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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC_1986-01-09 Special Meeting MinutesMORRO BAY CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING - JANUARY 91 1986 AGENDA RECREATION HALL - 7:00 P.M. INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS AND CITY BOARDMEMBERS A. PUBLIC HEARINGS, REPORTS & APPEARANCES A-1 PERSPECTIVE ON EXISTING CITY WATER RESOURCES A-2 CONSULTANT'S REPORT ON SAN BERNARDO CREEK DAM RECONNAISSANCE STUDY A-3 CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENT TO WATER ALLOCATION MODEL; MODIFIED MIX OF RESIDENTIAL (60%) TO COMMERCIAL/ INDUSTRIAL (40%) B. UNFINISHED BUSINESS NONE C. NEW BUSINESS C-1 RESULTS OF TEST -WELL DRILLING PROGRAM (TORO, CHORRO, AND MORRO BASINS) C-2 GEOLOGIST'S REPORT ON RECHARGE BASIN INVESTIGATION C-3 REVIEW OF PROGRESS ON ERROL STREET WELLS NO. 5 AND 13 (MORRO BASIN) C-4 TORO CREEK WATER RIGHTS C-5 UPDATE ON OTHER WATER SYSTEM CAPITAL PROJECTS MINUTES - MORRO BAY CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING - JANUARY 9, 1986 RECREATION HALL - 7:00 P.M. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Zeuschner. PRESENT: Bud Zeuschner Mayor Ray Kaltenbach Councilmember Jim Miller Councilmember Bruce Risley Councilmember Rose Marie Sheetz Councilmember ABSENT: None STAFF: Gary Napper Mike Multari Nick Nichols Dave Norton City Administrator Comm. Development Dir. Public Works Dir. Water Engineer Mayor Zeuschner welcomed everyone attending the special meeting regarding water and introduced Steve MacElvaine, former member of the Board of Supervisors and Coastal Commissioner; Bill Coy, County Supervisor for District 2; and Leslie Ramsey, Aide to Assemblyman Seastrand. Arby Kitzman, Vice -Chairperson of the Water Advisory Board introduced members of the Board; Hal Hannual, Charles Palmer, Phil Person, Bill Mazzacane, Jean Cartwright, and Tom Wuriu. Not present were Grace Melton, Board Chairman, and Steve Paige; Bill Leonard, representative from the Regional Water Quality Control Board; and Clint Milne, representative from the County of San Luis Obispo. Also a member of the Water Board representing the Board of Supervisors is Bill Coy. Mayor Zeuschner noted Toby Buffalo from the South Bay Community Council was present. A. PUBLIC HEARINGSL REPORTS & APPEARANCES A-1 PERSPECTIVE ON EXISTING CITY WATER RESOURCES Mr. Napper stated staff would be overviewing the City's existing water resources including supply, demand and prospects. No official action was expected this evening. Nick Nichols stated the City's present water system relies on groundwater for its municipal water supply. There are 12 active wells in Morro and Chorro Creek Basins. In 1985 the City produced 1,691 acre feet of water which is up from previous years. This equates to 155 gallons per capita per day. The City normally produces 1650 to 1700 acre feet per year. Mr. Nichols MINUTES - MORRO BAY CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING - JANUARY 9, 1986 PAGE 2 reviewed various charts depicting average weekly water production and water well static levels in Morro and Chorro Basins. He explained the City was attempting to acquire permits for the overflow water in Morro and Chorro Basins and these permits were subject to riparian water rights. Mr. Nichols noted the preliminary Water Management Plan was prepared in 1982 by the firm of Brown and Caldwell which is used by the State Department of Water Resources in their Water Management Plan. Staff is in the process of implementing that plan now. It outlines three phases the City should follow in solving the its water problems; short-range, medium -range, and long-range. He reviewed the steps the City has taken in these three phases. Short Range One of the suggestions is to capture the rainfall in the winter and harness it for use during dry months. Also, the City should hire a firm to evaluate groundwater recharge. The City has hired Tom Sheahan of Woodward -Clyde Consultants for this purpose. Medium Range Construct a recharge basin; slowdown runoff from the creeks; evaluate possible reclamation for agriculture irrigation. He noted the San Bernardo Creek dam possibilities the City has been considering and explained the City's past activities regarding reclamation. Long Range Lonq-range projects are the Nacimiento Water Project and the State Water Project. A-2 CONSULTANT'S REPORT ON SAN BERNARDO CREEK DAM RECONNAISSANCE STUDY Mr. Nichols introduced Bob Born of Born, Barrett and Associates, Consulting Engineers, to review the San Bernardo Creek study. Mr. Born stated the study was preliminary only and not a final study where firm costs would be available or decisions made. There are a number of issues not resolved in the preliminary report. He reviewed in detail the report prepared which included water rights issues; reservoir analysis; geotechnical investigation; water quality, treatment and distribution; and a recommended project plan. He also discussed ways in which the City could help finance the project by turning the reservoir into a recreational area and generating hydroelectric power. Councilmember Risley asked what Mr. Born expected as to silting on a project of this nature. Mr. Born stated there will be a MINUTES - MORRO BAY CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING - JANUARY 9, 1986 PAGE 3 certain amount of silting, but a better estimate will not be established until there is a feasibility study of the project. Wilmar Tognazzini, a property owner in the area of San Bernardo Creek, asked some questions regarding County of San Luis Obispo's interest in a project of this nature and why it was abandoned. Mr. Brown stated there basically has to be an interest in the project by the community involved, and at that time there wasn't. Howard Gaines asked Mr. Born about proposed legislation to strengthen the Safe Drinking Water laws which could mean an exorbitant filtration cost to this project. Mr. Born discussed this new legislation involving water filtration. Katherine Walling asked how many years back are there records on rainfall. Mr. Born stated to the 1860's. John Lemons asked about some of the agency approvals needed before the project could proceed and Mr. Born explained the time constraints. Mayor Zeuschner noted other individuals present at the meeting; John Bergmueller, Chairman of the Cayucos Sanitary District; Dr. Martinez of Cuesta College; Steve Paige, City Water Advisory Board; Bud Laurant, Department of Fish and Game; Mr. Righetti, property owner in the San Bernardo Creek area; and Ray Foster, resident of the City knowledgable about City water issues. Council recessed at 8:51 p.m. and reconvened at 9:04 p.m. John Maino, property owner in the San Bernardo Creek area and riparian to San Bernardo Creek, stated he has no problem with the water rights issue as long as his rights are protected; however, he is opposed to the concept of a recreational use at the reservoir. He outlined the traffic problems it would create and discussed some of the diversion figures in the Report which he felt were understated. Fred Glick, attorney representing Ernest Bryant, stated his client owns the property where the proposed dam is to be located. He reviewed background as to how Mr. Bryant had selected this property and stated his client is opposed to the project and will oppose people walking his property for study purposes unless there are pre -condition arrangements. He also indicated property acquisition costs are seriously under -valued. John Lemons stated there is no reason for the Council not to accelerate the water main replacement program for adequate fire protection. He also suggested Council go as far as they can exploring the feasibility of the San Bernardo Creek dam without an excessive allocation of money. MINUTES - MORRO BAY CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING - JANUARY 9, 1986 PAGE 4 A-3 CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENT MODIFIED MIX OF RESIDENTIAL' TO WATER ALLOCATION MODEL 60%) TO COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIA Council decided to hold discussion of A-3 on the agenda regarding the water allocation model and proceed to the other water issues on the agenda. B. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None C. NEW BUSINESS C-1 RESULTS OF TEST -WELL DRILLING PROGRAM (TORO, CHORRO, AND MORRO BASINS i C-2 GEOLOGIST'S REPORT ON RECHARGE BASIN INVESTIGATION C-3 REVIEW OF PROGRESS ON ERROL STREET WELLS NO. 5 AND 13 (MORRO BASIN) C-4 TORO CREEK WATER RIGHTS Mr. Nichols stated the New Business items were interrelated and so would be discussed altogether. He introduced Tom Sheahan of Woodward -Clyde Consultants to update Council on the recharge basin studies. Mr. Sheahan stated his task was to look at different areas to augment groundwater being produced by current wells. He said there is a potential for recharge if the City can take surplus water available in the wet season and find some place to put it in the ground and have it available later in dry seasons. He made a detailed presentation on how a site of this nature is selected. He said results of testing areas selected as high -potential sites have not been positive. Mr. Nichols reviewed the complex and extensive permit process the City has to go through to develop a new well. He then introduced Tom Wooley, geologist. Mr. Wooley reviewed his report on the geologic conditions for water sources and his recommendation for drilling sites of test wells. Tony Ward of Woodward -Clyde Consultants gave a slide presentation on the drilling process and indicated where a potential source of new deep water had been found near Hollister Peak. Mr. Sheahan explained they were excited by this discovery because the water is from a different water aquifer than the City currently draws from; also it is lower in total dissolved solids than other City wells. Mr. Sheahan also reviewed their studies of the City's current Wells No. 5 and 13 which have high iron and manganese content. MINUTES - MORRO BAY CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING - JANUARY 9, 1986 PAGE 5 He stated by capping Well No. 5 and leaving Well No. 13 in production, the City should get an increase in quality if the upper level of the well is sealed. He also discussed relocating the well. He said they had discovered no one has ever applied for overflow water in the Toro Basin, so the City had immediately made application for appropriative rights to that water. At the conclusion of the presentations, Mayor Zeuschner stated what the audience is hearing is a summary of what the City has been doing with regard to water over the past six months. He stated the Mayors of the County have been discussing renewed interest in the State Water Project. Councilmember Risley asked how long it would take to get water into the City system if the Hollister test well proves out. Mr. Nichols stated if all goes well, at least 18 months. Councilmember Risley asked about the Toro Creek permits and Mr. Nichols thought they might take 2 years to get approval from the State Water Resources Control Board because of the State's backlog. With regard to the Chorro and Morro Creek appropriative water rights permits, it was noted the City would only be able to extract a maximum of 1725 acre feet; that is the historical average figure used by the State to calculate the City's use. However, the Toro Creek water and any obtained from Hollister Peak would be over and above that amount. C-5 UPDATE ON OTHER WATER SYSTEM CAPITAL PROJECTS Mr. Nichols reviewed the status on the waterline replacement program, water tank replacement and maintenance, water rights EIR, and stream gauges on San Bernardo and San Luisito Creeks. Councilmember Risley asked if the schedule adopted by Council for replacement of the pipes is going to be met. Mr. Nichols stated no, they are behind schedule now; additional personnel would help get the pipes in service faster. Councilmember Risley asked if any money from the State had been received and Mr. Napper stated only 8% of the project has been completed and it takes a considerable amount of time to prepare the paperwork for reimbursement; therefore, staff was waiting until a greater percentage of the project is completed. Mr. Napper also stated the City Attorney has determined the City cannot hire contract labor for the pipeline replacement project due to current labor laws. Beginning next week he will authorize the Personnel Department to begin recruitment of two permanent employees for the Water Department. He noted, however, this might impact the Water Fund Balance because the employees would MINUTES - MORRO BAY CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING - JANUARY 9, 1986 PAGE 6 be assigned to other activities when unable to work on the pipeline replacement because of rainy weather. Councilmember Kaltenbach objected to the emphasis placed on the leaky pipe replacement program because there is no documentation to show it works. Councilmember Risley asked about the feasibility of running tests to determine if there is a difference when the pipes are replaced. Mr. Napper stated Council had referred this matter to the Water Advisory Board earlier this year and they had recommended foregoing the testing process because it will take time away from the replacement of the pipes; Council 2 months ago concurred with this recommendation. Mr. Nichols said results from individual tests would not show a true picture because some pipes are worse than others. Councilmember Kaltenbach was in favor of testing the pipes; he said the only reason Mr. Lemons wants the pipes installed is so he can give out water equivalencies. Mr. Napper stated Council is not mandated to allocate equivalencies; Council had the option of curtailing the award of equivalencies during the recent adoption of 1986 Water Allocation Program. Councilmember Miller said it is important to put in the new pipe because it is larger and safer from a fire protection standpoint. -MOTION: Councilmember Sheetz moved staff proceed with the finalization of the historical water rights permits. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Risley and unanimously carried. (5-0) MOTION: Councilmember Miller moved Council formally request a State Water Resources Control Board public hearing on the City extension of the permits for San Bernardo Creek. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Sheetz and unanimously carried. (5-0) Councilmember Risley stated the Chorro and Morro Basin water well levels have not recovered as they have in past years after a rainfall and asked if there was in reason. Mr. Nichols stated there is no documented reason, but guessed one of the reasons is our current rainfall is slightly less at this time than last year; also, there are 2 new major agriculture well users in Morro Valley. MOTION: Councilmember Risley moved the water allocation item A- 3 be referred to the next Council meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Sheetz and unanimously carried. (5-0) Councilmember Sheetz stated the City parking lot on Front Street is not looking good with increased refuse deposited by users, and MINUTES - MC'RO BAY CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING - JANUARY 9, 1986 PAGE 7 suggested the Commercial Fishermen's organization be contacted to urge their people to clean up after themselves. Mayor Zeuschner suggested the Harbor Commission be directed to look into the matter; Council concurred with this latter suggestion. MOTION: Councilmember Miller moved the meeting be adjourned. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Sheetz and unanimously carried. (5-0) The meeting adjourned at 11:50 p.m. Recorded by: ARDITH DAVIS Deputy City Clerk