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HomeMy WebLinkAboutcc min 1989/11/13 ADJOURNED JOINT MEETING OF THE CHULA VISTA CITY COUNCIL AND SWEETWATER AUTHORITY Monday, November 13, 1989 Council Conference Room 7:00 p.m. Administration Building 1. CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Cox and Chairman Wright called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL: Councilmembers Malcolm (arrived at 7:02 p.m.), McCandliss (arrived at 8:20 p.m.), Moore, Nader, and Mayor Cox. Boardmembers: Jarrett, Pocklington, Smith, Steele, Waters, Welsch, and Chairman Wright. 3. DISCUSSION OF GROWTH MANGEMENT ISSUES - On August 22, 1989, the City/~ Council received the first Annual Report from the Growth Management Oversight Committee. As a result of the report, the City Council adopted Resolutions of Concern regarding water and schools and directed staff to set up meetings with each Agency to discuss those concerns. Mayor Cox introduced the purpose of the meeting. He stated that although the city did not have problems with Sweetwater Authority, it was hoped that by meeting together we could stay ahead of potential problems. George Krempl, Deputy City Manager, presented a growth management overview. He stated the Council had passed a threshold/standards ordinance in 1987. Afterwards an Oversight Committee was formed with involvement from various sections of the city: with a representative from the business community, a developer representative, an educational representative, a representative of the four planning areas (Central, Montgomery, Sweetwater/Bonita, and Eastern), and a representative of the Planning Commission. The Committee was formed in the summer of 1 988. They went through an educational process which took about 6-8 months since there were a lot of issues to get up to speed on. The threshhold standards included a goal, objectives, and some thresholds or standards which included water availability, amount of current capacity including storage, and availability of funding. The Oversight Committee decided a twelve-fifteen months forecast was short sighted. This coming year they will be developing a three and five year forecast. No concerns were expressed in terms of the Sweetwater Authority, but there were concerns with the Otay Water District. However, Council realized the Sweetwater Authority was a part of the solution. In addition to threshold standards, this past July the City adopted a new General Plan update. As part of that General Plan, there is a growth management element which will be released later this week for public review and will be considered at a Council workshop on November 30th. Mr. Goss introduced Bob Leiter, Director of Planning who went over where we were headed. He stated the City Council in July adopted a revised work plan for the General Plan. The program included: MINUTES -2- November 13, 1989 1. Adoption of the General Plan which included land use and circulation; and 2. Draft a growth management element of the General Plan. Council was within three to five years? Councilman Malcolm stated this was probably as good a guess as any. Mr. Goss stated the start would be in about three to five years. Council was asked if the City was getting any pressure from developers because they could not develop as fast as they wanted? Mr. Krempl commented that the impact will be felt depending on how long it is in effect. As the program continues, the impact will be greater. Most of the development, however, was in the Otay Water District area. Mr. Garry Butterfield, Manager of Sweetwater Authority, stated that one issue discussed with the developers of Rancho San Miguel was regarding water. That development also involves the Otay District. He stated that summer is the only time there is difficulty in providing service. Clearly the way the system is working, all of Sweetwater Authority customers summer time needs through 1993 will be met. Water will be stored in January, February, March, and April; none of their water comes off the aquaduct in the summer. In early 1991, the new pipeline and pump station will be completed. There is also a storage plan to store in Chino Basin and in the Kern County basin. Sweetwater Authority is just completing the second revision to its 1990 Master Plan. (Like our General Plan). Chairman Wright stated that it had been a long time since the City Council had an update on Sweetwater Authority activi ties. They have had very few complaints on the operations. All bond payments have been made on time. They will be going for a new bond issue. Because pipes on west side of the City are 45-60 years old, they need to be replaced. They have a new office building. Operations center is in good shape. The have been wondering what the plans of the City were regarding the Bayfront. They are on a ten year time line. The Authority is 65-70 percent built out. They have some ongoing problems in Tijuana regarding the American Canal; want to line the Canal. Tijuana is complaining that they will not have water for crops. Its the State and National problems which concerns him. They get 60 percent of the water from Colorado River. They are assured they will have water through 1991. Most of the reservoirs are below half full. Reclaimed water will take 8-10 percent of 20-10 and will not solve the problem. What is required is for everyone to adopt a new water ethic. They are making a study where new storage sites should be. Next project will be $9-12 million. All reservoirs will be impacted by urbanized growth. Hoped the city council will help with conservation program. Councilman Moore asked i f Sweetwater could give the City a time line for capacity from I-5 to the Bayfront. How long will it take and expanding the how much will it cost? Member Pocklington responded that the developer will pay for it. MINUTES -3- November 13, 1989 Councilman Moore asked if this could be figured out; what the City needs to know is how long will it take. If we can have that information, then we could work with the developer better. Chairman Wright stated they would be willing to give any information to the City, but they had never been asked before. This could work both ways; Chula Vista was successful in obtaining $135,000 grant to study reclaimed water. He felt it would have been a courtesy to notify the Authority of this. Chairman Wright felt reclaimed water should not be used on golf courses. Reclaimed water under AB 466 is being used by Caltrans on the freeways, but he did not approve of using it on golf courses. He further explained what the Authority was doing toward the development of a diversion system to divert contaminated water (first storm) around the reservoir. Councilman Malcolm stated that all new developments will be required to lay double pipes. Member Pocklington stated that AB 1767 gave more authority for recreation use than it did for drinking water. This is an area where the City Coucil could give them some help in dealing with the legislatures. Mayor Cox asked if they felt that our building standards paid enough attention to water saving devices. Mr. Butterfield stated that the City's conditions have been amended and are pretty reasonable in the building conditions and planning documents. Chairman Wright stated that San Diego is going to start into a program to retrofit 40,000 dwelling units. (Councilmember McCandlisss arrived at 8:20 p.m.) Mayor Cox complimented Sweetwater Athority in their prompt service when called. He then asked what the progress was on E Street. Mr. Butterfield responded they were replacing a pipeline because the old one kept breaking. Chairman Wright stated that we needed to look at water conservation. One area is when automatic sprinklers go off creating an over spray. Perhaps something similar to what Irvine is doing could be considered. They have a rolling patrol that is paid for by developers who go about the city looking for these problems. Councilman Moore stated there were three things which he saw we could do as a result of this meeting: 1. The City could obtain a diagram showing location of pipes; 2. Receive location of potential pipelines to the Bayfront; and 3. City help the Authority by working with the legislature. Chairman Wright suggested the reading of the following books: MINUTES -4- November 13, 1989 Cadillac Desert by Mark Reason Killing the Hidden Waters by Charles Bodwen Is You Water Safe by Consumer Reports Councilman Nader asked what could they do to assit in new developments? Chairman Wright responded he felt they were on track regarding the dual pipe system Councilman Nader felt that at the EIR stage, the Water Authority should be included. We should be asking the input of the Water District. Mr. Krempl stated the EIRs are distributed to the Water Authority. Mr. Butterfield responded that they do see submittals, but responses are sent back to staff. Mr. Butterfield stated that there was one problem when the City changes the usage in an area even if the zoning remains the same, it makes an impact on them. Their plans are based on our General Plan, not the zoning. Councilwoman McCandliss felt this had been referred to the staff during the General Plan hearings. Councilman Nader hoped there would be a process in place that every development with an impact on water would be routed through the Water Authority. Mayor Cox suggested that joint meetings with the Authority be done at least annually. 4. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further items for discussion, the meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Beverly A. Authelet City Clerk