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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Packet 1993/01/21 . COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO REGULAR MEETING OF BOARD OF SUPERVISORS THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 1993 MINUTE ORDER NO. 1 SUBJECT: Joint workshop with city of Chula vista concerning otay Ranch Project PRESENT: County of San Diego: Supervisors Bilbray, Jacob, Slater, and MacDonald; Supervisor williams being absent. city of Chula vista: councilmembers Rindone, Horton, and Moore; Mayor Tim Nader and councilmember Bob Fox being absent. SPEAKERS: None. DISCUSSION SUMMARY: Anthony Lettieri reported that this meeting is the last in a series of workshops held by the Planning commission and Board of Supervisors/Chula vista City Council,. the purpose of which has been to identify issues and raise qUestions preparatory to hearings which will follow the Planning commission's recommendations on the project. He stated that the purpose of today's workshop is to address all issues concerning water supply to otay Ranch. Dexter Wilson, of Wilson Engineering, distinguished the three parcels of land which comprise the Otay Ranch: 1) the Western Parcel, which is totally contained within the boundaries of the otay Water District, the San Diego County Water Authority and the Metropolitan Water District; 2) the Northern Parcel, which is partially contained within the three agencies; and 3) the Southern Parcel, which lies outside of the three agencies. He explained that areas within the otay Water District require annexation to the Water Authority and the Metropolitan Water District. He reported that the Metropolitan Water District embodies five percent of statewide water use. No. 1 (Otay Ranch Project) 1/21/93 MDB Page 1 of 4 pages . various programs and s~rategies designed to augment water supply by the Metropolitan Water District were examined by its Area superintendent, George Buchanan. He spoke of: + a transfer system in the Delta area to allow full capacity to be transferred into the state system; + the purchase of water from farmers in the Central Valley area; + conservation, which the Metropolitan Water District encourages even in periods of excess water; + reclamation projects, which the Metropolitan Water District will help finance within its service area if the agency can demonstrate that their project will indeed reduce imported water demands; + development of ground water basins to maximize ground water basin usage; and + a desalination process and a planned desalination plant, projects on which the Metropolitan Water District is moving forward despite significant environmental issues. He reported that the Metropolitan Water District desalination process is expected to cost half that of reverse osmesis; and that fewer but larger plants are being considered to ease siting and environmental problems. He stated that the District is also developing a large new reservoir in the Hemet area which will double the surface capacity of reservoirs in Southern California, and handle drought and emergency demands in case of an earthquake. councilman Rindone noted that the Metropolitan Water District services a population of 15'.'5 million, serving over 60 percent of California with a little under five percent of total available water. Gordon Hess, of the San Diego County Water Authority, stated that the county Water Authority takes 28 to 30 percent of the supplies delivered by the Metropolitan Water District, and receives 90 percent of the water used in San Diego County through the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. He reported that water use in San Diego County breaks down as follows: 20 , percent goes to agriculture; 50 percent to residential use; and 30 percent goes to industrial and municipal use. He projected that meeting future water demands and increasing reliability of the present system require the following: + a complete state water project for the transfer of water through the Delta; + reclamation, in the hope of developing 50,000 acre feet of reclaimed water by 2010; , + an aggressive conservation program, which would include such items as use of low flush toilets; + development of additional local groundwater supplies; + development of a seawater desalination plant; and + systems for transfers and exchanges. Mr. Hess added that under its capital Improvements Program, the County Water Authority will be building a new pipeline from Lake Skinner to the lower otay reservoir; and additional emergency storage is being developed for relief 'in drought years or should No. 1 (otay Ranch Project) 1/21/93 MDB Page 2 of 4 pages . there be a natural disaster. He noted that by the year 2000, the average monthly water bill will rise from $20 to $30 due to the costs of essential capital improvements. otay Water District General Manager, Keith Lewinger, summarized the role of the otay Water District. He stated that the otay Water District has been identified in the Environmental Impact Report as the preferred provider to the otay Ranch, and is trying to develop an emergency storage program adequate to sustain a ten-day outage of the County Water Authority system. He outlined the measures being taken by the otay Water District to ensure that the water gets stretched as far as possible. These include: + demanding installation of dual distribution systems in all new development in the otay Water District; + working to expedite the otay River treatment plant; + using a landscape irrigation program wherein landscapers are allocated a supply of water, and penalized if their use exceeds the allocation; and + looking at groundwater development possibilities in the otay River Valley, with an intent to use minimally treated water as an irrigation supply. He explained that new development is required to pay for facilities needed to supply water to the otay Ranch, whereas existing customers are not required to do so. councilman Rindone questioned the statewide apportionment of water, and requested a memo clarifying what portion goes to residential use, and what portion goes to municipal and industrial use. Supervisor Jacob questioned each agency regarding sufficiency of water supply to existing residents. Mr. Buchanan stated that, while not encouraging annexation, the Metropolitan Water District, through a variety of systems already in place and those planned for incorporation, can reliably service its area. He added that Metropolitan is encouraging agriculture to reduce its consumption, and is working with agriculture and government agencies to balance both residential and agricultural needs. Answering for the otay Water District, Mr. Lewinger stated that their job is to do their best to ensure that projected demands are met, but cautioned that they are almost totally reliant on others for their water supply. He guaranteed the existence of facilities to provide adequate fire protection. He stated that should something happen to the water supply system in the Metropolitan Water District or the county Water Authority, the otay Water District would resume control of the number of new meters allowed to connect to their system in order to ensure that demand does not outstrip supply. supervisor Bilbray expressed the hope that such an action would be in coordination with land use decisions, to ensure that meters go where there is the most socio-economic benefit and least environmental impact. No. 1 (otay Ranch project) 1/21/93 MDB Page 3 of 4 pages ~ Mr. Hess reported that the stated goal of the San Diego county Water Authority is to prevent shortages in excess of 12 percent in any critically dry year. He stated that legislation is beginning to require conservation on the part of agriculture, and capital facilities are going into place to expedite delivery. He added that additional storage facilities will be in place in about the year 2000. Mr. Lettieri presented a brief status report on the Joint Planning Workshops. He stated that the Planning commission completed its workshops on December 9, 1992, followed by second phase hearings. On January 15, 1993, they were presented all of the materials on this Project, and now have everything needed to reach a decision. He reported that hearings are scheduled for the 27th and the 29th of January, with a focus on public input. From then on, he added, the Project has been broken down into three major areas: environmental resources; land use (transit and circulation); and capital facilities (fiscal aspect). Hearings are expected to be completed in the month of February. supervisor Bilbray stated that the issues of traffic, air quality, and socio-economic impacts on the surrounding community are the major barriers to getting the otay Ranch Project approved. He cautioned that the reality of the final phaseout must be considered; and an attempt must be made to balance fairness, equal access, and quality of life while staying within existing California law. . state of california) County of San Diego) ss I hereby certify that the foregoing is a full, true and correct copy of the original entered in the Minutes of the Board of supervisors. ARLINE HULTSCH Assistant Clerk of the Board of supervisors By ~ /Jd~ Mary . Ballard, Deputy No. 1 (otay Ranch Project) 1/21/93 MDB page 4 of ~ pages NOTICE OF A SPECIAL JOINT MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA AND THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the city council of the City of Chula vista will meet on January 21, 1993 at the County Board Chambers, 1600 Pacific Highway, San Diego, CA, from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.. SAID PURPOSE OF THE MEETING is for a workshop on water availability issues for the otay Ranch project. DATED: January 8, 1993 Beverly A. 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