Water Rate Study
In May 2025, the Town of Frisco Water Division initiated a water rate and connection fee study in partnership with Raftelis Financial Consultants, Inc. The Town of Frisco’s previous rate study was adopted June 11, 2019, and was effective from October 1, 2019, through October 1, 2024. The purpose of the current study is to conduct a comprehensive review of the Town’s existing water rate structure and connection (tap) fee schedule. These components are being evaluated to ensure they align with the Town’s current infrastructure needs, future growth projections, and long-term water resource planning objectives. Raftelis’ scope of work document explains the water rate study process and the information, handouts, and outreach that will be provided.
Frisco Water by the Numbers
- 34 miles of water mains, which is the distance between Frisco and Avon
- 4,700 water customers
- 350 fire hydrants
- 3 water storage tanks
- $30 million replacement value of water infrastructure assets; excluding water rights
- 1 mgd (million gallons per day) of water delivered from 3 wells and a surface water treatment plant, which is enough to fill 2.5 football fields 1-foot high with water
Why are rate studies important?
Well done water studies ensure financial sustainability of the water system, promote fairness between different types of water uses, and support long-term planning. These studies also seek to anticipate and mitigate the pressures on water systems, which include inflationary pressures, more stringent regulatory requirements, climate changes, rate increase fatigue, and increasing maintenance costs to address high risk of failure assets.
Purpose of the work session with Council
The purpose of the work session on August 12, 2025, was for Raftelis staff to introduce the rate study process and to answer any questions from Council. Two additional meetings will be scheduled with Council to present preliminary and final results.
10-Year Housing Fund Plan Review
On June 3, 2025, Town staff facilitated a housing retreat with Town Council regarding the status of the Town’s Housing Fund and to provide context housing project commitments already made by Council. At the meeting, staff requested feedback from Council regarding the projected 10-Year Housing Proforma (financial statement that projects future performance) and housing projects and planning that staff should pursue in the future. During the work session on August 12, 2025, staff outlined the changes made to the 10-year proforma based on Council’s feedback and asked for feedback.
Based on current projections and Council feedback, staff recommend the following:
- Housing Helps Program: The Housing Helps program will be suspended for the remainder of 2025 and 2026. The suspension will allow savings of approximately $2,500,000. Housing Helps funds will be diverted to help maintain a positive Housing Fund balance. If other governmental funding is received by the Town, staff will return to Council to discuss the possibility of funding this program in 2026.
- Home Improvement Loan Program (HILP): The HILP will be suspended in 2025 and 2026. The program, which provides low-rate home improvement loans, has yet to be utilized by the community. The suspension will allow savings of $200,000 over two years. If other governmental funding is received by the Town, staff will return to Council to discuss the possibility of funding this program in 2026.
- Down Payment Assistance: The Summit Combined Housing Authority’s Board of Directors are currently examining the creation of a down payment assistance program. Funding from the Housing Fund could then support future Frisco residents who are purchasing a deed restricted unit. Staff will provide an update on SCHA board decisions.
- Mary Ruth Housing Complex: Four of the units are currently utilized as rental property for those working within the Tenmile Basin. As leases expire in 2026, the Town will look to turn the units from rentals into home ownership units. Staff are proposing the units be sold in the 125%-130% AMI range. Selling the four units would provide approximately $1,800,000 towards the Housing Fund.
- Selling of Town employee units: Three units currently being held for Town employee use would be sold in 2026 and 2027- 99 Granite St #210, 519 Teller #7, and 220 Galena #3. The units would be sold in the 100%-120% AMI range and provide approximately $1,090,000 to the Housing Fund. Divesting the units is critical in maintaining a positive Housing Fund balance and will also add deed restricted ownership units to the community, which are needed based on guidance from the Strategic Housing Plan. The new, 54-unit Galena Apartments are anticipated to replenish the rental inventory and make up for the sale of the seven Town rental units. The Town will have priority access to five units in the Granite Building.
- Inclusionary Zoning Nexus Study: Following guidance from the Frisco Housing Strategic Plan and support from Council, staff recommend budgeting $55,000 towards a Nexus Study to determine feasibility of an Inclusionary Housing ordinance, which would begin the 1st quarter of 2026.
- Property Maintenance: Many of the Town owned housing units are beginning to require extensive repair beyond routine maintenance. Staff recommend an investment of $100,000 towards proactively replacing aging mechanical, electrical, and plumbing equipment.
- 8th Avenue and Pitkin Street Site: Based on Council feedback, staff is recommending investing $15,000 towards a charette focused on the Town owned properties at 8th Avenue and Pitkin Street. The charette will focus on receiving community feedback for residential development opportunities at that site, facilitate discussions with Council, and provide guidance to potential density, design, cost estimates, and the foundation for a request for proposals process. A potential project subsidy of $500,000 is budgeted during the 2028 fiscal year.
- Land Purchases: The proforma has established placeholders for property purchases, allowing Council to strategically plan the potential use of funding in future years. Should an opportunity present itself earlier than anticipated, it is possible for the Housing Fund to borrow from other funds to complete a transaction.
Council Discussion and Direction
Council gave staff direction to return at the August 26 Town Council meeting with a resolution to approve the 10-year housing proforma.
Building Division Update
In August 2024, the Town approved Resolution 24-31 entering a contract with Comprehensive Building Code Services (CBCS) for the Community Development Department’s Building Division administration, management, inspection, plan review and permit Intake. CBCS met with Council during the August 12 work session and provided an update which included proposed process changes to improve services, 2024 International Codes Adoption Process, and background on CBCS.
CBCS Implemented Improvements
- Plan review times reduced by 75%
- Respond in less than 24 business hours
- Inspection arrival notification calls 30 min to 1 hour out so that people are not waiting hours for inspections
- Courtesy inspections
- Temporary certificates of occupancy- was already an option in the code and primarily used on large commercial projects
- Inspection consolidation
Proposed Changes
- Single, multi-disciplined permits for new construction
- Restructuring of inspection types; getting rid of inspection types that are redundant and adding types that are not currently included
- Eliminate plan review for water heaters/furnaces/boilers and continue to focus on whether the water heaters/furnaces/boilers are installed correctly
- Roof inspection- would inspect the underlayment, mid-roof, and final roof and would use drones when possible
- Bringing electrical permitting and inspection in-house (currently through Summit County)
- Establish minimum project valuation using ICC data
- Building/mechanical/plumbing fee updates
- New 2024 code adoption; currently on the 2018 code. CBCS is recommending adoption with very minimal amendments after review by board of appeals and contractors, and community comments.
Council Discussion and Direction
Council noted the positive feedback they have received about CBCS and were supportive of moving forward with their recommendations with the exception of moving electrical in house at this time, which staff and CBCS will look at more closely and evaluate any potential cost increases.
Intergovernmental Agreement Regarding the Xcel Mountain Energy Project
Xcel Energy is currently engaged in proceedings with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to seek approval of their Mountain Energy Project. The Mountain Energy Project is Xcel’s plan to address the increased demand for gas and electric energy in the mountain area over the next decade. Recognizing that this proceeding before the PUC is a unique opportunity to engage with Xcel on critical infrastructure and energy issues, the Town of Breckenridge staff took the lead in engaging outside consultants and participating in the PUC proceeding on behalf of Summit County and towns in the county. The towns and Summit County have been engaged in this process for months.
The Towns of Breckenridge, Frisco, Silverthorne, Dillon, Keystone, and Blue River, as well as Summit County Government, have organized a mountain community coalition (MCC) to collectively comment on Xcel’s Mountain Energy Project proceeding before the PUC. The Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) officially forms the coalition and commits to share associated costs.
The goals of the MCC are:
- Continuing decarbonization as it relates to greenhouse gas reductions outlined in the Summit Community Climate Action Plan;
- Maintaining affordable and reliable access to energy;
- Promoting public health and safety related to liquefied natural gas (“LNG”)/compressed natural gas (“CNG”) and minimizing community impacts of siting such facilities;
- Increasing exploration of alternatives like thermal energy networks;
- Increasing accurate, transparent, and timely communication of information about the project and the community incentives; and
- Ensuring reliability of the energy grid.
Council Decision
Council voted to adopt Resolution 25-26.
Cable Franchise Agreement with Comcast
Staff presented a new 10-year franchise agreement with Comcast, the previous agreement expired in June 2024. The proposed agreement incorporates updated regulatory, fiscal, and community service provisions that were negotiated by Town staff and legal counsel. The agreement maintains the Town’s regulatory authority, improves revenue tracking, secures ongoing Public, Educational, and Governmental (PEG) support, and reflects updated legal and market conditions in a way that meets the Town’s organizational needs.
Council Decision
Town Council approved Ordinance 25-17 on the first reading. The second reading is scheduled for August 26, 2025.
Frisco Town Council Meetings: Ways to Participate
Frisco Town Council meetings are available to view via Civic Plus Resident Portal, Zoom and YouTube, and are also held in person to make Town Council meetings easier to access for everyone.
The public can provide comment during meetings via Zoom or in person (not YouTube), and a public comment period will be available at 7:00pm; during the consideration of ordinances; and at the discretion of Town Council during work session items, which are discussions that don’t require a formal vote by Town Council and do not require public comment. Again, this hybrid approach is intended to make Town Council meetings more accessible, and meeting recordings will typically also be made available the day after a meeting in the meeting archive with agenda topics bookmarked to the discussions in the video.