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Broomfield details water projects, rates and 'one‑water' planning ahead of 2026 budget
Summary
Public Works and Water Utilities updated council on infrastructure priorities including near‑complete Sienna Reservoir work, a planned North Area potable tanks project, a 'one water' systems approach and rate modeling that led staff to recommend maintaining planned base rate increases despite lower seasonal usage.
Public Works and Water Utilities staff told council they are progressing on several capital projects and systems upgrades and described a cross‑departmental “one water” approach to planning.
Deputy directors and finance staff said Sienna Reservoir is near final completion, with remaining items focused on landscaping and closeout tasks. The team said it will issue a public notice once final items are completed.
On the North Area water tanks, staff said they expect to present an early‑work package in late October and a construction contract amendment once bond proceeds are available, with construction starting in January and an anticipated 30–36 month build timeline. The work includes two partially buried potable water tanks.
Finance staff explained rate modeling and said the recent year’s decline in usage has not changed the city’s planned base‑rate approach. “Stabilizing that side of it has helped us throughout this year as we've seen [variable usage fall],” a finance deputy said, adding the modeled increases do not yet require revision based on the latest usage trends.
Staff described a ‘one water’ systems planning method to coordinate decisions across utilities, community development, engineering and finance so that project choices are assessed holistically while preserving separate enterprise fund accounting. Officials said the method does not move funds between enterprises but aims to clarify cross‑fund impacts when projects are approved.
Council members asked about contractor use for resurfacing and street maintenance; staff said preservation work uses contractors for seasonal, equipment‑intensive resurfacing while in‑house crews are preferred for functions such as snow and ice control where direct city control of service level was needed.
Separately, the utilities team noted a regional award: Broomfield’s water won the Rocky Mountain region best tasting water recognition and will compete nationally in the next contest.
