HomeMy WebLinkAbout10703RESOLUTION NO. 10703
A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR THE COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
AND ENVIRONMENT SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT RELATING TO THE CIVIL
PENALTY IMPOSED UPON COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES FOR SANITARY SEWER
OVERFLOWS AND DISCHARGES AND THE RECOMMENDED PROJECTS THERETO
AMOUNTING TO THE TOTAL OF $91,440
WHEREAS, the City Council is committed to promoting the health, general welfare, safety,
and prosperity of the City of Pueblo and citizens; and
WHEREAS, the City Council recognizes the immediate need to address, protect, and
improve the water quality within the Fountain Creek from the City of Colorado Springs to the City of
Pueblo; and
WHEREAS, the City of Pueblo is facing increased water -flow from the Colorado Springs
area due to continued growth that requires statewide discussions and intervention; and
WHEREAS, Pueblo community stakeholders, Colorado Springs Utilities, and City Staff
discussed and arrived at a recommendation for a Supplemental Environmental Project that is part
of ongoing efforts to address and correct water quality issues with the Fountain Creek;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PUEBLO, that:
SECTION 1.
City Council fully supports the Supplemental Environmental Project agreed upon by the
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Colorado Springs Utilities, and the City of
Pueblo.
SECTION 2.
The City Council fully supports the foregoing projects for the Supplemental Environmental
Project:
1. City /County Health Department Educational Programs
2. Construction of Levee Freeboard (increased length) on portions of the Fountain Creek
levee system
SECTION 3.
This Resolution shall become effective upon final passage and approval.
INTRODUCED April 24, 2006
BY Gilbert Ortiz
Councilperson
APPROVED: �C tC tx v
VICE FFRESIDLINTof City Council
ATTESTED BY:
CITY CLERK
Background Paper for Proposed
RESOLUTION
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AGENDA ITEM #
DATE: April 24, 2006
DEPARTMENT: OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
DAVE GALLI, CITY MANAGER
DOUG FITZGERALD, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER
TITLE
*'10703
A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR THE COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT
RELATING TO THE CIVIL PENALTY IMPOSED UPON COLORADO SPRINGS
UTILITIES FOR SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOWS AND DISCHARGES AND THE
RECOMMENDED PROJECTS THERETO AMOUNTING TO THE TOTAL OF $91,440
ISSUE
On October 6, 2005, the Colorado Department of Health and Environment issued a fine of
$110,470 against Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) for the raw sewage spills into the Fountain
Creek. The penalty covers 21 sewer overflows and two releases from electrical transformers that
occurred within the Colorado Springs utility system between January 1, 2004, and October 4,
2005. Subsequently, Colorado Spring Utilities agreed to include a Supplemental Environmental
Project (SEP) that will be designed to improve or protect water quality in the segment of the
Fountain Creek between the City of Colorado Springs and the City of Pueblo as part of their civil
penalty. The total expenditure for this project will not be less than $91,440. Pueblo community
stakeholders, CSU, and City Staff took part in discussions on how this expenditure would be
allocated for a SEP. It is agreed and recommended that a City- County Health Department
education program and a flood prevention/levee certification project for the Fountain Creek
would be appropriate. Both of these initiatives are projected to total $85,328 ($65,150 flood
prevention and $24,178 education programs). The additional SEP funding could be used to
expand the education program or other acceptable projects by the Colorado Department of Public
Health and Environment (see attached project descriptions).
RECOMMENDATION
Approval of the Resolution.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
None.
PUEBLO CITY - COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT PROJECT
The Pueblo City- County Health Department (PCCHD) requests $24,178 to address
contamination issues in Fountain Creek and other surface waters in Pueblo County. For the
past 20 years there have been numerous sewage spills into Fountain Creek from the Colorado
Springs area. These spills have been caused by various reasons, such as manhole overflows
due to vandalism, construction mishaps, and broken pipes due to crossings affected by storm
water force. The wastewater treatment plant in Colorado Springs releases approximately 50
million gallons of treated effluent into Fountain Creek daily. Surface waters such as storm
water and urban runoff water has also impacted the quality of the water that flows through
the city and county of Pueblo by increasing the Escherichia coli ( E.coli) counts. The Pueblo
community is highly concerned about the fluctuating high levels of bacteria in the waterways
and the public health implications of raw sewage releases. The Colorado Department of
Public Health and Environment (CDPHEtE) is also considering Wildhorse Creek, another surface
waterway in Pueblo County running through Hyde Park neighborhood, on the west side of
Pueblo, for impaired water classification due to E.coli levels.
Proposed Budget and Other Activities
The request of $24,178 would provide needed funds to enhance public education outreach.
City and County funds will be used toward personnel and outreach and education programs.
The requested SEP funding will support surface water education activities through December
31, 2006.
The staff person hired will attend current established educational outreach meetings with
Pueblo City School District 60, County School District 70, and Colorado Springs Utilities. This
staff person will also educate local schoolchildren about the water cycle in our lives, the
various dangers of surface waters and the risk of playing in untreated waters. Also,
information will be created and posted on the PCCHD website and will be taken into the
community to organizations such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Rotary, Lions, and similar
organizations.
Other educational efforts would entail purchasing and distributing models of non -point source
water demonstration tables to be available to all middle and high school science programs in
both Pueblo School Districts 60 and 70. The science teachers at these schools would be
trained to demonstrate these models. This would help continuance of education into the
future and would give youth in our community a better understanding of surface waters.
To further influence behavior towards playing in surface waters such as Fountain Creek,
Wildhorse Creek, and other surface waters, funds would be used to advertise on billboards
and other advertisements will be developed for radio and television stations. To offer an
alternative means of recreation for youth in Pueblo, PCCHD would purchase swimming tickets
for organizations serving community youth to use at appropriate facilities rather than playing
in local surface waters. Education and promotional materials with educational messaging
would be presented along with the swim tickets.
PCCHD takes the responsibility of protecting the health of all citizens and the work to be
done in the next eight months is critical. PCCHD must reach out even more to school children
and parents before school is dismissed for the summer. There is needed education to children
and their families in awareness of the dangers of playing in local impaired creeks and
streams. Without education some people will continue to use such water bodies for summer
recreation.
STORMWATER UTILITY PROJECT
Colorado Springs was fined for sewage spills that occurred from January 2004 to
December 2005. The amount of $91,440 in SEP funding is to be used for projects that
protect or improve water quality in the segment of Fountain Creek between the City of
Colorado Springs and the City of Pueblo.
The State is willing to accept proposed projects for levee freeboard construction
(increased levee height) and City /County Health Department Educational Programs.
The City of Pueblo is proposing a 2 -foot height extension to an existing earthen levee
along the Fountain Creek. The project will be located in the south - central area of Pueblo
along the east bank of the Fountain Creek extending from the existing abandoned
railroad crossing to 100' above the existing active railroad crossing. The total length of
the project is approximately 1950 If. The engineer's estimate for this project is
approximately $65,150 ($33.41//If). The height extension will be accomplished utilizing
pre -cast 2'x2'x6' concrete blocks set on a footing constructed of Plowable fill. Enclosed
are details of the block wall and an aerial view depicting the project location. The project
will increase the freeboard of the levee system in this area and meet all FEMA levee
certification requirements. The project has been submitted to the Corp of Engineers in
Albuquerque, NM and is pending their approval of the project.