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Board approves updated rules, drought rates and land-and-water purchase; consent agenda passes
Summary
The Pueblo West Metropolitan District board voted unanimously April 28 to adopt revised rules and regulations, approve drought contingency rates and authorize purchase of 504 acres and associated water shares from Pueblo West Reserve LLC; the consent agenda and the meeting agenda were also approved.
The Pueblo West Metropolitan District Board of Directors on April 28 adopted a package of updated rules and regulations, approved a drought contingency rates resolution and authorized a contract to buy land and water shares from Pueblo West Reserve LLC.
The actions matter because the rules-and-regulations package updates the district’s utility, stormwater and other operational code and the drought contingency rates establish a tiered surcharge schedule used if the district enters drought stages. The real-estate and water purchase means the district will acquire roughly 504 acres and paired canal/lake shares tied to local irrigation infrastructure.
At the meeting, the board first approved the agenda and then the consent agenda; both motions passed by voice vote. Later the board held a public hearing on the proposed water conservation contingency plan and then voted on two separate resolutions: one to approve drought restriction rates and another to adopt the full rules and regulations document. Both resolutions passed with all members present voting “aye.” The board also approved a contract to buy land and water shares from Pueblo West Reserve LLC after a brief staff presentation and clarification that the sale does not include privately owned lots in an earlier Phase 1 development.
Staff described the drought contingency rates as tiered surcharges that would apply to water consumption only (not sewer or readiness-to-serve charges). As an example presented at the meeting, a hypothetical customer using 30,000 gallons in one month would see their water-only charge rise from $155.25 to $186.60 under a stage 2 rate and to $280.65 under stage 3. The rules and regulations package consolidates utility rules, stormwater provisions and other district policies; streets and roads language was removed to reflect an intergovernmental agreement with Pueblo County.
On the land-and-water purchase, staff reported the package includes approximately 504 contiguous acres and 52 paired shares (Colorado Canal, Lake Meredith) with an included purchase price of $360,000 total ($20,000 for the land parcel and about $340,000 for the water shares), and noted the water shares were not part of an augmentation plan. Staff and board members emphasized the purchase was intended to reduce the likelihood of five‑acre developments that the district would need to serve and to remove those water shares from speculative development.
Votes at a glance - Motion to approve meeting agenda: moved and seconded on the record; voice vote, carried (all present said “aye”). - Motion to approve consent agenda (including March financial statements): moved and seconded; voice vote, carried. - Resolution approving drought restrictions and rates during drought periods: motion carried by voice vote; outcome approved. - Resolution adopting updated Rules and Regulations: motion carried by voice vote; outcome approved. - Motion to approve contract to purchase land and water shares from Pueblo West Reserve LLC: motion carried by voice vote; outcome approved.
Board members present at the votes were recorded as Director Gray, Director Axworthy, President Pearl, Vice President Mahaney and Director Bickers. Staff presenters included Katrina Peter, Chief Administrative Officer, and Jeffrey de Herrera, water resources staff, who described the water rules and the purchase. The board did not record roll-call tallies by name during the on-the-spot voice votes; motions passed with unanimous “aye” responses during the meeting.
The board scheduled follow-up items tied to implementation: staff will finalize any public notices required for rate enactment and begin administrative steps to close the land-and-water purchase. The full rules-and-regulations document and the drought-rates resolution are now in effect per the board vote.
Ending: The board moved on to other substantive agenda items, including discussion of a restoration-of-yield authority, a community solar lease discussion and administrative property acquisitions.
