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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Water Committee 1974-07-18QO 0 RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Water Committee Meeting July 18,1974 Committee:Chairman Prosser;Trustees Dannels and Sutter Attending:Chairman Prosser;Trustees Dannels and Sutter Also Attending:Town Administrator Hill,Superintendent McCracken, Business Office Manager Duncan,Julie Burch,Admin istrative Assistant Absent:None SIX CITY WATER: Chairman Prosser presented a three page document entitled “Suggested Water Committee Action”recommending that the Town ask for its full allotment of 8100 acre feet of proposed Windy Gap water.Trustee Dannels made a motion that the Committee recommend the document for approval to the Town Board of Trustees.Trustee Sutter seconded the motion which was given unanimous approval.The attachment is made a part of these minutes. The Estes Valley Improvement Association appeared and expressed approval of the Water Committee’s recommendation.E.V.I.A.also requested a future meeting with the Committee concerning action on the questionnaire presented on June 3,1974.Chairman Prosser advised that a future meeting would be scheduled. There being no further business,the meeting adjourned. Llo).A.Duncan,Business Office Manager APPR515] JUL c’) TQVN OF ESIES BOARD OF Ii?UST[ES SUGGESTED WATER COMMITTEE ACTION ...THURSDAY,JULY 18,1974 In conformance with engineering recommendations of DMJM—Phillips.Reister and after several conferences with allied water agencies and the parent Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District,the Water Committee of the Town of Estes Park makes the following recommendations to the Town Board: 1.That the Town ask for its full allotment of 8,100 acre feet of proposed Windy Gap Water when available thru the Municipal Subdistrict Project,commonly known as the Six City Project.The Town has been a full partner since inception with the cities of Fort Collins,Greeley,Loveland, Longmont and Greeley. 2.That the Town retain full control of and pay future development costs on 4,000 acre feet of this Windy Gap Water.This amount,when combined with the 800 acre feet of Colorado—Big Thompson water already owned,gives the Town 4,800 AF,“which should provide an adequate supply for the Estes Park service area until approximately the year 2000,”according to DMJM— PCR studies.“This takes into account,”the study continues,“all growth in the entire Estes Valley as projected in our report of 1968.Water use records since have shown our projected water use to be reliable and we feel that this will continue to be the case.The Estes Park water system was assumed tobe the future water supplier for the entire valley.”(Service Area B as designated by NCWCD) A particularly—advantageous feature of Windy Gap Water is that it has “reuse capabilities”equal to the ORIGINAL Acre Feet owned by the Town.Thus,when Windy Gap is developed,the Town water system will have 8,800 AF avail able for use if needed in the future,or “ultimately,”as phrased by the EPA and EVIA estimates. 3.Further,the Water Committee proposes that 4,100 AF of the 8,100 AF of Windy Gap water be transferred by agreement to Platte River Power Authority,an agency in which Estes Park is a full one—fourth partner. Platte River will require a substantial amount of cooling water for its share of future thermal—electric generating capacity to supply the power Page Two (2)Committee Recommendations requirements of Estes Park and other cities.The PRPA Contract agreement proposes to pay for its share (4100 AF)of all future Windy Gap Development costs;in addition,PEPA will reimburse the Town of Estes Park for its 4100/ 8lOOth share of past investment the Town has made in Windy Gap or Six City Development. Item 3 means that the Town will be benefitting itself in another critical area of future development———Electrical Energy.The area served by the Light and Power Department is far larger than the Water Department Service Area. The Water Committee recommends adoption of several suggestions made by DMJM—Phillips.Reister to finance the Windy Gap Project and to keep the Depart ment in a healthy financial condition. Water Tap Fees have been recently increased in order for new users to pay their share of the existing physical plant.“These fees,”says the engineering report,“should be increased in the future about 5%per year to offset the anticipated increased cost due to inflation.” The Water Rights Fee has also been increased this year.Engineers recom mend that this be increased about 5%per year,or sufficient to cover the actual costs to the Town of new water.The new user of water on the system contributes to the demand,and the committee feels that it is but simple justice and economic necessity to have the new customer pay for the additional water that his tap requires. The Committee and the Engineers recommend that the annual water rate be raised about 10%per year to offset the increased cost of operation and to help replace present inferior water rights with firm rights for present users on the system. “Even without Windy Gap Water,”say the engineers after detailed study,“fees and rates must go up to offset increases in costs due to inflation.Based on the Town’s records and future funds projections,it is estimated an annual increase of approxite1y 7%in water rates is needed tQ balance the budget in future years. Page Three (3)Committee Recommendations Coupled with an estimated 3%increase in water use due to growth,the 10% increase in water rates would allow the Town to acquire 4000 AF of Windy Gap water;a small price to pay for future firm water rights.” The Committee and the Engineers complete the complex report by stating that:“It is important to note that a review of these figures be made in the future to determine whether an increase or a leveling off is warranted.” In the interests of fiscal responsibility and adequate future water supply,the Water Committee of the Town of Estes Park recommends passage of this report to members of the Town Board of Trustees.