HomeMy WebLinkAboutresolution.council.123-21 RESOLUTION # 123
(Series of 2021)
A RESOLUTION IN ASPEN, COLORADO, ADOPTING THE CITY OF ASPEN
INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN (IRP).
WHEREAS, the City of Aspen (the "City") is a legally and regularly created, established,
organized and existing municipal corporation under the provisions of Article XX of the Constitution
of the State of Colorado and the home rule charter of the City (the"Charter"); and
WHEREAS,pursuant to Section 11.1 of the Charter,the Colorado Constitution, and Title 31 of
the Colorado Revised Statutes, the City by and through City Council established, owns, and
manages municipal utilities, including a water collection, treatment and distribution system known
as the "City of Aspen Water Utility" in accordance with the provisions of Section 25.08.010 of the
City of Aspen Municipal Code;and
WHEREAS,the City, as a municipal water provider, must plan responsibly for the future
water needs of its customers, and must develop and maintain a legal, reliable water supply to
meet those demands; and
WHEREAS, in recent years, development of the City's water rights and supplies has been
informed by consideration of the impacts of global climate change, which is expected to affect
the timing and availability of water supplies as well as both timing and amount of anticipated
water demands in coming decades; and
WHEREAS,water storage rights and facilities are important components of the City's long-
range water supply planning; and
WHEREAS,the City strives to be a leader in planning for and developing innovative
strategies for maintaining a safe and reliable water supply to its customers through continuing
decades while also respecting the City's commitment to environmental stewardship, and
WHEREAS, planning and implementing water projects in Colorado, and most especially in
the City, takes years, sometimes decades, thus driving the need for a long-range outlook with a
phased implementation schedule; and
WHEREAS, the City has determined that it is responsible and prudent to analyze factors
including but not limited to the water demand and supply forecasts, existing and potential new
water supply sources, optimization of the City's water rights portfolio, storage needs, and
persistent drought, and develop a plan to ensure long-term water supply resilience, reliability,
and security, and in furtherance of this goal prepared the Integrated Water Resource Plan; and
WHEREAS, the proposed Integrated Water Resource Plan("IRP"), attached hereto as
Exhibit A, provides an analysis of relevant factors and sets forth a roadmap for the City's long-
term water strategy through the year 2070 including:
a. recommendations to increase water supply reliability now and in the future;
b. a balanced approach for water supply and demand management;
c. water supply adaptation and mitigation strategies in the face of climate change;
d. a pathway forward for water management and investment decisions now and into the
future; and
WHEREAS, City staff has engaged with the community and local technical experts for their
expertise and feedback to ensure the proposed IRP aligns with community values; and
WHEREAS, adoption of the IRP is necessary to ensure the resilience, reliability,and security of
the City's water supply for its customers, and sets forth valuable strategies for managing impacts of
climate change, securing water storage rights and facilities, and establishes a pathway for the
responsible investment in water resources now and in the future.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF ASPEN, COLORADO, THAT:
That the City Council of the City of Aspen hereby adopts the City of Aspen Integrated
Resource Plan attached hereto.
INTRODUCED, READ AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Aspen on
the 7th day of December 2021.
Torre, Mayor
I, Nicole Henning, duly appointed and acting City Clerk do certify that the
foregoing is a true and accurate copy of that resolution adopted by the City Council
of the City of Aspen, Colorado, at a meeting held December 7, 021.
Nicole Henning, City Clerk