HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Utilities Committee 2007-07-19RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town of Estes Park,Larimer County,Colorado,July 19,2007.
Minutes of a Regular meeting of the UTILITIES COMMITTEE of the
Town of Estes Park,Larimer County,Colorado.Meeting held in the
Town Hall in said Town of Estes Park on the 1 9th day of July 2007.
Committee:Chairman Homeier,Trustees Newsom and Pinkham
Attending:Chairman Homeier,Trustee Newsom
Also Attending:Administrator Repola,Deputy Administrator Halburnt,
Utilities Director Goehring,Finance Officer McFarland,
Deputy Town Clerk Deats
Absent:Trustee Pinkham
Chairman Homeier called the meeting to order at 8:02 a.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT
The Sustainable Mountain Living (SML)Group consists of concerned residents who are
committed to a sustainable future for the greater Estes Park community.Their goals
include gathering and sharing information,and taking action regarding existing and
anticipated problems resulting from resource depletion,global warming,environmental
degradation,and human population pressures.Tom StreeUAllenspark spoke on behalf
of SML to encourage the Town of Estes Park to pursue renewable energy resources
and provide incentives to residents,such as net metering and rebates to customers who
install solar electricity.Mr.Street provided the Committee with data,examples,and
recommendations to consider related to a net metering program.
Thomas Beck/Architect —stated his own home is off-grid,producing energy to
accommodate all of his power needs.He indicated that the battery bank required to
operate off-grid is very expensive and that a net metering program would allow
customers to use renewable energy sources and avoid the high cost of installing a
battery bank.
Jim Tawney/1 820 Fall River Road —stated he is working on a 35-unit development that
will meet the criteria of Colorado’s Built Green Program.The people inquiring about this
development are interested in energy savings and incentives available for using
renewable energy.
Paul Newendorp,representing the Methodist Church on 1509 Fish Hatchery Road,
stated the church is looking into installing a generator to supply its electricity needs.He
indicated their system would be larger than most and suggested incentives and rebates
not be limited to systems of a specified size.
Michael Geik/Allenspark thanked all those who attended the meeting in support of SML
and the Committee for hearing their presentation.He stated SML will cooperate and
support government in addressing renewable energy issues.
Paul Garrett,pastor of St.Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church,stated that as “stewards of
the earth”his church is also pursuing renewable energy,possibly wind,to supply their
electrical needs.
John Bleem/PRPA —stated that PRPA is looking for low cost renewable energy sources
that meet environmental goals of reducing carbon dioxide,etc.,and that the decision to
offer incentives is left up to local utilities.He cautioned that even with incentives,
installing generators is an expensive proposition with the payback,depending on the
type of system,being 50 to 100 years.
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Utilities Committee —July 19,2007 -Page 2
Eric Waples/Ranch Meadows —had a question related to the wholesale and retail cost
of electricity,how the difference between the two is used by the Town,and whether this
could be a source of funds for incentives.Administrator Repola stated that this money
pays for metering,customer service,line crews,and maintaining infrastructure and
reflects the cost of goods.
Eli Roehl —stated she lives eight miles out of town and installed solar panels on her
cabin last year to heat her home which cut her propane bills in half.She stated that if
Estes Park became a “green”community,different types of businesses may be
attracted to town.
Chairman Homeier thanked all those in attendance at the meeting for their input stating
that the Committee appreciates their comments.
LIGHT and POWER DEPARTMENT
FIBER EXTENSION PROJECT:FAIRGROUNDS AT STANLEY PARK,LARIMER
COUNTY.PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT R-3 -REQUEST APPROVAL.
Currently an aging copper communications connection exists for Stanley Park
Fairgrounds,Larimer County,and Park School District R-3 (PSD R-3).This line,which
is maintained by Platte River Power Authority (PRPA)and connects these entities to the
fiber ring at the Senior Center,has become nearly unserviceable and needs to be
replaced.Replacement of this fiber will provide the following benefits to the three
participating entities:
1.Fiber for the Stanley Park Fairgrounds expansion projects and future phone,
data,and security requirements.Expand the fiber ring to the Senior Center to
meet future phone requirements for both the Senior Center and Museum.
2.The capability of visual monitoring of external sites on campus for PSD R-3 by
the Estes Park Police Department,and a PRPA fiber connection.
3.Provide the County offices with PRPA fiber connections.
The new fiber would extend from the Estes sub-station to the County and School
Administration Building at 1605 Brodie Avenue.The Town of Estes Park has in place
the underground ducting for the fiber route,and due to the proximity of the fiber to the
Town’s primary lines,PRPA will provide Selcon Utility,a power line contractor,for the
fiber installation.Costs associated with the project will be shared equally by the Town
of Estes Park,Larimer County,and Park School District R-3 and are as follows:
Selcon $18,506.50
PRPA $14,225.00
Fiber Terminations $6,568.50
Total $39,300.00
Staff recommends proceeding with the project,the Town’s portion of which would be
approximately $13,000.The Committee recommends approval of the project,with
the support of PRPA,not to exceed $20,000 from the Community Reinvestment
Fund (204-5400-544-3222)budgeted.
WATER DEPARTMENT
BIG THOMPSON WATER TREATMENT FACILITY BUILDING DEMOLITION —
REQUEST APPROVAL.
The 2007 budget includes funding for the removal of two abandoned buildings from the
Big Thompson Water Treatment Facility and installation of a metal security building for
access,SCADA monitoring,and sampling of the existing water storage tank on site.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment requires an environmental
investigation prior to demolition of an abandoned water treatment plant.Stewart
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Utilities Committee —July 19,2007 -Page 3
Environmental in Fort Collins performed a preliminary demolition investigation,taking 30
samples from various locations.They discovered the main plant and filter building had
transite siding,which contains asbestos.Due to the quantity of siding,Stewart
Environmental indicated that a certified abatement contractor would be needed to
remove and dispose of the material.Staff attempted to contact the two abatement
contractors who are certified with the State of Colorado.Only one company,Risk
Removal,responded and was subsequently hired to perform the work.
To facilitate the removal of all the transite siding,the existing 3-phase electric meter
needed to be removed and a new meter installed.All local electricians were contacted,
with Erti Mechanical being the only electrician to submit a quote.Eril Mechanical was
contracted to install the new single-phase service line and meter socket to replace the
existing 3-phase power.
A follow-up investigation was performed by Stewart Environmental and the building was
declared ready for demolition.A permit from the Colorado Department of Public Health
and Environment will be required and will be issued directly to the contractor selected
for the project.
The costs associated with the asbestos abatement are as follows:
Stewart Environmental $1,100
ErtI Mechanical $2,200
Risk Removal $5,942
Total $9,242
Bids for the demolition of the building were solicited with the following results:
EZ Construction No Bid Submitted
Al Excavating No Bid Submitted
Kitchen and Company
Building Demolition $24,600
Furnish Fill Dirt and Placement $4,000
Total $28,600
Total costs for abatement and demolition are $37,842.The Committee recommends
approval of the contract with Kitchen and Company in the amount of $28,600 as
budgeted from account 503-6300-540-25-02.
MARY’S LAKE WATER TREATMENT FACILITY DESIGN MODIFICATIONS I
EXPANSION:PHASE I —REQUEST APPROVAL.
Modifications to the existing Mary’s Lake Water Treatment Facility were recommended
in the 2006-2007 Water Treatment Facilities Evaluation which was done by HDR
Engineering,Inc.Phase I of the Facilities Evaluation recommended the treatment
capacity of the Mary’s Lake Water Plant be increased from 2 million gallons a day to 4
million gallons a day,and a change in the treatment technology from rapid sand filtration
to low pressure membrane filtration,which will allow the Town to meet the upcoming
State and EPA regulations for water treatment.Construction cost estimates for Phase I
are $4,549,800.
Staff estimates that it will take about one year to design the Mary’s Lake upgrades and
would like to begin with project design allowing for an approximate start to construction
of August 2008.Funds for facility design and construction management
($350,000/year)were included in both the 2007 and 2008 budgets.
REPs (design only)were sent to three engineering firms and on the Town website with
the following response:
Black and Veatch No response
Red Oaks Consulting Declined opportunity to propose
HDR Bid:$377,845
Several inquiries,no proposalsWebsite
C
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Utilities Committee —July 19,2007 -Page 4
Staff recommends awarding the design contract for Mary’s Lake Water Treatment
Facility Design Modifications/Expansion:Phase I to HDR,Inc.at a cost of $377,845.
Following discussion,the Committee recommends approval of the contract with
HDR,Inc.as outlined above,with $350,000 from 2007 funds and the balance in
2008 from account 503-6500-560-22-02 budgeted.
WOOD MOUNTAIN MANAGEMENT,LLC:AMENDMENT TO LEASE OF WATER
RIGHTS -REQUEST APPROVAL.
In August 2002,the Town and the Warren and Ruth Clinton Charitable Remainder Unitrust
entered into a Lease of Water Rights for one acre foot of water per year to be in effect until
the Town constructed a 300,000 gallon water tank on the Clintons’property.Constwction
of a storage tank and water main to the property has been completed and has extended
water service up the Fall Rivet Corridor to the lessee’s property.Due to timing (the
summer season),the lessee has not yet physically connected to the Town’s water supply
system and has requested a one-year extension to the lease.In June 2003,the Warren
and Ruth Clinton Charitable Remainder Unitrust assigned its interest to Wood Mountain
Management,LLC under the terms and conditions of an Assignment and Assumption
Agreement.Wood Mountain Management,LLC,the assignee,agreed to assume and
perform all of the obligations of the Warren and Ruth Clinton Charitable Remainder
Unitwst pursuant to the lease.The lessee intends to connect to the Town’s water supply
system on or before September 1,2008.The Committee recommends extending the
lease until September 1,2008.
REPORTS
LIGHT AND POWER
1.Financial Reports —Dir.McFarland reviewed the report.
WATER
1.Potable Water Demand Projections —Jennifer Stillman,engineer for HDR,Inc.,
summarized a report addressing the Town’s future needs for potable water and
the methods of collecting data to prepare the report.
2.Water Financial Reports —Dir.McFarland reviewed the report.
There being no further business,Chairman Homeier adjourned the meeting at 9:42
Cynthia .Deats,Deputy Town Clerk
*Editor’s Note:Spelling correction:Michael Geik should be changed to Michael Dzik
APPROVED
L 1 2O7
TOWN OF ESTES PARK
—BOARD OF TRUSTEES