City Council Minutes 2015 01 06 - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Council Meeting Minutes January 6 2015 Page 8 of 15 The Wastewater Treatment Plant, when upgraded, will meet Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) permit requirements related to water quality limits and infrastructure redundancy requirements in 2017; the projected requirements for Nitrogen and Phosphorous in 2020, and upgrade the dilapidated condition of the existing WWTP processes. The existing wastewater treatment facility cannot meet those limits, but will be repurposed for administrative and staff purposes. Part of the CWRPDA application will be the wastewater treatment plant for $25.8 Million and the second part is the flood plain improvements for $8.8 Million. Portions of the project were eliminated, which brought down the cost and brought the partners in. Staff completed a 5 -year financial plan to account for the debt service necessary to ensure the Wastewater Fund is sustainable. The debt service for the flood plain may be closer to $6.5 Million, which will help reduce the rate increases. The Boundary Area Drainage Improvements project would remove areas of Downtown, Highway 42 corridor, and the Wastewater Treatment Plant from the 100 -year floodplain. As part of the design process there has been an environmental impacts study. This project would be done by the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District through the preferred contractors they use. The City would essentially pay them to build this project for $38 Million. COUNCIL COMMENT Council member Stolzmann inquired if the City is applying for two loans. Public Works Director Kowar confirmed the City would be applying for two loans. Council member Stolzmann commented the Council received proactive feedback from the public on previous rate increases. She requested staff explain the projects to the residents and notify them another rate increase is forthcoming. Public Works Director Kowar explained they began providing information on the 5 -year plan and notice of the wastewater rates change in November. Council member Stolzmann stated it would be more cost effective for the City to pay the property owners flood insurance than to take on this project. She noted these properties have always been in the flood plain. She did not feel it was fair for all the residents to pay for this project. Council member Lipton voiced his appreciation for Council member Stolzmann's comments, but explained he saw a video about the floods and the impact to the first responders. He felt it is a life safety issue not only for individual properties, but from public spaces. He was not aware of the water depth of the flooding in this area, but felt this drainage project would assist first responders who must respond in cases of emergency. Public Works Director Kowar stated he has not seen flooding in this area, but there are residents who have experienced flooding. In some areas there may be shallow flooding