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Department of Utilities
Reference: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BRIGHTON, COLORADO, ACTING BY AND THROUGH ITS WATER ACTIVITY ENTERPRISE, AUTHORIZING THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) BETWEEN THE CITY OF BRIGHTON AND SCHOOL DISTRICT 27J FOR THE DISTRICT’S DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A TEMPORARY DEAD END PUBLIC WATERLINE FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING FIRE PROTECTION TO THE DISTRICT’S BUS BARN AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE SAID MOU ON BEHALF OF THE CITY AND TO UNDERTAKE SUCH TASKS AS MAY BE REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF THE MOU ON BEHALF OF THE CITY.
To: Mayor Kenneth J. Kreutzer and Members of City Council
Through: Philip A. Rodriguez, City Manager
Prepared By: Curtis Bauers, Director of Utilities
Date Prepared: April 16, 2018
PURPOSE
To consider the approval of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with School District 27J (27J) outlining the requirements to allow 27J to design and construct a temporary dead end water line for the purpose of providing fire suppression to the 27J Bus Barn property.
BACKGROUND
The School District experienced a bus fire at their bus barn located at 11701 Potomac Street in Henderson this winter, which could have been devastating. This event caused them to consider improved fire flow at their bus barn site. Unable to make substantial improvements to their existing well supply and storage, without significant financial impact, they approached the City for potential improvements. Given that impending development to the west of the site was going to result in a City water supply being installed relatively nearby, there was some opportunity to explore possibilities. The School District was not in a position to install a significant loop in the distribution system as general best management practices would suggest be constructed to solve this problem. Dead end lines are one of the greatest contributors to poor water quality, so a solution that isolates that connection from flowing back into the distribution system was the most obvious detriment to potential service without providing a full loop. The attached MOU adequately addresses that concern, requiring a large backflow prevention device be installed. Further, the MOU addresses the fire line as being temporary, but calls out the future requirements and contemplates the eventual permanency of the line with the expansion of future development in the area.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact to the City inherent in the MOU. It is a temporary service agreement to provide greater safety to the School District’s Bus Barn property. Staff is confident that all necessary precautions have been taken to ensure that the arrangement does not pose a risk to the distribution system or an increased cost to the operation and maintenance of the distribution system.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the approval of the proposed resolution in order to deliver water for fire suppression needs at the School District 27J property.
OPTIONS FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
• Approve the attached Resolution as presented
• Deny the attached Resolution as presented
• Postpone consideration of the Resolution with suggested changes
ATTACHMENTS
• Resolution
• MOU with School District 27J