Minutes - City/Districts Liaison - 2008-11-14•
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M/Mesa Consolidated
VIW77r District
CITY /DISTRICTS LIAISON COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
City Committee Members
Mesa Committee Members
FRIDAY, November 14, 2008
8:00 a.m.
CITY OF COSTA MESA
77 Fair Drive
Costa Mesa, California 92626
Eric R. Bever, Mayor
Allan R. Mansoor, Mayor Pro Tern
Allan Roeder, City Manager
James Atkinson, President
Lee Pearl, General Manager
CMSD Committee Members: James Ferryman, Director
Gary Monahan, Director
Rob Hamers, Manager /District Engineer
Tom Fauth, Assistant Manager
Joan Revak, Board Secretary/Program Manager /Clerk of the District
I. State Water Situation (Mesa)
Mesa President Jim Atkinson reported on the severely reduced southern California water
supply. A combination of factors has led to the water shortage including less water from
the north, the Colorado watershed is very low, less water in reservoirs, and additional
protected species requiring protection methods. The shortage is resulting in Metropolitan
Water District (MWD /Met) considering an allocation plan for water delivery. Mesa's
foresight in building additional wells and storage capacity has resulted in importing only
15% of their water. Mesa also reports their water conservation education efforts are
resulting in less water used. Mr. Hamers stated CMSD will assist in educating the public
through its newsletter.
CITY /DISTRICTS LIAISON COMMITTEE MEETING November 14, 2008
MINUTES Page 2
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II. Uniform Plumbing Code (Mesa)
Mr. Pearl requested the version of the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) the City currently
adopts. Mr. Roeder will reply. Mr. Pearl answered Mayor Pro Tem Mansoor `s concern
regarding excessive late night watering by businesses fronting Harbor Blvd. by stating
Mesa is currently performing a water audit based on the Mayor Pro Tem's previous
comments regarding this subject. Mr. Pearl will insure the water use review will include
these specific businesses along Harbor Blvd. in the north end of the City.
Mr. Pearl and Mr. Roeder explained the cooperative effort by the City's street sweeping
crews and Mesa's staff. The street sweeping crews work off hours and notify Mesa when
residents or businesses are using volumes of water that result in water in the streets.
Mr. Pearl stated he may recommend to the Mesa Board of Directors the shared use of the
CMSD ordinance enforcement officer for identifying and working with water - over - users.
Mr. Hamers and Mr. Fauth confirmed time is available in the officer's schedule and stated
the CMSD is open to this arrangement.
Mesa and the City are also agreeable to reviewing current City Planning requirements
and standards to further water conservation. Mr. Roeder may arrange for a presentation
on current City policy.
III. Westside Pumping Station Abandonment (CMSD)
Mr. Hamers described the cooperative project between the CMSD and Orange County
Sanitation District (OCSD) to abandon six CMSD sewer pumping stations, one City of
Newport Beach station, one private pumping station, and alleviate the need for a station
on the north half of the Banning Ranch when it develops, by constructing a new trunk line
from Costa Mesa to Fountain Valley along 19th Street extended and under the Santa Ana
River. The project will save significant long term energy, equipment replacement, and
maintenance costs.
IV. OCSD Efforts to Reduce Sewer Odors at Baker Street and Fairview Road
(CMSD)
Mr. Hamers and Mr. Fauth described OCSD's new hydrogen peroxide odor and corrosion
control program that includes an injection station at the CMSD's Mendoza Pumping
Station. The pilot program uses 1,000 gallons of 27% peroxide and 3,800 gallons of
water per day. Mr. Fauth reported no odors are present at the intersection of Baker and
Fairview, a location where multiple complaints were previously received.
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CITY /DISTRICTS LIAISON COMMITTEE MEETING November 14, 2008
MINUTES Page 3
V. CMSD Yard; LEED "Gold" Accreditation (CMSD)
Director Monahan gave an overview of the "green" features of the forthcoming CMSD
Yard at 174 W. Wilson Street. The CMSD is in the contractor selection process for the
construction of the first "gold" site in Costa Mesa. Mr. Fauth described the solar panel
component of the project.
VI. MWD Draft Model Water Conservation Ordinance
Mr. Roeder distributed the very restrictive draft ordinance MWD is suggesting for adoption
by cities as a method to conserve water. MWD did not realize Mesa is the water purveyor
and did not send a copy nor contact Mesa. Provisions in the draft ordinance appear to be
overly restrictive.
VII. Poseidon Project Update (City)
Mayor Pro Tern Mansoor, Mr. Roeder, President Atkinson, and Mr. Pearl discussed the
status of the project, which might result in Poseidon constructing a desalination plant in
Huntington Beach and a pipeline through Costa Mesa. Mr. Pearl described how the
• project may benefit Costa Mesa residents by providing an additional source of water while
replacing an existing Mesa water line with a new line. Because the project has changed
from its early format and there may be some benefit to the City, the Mayor Pro Tern
requested Mr. Roeder review and provide an update of previous City decisions on the
matter. Mr. Pearl currently meets with the Poseidon group to discuss the project.
VIII. Preparation /Approval of Liaison Committee Meeting Minutes (City)
The Mayor Pro Tern and Mr. Roeder suggested that because the CMSD and Mesa
publish the minutes of the Liaison Committee meetings, the minutes should first come to
the Liaison Committee for comments and corrections. The CMSD and Mesa agreed and
Ms. Revak will assist in developing the procedure with the three agencies.
IX. Sewer Laterals/Tree Roots (City)
Mr. Roeder and Mayor Pro Tern Mansoor discussed homeowner concerns when faced
with a City parkway tree causing damage to their sewer lateral. Director Monahan
reviewed the CMSD financial assistance program and Mr. Hamers added information
regarding the high incidence of CMSD assistance going towards repairs related to tree
roots. Previous to this meeting, the attorneys from the CMSD and City discussed the
legal theories involved in tree root damage.
• Mr. Roeder proposed the City offer the homeowner the choice of having the City tree
removed or accepting a one -time contribution of a $1,000 towards repair work. This
would be in addition to the CMSD's maximum contribution of $1,800. Director Monahan
and Mr. Hamers stated this will likely be well received by the property owners. Mr.
Roeder will follow through on the City side.
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CITY /DISTRICTS LIAISON COMMITTEE MEETING
MINUTES
November 14, 2008
Page 4
Mr. Hamers and Mr. Roeder also discussed the issue of on -site (private property)
jurisdiction over sewer lateral work, the lateral being defined as everything outside the
building. Mr. Hamers stated CMSD counsel Alan Burns has opined, and tried a case
establishing the precedence, that when overlapping authorities exist, the first agency
exercising its powers is the governing agency. Because the CMSD was established in
1944 and the City in 1953, the circumstances are in place for the City to leave all private
property concerns to the CMSD. Mr. Roeder was receptive to this idea and Mr. Hamers
will provide information from Mr. Burns. Mr. Roeder will advise on the City's decision on
the matter.
Cary ;Mona ''►,secretary
CGta Mesa Sari`itary District
QL,6M,1
Arlene Schafer, Pr sident
Costa Mesa Sanitary strict