HomeMy WebLinkAboutagenda.council.worksession.20170131
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
January 31, 2017
4:00 PM, City Council Chambers
MEETING AGENDA
I. Create Mentorship update
II. Conditional water storage rights work plan and public process update
P1
CREATE ASPEN
MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
Brand Strategy Presentation
Winter 2016/2017 P2I.
BRAND ARCHITECTURE
Name Change for Growth P3I.
Brand Architecture
CREATE
Mentorship
Program
(AMP)
Events/Media Accelorator
CREATE
ASPEN P4I.
Brand Growth
• Create Mentorship Aspen
• Create Accelerator Aspen
• Create Basecamp Aspen
Ø Challenging Alliteration
Ø Create “Mentorship” is finite
Ø Second word needs to provide
“meaning” or it sounds odd
Ø Aspen sounds tacked on
• Create Aspen Mentorship
• Create Aspen Accelerator
• Create Aspen Basecamp
Ø Alliterative
Ø Create Aspen is infinite
Ø Third word can be creative (without
pressure of inferred meaning)
Ø City name can change, making our
“Create” program nationally
scalable
Current Brand Name
Proposed Brand Name P5I.
Create Network
Create Aspen
Create Basalt
Create
Carbondale
Create Vail Create Glenwood
Springs P6I.
CREATE ASPEN’S
CHALLENGE
Talent “Brain” Drain P7I.
Aspen Sustainability Report
With the help of key stakeholders
in the Aspen community, City Staff
generated the “Aspen
Sustainability Report” and
presented it to the City Council.
Like many communities, Aspen is
focusing on creating a city that is
sustainable for future generations.
Create Aspen is committed to
building programs and initiatives,
like our Mentorship Program, that
will help the City of Aspen reach
its Economic goals stated within
the Sustainability Report.
City of Asen, Final Sustainability Report pg. 1 and pg 5 P8I.
Young Professional Brain Drain
Aspen’s Next Gen Council
commissioned a survey of
Aspen and Valley residents
between ages 18-40, to better
understand the challenges their
generation faces as they look to
make Aspen their permanent
home in the future. The barriers
identified are lack of affordable
housing, upward career mobility
and higher wages.
Aspen Next Generation Advisory Commission Annual Survey Report pg. 2 P9I.
Contributing Factors to Brain Drain P10I.
Aspen Wealth/Opportunity Gap
Aspen’s population was spread out with the
median age of 37years:
• 13.1% under the age of 18
• 9.8% from 18 to 24,
• 42.1% from 25 to 44
• 27.6% from 45 to 64,
• 7.4% who were 65 years of age or older.
Aspen’s median income in 2010:
• Household in the city was $53,750
• Family family was $70,300.
• Male income was $41,011
• Female income was $32,023
• Per capita income for the city was
$40,680
Cost of Living is
55.7% higher than
national average
2nd most expensive
in Colorado
Upward Mobility
Rate is
42%
Employment rate
is -53
Unemployment
rate is 3%
Data extrapolated from 2010 Census P11I.
Economic Development - Definition
Economic Development CREATES
the conditions for economic growth and
improved quality of life by expanding the
capacity of individuals, firms, and communities to
maximize the use of their talents and skills to
support innovation, lower transaction costs, and
responsibly produce and trade valuable goods
and services.
Economic Development requires effective,
collaborative institutions focused on advancing
mutual gain for the public and the private sector.
Economic Development is essential to ensuring
our economic future.
“We know that the nation
that goes all-in on
innovation today will own
the global economy
tomorrow. This is an edge
America cannot surrender.”
- President Barack Obama,
2014 State of the Union
Address P12I.
Evidence for Aspen Sustainability
Social Entrepreneurship Separate Sectors
Communities are beginning to experience the economic power that comes from uniting the
three sectors of business in order to produce sustainable results with their goals and
objectives. This model shares some of the same tenants as Aspen’s and therefore bodes
well for the direction Aspen is navigating for future generations. P13I.
BRAND IDENTITY
Create Aspen: Mentorship Program P14I.
Vision
Aspen cultivates the next generation of world-class citizens
using the Aspen Idea of “mind, body and spirit” as our
north star.
P15I.
Mission
Create Aspen Mentorship Program (AMP) unites
intergenerational citizens of Aspen to cultivate a prosperous
community through mentorship, collaboration and
resources.
We foster relationships between professionally experienced
and accomplished members of our community and younger
Aspenites who are energetic, driven and civic-minded.
By sparking these connections, our program helps develop
and accelerate the next generation of visionary leadership
and economic development. P16I.
LEARNING
These are the guiding principles behind AMP. They govern our
collective actions and behaviors which directly effect results.
Core Values
INNOVATION COLLABORATION PASSION
For the Aspen
Idea community,
and paying it
forward
Culture of
curiosity,
discovery, and
knowledge
transfer
Our local
economy is fueled
by new ideas and
creative solutions
Together, our
community
prospers in
harmony P17I.
HOPEFUL
SUPPORTED
CREATIVE
EMPOWERED
CONFIDENT
FULFILLED
KINSHIP
Below are the key emotional
connectors that drive AMP loyalty
among our key stakeholders.
Emotional Connectors P18I.
Strategic Vision
In aligning AMP with civic engagement objectives and the Aspen Idea’s vision
for our community, we aim for the following objectives:
• Connect young professionals to Aspen and to the world in which we are
stewards
• Provide consistent growth opportunities for AMP participants and the wider
Aspen community
• Enrich a sustainable local economy – keeping opportunities for the next
generation at the forefront
• Cultivate economic vitality in Aspen; focused on the use of existing
resources, from commercial space, to generating new revenue streams for
local businesses
• Guide young entrepreneurs in job creation; especially for their peer group
who have self-selected a professional career track
• Establish mutually beneficial economic relationships with all community
stakeholders
• Develop integrative opportunities and systems within the Roaring Fork
Valley: the goal being regional subsistence/independence where possible
(food, products, jobs, housing, transit, etc.) P19I.
Organizational Culture
All team and board members, mentors and mentees, partners and
sponsors are asked to embody the AMP culture guidelines.
• Be accountable - it is our glue
• Show each person respect
• Listen with your heart
• Share honestly of your experiences
• Lead by example
• Be tenacious and take risks
• Communicate with kindness and clarity
• Be the Change we want to see in Aspen
• Give freely of your time, expertise, and know-how
• #GiveFirst P20I.
Brand Differentiation
• Mentorship, learning and inspiration are at our core
• Mentees select professional goals that personally give meaning to
their lives and in turn it help energize the Aspen community
• We commit to developing, investing in and keeping Next Gen
business owners, entrepreneurs and professionals in Aspen
• We build strategic community and business partnerships where our
mentees can continue to develop their business acumen and gain an
sustainable financial foothold in Aspen
• We create pathways that allow young professionals to conduct
business in Aspen with more efficiencies and access to resources
• We see the public sector and the private sector as our partners in the
collective goal of creating a region that fosters opportunities for the
younger generations to thrive across all socio-economic divides.
P21I.
We partner with organizations/citizens who possess the following:
• #GiveFirst – time, expertise, know-how
• Positive attitude and open-minded
• Passion for developing and retaining Aspen talent
• Commitment to nurturing young professionals, entrepreneurs and
business owners
• Encourage risk-taking, learning from failure and pressing forward toward
greater innovation
• Collaborative rather than competitive
• Humanitarian worldview – Aspen Idea
• Ecological and sustainable solutions
• Ethics-driven
• Commitment to fostering Inner-disciplinary thought-leadership across all
industries that drive Aspen’s local economy to include the Arts
Partnership Filter P22I.
TARGET DEMOGRAPHIC
Amp Mentee Participants P23I.
• Age 18-35
• Ideal “Persona” educated, successful, fit, entrepreneur
• Raised in a world of choice with lots of options in all
aspects of their lives. They don’t see just see one path
available to them—they see limitless possibilities to
make their life their own
• Deferring traditional milestones such as marriage and
children in part because of the economy and in part
because know they have many alternative options for
what successful adulthood looks like
• Driven by happiness, passion, diversity, sharing and
discovery, they embrace difference and disruption
• Expect dialog and engagement. They don’t want to be
marketed to, nor told to conform
• More health conscious, more connected, more
entrepreneurial
• Shopping Habits - grab and go, needs focused, no
browsing or window shopping, online, want it now, 24/7,
instant customer service
• Shared economy is the norm, ownership is not the
number one goal, experiences take precedence
• Media –online, radio, mobile mobile mobile
Millennial Demographic P24I.
• NO 1 REASON LEAVING JOB: Related to their Boss.
• HAPPINESS: Value happiness and quality of life over immediate salary.
• ENTREPRENEURS: Gen Y starts 150,000 companies per month – 29%
of start-ups.
• FACE OF WORKFORCE: One million Millennials enter the workforce
each year and nearly 40 percent of the U.S. workforce expected to be
comprised of Millennials by 2020
• INNOVATION: Gen Y switch platforms 27 times per hour. Transition in
business where globalization and technology have radically changed the
game. Snapchat. Instagram, Skype, Evernote, Slack, Dropbox, Google
Docs., Basecamp, etc.
• SHARING ECONOMY: Housing and Auto industries have taken a steep
decline within Gen Y. Start-ups capitalizing on this: AirBnB, Zipcar, &
Uber.
Millennial Generation Snapshot P25I.
Snapshot, cont.
• LACK OF RETIREMENT PLAN: Pension and 401k changing or becoming
obsolete.
• STUDENT DEBT: Nearing 1 Trillion and recent graduates are not seeing
ROI on their education investment.
• NO DEGREE REQUIRED: Over 43 percent of recent graduates now
working, according to a recent report by the Heldrich Center for Workforce
Development, are at jobs that don't require a college education.
• WEALTH GAP: Median net worth of households headed by someone 65
or older is $170,494, 42 percent higher than in 1984, median net worth for
younger-age households is $3,662, down 68 percent from a quarter
century ago, according to an analysis by the Pew Research Center.
• PUTTING OFF MARRIAGE & CHILDREN: Until their Baby Boomer
parents start to retire and leave lucrative positions to be filled by their Gen
Y children, these life milestones remain out of reach. P26I.
Millennials @ Work P27I.
Millennials @ Home in Community P28I.
Millennials @ Play P29I.
ASPEN IDEA
Culture of Aspen and Millennials P30I.
The Aspen Idea
“The Aspen Idea is a legacy that has established Aspen as a place to
cultivate lifelong education, civic engagement, physical health, personal
responsibility, spiritual development and an environmental
consciousness. It is a fundamental awareness that mind, body and
spirit can be fully integrated parts of a whole and balanced person, and
this interconnectedness entails the cultivation of all three.
At a basic level, this valuable concept can help provide balance to our
community and to our individual lives. The concept was born when
Walter and Elizabeth Paepcke, and a circle of friends from Chicago,
began convening intellectuals, artists, skiers, philanthropists and
philosophers in Aspen after World War II. We value authentic
engagement with others, including civil discourse about the kind of
community we want to create and maintain.”
2012 Aspen Area Community Plan P31I.
Aspen “Body” Culture P32I.
Aspen “Mind” Culture P33I.
Aspen “Spirit” Culture P34I.
Millennial and Aspen Idea
Aspen has a distinct advantage in cultivating a community in which
Millennials can thrive socially, economically and become its future. The
Aspen Idea underpins the foundation of this generation’s leading traits. P35I.
Millennial
Workplace
Values
Millennial Workplace Desires P36I.
Morality
Creativity
Problem-
Solving
The Basics:
food
sleep
health
shelter
Order
Security
Safety
Community
Family
Friends
Intimacy
Respect,
Confidence
Self-esteem
Achievement
Aspen Idea – Work Culture
Hierarchy
of Needs P37I.
AMP PROGRAM
The Basics P38I.
Mentorship Program Goals
• Aid in business development
• Integrate existing community resources
• Create an economic engine for the city which far surpasses the dollar
amount of our program funding
• Be an asset to the community
• Insist on accountability and transparency
• Provide new perspectives for all participants
• Increase capacity for community empathy P39I.
Mentee Profile
Professional & Career Development
• Young Men & Women 18-34yrs old
• Aspen Citizen
• Mature
• Intellectually Curious
• Self-motivated
• Accountable
• Problem Solver
• Collaborative
• Open-minded
• Positive Attitude
• Civic-minded
Business & Entrepreneurial
Development
• Young Men & Women 25+ yrs. old
• Aspen Citizens
• Entrepreneurial
• Visionary
• Risk Taker
• Innovative
• Collaborative
• Teachable
• Civic minded
• Category Expertise
• Proof of Concept
Track One Track Two P40I.
Mentee Track One - Career
Professional
Development
Mentoring
Milestone #1 Goal
Success Milestone #2 P41I.
Mentee Track Two – Business
Business
Development
Mentoring
Milestone
#1
Milestone
#2
Milestone
#5
Milestone
#4
Milestone
#3
Milestone
#6
Milestone
#7
Goal
Success P42I.
Mentorship Process Workflow P43I.
Requires Planning
and
Execution Skills
Invites Practice
of
Creating Vision
Provides
Recognition for
Goal Achievement
Cultivates
Tomorrow’s
Leaders
Builds
Compassion in
Overcoming
Barriers
Encourages
Teamwork in
Goals
Develops
Leadership
Skills
Develops Proactive
Ownership of
Desired Outcomes
Mentee Program Benefits P44I.
SILVER SURFERS
AMP Accelerated Mentorship & Peer Group P45I.
Silver Surfers Philosophy
We surround our entrepreneurial “Silver Surfers”
community with diverse industry knowledge, mentorship,
peer support and access to vetted resources to develop
emerging ventures that have innovative, fresh ideas.
We trust this accelerated mentorship experience will
deepen their loyalty to Aspen which will in turn produce
benefits, both tangible and intangible, that nourish our
community.
P46I.
Silver Surfers Traits
Silver Surfers is focused on providing extra support to entrepreneurs/
startups who will benefit from an accelerated program. To participate,
they must have the following traits:
• Adhere to the the Aspen Idea and AMP values
• Possess a clear company vision, mission and values - we’re
passionate about the “why”
• Poised for significant growth and can benefit from our mentorship,
resources and relationships
• Desire to build sustainable relationships with AMP’s wider community
• Possess a strong commitment to #GiveFirst
• Individual/teams who are curious, coachable, collaborative and
embrace feedback
• Most important, we look for entrepreneurs who are committed to
developing roots in Aspen and building a our local economy P47I.
Silver Surfers - Group Mentor Traits
Our esteemed mentors are a collective of hyper-connected
experts with their finger on the pulse of Aspen and are
passionate about raising the next generation up. Their
industry expertise may include the following: real estate
and development, retail, hospitality, arts/culture, food and
beverage and health and wellness.
They all have a core expertise that will help guide the Silver
Surfers’ start-up success – legal, financial, consumer
engagement, marketing, PR, supply chain, distribution, etc.
P48I.
Silver Surfers Target Participants
Mentee Profile
• Men & Women 24+
• Aspen Citizen
• Believes in Aspen Idea
• Entrepreneurial
• Visionary
• Committed to their
venture
• Teachable
• Problem solver
• Collaborative
• Risk taker
• Positive attitude
• Civic-minded
• Helpful
• Men & Women 35+
• Accomplished in business
• Believes in Next Gen
• Entrepreneurial spirit
• Enjoys mentorship
• Experience running
groups
• “Sherpa” vs. Teacher
• Civic-minded
• Team-oriented
• Time/Energy Investment
• Innovative
• Connector
• Helpful
Group Mentor Profile P49I.
Silver Surfers Structure
Application or
Invitation to Join
Assigned a Peer
Group
Peer Group
Facilitator becomes
“key” Mentor
Key Mentor/Mentee
Session
“Expert” Mentor
Session
Silver Surfer Peer
Group Meeting
Show
Proof of
Concept Startup
Assessment
Set Growth
Goals
Map
Milestones
Introduce
Expert
Mentors
Share Issues
Goal Update, &,
Guest Speaker
How it Works:
• 6-12 month commitment
• Monthly Peer Group Meeting
• Multiple Mentor Sessions
• Startup Speaker/Workshop series
• Informal Peer Meet-ups
2017 Goals:
• Recruit/Train Group
Facilitators
• Six (6) Silver Surfers Peer
Groups running
simultaneously
• Pitch Competition in Dec.
Group Facilitator will not be Key
Mentor for everyone in group in
2017 P50I.
Creative
& Strategy
Finance &
Biz Models
Legal
HR & Talent PR/Media &
Marketing
Tech/Web
Dev.
Sales/
Distribution
Silver Surfers
Mentee
Fluid Expert Mentorship Model P51I.
Silver Surfers Peer Group P52I.
2016 AMP METRICS
ROI, Case Studies and Program Highlights P53I.
Proof of Concept Process – 2016
Create
Aspen
2017
Hire Executive
Director &
Generate
Excitement
Implement
Online Platform
for Mentorship
Communication
Re-Evaluate
needs for
launch, bring on
New Exec.
Director
Develop
Operations &
Engage
Applicants
Make
Mentorship
Matches /
Activate
Programming
Establish Brand
Vision &
Strategy with
Board Members
Winter 2016
Spring 2016
Summer 2016
Fall 2016
Winter 2016 P54I.
The Story in Numbers – 2016
24 ACTIVE MENTEES
15 ACTIVE MENTORS
30
Mentorship
Loops
$ 2,800.00 - Program Initiation Fees*
*Some Initiation fees have been waived altogether, or member is on a payment plan. Additionally,
four (4) mentees who have joined the program have a business partner who is grandfathered in at the same rate.
P55I.
A Few Mentee Businesses P56I.
CREATE ASPEN ECO-
SYSTEM
Resources, Partners, Potential Sponsors P57I.
Educational Institutions
• Students
• Faculty
• President/Provost/Trustees
• Academic Deans
• Administrators
• Alumni
Mentors
• Successful Entrepreneurs
• Business Owners
• Professionals
• Retired Aspenites
• Visitors/Special Guests
Corporate
• Skico
• Starwood
• UPS
• Lululemon
• Obermeyer
Capital
• Venture Capital
• Investment Bank
• Angel Investors
• SBA & Local Funders
Partners
• Creative Agencies
• Law Firms
• Accounting Firms
• Consulting Firms
• HR/Talent
• Real Estate
Government
• City/State/Federal
Non-Profits
• Sister Mentorship Programs
• Professional/Business
• Economic Development
• NPOs collaborators on topic
AMP Eco-System P58I.
• Aspen Rotary – Funding Sponsor
• City of Aspen – Funding Sponsor
• Aspen Next Generation Advisory Commission
(Next Gen)
• Aspen Entrepreneurs
• Aspen Young Professionals Association
• Aspen Chamber Resort Association
• Aspen Skiing Company
• The Aspen Business Luncheon
• The Buddy Program
• Aspen Elks Lodge #224
• Start-Up Weekend
• The Aspen Institute
• Aspen Community Foundation
• Colorado Mountain College
• Issacson School of New Media
• Roaring Fork Leadership
• The City of Carbondale
• Colorado Resources:
• Colorado Office of Economic Development
and International Trade
• Economic Development Council of Colorado
• SBDC of Colorado Resource Gateway
• Capital/Funding Resources:
• Accion
• Angel List
• Colorado Lending Source
• Colorado Enterprise Fund
• Colorado Venture Capital Authority
• Gust
• Indiegogo
• Kickstarter
• OnDeck
• Small Biz Lending
Partners and Resources P59I.
Sponsor “Wish List” P60I.
CREATE ASPEN
Holy Grail P61I.
Dedicated Space within Aspen P62I.
Create Aspen Programing @ HQ
Create Aspen HQ
Space
Workshops/Guest
Mentors
Professional Service
Office Hours
Collaborative
Working Space Community Events
Mentorship Program Silver Surfers
Accelerator
Expert Mentors P63I.
Create Aspen Space
Goals and Objectives
• Capitalize on a growing opportunity to develop talent from within
our ecosystem by creating a resource-driven, supportive network
• Provide affordable, trusted business services
• Legal
• CPA
• Marketing/Social/PR
• Provide community engagement and extended programs for aspen
business community
• Location Recommendations
• Walking distance to Aspen Core
• Easy access for Mentors, Funders, Alumni or Interested Parties
to stop in, work, visit, etc.
• Near public transportation stops
P64I.
CREATE ASPEN
Next Steps P65I.
Next Steps
1. Create Aspen to present 2016 Summary and Brand
Synopsis to the Next Gen at Board Meeting–January 30,
2017
2. Create Aspen to present 2016 Summary and Brand
Synopsis to the City Council during a Work Session –
January 31, 2017
3. Julie Engels to present Brand Presentation to Rotary Board
with Create Aspen Board Members, Sam Johnston and
Robin Smith, who are also Rotary members. Rotary has
first right of refusal to own Create Aspen – February 10,
2016.
4. Identify action items and next steps. P66I.
ASPEN CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Margaret Medellin, Utilities Portfolio Manager
THRU: Scott Miller, Director of Public Works;
Dave Hornbacher, Director, Utilities and Environmental Initiatives;
DATE OF MEMO: January 27, 2017
MEETING DATE: January 31, 2017
RE: Resolution 141, Series 2016 Progress Update
SUMMARY: On October 10, 2016, Council passed Resolution #141, Series of 2016 (see Attachment A:
Resolution #141, Series of 2016) directing staff to implement certain water management measures to
improve resiliency against future climate change impacts and other system changes while continuing
efforts to maintain diligence for two conditional water storage rights on Castle and Maroon Creeks.
During today’s work session, staff will provide Council progress updates on the four (4) identified tasks
and seek Council feedback to refine this community-based approach to securing Aspen’s water future.
BACKGROUND: The City Utilities and Environmental Initiatives Department is responsible for
assuring Aspen has a safe, legal and reliable water supply, now and into the future. To this end, the City
has developed an integrated water supply. As a part of this integrated water supply, since 1965 the City of
Aspen has held and maintained conditional water rights for reservoirs on Maroon and Castle Creeks.
Today, the City’s primary source of stored water is snowpack, which varies significantly from year to
year. Aspen uses direct flow rights from Maroon and Castle Creeks, which are diverted to the Leonard
Thomas Reservoir located at Aspen’s Water Treatment Facility, treated, and then delivered to Aspen
customers. The Leonard Thomas Reservoir is an operational reservoir with a capacity of 9 acre-feet,
which is less than a day of storage during peak summer use. Storage reservoirs, however, can retain water
from season to season and year to year, and can provide water supplies even during times of shortage.
The Aspen community will face significant challenges maintaining its water supply as we experience
changing precipitation and runoff patterns, and possible increased fire, drought, change in runoff timing
and lower snowpack levels due to climate change. Without water storage, Aspen’s water supply for
households and businesses will be threatened. There will be no meaningful back up if surface supplies
are greatly reduced. This is a risk the City considers when making long-range plans.
Science confirms that Aspen’s climate is already changing and will continue to do so. Aspen now sees
23 fewer winter days than in the years before 1980. This trend is projected to continue and Aspen’s
current water storage – our snowpack - will diminish.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION: Council work sessions to discuss the Maroon Creek and Castle
Creek conditional storage rights were held on September 20th and 27th of 2016. City staff provided
Council with feedback obtained earlier from a City hosted stakeholder meeting, a community meeting,
P67
II.
and from staff’s attendance at other meetings and discussions with interested groups and individuals.
Resolution #141, Series of 2016 was unanimously approved by City Council at its regular meeting on
October 10th, 2016.
DISCUSSION: Resolution #141 directed staff to pursue actions in four (4) task areas. A substantial
multi-year effort is being undertaken to implement these tasks, and will require concurrent processes:
legal proceedings, on-going integrated water system development and operation, refinement of future
water demand, collaborative process to identify system needs and potential solutions, and investigation of
reservoir resizing and/or relocation.
Staff will provide quarterly updates on work progress, and will check-in regularly to update Council on
significant work items, decision points and to provide timely information. The goal of this work session is
to update Council on the work accomplished since the Resolution signing and to review the framework
that is being structured to accomplish the Resolution direction. See Attachment B: Aspen Water Future
Work Plan – Working Draft which provides a draft timeline and primary deliverables for each task.
Following is an update for each of the four (4) Resolution tasks:
1) On-going Integrated Water System Development and Operation
Continue development and implementation of the City’s integrated water supply system, including water
conservation measures (including, but not limited to, rate revisions and new landscape ordinance), the
reuse project, and other current plans for development of water supplies, as well as further refinement of
climate change impacts on supply and demand patterns.
• Water Conservation Measures
o Rate Revisions – Since 2006, the City has implemented a conservation-oriented, 4 tiered
inclining block rate structure. An ongoing rate study initiated in 2016 will be completed
in 2017 with recommendations for Council review and approval.
o Aspen Water Efficiency Plan – the City water efficiency plan was completed and adopted
by Council in 2015. Staff initiated work in several recommended areas including:
Revision to Water Shortage Ordinance – completed
Landscape Ordinance – initiated in 2016, staff will present to Council this spring
a proposed Phase 1 Landscaping Ordinance.
Water Distribution System review – as recommended in the efficiency plan, staff
retained consultant services in 2016 to initiate a review according to standards of
the American Water Works Association. Staff will continue this review and
provide updates.
Annual Water Conservation Program 2017 – staff are designing the 2017 water
conservation program.
• Re-use Water System
o City staff continue to work with ACSD to finalize an updated Letter of Intent (LOI) and
Site Application Amendment to Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
(CDPHE), which will allow the City to reuse treated wastewater effluent.
o A contract was signed in December 2016 with Carollo Engineers to develop a work plan
for securing a CDPHE Notice of Authorization (NOA) for the proposed reuse system.
P68
II.
• Integrated Groundwater Resources
o Queen Street Well is included in the City’s water court application in Case No.
15CW3119.
o Contract signed with HRS Consultants to determine timing of depletions and
augmentation for Queen Street Well.
• Alternative underground storage resources
o Mine resources, in-situ storage, etc.
o Contract signed with Deere and Ault Consultants in January 2017 to complete a
preliminary feasibility analysis of the potential of this resource.
o On January 26, 2017, consultants Don Deere and Victor DeWolf met with staff and
performed on site investigative tour of local mines.
• Refinement of Future Water Supply and Demand Scenarios
o Entered into a contract with Headwaters Inc. to perform a preliminary review of risks in
Aspen’s demand and supply through 2065. Dr. George Oamek performed a risk analysis
assessment.
2) Collaborative Community-Based Process to identify system needs and potential solutions
Initiate a collaborative process to evaluate existing and identify new alternatives and any other necessary
actions to fill the currently projected and updated anticipated water supply and demand gap
• Entered into a contract with Consensus Building Institute (CBI) to perform a convening
assessment. Information about the convening assessment is included in Attachment C.
It is critical to use an effective community-based approach in order to leverage the expertise in the
community and develop a long-term water supply plan with the greatest chance of success to secure
Aspen’s water future. The first step in this collaborative process is to include stakeholders in the
development of a framework and design for the engagement process. This convening assessment is an
opportunity to expand mutual trust and credibility amongst all participants.
CBI will gather input from potential participants to inform a collaborative process that:
o Fosters trust and transparency.
o Leads to a thoughtful, inclusive, comprehensive exploration and understanding of
relevant data and potential additional options to supplement the City’s current water
sources.
o Generates an atmosphere of collaborative and creative problem-solving.
o Provides City with informed community views regarding different viable options for
meeting the City’s long-term water supply needs.
o Identifies and understands the expectations of stakeholders.
• Information gathered through the convening assessment will be used to develop the community
based collaborative process. The convening assessment is the first step in the collaborative
process and is expected to take 2 months.
• It is anticipated that the collaborative process will kick-off in early summer 2017.
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3) Legal Proceedings
File and pursue an application for finding of reasonable diligence in the development of the Castle and
Maroon Creek conditional water rights on or before October 31, 2016.
Applications for findings of reasonable diligence were timely filed in the Division 5 Water Court for the
Maroon Creek Reservoir (Case No. 16CW3128) and Castle Creek Reservoir (16CW3129). Statements of
opposition were filed to both applications by 6 parties. An additional 2 statements of opposition were
filed for each case. The Division Engineer has issued his consultation report in both cases, and the cases
are set for a joint initial telephone conference with the water referee on February 9, 2017.
4) Investigation of reservoir resizing and/or relocation
Enhance and increase the City’s efforts to investigate alternative locations and sizing requirements of the
Maroon Creek Reservoir and/or Castle Creek Reservoir, and to report findings back to City Council for
further consideration and action as appropriate.
• Update of surveying
o Entered into a contract with Sopris Engineering to update surveying for Castle Creek
Reservoir
• Review of geological data
o Met with dam and reservoir expert, Terry Arnold, to review certain existing geological
data.
COUNCIL DIRECTION REQUESTED: This presentation is intended to be informational and no
formal action is requested of Council.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS: The City is committed to reducing its footprint (carbon and water)
and fighting climate change, but even with this effort and action the City recognizes that it is best practice
to plan for a future that looks very different than today. The City’s efforts to refine its demand and supply
projections, along with undertaking a collaborative effort to identify new water infrastructure and
management options is necessary to ensure the City’s resiliency.
BUDGET IMPACT: The initial study work is absorbed under the current 2017 budget authority. Staff is
developing a project specific budget that will include estimates of the cost of community facilitation
(based on results of the RFP), identified supporting engineering consultant and expert services, legal
expenses, and staffing. This budget will be presented to Council review and approval at a follow-up work
session.
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS:
Attachment A – Resolution #141, Series of 2016
Attachment B – Aspen Water Future Work Plan – Working Draft
Attachment C – Convening Assessment
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File and pursue an
application for finding
of reasonable
diligence
Continue
development and
implementation of
the City's integrated
water supply
Further
refinement of
climate change
impacts on supply
and demand
Initiate a collaborative
process to evaluate
and identify new
alternatives for filling
supply and demand
Investigate
alternative
locations and
sizings for
reservoirs
2016
Update survey of Castle Creek Reservoir Site XX
Risk‐based analysis of demand and supply variables XX X
Conservation Efforts XX
Augmentation needs to use wells XX X
Permitting of Reuse System XX
Preliminary analysis of reservoir geology XX
2017
Develop framework for collaborative process X
Select Facilitation Team for Collaborative Process XXX
Identify policies and assumptions necessary for
determining firm yield and build‐out XX X X
Identify Treatment and Distribution goals, constraints
and risks XX X X
Alternative Development and Analysis ‐ Establish
Screening / Selection Criteria XX
Conservation efforts XX
Implementation of Reuse System XX
Groundwater System Strategy XX
Investigation of mine water/storage potential XX
Investigation of in‐situ storage XX
Fatal Flaw Analysis of Top Alternatives XX
Work with Canary Initiative to identify appropriate
range of climate change models X
Update Streamflow and Demand Projections XX X
2018
Alternative Development and Analysis ‐ Identify viable
versus non‐viable alternatives XX
Alternative Development and Analysis ‐ Analyze viable
alternatives XX
Optimize Reuse System XX
Conservation efforts XX
2019
Alternative Development and Analysis XX
Conservation efforts XX
2020
Select Preferred Alternative or Group of Alternatives XX
Attachment B: Aspen Water Future Work Plan – Working Draft
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Attachment C: Convening Assessment
Convening Assessment – Designing a Community-Based Process for
updating Aspen’s long-term water plan
The City is charged with and responsible for providing a safe, legal and reliable water supply for its
citizens even during times of scarcity. Currently Aspen gets its municipal water supply from snowpack
that melts into Castle and Maroon Creeks, with limited storage. With climate change and population
growth, this source is not a reliable one for the City to solely rely on to serve the water needs of its
residents and guests. Securing a sufficient amount of water into the future is not an easy task.
Because Aspen is remote, it does not have the opportunities to connect to nearby neighbors during
times of crisis that many cities have and must be ready to supply water to its community with its own
resources. Within this challenging environment, the City continues to develop its integrated water
system which includes various water rights, both groundwater and surface water.
To plan for our water supply future, the City wants to include the community and stakeholders in the
discussion about projections of Aspen’s future, potential water development plans and strategies. We
realize this is a large undertaking and we want the end result and process to be done right. This is the
perfect time for anyone with an interest in Aspen’s water future to engage with the City. We are at the
beginning of a new process and just starting to formulate what citizen and stakeholder engagement will
look like. To that end, the City is conducting a ‘convening assessment’ to create a framework for a
collaborative process that meets the community’s expectations. This is the first step in planning the
stakeholder process that will last approximately 2 months.
Our goals for the convening assessment include:
• fostering trust with the community
• developing a transparent process
• generating an atmosphere of collaborative and creative problem solving
• building on other community efforts focused on the City’s water future
• creating a framework for collaboration that is agreeable to the community
We anticipate results from the convening assessment at the end of February 2017. Information from the
convening assessment will be used to develop the community-based collaborative process, which we
anticipate kicking-off in early summer 2017.
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