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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - April 19, 2005 SSCITY OF LODI INFORMAL INFORMATIONAL MEETING "SHIRTSLEEVE" SESSION CARNEGIE FORUM, 305 WEST PINE STREET TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2005 An Informal Informational Meeting ("Shirtsleeve" Session) of the Lodi City Council was held Tuesday, April 19, 2005, commencing at 7:01 a.m. A. ROLL CALL Present: Council Members — Hansen, Hitchcock, Johnson, and Mayor Beckman Absent: Council Members — Mounce Also Present: City Manager King, City Attorney Schwabauer, and City Clerk Blackston B. TOPIC(S) B-1 "Woodbridge Irrigation District Water Supply Update" Public Works Director Prima reported that groundwater is still being overused in the county. There is salinity intrusion from the Delta on the west side of the valley along the Interstate -5 corridor. Charlie Swimley, Senior Civil Engineer, explained that the purpose of the discussion this morning was to explore options for implementing the 6,000 acre feet of Woodbridge Irrigation District (WID) water supply. Lodi's current annual water usage is 16,600 acre feet. According to the Urban Water Management Plan, Lodi has established an estimated safe yield in the aquifer of 12,000 acre feet. Approximately 4,600 acre feet is needed to keep up with current demand if the City is to remain on groundwater. The proposed Westside annexation and new development will require 1,400 acre feet of water. Lodi's water availability assessments have shown that it needs to implement the full 6,000 acre feet supply in order to have adequate water to serve the developments. Entitlement conditions will need to be established on the new annexations and associated developments. Infrastructure requirements will need to be determined as well as the costs that will be borne by the developer. In September 2004, "Schlumberger" prepared an Options Supply Report, which included a surface water treatment plant and groundwater recharge using percolation basins. At the April 20, 2005 City Council meeting, staff will recommend that Council approve a task order with West Yost & Associates for a study to develop a recommendation for full implementation of the WID surface water supply. The firm will also develop a plan to implement the raw water on an interim basis so the water supply can be used as quickly as possible to irrigate parks and open space. Mr. Swimley explained that groundwater recharge is a benefit that occurs over time. Once the water goes into the ground it is hard to determine what direction it will flow, although, it likely would be southerly. Chlorination would not be needed for the groundwater recharge option. The water that is currently being pumped up and used today went into the ground 20 to 70 years ago. In order to recharge 6,000 acre feet of water per year the City would have to purchase 57 acres of basin area. The locations of the basins need to be 500 feet from an extraction well. The "treat and drink" alternative offers a tangible solution for the purchased water. The WID surface water supply is available seven and a half months out of the year, so the treatment plant could have to be shut down periodically. The treatment plant would be sized to handle 9.5 million gallons a day. The location of the plant would be on the Westside of the City and take up 2.5 acres. This option would require chlorine residual throughout the entire City. As an interim basis, the possibility of irrigating parks and schools with 1,000 acre feet of the raw WID water supply will be considered. This could be done with pumps and outlets along the WID canal that runs north and south. New developments proposed for the Westside annexation areas will be required to have "purple pipes" (for recycled water). In approximately 45 days, the preferred alternative for use of the WID water will be known, i.e. groundwater recharge or surface water treatment. Continued April 19, 2005 Mayor Pro Tempore Hitchcock asked how the City continues to develop land when there is an insufficient water supply, to which City Manager King indicated the question would be addressed at a later time. Council Member Hansen emphasized that he wants a direct local benefit for the WID water supply. He was not in favor of changing the quality of Lodi's drinking water by chlorination. He asked how long Lodi will have water and how critical the water recharge issue is. In answer to Council Member Johnson, Mr. Swimley explained that it would not be possible to irrigate only a portion of the City with recycled water unless WID water was isolated and two separate systems were operated. He reiterated that the entire system served by the surface water would have to be chlorinated. Public Works Director Prima recalled that many years ago consideration was given to converting storm drain basins in parks to recharge basins; however, it was found not to be feasible. He explained that the local benefit to groundwater recharge would come from putting the water in a location where it raised the groundwater elevation in the Lodi area so less pumping would be necessary. He acknowledged that the most direct local benefit would be to build a treatment plant and use the WID water supply for drinking. Council Member Johnson recalled that selling the WID water was considered an option previously. Mr. Prima reported that discussions have taken place with East Bay Municipal Utilities District and the city of Stockton; however, it did not come to fruition. There has been a lot of rain this winter, so the desire to consider a short-term deal was not present. He acknowledged that it is costing $1.2 million a year for the WID water. Staff will be asking WID for an extension on the three-year term. He explained that there is a clause in the agreement that, for the first three years of the deal, Lodi banks the water on paper and receives it in a future year. Mayor Pro Tempore Hitchcock stated that it appears the Council is suddenly being rushed to make a decision, for the sake of development, that will have a huge impact on the entire City. She asked for a comprehensive list of advantages and disadvantages of groundwater recharge and surface water treatment so the benefits to the entire City can be ascertained and considered. In addition, she asked to know who would be responsible for payment and that Council be allowed an opportunity to speak with and receive feedback from members of the community on this issue. Council Member Hansen stated that, with a cost of $1.2 million a year, he wanted to begin seeing a benefit and was not interested in banking the water for six years. Mayor Beckman expressed agreement with Mr. Hansen's statement. Mr. Prima pointed out that it would take three years to build a treatment plant. PUBLIC COMMENTS: oo Myrna Wetzel voiced concern regarding chlorinating Lodi's water. She recalled that during cross country travel decades ago the water quality was good everywhere she traveled; however, more recently she found just the opposite to be true. Mayor Beckman stated that he was very much opposed to water chlorination. Mr. Beckman commented that he serves on the Northeastern San Joaquin County Groundwater Banking Authority, which meets at the same time as the San Joaquin Council of Governments Habitat Conservation Plan Task Force that he now participants on. He asked whether any other Council Members were interested in taking his position on the Groundwater Banking Authority; otherwise, he noted that Public Works Director Prima serves as the alternate member. 2 Continued April 19, 2005 C. COMMENTS BY THE PUBLIC ON NON -AGENDA ITEMS None. D. ADJOURNMENT No action was taken by the City Council. The meeting was adjourned at 7:55 a.m. ATTEST: Susan J. Blackston City Clerk