the fats, oils, and grease program which improves the performance of our sanitary collection and treatment systems. So quite a few projects from last year will continue forward on going into future years. And here just a few highlights that you'll hear more about

[26:01] going forward. Water efficiency plan update. We'll be updating that this year in 2,023 which will provide guidance for the city's water conservation program, and we'll actually be discussing more on this plan. Update a little bit later this evening. as first upgrades at the Worth involve upgrades to various components and processes to reduce the concentration of phosphorus discharge to Boulder Creek. Anticipation of lower standards instruction of these upgrades will begin this year in 2,023 and are expected to be completed by in 2,025. Some of the public spaces managed by utilities continue to experience unsanctioned camping the strategies and the team in partnership with parks and recreation. and the city police were originally developed in 2,021 to address. This issue.

[27:04] Late last year Council approved the addition of more team members. increasing it from 5 to 9, expand their work. and a new public facing data. Dashboard on the city's website, safe management of public spaces or Sams shows the status of reported sites and helps the city prioritize cleanup activities. You can search for unsanctioned camping on the city's website to access. I take the dashboard. A couple of flood Mitigation projects for this year include the South Boulder Creek and the Upper Goose and 2 Mile Canyon Creek projects this year the South Boulder Creek Flood Mitigation Project will continue with design work as well as work on Environmental and fund plane permitting and stakeholder 3 min. The map on the right shows the Upper Goose Creek and 2 Mile Canyon Creek Flood Mitigation Project area in North Boulder, where we are now. The shaded portion represents areas that have flooded in the past during high precipitation events.

[28:15] And this mitigation plan is intended to increase stormwater resiliency. reduce potential damages due to flooding and improve the condition of the storm water corridors. I working closely with the community throughout the process. And there's actually a public meeting. I think Wednesday this week At Where is it? Columbine Elementary School? This project will also address drainage and fun impacts in coordination with the Alpine Balson site. The former hospital site. Here Staff have been working with consultants on alternatives. The final recommendations will be brought to rob and City Council later this year. so that concludes all the many, many things that we were up to this past year, and a couple of highlights from that you'll see going for as well.

[29:10] Thanks again for your time. I appreciate it, and we'd be happy to take any questions. Thank you. It's oh, that's great! I'm very good. All of you questions. You have a few questions, but as an overall comment. I share Joe's enthusiasm about this year and review report. I've seen a number of them, and and more than that I've seen directly, of course, available for the public review, and it's just represents an incredible amount of work. It's been done by Utility staff and all 3 areas. and I I really think it's to your credit to put together such a streamlined you a comprehensive document. So who does 12?

[30:00] Thank you. Thank you. It's a lot of information. and if I might just comment on that while you're thinking about questions for me, just seeing the photos that up here, and some of these major projects like it'll be in dam, and the the Parker gravity line, the baseline and foothills project just everything that's being done, and then a couple of plans, the drought plan and the Cfs there. There's a big rep component to those as well, and that so so your work is, it's kind of embodied in this and the actions that you take throughout the year to to make recommendations to council on those plans and and the budget are really meaningful, and, as I said in the past, that the of course all the boards are respected, but grab very much so it carries a lot of way. So we appreciate that.

[31:04] I have one question that you didn't touch on in your summary. But it was in the report. Maybe this is better for can. But you mentioned the leasing of motor rights agricultural users. I just curious what's been the trend in that over the years, and is that. What's the revenue? Is there any significant revenue impact of those leases to the Department of Yeah. Yeah, I I can respond to that. So good leasing we tend to have more request for water than we're able to meet, and the volume of water that we lease out kind of as a function of what what our surplus is. So it's ranged, I would say it's ranged over the years from, say, 2,000 to about 7 acre feet per year of water that we lease out. and a big component of that is the Cbt water. So if Northern has a higher

[32:06] yeah quota or allotment that year. generally we're able to, we south. More of that. What more of that water that we need? That is because of that. Hire a lot that. as far as revenues go. I think it's. I don't when you look at it. Total utility revenue. I don't think it's significant. I don't. I'm not sure Joe, if you have. Yeah, it's not a significant component of revenue and just our community values we have. We've kept our leasing rates pretty competitive. We we basically charge people what it costs us To get the water from Northern with a, with a small mark up on it and supporting local agriculture is is definitely behind that. but it's it's not a huge revenue. What is the rough number that

[33:03] what we're sort of going rate for leasing the neighborhood we last year we least Cbt water for $45 per foot. Kim for the rhetoric. Can you introduce yourself in your we we did an information item to the board. maybe back in 2,018, where we summarized our leasing program. We have me to forward that to the board, if that would be helpful or to you, Steve. Just curious, because the yeah leasing wait for one year. It's like a tiny, tiny fraction of what the water rights are trading for. Yeah. and that number like 15 or $20,000. Now.

[34:03] most recently 90,000 other comments and questions. I have a a few questions about the information packet, and some of them were in presentation slides. So she didn't let me ask you. by the way, before I start, excellent presentation. So thank you. If you go back to your first slide that talked about the you know, the build water consumption 2,019. I was so the the solid blue bars, the taller bars per month, or 2,019. I was just curious. Why was that year the revenue so much higher? Of course the usage was probably higher. But why?

[35:04] What was going on in 2,019? The cost that was because of a drought or new facilities coming online, or do you have any ideas. I I can take that, and the team can correct me if I get it wrong. But I I think that was Prior. This is commercial customers. And so this was prior to the pandemic. 2,019 was. and I I think that usage just dropped off during the pandemic. And now it's starting to return. I think less business use probably people going out of business and that kind of thing so potentially, if if earlier years, 4, 2019 we're on here. They let it show a more consistent trend with 2,019. I I would guess that would be the case, and and I imagine some of that there could be people working from home, from other other places. then bolder rather than being in person; that those that some of those stories

[36:02] that makes sense in the memo. There was a brief section on fuel services, so you 2, and the statement in the your interview report says that if there were more than 18,000 underground utility locates done in 2,022 that's that's for about 50 a day. he's that is that right? Yeah. And and Joanna Bloom kind of oversees that, and she might be at able to add some additional information to that. But the the city has this fiber backbone project that's been going on for several years, and it it generates a lot of utility locates, and temporarily the it Department actually funded an additional locator for our utilities team just to be able to to keep up with that. And, Chris, you're You're in the loop and and working with that team and overseeing it. So I If you were a Joan, I have anything to add to that.

[37:04] Yeah, Christopher Deputy Director of operations, Joe, you're absolutely correct. I think that that number is pretty striking, Gordon. So you're you're wise to make that comment. Yeah, this this fiber project once we get done, you know there's lots of great things on the horizon, but the impact has been significant. The crews have been completely at capacity for for a long time, so the the quick note I can add to what Joe shared is present day. They're about 70, 75 to 80% done with this backbone framework of doing the actual boring and and getting the the conduits in. So they anticipate, you know, fingers crossed. If things can remain near near your schedule like a an August and date for the remainder of the back phone. And these rings that they're they're working on. So, I think, once this project reaches a completion point, those numbers will probably drop some.

[38:04] Thank you. I'm moving down to the wastewater side. The your end report mentioned in it's opening paragraph about the westward treatment operations that the Bio Gas System revenue remains in on face to pay back capital investment in less than 5 years. and that statement struck me as just remarkable. It was such a a wise planning and construction and operation to allow such a rapid day back time. It's it's just remarkable, and so I I hope that that's one of a number of statements that it utilities can just shout at the rooftops to council on the public, else I think that's one of the cleaning stars of many wonderful accomplishments. 2,022. Yeah, for sure. And I remember Kim and I worked on the source Water Master Plan back in 2,009. We were in different, both. and hydro hydroelectric is part of our system as well, and the board's input on that was well, the project. If a renewable energy project like that breaks even, and if it pays itself back in like 20 years, the city should pursue it. So you're right for something to pay back in 5 years is

[39:22] so I could just chime in it. It is. It is really good news. You might recall those who've been on on the board for a while. We projected kind of a 8 to maybe 12 year payback, based on what we knew about the the revenue streams the fact that we're tracking both sides beyond your expectations. Custom disposal has been a really good partner. Right? That's we sell the actual gas to, but it really is the yeah, the renewable fuel standards and the EPA. So in credits that that are being traded and

[40:00] moving on in the year interview, report to the the Water transmission System Improvements Section you mentioned over 50 projects for. evaluated and prioritized for most time sensitive, very time sensitive and then opportunistic timing. and I wondered how that prioritization relates to the source order. I'm sorry the source for inventory and maintenance. which has a very different set of criteria or the comprehensive from a flood Water Master Plan, which again has a different prioritization. Is there a goal to try to to match those systems in terms of evaluating priorities. That's a good question. I I think I I get where you're coming from, and the the water distribution and transmission system. I think, is really more of a just straight condition assessment. And we're talking about in this year's cip whether we would bring some of the principles like we had in the Flood master plan around racial equity into our prioritization.

[41:13] But it's a little more straightforward that one, then the big flood utility that is there largely still undeveloped in terms of projects like that, though those those other systems are already built. and we know where the problems are or where things are at the end of their useful life for the for the flood utility we're still developing. So it's a little bit different if that makes sense Okay. different. And and we're going to bring some of those principles into our planning more and more as we go forward in the future.

[42:09] Anything else? Just a question. I know. You started off the summary of the year with some staffing discussion. And sure it sounds like there's been success in 2,022, and bringing on new employees. But has there been a certain approach that you found to be most successful? Or is there recognizing that that's a major concern. an issue going forward. Are there some successful strategies that you're hoping to replicate in 2023. Yeah. Well, there there there's multiple levels to answering that question. And one of the big success stories in our Chris Douglas in our Flood and storm water utility at 1.22 we you all know Brandon Coleman, who wes the great project. We we were down to just him and Chris. We we were able to get Chris fired in the management of the whole engineering group, and he really hit the ground running and rolled up his sleeves and help Brandon

[43:13] higher. I think we're up to 3 3 additional. It's a team of 4 right now. and you'll hear from Chris a little bit later on your matters for a preview of the Upper Goose Creek of 2 Mile Flood Project. Yeah, I'm. I'm seeing those staff members get up to speed quickly, and and the it's perfect timing because we have got the approval on the Flood Master plan last year. Yeah. Those staff members, I think, are really starting to gel, and we'll drive those projects in utilities. A a big thing for me is our our hiring processes and and who we're looking for, and the character traits. And we talk a lot about that as a management team and people, not

[44:05] not everyone is cut out for public service and and working in the public. And so I think we've been successful as a department of getting clear on some things that we're looking for, including thinking about equity. And then the organization at that level. We just went through a a big classification and compensation program that for a number of reasons, took took several years to complete. but kind of got her compensation. Philosophy figured out and and aligned, and a number of people received adjustments, and I think the organization at my level and above is still looking at. What do we need to do to be competitive and and really focus on on employee retention as well a lot of the projects and utilities and the things that we work on

[45:04] it's. It's honestly a number of years to proficiency. And so we really wanna find people who will be a match for this type of work and and hopefully keep them happy and develop them and want them to stay here. All right. I think that might be it again, could I? Soon you is for for the presentation and the whole team, and that that was really great, Your overview one photo that I might just speak to, and you don't have to go to it. But on the Barker gravity line. You saw a a manhole in this like tube sock looking thing that was going into the manhole. That is a really full operation that Kevin Clark in our source. Water team

[46:00] figure it out, and so that is a liner that gets pulled in, and I think pneumatically inflated, and then it gets cured with an ultraviolet light, and becomes like a a really strong fiberglass pipe that's really still, and it's complicated to get it up on the on the hillside to do it, but it's maybe not. That's one that's not intuitive from the and staff came up with the roach. Yeah, Kevin, actually. I was in Kevin's role, and and then I moved to a different one. and I remember Kim and I were like 2,005 to 2,010. We were looking at technologies, and and they weren't there yet. And then Kevin came in and continued that research, and I found something that was able to work. It would be massive to have to dig up that whole 11 miles of of pipe.

[47:01] It's an undertaking getting that stuff off there to do this. But anyway. that's one of the big projects that's just year to year. afternoon. and the rates are contributing to to rebuilding our system that way. Okay, the next item is matters from the Board I must have anything to share. I have one brief thing, and that is in this Morning's daily camera was an article in the local section about our city of Aurora's proposal to limit watering for months, so i'll show it up here on the very good. You can see the title, and I know we've talked about it in the past, but I i'm curious if if we'll hear a discussion.

[48:01] this meeting, or in your future meeting about city's efforts to contemplate water conservation, particularly for me on functional graphs. Because I think that's what we're always doing. Yeah, for sure. So our April meeting every year is generally a a big part of that is a water supply update that we look at the conditions that decisions of whether our situation warrants restrictions, and we just approved the drought plan last year with the Board's help. And so we've got those tools to work with. And then. yeah. What a great segue to what's coming next under matters from staff where we're, we' be talking about our water efficiency plan update. And so there there are all kinds of things in the works, I would say, with our planning and the way we're thinking about our water supply in the next few years

[49:00] long term that will inform some of those decisions. But there'll be some updates coming here in a matter of minutes, and then a couple of months from then. I would also like to to very briefly notice that the slightest side, but something one of our board members was was involved with, that is. last fall. This book, called a Cornerstone at the Crossroads, came out. which is compendium of of issues related to Colorado River and the the use of the of the river waters under cloud conditions, and John Bergman was lead off for only chapters. So I just wanted to say kudos to John, and I hope all of you. I'll be out there listening. I'll be here. Get a copy and read it. It's extremely informative. Yeah, I think it's managed from Staff all right. as promised

[50:04] literally a 120 s later. We have. We have several updates that I mentioned to the Board members before. Since we have a regular business meeting. We'll talk about the Water efficiency plan tonight. We'll get a a quick update from the water quality team on your Asian millfoil the the Upper Goose Creek and 2 mile flood mitigation Plan a few minutes on that and a couple of I/O items around Wildfire resilience and chat with sustainability. That Krist the bill will do. And then a couple of brief updates from me. They're all relatively quick. The first few involved small Powerpoint slides. so we'll start with the water efficiency plan. That is a a plan that has a regular regulatory component. It's due to the State every 7 years, and

[51:02] we're we're at the point where it's due again. Robbie Glen is a a senior project manager in our water Resources team. and he'll be presenting in a few minutes here, and he'll go over the scope and schedule. and you you might recall at the Retreat, which is now been a few months in in the rear view mirror. But we talked about, similar to the comprehensive flood and Storm Water Master Plan, where we had a a board member that you all nominated to follow along with that plan and some of the public process which we're still working out the details on exactly what that process is going to be. But after Robbie's report we might look to you to see if you would have interest in and want to nominate somebody to work with us on that plan. like I said, what I needed to say about that. So. Robbie.

[52:00] Yeah, thanks, Joe. I'm going to share my screen. Let me know if you guys can see that Okay. cool. Can you guys all see my screen? Okay. Cool. Hello, everyone. Good evening. My name is Robbie Glen. I am a water resources engineer in the Water Resources Division. And tonight I'm going to give a quick update just to have a couple of slides on the 2,023 water efficiency plan Update so just quick agenda for it. We're going to review the scope of this project the schedule. And as Joe kind of alluded to, we, we do have interest to see if the Rab would like to participate. If there's a rap member who would like to participate outside the normal rep meetings on this project. So to start. What is the Water Efficiency plan? Little bit of history? Back in 2,004 the State passed the Water Conservation Act. This required all retail water providers. It sell more than 2,000 acre feet of water on an annual basis. To have a State approved Water efficiency plan.

[53:13] and as part of that house bill as well. It needs to be updated every 7 years. So our existing plan is from 2,016. So this is just a 7 year timeframe. Update one thing to mention to the governing and T for the the Water efficiency plan is the Colorado Water Conservation Board or Cwc: If you're familiar with that organization. The purpose and the goal of the Water efficiency plan, really, though, is to provide updated guidance for implementing our water conservation program. We look through a lens of you know what what is compatible with our city's water supply system, Our adopted water conservation goals, and it does give us a chance to re-evaluate our our existing programs as well as input from community values as well.

[54:06] And Really, what this this document is is, it provides us an opportunity to evaluate the conservation program over the next 5 to 7 years. So quick schedule we're. We're right now in the initiation phase of the project doing some background investigation, and just another month or 2 we're going to start to kick off a a couple of information efforts, one being a city staff workshop. This will be internal to to city representatives who are gonna help us evaluate and prioritize certain projects or programs to see if we want to pursue them over the next 5 to 7 years. Second component to that will be a a public engagement process. We're actually right now, developing a questionnaire that is going to be sent out to the general public on reheard folder

[55:00] in April, and that's gonna you Some questions that we have about the existing conservation programs and any improvements that we could make upon them. Another thing to comment on this as well. We are working with our community engagement staff on how we can incorporate the racial equity instruments into the water Efficiency Plan Following these 2 efforts, we will sit down and re-evaluate the information from the workshop and public engagement and begin writing the plan, develop some programs and projects that we'd like to pursue. We're tenantly, planning to come back to Rab in later parts of the summer to kind of review what we've gone through in the the process and run through the initial draft with. and then following that, the Cwcb actually requires a 60 day public review period. And so we will post this draft plan on beard, boulder as well as the water conservation website

[56:01] for for public review and feedback. and then it gives us a couple of months to to re-evaluate what we have in the plan incorporate any last minute comments that we have, and then submit to the Colorado our conservation forward. So yeah, those are kind of a couple of updates as we talked about before, we we are really interested in having a rap member participate in this process, and we we do think it's gonna be, you know, 2 to 4 h a month for for the first part. So it's it's really on the initial data collection side of things before we begin compiling all the information to the report and eventually back to Rad. So with that i'll answer any questions that you guys have. Yeah, thank you. Thanks, Roy Robbie. One question real quick, Gordon. That's that presentation on your schedule slide. The the 2 rap engagement months were

[57:05] February and August was the intent of the temporary meeting to be what you just covered, or is something else envisioned for February one? Yes, this this was the in tank of the February was to kind of kick this project off. So Yes, this was the the February meeting. Excellent. I mean, when you're saying you want a board member to participate in it's about 2 to 4 h. Is it part of the public engagement, part or meetings with staff, or And then more specifically, what are you looking for from a court representative? Yeah, absolutely. I think really what we're looking for is is the public engagement component? So I I mentioned earlier. We're we're developing some questionnaire, and a lot of those questions are are centered around our existing program. Maybe some barriers to folks implementing or adopting best water conservation practices. And so I I think a majority of that would be helping with that that public engagement feedback.

[58:02] and and then as well kind of distilling the results and and talking through potentially what we'd like to incorporate into the plan based on the results that we get. If I can add to what Robbie said you, some of you might remember with the Flood master plan. We had a that, Matt. Many monthly, I think, for maybe even more than month times for 2 years we're not envisioning anything that comprehensive for this. so it probably would be sort of working with us and vetting what we have in mind for our public process. There could be a more limited stakeholder type of thing that we may or may not come up with. And then, probably, when we get to the point of drafting the plan, just having somebody that can can work with us, and that's all right. Us office. We're getting ready to finalize it.

[59:02] Yes. thanks for that. That didn't know what he signed up for the human expert. Well, I reality that I will be routine off. I don't think I would be the right representative. I know you talked a bit, I think, John, I don't want to put you on the spot in that. Maybe at the retreat it'll be a rally. So i'm curious what you're in that sorry John's career, from what I understand is this is one of his areas of emphasis that he works in multi-state areas, and as a recognized expert, so I think he would be a a. So I nominate. I'm excited to, and I don't know that you need to take formal action on it if you're all good with that, or if others are interested.

[60:10] Okay? Well, John's on point. Yeah. thank you. I I would love to do this. So the one thing I was gonna say was just as throughout the year, and the plan develops into the all the work that the he does like, there's so many innovative things happening in the water efficiency, conservation space that cities really starting to think outside the box, which I think is really cool. And I think it's. This is a great opportunity for Boulder to be a leader in that sense. I was just on the call with Denver Water the other day, and they're implementing a new program with their landline replacement program, where, if they tear up any turf because they're replacing the wet lines, they'll replace that term water, efficient landscape, and no cost to the property owner. So things like that like. And then the State just announced an urban water efficient landscape task force. I probably got that name wrong. But the State thinking about this, too, like, how do we? How do we transform our landscape here in combat? It would be more water efficient. So this is just a great time.

[61:11] really. Encourage city staff to the thing outside the box, and think how you can continue to push the envelope on more efficiency. So we're on the same page. Yeah, it'll be great to have you with us on that plan. And and it's another thing that the the Board will get to see. For the first few years of my tenure as a director it seemed like we had a lot of information items, and not as much as as in the past for the Board to act on with the the engineering team getting up to speed. and some of these other things. I think it's gonna be more active. That may be good or bad news for you. It's good news for me more on that one. I don't think so. So I'm just going to keep rolling here and and try to have these. Be pretty quick. The next item is an update from our water quality team on the Eurasian Mill foil situation at Boulder Reservoir. We discovered that

[62:13] there, and if i'm remembering correctly, I think we did. The team did a presentation similarly from the Perks and Recreation Board in December, and so wanted to. Sometimes there are things that it really isn't a role for the board. It has to do with our operations, but because you're on the Board Community members might ask you about the subject, so we try to think of those things and and share the highlights with you. So Kate Dunlap is a senior quality senior. She's quality. She's also a water quality. Pm: and she will leave this one, Megan. I don't know if you wanted to say anything or straight to Kate.

[63:05] Great. Well, thank you. My name is Kate Dunlap. I'm. In the drinking water program, and I'm just gonna give our just a very brief update on aquatic nuisance species. And in particular, the Eurasian watermelf oil that was discovered at Boulder Reservoir, this past fall. so just some brief background on aquaticness and species they're essentially invasive non-native plant or animal species, and once they're introduced to a water body. They're generally impossible to eradicate. and I've shown here 4 of the state's priority aquatic nu and species of concern. The zebra muscle quagm muscle, Eurasian watermelf oil, and the New Zealand mudsnail. and each of these species can have substantial operational water, operational recreational water quality and environmental impacts but the degree to which those impacts is very different between the species. So I will say that of these 4 the zebra and quaga muscles are by far the most impactful and costly to deal with

[64:11] Eurasian watermelf oil and New Zealand Medsdale have been. They are prevalent in the State of Colorado, and they are in a number of water bodies within Boulder County, and have been for the past 20 plus years. But that, said one of the primary ways, we protect our waterways is through preventing their introduction in the first place. And so our parks and Rec department has been implementing a robust public education program and watercraft inspection and decontamination program at Boulder Reservoir since 2,009, Despite those efforts, as we now know, we do have Eurasian watermelf oil unlikely, that it came from watercraft, but i'll kind of get into that on the next slide.

[65:00] So, as you know, Eurasian watermel foil was first detected in the fall. Well, in August, really by the Colorado parks and wildlife. They do 2 annual spot checks on the reservoir, just to look for aquatic nuisance species in particular. and in August they found a floating fragment of Eurasian watermelf oil down near the South Dam, where this red star is located. So in October we went back out with carter parks and wildlife. When the reservoir was lower and we could see more. and we found that the plant is established in the reservoir, and primarily in these western coves is where it's rooted. There's still a lot of unknowns. We don't know how the plant got there, or when it when it arrived it. It can establish from just one floating fragment, and those fragments can be blown in the wind

[66:00] and survive in the water column for months until they reach sediment, and then they can just start a full population so it could have arrived in Boulder reservoir from connected waterways, wind, water, fowl that might have mistaken it for its native plant species, food. watercraft, dogs, or anglers. At this point we just don't know how it got there. so in terms of next steps. As soon as caudal parks and wildlife discovered the flowing fragment. the parks and mech department immediately began watercraft exit inspections. This is meant to prevent the spread of this species outside of Boulder reservoir. They also up their public education program, posted signs throughout the reservoir and increased their issuing of summons to prevent illegal watercraft launching that primarily is a risk on the North shore.

[67:02] In the meantime, we've also been doing a lot of research and information gathering. As I mentioned. This plant is unfortunately throughout Colorado throughout water bodies in Colorado. And so we've been talking with other municipalities in Colorado and in other states that are dealing with the plant and just learning about different management options, and kind of what to expect. We are going to do. Another annual aquatic vegetation survey with Colorado parks and wildlife again next October. This will help us to assess whether there's been any change in the changes in the location of the plan or plant density right now, while the plant is well established throughout. there were really only a couple of dense mats that we saw. So that's that's good. But we don't know if it's going to stay that way. We're also going to do a survey to look for a weevil in the summer with the car or Department of Agriculture in the city of Westminster. The city of Westminster has been managing their mill foil with this weevil that they purchased

[68:13] 20 years ago. It's no longer commercially available, but it eats this plant, and it's been an effective method for them. It's unclear Whether or not it would work at Boulder reservoir for a variety of reasons. But it's also possible that we already have this weevil, so we wanted to check to see if it's already in there. and finally. we will just continue to monitor the situation. But if we start to see Eurasian water mill foil growing in dense mats in strategic locations or growing near the in the drinking water intake area. We could use these benthic blankets, which are essentially large tarps that you place on the bottom of the lake, and you move them around every 6 weeks or so to prevent plant growth in those small areas.

[69:04] So there those are some of the things that we have lined up in terms of next steps. But with that I would be happy to take any questions that you might have. and I have a question. Thank you for that update. So i'm much more familiar with the muscles and the operational effects that they can have when they're out of control for the mill foil. What is the concern? Is it that is it similar like that? They're gonna grow uncontrolled and proliferate and clog up like the drinking water intake? Or is it more like or similar to like algae where they would grow and die off and have oxygen impacts, or what's what is the concern. Yeah. Good question. So there no, not nowhere near comparable to the quag and zebra muscles which are really catastrophic for waterways, which is good, that the milfoil. Is not that bad? Milfoil is more of a

[70:05] nuisance for water operations, so the plant it grows top to bottom or bottom to top, I guess, in the water column and it out competes other native plant species. So it can have that aquatic life impacts as well in public swim beaches. The plant growth can get to the point where it impacts swimming abilities. So caudal parks and wildlife has milfoil in many of their water bodies, and they use targeted herbicide treatments every year to just spot treated and manage it in those areas at the end of the season, depending on the level of plant growth that you have in the reservoir. When the plants die off, then you can get those impacts where you have lower dissolved oxygen and more organic matter that can cause taste to notor issues in drinking water. Fortunately we have the cartilage pipeline.

[71:03] so we do treat Carter from Carter like directly year round, and use boulder reservoir as a backup. but it is an important regional water supply, and we recognize that, and it's a a recreational destination. So we want to do what we can to protect our water body. Thanks. Yeah. The pork staff. How's that? It has an equal interest in state, and the recreation component. the reservoir. Kate. I I noticed that the map you showed of the 2 areas that where I guess you characterize the Western drainages or yeah western tributaries. I noticed the northern of those 2. If I'm. I'm. Right. That's both, for the Dog Park is but also where the the Quarter Lake now comes in the Peter Canal. Is that right? So the feeder canals actually comes in right here. I don't know if you can. You see my mouse? Yes, okay. So the feeder can. Out comes here.

[72:02] The the problem is, I don't know if you've ever been on Boulder Reservoir, but it is very turbid. which I think is a good thing, and can work in our favor with plant grows because that light limitation might limit its growth, maybe. But so it's hard to tell how widely it is present, but we did. It is somewhat rooted over here, but we were able to confirm that it is absolutely rooted in these areas. And then around this southern side we mostly just saw floating fragments and floating fragments around Polar Feeder Canal Inlet. Have you communicated it all with Northern water to see if they've identified it in Carter Lake. We have been working with northern water closely on this, because they do manage the reservoir as well. It is not present in Carter Lake. and I believe that because so

[73:02] Colorado parks and wildlife, they generally do these annual aquatic news and species spot checks at all of their. I believe it's at all of their water bodies where they have watercraft inspection programs. So I would bet that they've been checking up there as well. Thank you no other questions. Thanks, Kate. Thank you. So continuing to to roll here. But lots of subjects we're talking about tonight from UV. During the pipelines to we both to. So the next item is an update and preview on and out coming action. Item with the board starting in March on our Upper Goose Creek and 2 mile flood mitigation plan. Chris Douglas, again, is the manager of our engineering Work group, and he'll be giving you a quick preview of that and

[74:05] just for orientation. One thing we want to try here, and this is based on our feedback we've received in the past also affects the efficiency plan around. How long some of these plans take, and how much process there is. It has been our practice when the Board takes action on something to come in one month, and do a deep dive and presentation. Get the boards feedback, and then come back the following month and ask for a recommendation. and in talking to the board chair and vice chair over the last couple of months. What we want to try is presenting this in March, and and if there are not a lot of questions and feedback having that be a public hearing, and potentially asking for approval on on that evening. If there's a lot of feedback and a lot of

[75:01] one stuff to follow up on. We we pivot and have a second meeting, so that'll be coming up and press over to you. Thank you, Joe. Again. Chris Douglas. I'm. The utilities engineering manager. I just really wanted to give it's more of a primer for what's going on the next for next month. When we do bring me a 2 mile mitigation plan to the Board. Yes, the boardroom may remember. This is 2 of the 16 major drainages that are within the city. In in this the storm water system. and a little bit just a The the Board actually saw this when we had discussion back in January of 2021. But I I will say, because of Covid issues and staffing issues. We've been delayed on that. And so really what we're doing is we're bringing some of the concepts that we're previously discussed. Almost, I guess. Now it's over 2 years ago. so we really will do kind of a little bit of a start over again. But we're not starting from ground 0. But you know, the the concept on a mitigation plan is, is really that cycle on a flood project, because we do have the floodplain mapping

[76:13] at the mitigation plan and then at the design and construction. And really that flood plane mapping identifies the risks, the mitigation plan. We come and bring all the alternatives which we'll discuss next month, and then we go into the design and and and construction of that project. and then really is a bigger picture. As we look at this particular point that we're bringing next month in these 2 drainages is, it is also running it through and looking through the filter of the Cfs that the the Board helped us pass last year. And how do these particular projects that will come up in that mitigation plan? Rank, and relate to all of the other projects that we've we've got to do in the city. And so I think a couple of other things. As we mentioned earlier this evening, we are doing a commute. Our our last community outreach meeting for this mitigation plan actually in the middle of this week. So we'll have some more information to to be able to brief the board on that.

[77:11] And then, just on that general side, not pulling up any maps. But generally these drainages are located. The the Upper Goose Creek really starts from the area around Folsom and Edgewood, and actually runs here to a North Boulder Park. and then the the 2 Mile Creek runs from that about that nineteenth and Edgewood area as well, but that actually goes up to the north and west, and where Lyndon enters the city is really where that that that train starts. So we'll bring all of that to the Board and definitely have a more robust discussion on that next week, and maybe the other thing on the primary. There is. Joe talked about new staff, One of our new projects managers, Debbie Fisher, is leading that inference, so she's going to be the one doing the heavy lifting next month. So you have a chance to meet her as well.

[78:03] It's Chris. What's that? I've got a quick one. Now, Chris, you you mentioned that this project would be run through the the Cfs criteria. Does that suggest that that all the ongoing or pending projects have been run through that? And and this one we get into is we we talked about last year during the cip process. What what are we putting through the Cfs, and what are we not putting through Cfs. Certainly this is. There are some projects that are identified in in the shorter term range in the cip, but we weren't into the design process. That's why we decided to say, okay, let's get the mediation plan done and look at it through the filter on the Cfs to to rank, some of those to to rank these specific projects as well. So it was the right on the edge, and we then we defaulted to going ahead and running it through the Cfs.

[79:01] and we haven't forgotten about the boards feedback last year about some of the existing projects, and a desire to to look at those as well, and as the team. I'll be talking about the upcoming agenda here shortly. But as we get into the the budget process and the cip will be looking at a longer term view hopefully of how how all those projects stack up with the prioritization formula. We're on the home stretch. If it's a long list, but they're they're quick. So the next 2 items Kristy Vis, our Deputy Director of Operations. Well, yeah, and on the Wildfire Resilience planning and the Chautauqua sustainability. Yes, thank you. Chris is right next to each other. So if you'll give me some grace, i'm going to refer my notes. I am involved in both these efforts, but just kind of minimally. So i'll try to do them justice. So yeah, I think both of these are. It's just to t up some awareness and some context, as you're out and about in the community, and

[80:15] as we may have interest to revisit these later on more formally, but at this first one it the name is the Wild Land Fire Program, and the teams that are affiliated with this. So on the heels of the tragic fires. Last year. In particular, the city got together and formed this multi departmental team to really work on this issue. Of course there was work already happening over the over the years. But it was really to coordinate efforts around the managing the wild lands and and the departments that own these lands, and how to how to address fire risk. So again not to dismiss all the good efforts that have been going for a long time. But it was really just to come together and record me, or or deliberately.

[81:01] so obviously the city boulder, fire and open space are the the key players in this work. And so utilities got brought in as as a partner, Really, because we own a lot of a lot of land. So their strategies and actions that are built around what's what's defined as the national Cohesive, Wildland Fire Management strategy. kind of a mouthful, but it's a it's a nationwide guiding document in this space. There's 3 main elements that that kind of make up. This framework. First, is resilient landscapes. second is fire adapted communities. and the third is safe and effective. Wildfire response. So you know this this group in these efforts. They're not to duplicate or take away with the work that, like the office of emergency management is doing. That's a clearly defined role that's needed and important. But this is again really about managing the land itself.

[82:00] So what's happening is there was a through decisions last year during during the November ballot in an election time ballot measures 2 a and 2. B. There's one and a half 1 million dollars of climate tax that is, that is available to to move this work forward. So this city team has been working with city leadership and and others to make recommendations on how best to spend this money for for this purpose. So this week, actually at at the City Council meeting that's scheduled for Thursday, there's gonna be an item that this where this topic is. So, if you choose to to listen in or join in. you can pull up the the City Council memo that that speaks to this. But Staff have made a recommendation on on again how to spend this this first allocation of one and a half 1 million dollars. so it's. It's part of what's being referred to as an adjustment to base action. There's typically 2 adjustment to bases each year that the the city goes through. Formally. This is a special adjustment base, so it's a little bit out of cycle of the normal process. I think the first one is typically in May.

[83:14] so the motivation is to to get get things off the ground and get get going here. So some examples of of how this funding would be used, and it's being recommended is there's an important update that needs to happen in in what's called the Community Wildfire Protection Plan the Cw. P. That's an acronym you might know of, or may hear about. So the city is quite well. The last time we did this Cw. P. Has been, and it's been a number of years, so the city is due for an update, and that's that's, I think, slated at about 1 $150,000 for this fairly comprehensive effort to coordinate that there's recommendations on expanding some crews for fire and open space to help with this this mitigation effort, the land management.

[84:03] and there's also some equipment needs that are that are being lifted up so as as there's interest. This could be a future rap topic that we can revisit. So the motivation there is just to let you know about that, and and our utilities involvement. so i'll just pause and see if there's any questions here. I think, in the the update there was a mention of how on the on the one hand, this is, you know, the utilities has a lot of the land, but also there's a water quality benefit to this type of wildfire prevention and planned land planning and management so absolutely the source, water, protection and aspect and water quality. But yeah. I mean so, for standing projects are an example of what would fit into this this category we we've been pursuing, you know. funding for those alternatively this effort, and and eventually some of these dollars that would come in year on year could be applied to those needs.

[85:08] I had something just on your question, Megan Wilson, with the water quality group. I'm the Butter Quality Manager. So we are finishing up for our spending project. I've been sort of Little Boulder Creek, Jason, and then Kate, and let Kate on. That was leaving that project with a lot of different partners, and then she's also working on one along the pipeline from costs or reservoir to the treatment plant. so has secured some great funding for that as well. This that might have been in the year and review that. So it's very much related. Yeah. Kate, Kate is on the Cross departmental team as well. If Chris and I are too happy to share more on that at the right time. So all right, i'll go go to the second one here. Yeah. So this one is just an update on some work that's that's that has occurred, and and it's desired to continue to occur up and should talk with this. So the stockward community.

[86:16] So it's. It's the the topic. For today we're calling the sustainability sustainability and resilience collaboration work that the city's been engaged with with this is to talk Colorado chat with association. The Cca. So Rab may recall seeing an email from Shelley Benford. I believe this is the CEO of this to talk with the association. This is back in October, so it's been a little while. But we want to just to acknowledge that, and and explain briefly some context around that if, as you might have interest. so Shelly sent an email and then attached to a report. And so the yeah, if you still have that grade. We could forward it back to you if you if it misplaced it. But

[87:02] so the report is, basically it was an outcome of some strategic work that happened over like really a 3 year timeframe, I think 2,019 is when it started. Kind of wrapped up in 2,021 it got interrupted with the pandemic like a lot of things. But this report is dated 2,022, and just want to explain what's in there. So i'll read verbatim here from the kind of an intro to the report. So the this is sustainability. Resilience. Strategy is designed to address environmental threats and vulnerabilities faced by the Colorado, a national historic land from our district. These threats include fire, heat, wind, and floods. All of what you're damaging to should do was aging infrastructure and assets. including its buildings, roads, pathways, strange whales, electrical system, cultural assets, and ecological landscape. So those are all the the the components that this work is trying to

[88:04] help help develop strategies, to eventually implement improvements and and make the whole community more more resilient and sustainable. So we've been participating in this work. For for a while some of the rules have changed, so i'm not a newer member, as I I mentioned. but there were 5 study groups that were assembled, and that the main areas of focus were infrastructure. Then energy. fire, and heat was the third one vegetation and then governance. So utilities was part of the infrastructure group, as you might have guessed. and really the the recommendations that that are in the report for reference we're primarily based around improving the storm, water, drainage, and in an infrastructure, because it's quite minimal up in Chicago, and as much know the the gradients are quite steep, and and the verse and other impacts can be significant. So there's some good concepts, some good strategies. But where we're at now is that the city is really reassembling a city team

[89:05] to commit to continuing to work with and take these concepts and try to define them further. Develop prioritization, you know. Prepare a budget. and really just see what we can do over time to to make some improvements. There's no real firm commitments on the table with the specific projects and specific timing. But this is kind of we're on the doorstep of entering into what they're turning kind of phase, 2 of this work. so i'll kind of leave it there. And yeah, if there's any other questions happy, this talk about those. It's an interesting sort of micro study, and all of the things that the city does, and how they kind of come together undergrounding electrical lines, pavement and transportation, storm, water and flood and and ecosystems. And then Chatauqua is is like one of the crown jewels of the city where people come to visit. And so it's a there's that element as well.

[90:09] And then how do we all coordinate that work. And how do we prioritize that relative to other needs in the city? And I imagine, how do you fund it from a capital investment perspective. And what kind of sources do you pull in, including. You know, the association and the homeowners there? There was a a fairly detailed assessment of all the infrastructure. So you know, drinking water and and sewer. There's a few things to do there, too, but but relatively minor on the scale of the storm. Water needs more for Chris down to me, for a couple of quick updates. Wanted to let you know. I think I mentioned it when I was describing that matters, items that we had to check in with the open space board, and in January related to the South Folder Creek Flood Mitigation project and the purpose of the check in with them was to review the

[91:15] conceptual environmental mitigation plan for the project, and the the whole thing is complicated. But we did a an annexation agreement with the University of Colorado. One of the elements of that agreement is that if if we get all the approvals for the Flood project. The University will transfer a 119 acres of land that's designated for open space. Use to the city that's meaningful to utilities, because it's it's on the general site where the Flood mitigation project will be, and it presents an opportunity to to do the formal mitigation of our project impacts and and get credit for that with the approving agencies.

[92:03] What the plan for that 119 acres goes beyond that. And so we were just kind of showing the board conceptually what some of the elements of that could look like one of them. For those who are familiar with the property, there's a large levy surrounding C use property. and under the plans that would get removed and the flood plane would get reconnected, and and there'd be the ability to create some nice environmental features out there. So that's the the first of 2 items. Wanted to let you know that. Happy to send the board the space forwards meeting materials if you're interested. The second item relates to the upcoming budget process, and just really wanting to flag for the board that we're starting to see some escalation of our our project. Costs

[93:03] and bids are coming in a little bit higher than than what we've estimated it. It's all there's. There's an art to construction cost estimating, and we can be higher, low in any given year for the first part of the pandemic, where, like the housing industry and timber prices went through the roof really quickly. We were really seeing that on our larger civil projects from the city of Boulder. But now we're starting to. and so that for several of us kind of has us thinking about rates and just reorgan timing some projects so wanted to give the board that advance heads up. It's not super great news, but probably not entirely unexpected, either. That's it for staff for matters thanks for still being with us. It's been a while. We have. It was accumulated questions about it, either of my updates just on that last note, Joe.

[94:12] with with the cost increase, which I think everyone in our in our field of seeing that on projects that's no surprise. But that really speaks to the importance of coming up with an objective prioritization project. So You've got the AIM project on. I guess the water side more of a qualitative one on certain aspects. But then the Cfs on the from Water Flood. Have have you thought about trying to look at those comprehensively as it relates to the upcoming budgeting process for the cip? Yes, and I, the wastewater AIM is in the in the mix as well, and our planning this year, so that there will be that element going forward as well, and

[95:00] each of the 3 utilities is separate in terms of its its funding and rates. and there are a lot of things that we have to look at, including the staff and and who we have available, and what's realistic to to move forward. So we are taking that into account across all 3. Are you expecting? So it sounds like you're tracking the impacts to be on projects, and when they happened may some get delayed. Are you expecting additional rate increases that that we we above and beyond. What kind of it's normally happened. Correct me if i'm wrong, because we're working on this daily. But I would say not substantially, and some of it. It might even be slightly lower, as we're getting staffed up and and seeing when certain projects will really be ready to move forward.

[96:01] But they'll probably be slightly different than what we proposed last year. We always try to give the Board and Council a a 3 year. Look ahead, and we generally stay pretty consistent there. There may be some minor variation this year. Yeah, Graham Clark, Our financial manager, has been been running lots of scenarios with with Chris and his team, and all all the related groups so too soon to till tonight. But, like Joe said, I think we're not anticipating anything massively drastic, but we also did previously forecast, you know, some rates that would kind of sunset and then drop down to more traditional historical, you know, normal levels, and that that that you know may or may not be. The case. is the Goose Creek to our project still on track for Major Funding in 2,024, and that that's one of the specific projects that we're we're looking at is what's the right timing on that. This specifically that Goose Creek project

[97:05] did not necessarily include all of the things that we will be talking about as a part of the medication plan. So now we're. I with an assumption of moving forward with the mitigation plan. What's the right balance? One looking at that entire. Who's 1? One scenario that we're looking at has that maybe changing by a year, and we also have to think about bonding. And and once you bond for a project, there's a there's a timeline that you have to get it done, and you have to spend the money. So we have to be really honest with ourselves. What our capacity is. Yeah, I was thinking about that because you're looking at the you're in review things. I look at last your cip, and I I was reminded that the 2,024 on this 96 million dollars, which is mostly South Border Creek, but then also a goose 2 mile I thought holy cow as the city ever done. The 96 million dollar, bond and utilities. And and so my immediate thought was, Gosh! Is there any way to sort of spread that out? And and that's really what we're looking at whereas the one that was invasion in 2,024 for

[98:15] roughly 25 million there was a lot of the storm piping, and not so much the flip flood channel. Working right now with the mitigation plan. We have a concept on the Flood Channel and it's the what's what's the best way to serve the community. But now, having both of those things, but probably not being able to do. because it's even more on top of that. C. I. P. So what? What's the right? Mix on that, and it's certainly looking at that's an example of the project trade offs that we are continuing to look at within the team. If you phase like, clearly delineate components of that project so that it's like within the 3 year period, you would be able clearly to accomplish this.

[99:02] and then follow with phase 2, 3, and that's exactly what looking at is just e even. We were just talking the other day, and it's something like, okay. we've got a 20. Let's talk about a project that is 25 million. What can we get for that project? And then let's look at Phase 2 phase 3, several years down the road in the cip. Does that? You know how we get through all of those different parts and pieces, and dividing it up into what is a legitimate project that we can move forward so picking numbers it could be she. Maybe we do something for 20 million, but it's a good dividing point, or you know something more depending on what. But the best way is maybe you could supplement the the with some other funding programs that will allow for a longer drawn out absolutely.

[100:02] And, Gordon, it's. It's a good point, and for us it's a balancing act, because the Cfs, the message from the community, and and really the feedback from the Board and Council was a theme of do more projects more quickly, and and we feel that pressure, and when we intend to deliver on that as well. But with the with some of the really good news, and Chris's area with staffing will be able to do that. But again, we have to be honest with ourselves of what it will take for those people to get up to speed and and be ready. Yeah, so it's. It's all an interesting analysis that we're going through on our own and and shared with the board soon. Now I think we' to discussion a future schedule future schedule. So, as we signal the under matters, we will be the Upper Goose Creek in 2 Mile

[101:05] mitigation project in March, and you're gonna try as possibly a one meeting item which will help us with that progress if we can do that, and if if not, no harm will we'll come back to the second. Try. Have an information item on a public spaces update, which is the on sanctioned camping Clean up work that we do. I am not sure that timing is gonna work because we're we're in a big discussion internally, and this in April with council, so I may need to delay that one a little bit. We've also got a financial policy update around how we do things like reserves and and bonds and and things like that that we may want to discuss with the with the Board as an information item. and then April is always a a big month. March will be Trisha's last on the on the board, and so we have a a new member that comes on every

[102:07] every year, and and swearing in of the new board member and the election of officers. and then I also have known in here and Netherland waste water, Iga. That's probably going to move to another month, and then every a April we do an update with the board on our water supply situation, which it has been a cold and snowy winter. So. Oh. we're going on to keep that up another couple of. And then in May we get into the normal budget process and kind of a 3 meeting series there, so there'll there'll be lots for the board to work on in the next few months. That's what I have. It's scheduled. It's too right anything else for the good of the order, or, as I mentioned to

[103:07] my second.