CITIZENS’ ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Meeting Minutes
February 15, 2007

 

 

CAC Members in Attendance: Theresa Jehn-Dellaport (Chair), Russell Burton, Becky Long, Deb Pilon, Myrna Poticha, Jason Randall, Rick Sackbauer

 

DW Staff: Marie Bassett, Dave Little Travis Bray and Joe Sloan

 

Guest: Tim Flynn

 

 

OPENING REMARKS, AGENDA AND MINUTES

 

The agenda was approved as presented.  Approval of the minutes was postponed until Myrna was present.  Later in the meeting the minutes were discussed.  Myrna had drafted an additional paragraph for the section “Record of Events Between the December and January CAC Meetings”.  Myrna stated the minutes did not reflect the events and requested the CAC review the additional paragraph.  After review and edits by other members, the CAC approved the amended minutes of January 18, 2007.   

 

 

DENVER WATER UPDATE – Marie Bassett, Director of Public Affairs

 

South Metro Water Providers – An item has been taken to the Board for a pilot project with some south metro water providers.  DW has received criticism on this pilot project from entities on the West Slope and some distributors.  Marie stated there should have been better communication with the West Slope and distributors on this project.  It is only a pilot project, but she understands the desire of distributors and stakeholders to be informed. 

 

HOA Rate Update -  The Board approved a rate change which will effect some HOAs.  A new summer/winter rate was introduces for HOAs.  Not all HOAs will automatically fall into this new rate.  Letters will go out to those HOAs which fall in this new rate.  Those HOAs will also need to go through a water audit.  In the future more HOAs may be added as records are reviewed.  This is just the beginning of the process and it will be evaluated after the irrigation season.   Russell stated there should also be a review of how irrigation plans (water plans) are approved across the metro area.  Projects are reviewed by various councils or zoning departments and are effected by different codes.  Within Denver Water’s service area there are numerous councils and codes which effect a development.  It would be beneficial for the eventual residents of these HOAs to have some consistencies in the various municipalities.  Marie responded that Denver Water could do more regulation of irrigation systems.  However, DW has a history of keeping away from regulating how water is used by customers.  Marie also stated that Donna Pacetti, a Denver Water employee who is working in the mayor’s office, will be working on code issues, which effect water conservation.   

 

Theresa asked Rick to speak about the new mediator hired for the global solution talks.  Rick stated the new mediator, John Bickerman, had spent a week in traveling in Colorado visiting parties involved on the West Slope and along the Front Range.  

 

MOFFAT COLLECTION SYSTEM PROJECT    - David Little, Manager of Water Resources & General Planning

 

Dave shared information on the timeline and the five possible project options for the proposed Moffat Collection System Project.   Currently the project is in the domain of the Corps of Engineers.  However, the Board has to select a preferred alternative.   The challenge is the information on alternatives is in the domain of the Corps and they have their own public process which will occur at a later date when the Draft EIS is ready.   The Board would like some public/stakeholder input on the preferred alternative but DW cannot begin a public process as the project alternatives are under the Corps review.  It is a timing issue and in order to be fair in the process with the Corps, DW cannot release information in the Draft EIS rather that is the role of the Corps. 

 

Theresa asked if staff had a preferred alternative.  Dave responded there was no preferred alternative.  His goal is to get all pertinent information on the option to the Board. 

 

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE – Sara Duncan, Intergovernmental Affairs Coordinator

 

Sara gave an update on water related legislation.  There are several that she is tracking. 

 

CAC BUSINESS

 

Million Trees Initiative – Myrna reported she had sent several e-mails to city staff members working on the Million Trees Initiative.  Theresa and Myrna had agreed to contact the city to see if the area around the High Line Canal would be a site for some of the million trees.  Myrna had not received any responses to her e-mails but would continue to work on the issue.  Theresa thanked Myrna for her efforts.

 

Interviews for openings on the CAC – A dozen applications for the two open positions were reviewed.  The CAC selected nine applicants to be invited to the March CAC meeting for interviews.  

 

Future Agenda Items

-          Interviews will be held in March

-          Set a date for a tour of the Moffat Collection System

-          Preferred alternatives for the Moffat Collection System

 

The meeting was adjourned at 7:00 pm