DRAINAGE BOARD MEETING SUMMARY

June 2, 2011

The City of Colorado Springs/El Paso County Drainage Board held its regular meeting at 3:00 PM

on June 2, 2011, in the in the City Council Chamber, City Hall, 107 North Nevada Avenue.

MEMBERS PRESENT:     Jeff Johnson, Ollie Watts, Emily Skalsky, Ken Bailey, Mike Bartusek, Kim Wright, John Schwab

MEMBERS ABSENT:       

OTHERS PRESENT:         Tom Bonifas (City Engineering), Cheryl Callahan (City of Colorado Springs), Dan Bare (City Engineering), Jennifer Irvine (El Paso County), Mike Cartmell (El Paso County), Steve Kuehster (City of Colorado Springs), Ralph Braden (Norwood), Pat McNamara (HBA), Dustin Haworth (Pet City), Graham Thompson (Matrix Design Group), Bruce Zook (Utilities), Carol Baker (Utilities), Gary Rapp (Recycling Coalition of Colorado Springs), Mary Murray (City Finance)

Meeting called to order by Jeff Johnson at 3:02 p.m.

Item 1:  Approval of the minutes from the May 5, 2011 Drainage Board Meeting 

Motion by Mike Bartusek to approve the minutes

Motion was seconded by Emily Skalsky

Motion passed unanimously 7-0

Item 2:  Discussion of June 2, 2011 agenda

No discussion or changes needed.

Item 3:  Stormwater Management Assessment Update

Dan Bare provided a Stormwater Management Assessment update to the Board members. Board members were given a project summary packet that contained the project background, the technical leadership team recommendations, the project process, conceptual schedule, and spin-off project summaries with estimated costs. The main goal for the Stormwater Management Assessment is to complete a comprehensive assessment of the City?s stormwater management policies and practices and revise appropriate documents to provide an integrated ?watershed wise? approach that is technically sound, cost effective and practical to implement.

Mr. Bare and Graham Thompson from Matrix Design Group went into a more thorough PowerPoint update. This updated included:

• Goals
• Issues
• Processes
• Stakeholder comments
• Technical analyses recommendations
• New approaches
• Schedule
• Summary

Mr. Bare explained that the current standards are not protecting the natural channel functions. New practices and policies are necessary to fulfill commitments to reduce stormwater related impacts within Fountain Creek watershed. These new practices and policies will also help accomplish goals established by the US Army Corps of Engineers Fountain Creek Watershed Plan and the Fountain Creek Watershed Vision Task Force Strategic Plan. These new standards will also assist in fulfilling commitments included in the 1041 permit associated with the SDS water project.

Part of the schedule for this project is to complete updated criteria manuals. The anticipated schedule for these manuals is to complete the technical analyses by the end of June 2011, draft chapters by July 2011, draft manuals by December 2011, adoption of the manuals by May 2012, and implementation by July 2012.

During the stakeholder comments portion of the presentation, several stakeholders were in attendance to verbalize their support:

• Pat McNamara from the HBA (Home Builders Association) spoke in support of the project. The HBA supports a creation of a draft Drainage Criteria Manual for review based on the Douglas County DCM and the Urban Drainage Manuals by reference or inclusion. As for changing the detention storage policy to sub-regional full spectrum, the HBA supports the changes to be included that will recognize previously analyzed and/or partially implemented facilities that conform to the current detention methodology. HBA will review all draft documents as they become available. HBA will continue to support this process as long as the industry also supports the process. The HBA is also willing to participate in discussions and workshops involving LID (low impact development).

• Gary Rapp from Recycling Coalition spoke on behalf of citizens as he has been following the work in the Fountain Creek Watershed. Mr. Rapp extended his support to Staff in both the work throughout the watershed and the Stormwater Management Assessment process. Mr. Rapp handed out a document that defined expectations for low impact development. This document listed the definitions from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fountain Creek Vision Task Force, and the intergovernmental agreement for the management and conservation of Fountain Creek. Click here for handout.

• Carol Baker and Mark Shea from Colorado Springs Utilities spoke in support of the process. Certain requirements have been identified that pertain to the Southern Delivery System. This also extends to cities outside of Colorado Springs. Click here for handout.

• Jennifer Irvine with El Paso County also supports the recommendations. County staff has been involved with several sub-committees working through this process and the County remains in close coordination with the City of Colorado Springs during this project.

The Technical Leadership Team has made six recommendations for the project:

• Draft new Drainage Criteria Manual, Volumes 1 and 2 as proposed (i.e. revisions as identified in the annotated Table of Contents , the use of Douglas County?s DCM as a base for Volume 1, and the use of UDFCD manuals by reference or inclusion) 

• Change detention storage policy from ?regional, dual-stage? concept to ?sub-regional, full spectrum? concept and include provisions for previously studied and/or partially completed development projects where ?regional? detention approach has been implemented

• Evaluate a policy for phasing improvements based on level of develop in the upstream basin or anticipated downstream impacts.

• Initiate an evaluation of policies related to floodplain administration to identify changes to make the policies more consistent with stormwater management goals

• Initiate an evaluation of Site Planning and Design standards to identify opportunities for change that will mitigate stormwater runoff increases due to development

• Initiate an evaluation of watershed-wide issues and technical solutions to identify changes to the manuals to make them more applicable throughout the Fountain Creek watershed.

The Technical Leadership Team also proposed to expand the scope of the current assessment in order to provide a more comprehensive approach to stormwater management in Colorado Springs through four spin-off projects. The spin-off project description and cost estimates are noted below:

• Site Planning and Design Standards ? Evaluate Site Planning and Design standards to identify opportunities for change that will mitigate stormwater runoff increases due to development. Estimated cost: $90,000

• Floodplain Administration ? Evaluate policies related to floodplain administration to identify changes to make the policies more consistent with stormwater management goals. Estimated cost: $45,000

• Improvement Phasing ? Evaluate a policy for phasing improvements based on level of develop in the upstream basin or anticipated downstream impacts. Estimated cost: $30,000

• Watershed-wide Issue ? Evaluate watershed-wide issues and technical solutions to identify changes to the manuals to make them more applicable throughout the Fountain Creek watershed. Estimated cost: $110,000

John Schwab commented that he believed the biggest issue that needs to be confronted is the funding part of instituting policies and projects. Mr. Schwab wanted to know what is being done to fill the gap now that the Stormwater Enterprise is gone. Mark Shea stated that part of this process is involving other entities such as El Paso County water providers and through the watershed district, support has been obtained to look at potential regional stormwater funding mechanisms. They are also in the process of bringing this issue to the forefront within the community to address the funding issues.

Mr. Schwab stated that he is support of the full spectrum concept. He is skeptical about tightening the floodplain regulations. Mr. Schwab believes that there already exist very stringent regulations to the floodplain and would be more in favor of offering incentives to achieve the goals expressed.

Dan Bare emphasized that the Board will be asked to review and send recommendations to City Council once documents are ready for approval.

Item 4:  Housekeeping

No Housekeeping items

No further business

Meeting adjourned at 5:03 p.m.