For Immediate Release

Contact	Kelli Narde, Director of Communications, 303-795-3733
Date	January 27, 2011
Download	Ammendment-DenverWaterContract.pdf (114 k)

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Council Schedules Public Hearing on Denver Water Contract

The Littleton City Council invites the public to comment on an ordinance revising the service contract with Denver Water. The ordinance will be considered on first reading February 1 and the second reading and public hearing will be held Tuesday, February 15 in the council chamber of the Littleton Center, 2255 West Berry Avenue, at 7 p.m.

The original contract with Denver Water has been in place since 1970 when Littleton citizens voted to sell the existing city water system to Denver after it incurred extensive damage following the flood of the South Platte River in 1965.

There is a clause in the current contract known as the “annexation provision” that stipulates that any areas annexed by the city automatically become part of the Denver service area. This provision has been viewed for many years as a valuable asset by the city council and staff. However, given the new reality of Denver Water’s ability to provide a reliable water supply, Denver Water has asked to amend the 1970 contract and in return, provide compensation to the city.

The city council directed staff in 2010 to negotiate a revised contract and discussed the final proposed version at a study session January 25. Denver Water has agreed to the following provisions:

• Serve all land that is within the Combined Service Area, the geographical area Denver Water serves including all property within the Littleton city limits.
• Reserve up to 350 acre-feet of water supply for annexed land that is outside of the Combined Service Area.
• Make available up to 1,200 acre-feet of water under temporary leases to entities outside the Combined Service Area in Arapahoe and Douglas counties.
• Pay the city $2.1 million in cash, with $1 million paid within 60 days of executing the contract, and $1.1 million before January 10, 2012.
• Pay the cost of converting the potable water service on the Geneva Park/ Littleton Center property to non-potable water at a cost estimated at $400,000.
• Refund the escrow plus interest paid by the city for administrative costs estimated at $80,000.

A copy of the full contract can be viewed on the city’s website at www.littletongov.org.