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Home My WebLink About07/12/20011 1 MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SAN LUIS. OBISPO THURSDAY, JULY 12 2001 - 7:00 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBER, 990 PALM STREET SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA ROLL CALL: Council Members Present: Council Members Jan Howell Marx, Christine Mulholland, Ken Schwartz, Vice Mayor John Ewan, and Mayor Allen K. Settle City Staff: Present: Ken Hampian, City Administrative Officer; Jeff Jorgensen, City Attorney; Lee Price, City Clerk; Wendy George, Assistant City Administrative Officer; John Mandeville, Community Development Director; Bill Statler, Finance Director; Ann Slate, Human Resources Director; Jim Gardiner, Police Chief; Bob Neumann, Fire Chief; John Moss, Utilities Director; Mike McCluskey, Public Works Director; Paul LeSage, Parks and Recreation Director; Gary Henderson, Water Division Manager; Dan Gilmore, Utilities Engineer; Ron Munds, Solid Waste Coordinator CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION Pursuant to Government Code § 54957 Public Employees: Agency Representatives: City Administrative Officer City Attorney Ann Slate; the Brunners City Attorney Jorgensen announced that the closed session was held. PUBLIC COMMENT Andrew Canter, San Luis Obispo resident, summarized his memo to the Council (on file in the Office of the City Clerk) regarding MTBE in Santa Margarita Lake. ACTION: Staff directed to draft a letter for the Mayor's signature to the County Water Advisory Committee, with a copy to the County Board of Supervisors, supporting efforts to rid the County of MTSE. BUSINESS ITEMS Mayor Settle took Item #3 out of order. 1 3. INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING AMENDMENTS TO THE WATER CONSERVATION SECTION OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE. City Council Meeting Thursday, July 12, 2001 - 7:00 p.m. Page 2 Utilities Engineer Gilmore presented the staff report. , Mayor Settle opened the public hearing. Andrew Carter suggested that the City issue a request to local restaurants to not serve water to patrons unless they ask for it. Mayor Settle closed the public hearing. Brief Council discussion followed. ACTION: Moved by SchwartzlMulholland to introduce Ordinance No. 1395 amending Municipal Code Section 13.07.070 to allow the use of potable water for minor construction related activities and to clarify when landscape restrictions can be imposed; motion passed 5:0. 1. -. ANNUAL WATER RESOURCES STATUS REPORT 2001. Water Division Henderson and Utilities Director Moss presented the staff report. Public Comment: Andrew Carter spoke in favor of continuing to set aside a reliability reserve, given the history of water supply statistics noted for the central coast. —End of Public Testimony- - Council Member Mulholland wants to call for a public vote of the people to go forward with the Nacimiento project. She added that she will not support it unless the people want it. Council Member Schwartz proposed that a rainfall component be added to Figure 2 in the report, and further, that it include the percentage of water shares from Whale Rock Staff agreed. ACTION: Moved by Ewan/Marx to: 1) Receive and file report, as amended. 2) Confirm current Nacimiento Project requested allocation of 3,380 acre feet per year; motion carried 4:1 (Mulholland). 2: WATER MANAGEMENT ELEMENT POLICIES. Water Division Henderson and Utilities Director Moss presented the staff report and responded to Council questions. Public Comments: Andrew Carter shared concern about considering groundwater as a reliable reserve. He also suggested that consideration be given to an alternative method of allocating costs for new water sources and asked if it is contemplated that new development will cover those costs. John French recommended a more aggressive conservation strategy, particularly In the 1 first stages of drought In addition, he voiced similar concerns as the previous speaker about the reliability reserve and urged the Council to maintain a stable water supply. He City Council Meeting Page 3 Thursday, July 12, 2001- 7:00 p.m. also speculated that the potential for the Nacimiento project in 2002 -03 is probably not ' feasible. Scott Lathrop cautioned the Council about increasing certain development costs (like retrofitting and specialized landscaping) when it will only result in the builders passing on the costs to the buyer. He added that it will result In higher costs for housing. In addition, he also urged the Council to stay open to all options, Including State Water. John French suggested that staff design reasonable programs for the "small" builder. He also assert ed that the City is close to a water shortage and stated that not all developers believe that the City can live up to its promise to acquire additional water sources. He projected that LAFCO may not approve any more annexations until the City can make assurances that it can provide water. Dave Romero speculated that the Nacimiento project as a water source is a long way away and asserted that reclaimed water is expensive. He also said that Salinas Dam won't work politically and urged the Council to look at several sources and re- consider State Water as one of the alternatives. Andrew Carter spoke in support of continued efforts to develop and enforce conservation measures. He recommended incentives for homeowners as well as businesses. Scott Lathrop pointed out that some retrofit. devices don't work well and are quickly replaced by homeowners with higher flow devices. He suggested that the City require retrofit for major areas like hotels and set aside water for affordable housing as an incentive to builders. --end of public comments— Council questions to staff followed. Mayor Settle called a break at 8:58 a.m. The meeting resumed at 9:10 p.m. ACTION: Moved by Ewan/Schwartz to modify the policy relating to new development by establishing a "sunset" date of January 2002 for the existing retrofit/water offset program and return with options for alternative programs prior to that time; motion carried 5:0. ACTION: By mutual agreement, Council provided direction to staff as follows: 1) Make no change in the reliability reserve policy; 2) Retain the current water allocation practice; 3) Refer to the Planning Commission the water reserve "50150 split" policy for intensification and infitl4evelopment; 4) Refer to the Planning Commission staff's recommendation to modify the policy regarding reclaimed water. There being no further business to come before the City Council, M meeting at 10:52 p.m. to Tuesday, July 17,200 t 7:0 p.m.-4n the C Street, San Luis Obispo. Lee P ice, C.M.C. City Clerk Atle adjourned the Cpamber, 990 Palm City Council Meeting Thursday, July 12,2001- 7:00 p.m. APPROVED BY COUNCIL: 08/21/2001 LP:mk Page 4 1 H