Loading...
Minutes - City/Districts Liaison - 2009-10-16AK/Uesa Consolidated water District CITY /DISTRICTS LIAISON COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES FRIDAY, October 16, 2009 .8:00 a.m. MESA CONSOLIDATED WATER DISTRICT 1965 Placentia Avenue Costa Mesa, California 92627 City Committee Members: Allan R. Mansoor, Mayor Allan Roeder, City Manager Gary Monahan, Councilman Mesa Committee Members: Fred Bockmiller, First Vice President Trudy Ohlig -Hall, Vice President Paul Shoenberger, General Manager CMSD Committee Members: Arlene Schafer, President Robert Ooten, Vice President Donald McIntyre, Interim General Manager Tom Fauth, Operations Manager Joan Revak, Office Manager /Clerk of the District General The meeting was opened by MCWD First Vice President Fred Bockmiller. Approval of Minutes from April 10, 2009 Liaison Committee Meeting Vice President Ohlig -Hall of Mesa Consolidated Water District moved for approval of the April 10, 2009 Minutes of the City/ Districts Liaison Committee of April 10, 2009. President Schafer of the Costa Mesa Sanitary District seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. Introduction of Mesa General Manager Director Bockmiller introduced Paul Shoenberger, the new General Manager for Mesa Consolidated Water District. Mr. Shoenberger gave a summary of his career in the water CITY /DISTRICTS LIAISON COMMITTEE MEETING October 16, 2009 MINUTES Page 2 business and noted the Board of Directors has a very good strategic plan outlining their desires for the District and his intent to carry out the plan Customers' Concerns Regarding Water Service (Mesa) Mesa Vice President Ohlig -Hall stated a concern for the public to obtain information regarding water service in the City of Costa Mesa and requested the City refer any questions by the public to the City of Costa Mesa City Council or Planning Commission be referred to Mesa Consolidated Water District. Mayor Mansoor agreed and stated anytime water questions are posed to the City Council, they are referred to Mesa. Mr. Roeder also noted many frequent speakers at Council meetings bring matters to the Council that are not within the City's jurisdiction and Council and Staff refer them to the appropriate agency. Mr. Shoenberger noted Mesa conducted a survey of their customers and one question was "who supplies water that comes out of your tap ?" The majority of those surveyed knew it was Mesa, however, a significant number of residents were not aware Mesa provided water service. CMSD President Schafer noted it was an identity problem and stated the Costa Mesa Sanitary District struggles with the same issue as many residents think CMSD is part of the City of Costa Mesa. Mr. Roeder noted it was not a "bad thing" to be associated with the City of Costa Mesa. Water Conservation Ordinance (Mesa) Mr. Shoenberger reported on Mesa's Water Conservation Program and practices that can help customers save water. The impetus is the drought in Southern California and among a number of other things pumping out of the Delta from Northern California to Southern California has been tremendously curtailed. This last year was dead average as far as the amount of snow pack in the Sierras and the amount of rainfall across the state. The Metropolitan Water District, the wholesaler for all of California, requested all of its member agencies to cut back 10% on their water usage and if they don't comply, they could pay three times the going rate. That goes from Metropolitan down to MWDOC and from MWDOC to all the member agencies. President Schafer asked how it is enforced. Mr. Shoenberger stated it is an economic signal. The MCWD has opted not to roll the economic penalty down to its citizens mainly because in the past when asked, voluntarily the people have responded. Metropolitan has a large number of conservation programs and incentive programs and they have tied the ability to participate in those with "you must have a water conservation ordinance ". That is one of the reasons MCWD passed the Ordinance. Vice President Bockmiller stated Mesa has a very robust conservation program. Mesa will send staff to anyone's home and conduct a complete audit of their system; provide low- flow toilets, sprinkler heads, help with rebates, change sprinkler heads, etc. Of the 30+ water purveyors in OC, Mesa area uses the 3rd least water per capita and it is done with voluntary programs. Mesa has the most customer - friendly Ordinance the Board could pass that qualified under the Metropolitan guidelines. • CITY /DISTRICTS LIAISON COMMITTEE MEETING October 16, 2009 MINUTES Page 3 Mesa's customers are water wise. Mesa has excellent sources of water with the intent of reducing the rates of customers. Residents will receive warnings for not complying with Mesa's water conservation ordinance. The ordinance promotes "wise -water use" rather than "no, you can't ". Vice President Ohlig -Hall informed the Committee the citizens of Costa Mesa built a colored -water treatment facility and the Board raised rates to assist in funding. It is insurance paid for by the citizens of Costa Mesa in the event the City is short of water. OCWD observes how much water we can pump and advises all the pumpers (water districts) if basin goes lower. With the colored water treatment facility, Mesa can pump 100 %. Water Conservation Coordination (City) Mr. Roeder requested Mesa to make presentation to Council with regard to the new Ordinance. For several months, the City has been involved with other cities in Orange County and the OC Division of the League of Cities and multiple other agencies in preparation of a new model water efficiency landscape ordinance. It was passed along by • the state legislature that now requires all agencies having land use authority adopt a water efficient landscape ordinance with a primary focus on new development, although it is applicable to substantial remodel projects as well. The state program goes into lengthy calculations of evaporation ratios and it would be impossible for anyone to figure it out, The City is working with the League of Cities and several other agencies and cannot work with builders and developers. The state did allow for local agencies to develop their own iteration of the state program as long as it accomplishes the same objectives. City has been working with agencies (BIA) to come up with an ordinance that all the cities in Orange County can adopt so that the rules are not different from one city to the next. After working on it for several months, it has been reduced and simplified greatly from the state program. The model ordinance was completed a few weeks ago and has been distributed to all the cities to go forward. City staff will be presenting the ordinance to the Planning Commission and then to City Council for consideration and Mr. Roeder suggested a joint presentation with Mesa to highlight their programs. The presentation to the City Council will probably take place in November or December for a joint presentation on water and water conservation. Orange County felt it necessary to come up with a single ordinance. President Schafer suggested taking the ordinance to CSDA in Sacramento on her next trip and Mr. Roeder agreed it would be a great idea. This is a real opportunity for a cooperative effort between Mesa and the City. CJ • CITY /DISTRICTS LIAISON COMMITTEE MEETING October 16, 2009 MINUTES Page +4 Mutual Aid Agreements and Agency Coordination (CMSD) President Schafer requested this item be agendized to obtain an update on coordination of work between the City and Districts. Mr. Roeder responded the City bumped up their street maintenance programs substantially. All of the arterials, such as Harbor and Fairview are smoothed out and the major arterials are up to speed. When a street is identified for rehab, notice is sent to all agencies that may be affected and Committee members agreed coordination of projects is going very well. The agencies all participate in emergency operating procedures. Update on CMSD Maintenance Yard (CMSD) Mr. Fauth reported construction on the CMSD Maintenance yard building at 174 W. Wilson began September 24, 2009. The building is on target to meet requirements for designation as a "Gold LEED" building. The project should be completed in April 2010. City of Costa Mesa/Costa Mesa Sanitary District MOU Mr. McIntyre reported the CMSD and the City of Costa Mesa have ongoing conversations • with regard to sewer lateral maintenance and liability on the issue of City tree roots. CMSD Counsel prepared an MOU on September 1, 2009 and Mr. Roeder has encouraged City Counsel to look at it. Mr. Roeder agreed with views there should be more progress on the issues. There are three issues including jurisdiction of sewer laterals from the main to the house. Historically, the City has assumed that responsib'ili'ty in terms of permitting and inspection and it is agreed that doesn't make a lot of sense. Mr. Roeder noted it would be better for the City to do the inspections at the connection to the structure and within the structure with the CMSD assuming all inspection and planning from the building to the sewer main. The second issue involves damage to sewer laterals and the extent to which tree roots are part of that; what role the City should play and the responsibility the City should have for associated damage with the tree roots. Attorneys and engineers will never agree as to causation, which came first — the leak in the sewer lines or the tree roots - and have agreed we must move forward. The City made changes internally where if there are tree roots discovered in the sewer line, the City goes ahead and removes the tree without going to the Parks Commission for permission. The issue comes to how to move forward and resolve the disputes over damage and the costs associated with damaged sewer lines. District Counsel has set forth an arbitration process that is the legal end of it what City Counsel must examine. The third issue involves working together to get trash containers out of the street. City . code enforcement officers could take over by leaving a simple reminder on the can and this should take care of 85% of the cases. The City is ready to go forward and Mr. Roeder's suggestion is to do so and work out the details. The advantage of having an agreement in place means there would be seven individuals performing the job of one, CITY /DISTRICTS LIAISON COMMITTEE MEETING October 16, 2009 MINUTES Page 5 • There is an "overflowing" trash can problem that typically occurs where there is multi- family housing. CMSD hired a new OEO who is placing flyers on containers that are in violation of District code. President Schafer stated the District prefers a public - friendly approach with a knock on the door and reminder to resident of the regulations. Other Director Ohlig -Hall provided a notice of Water Inspection Trip Program presented by Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the Municipal Water District of Orange County. The trips are provided to members of the public who are interested in learning about the planning and management of Southern California's water supply. The trips focus on our state and regional water supply systems and the issues involved in the delivery and management of these resources. Director Ohlig -Hall reported Mesa celebrates their 50th Anniversary in 2010 and will be publishing a history book and any input for the book from the City and the CMSD would be appreciated. Director Bockmiller expressed his appreciation for the reduction of day workers gathering • at the job center. Public Comments No members of the general public were in attendance. Meeting Schedule for 2010: Friday, February 19, 2010 at Costa Mesa Sanitary District Friday, April 16, 2010 at Costa Mesa City Hall Friday, July 9, 2010 at Mesa Consolidated Water District Friday, October 15, 2010 at Costa Mesa Sanitary District The meeting was adjourned at 9:47 a.m. (JA w j�, Gary �Ozi_,an, Secretary.. Arlene Sc afer, Pre ide t Costa MesA anitary District Costa Mesa Sanita ;f District