Water Committee Meeting - November 20, 2018
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Water Committee Meeting - November 20, 2018
The Water Committee of the City of Sacramento met on Tuesday, November 20, 2018, at 3:00 PM in City Hall Council Chamber. Chair Jeff Harris (District 3) and Vice-Chair Eric Guerra (District 6) were present; Angelique Ashby (District 1) was absent. The committee approved the consent calendar, received informational presentations on water supply management, General Plan goals for the Department of Utilities, and water rights regulatory processes. A new water quality data portal was announced for mid-December launch. Public comments were heard on multiple items.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the Water Committee Meeting Minutes from August 21, 2018 (File ID: 2018-01220). Motion by Member Guerra, second by Member Harris, approved 2-0 (Ashby absent).
- Public comment: Mac Worthy criticized water meter policies, claiming the city is not transparent and that meter replacement does not save water; he advocated for manual meter reading to create jobs.
Discussion Items
Item 2: Water Supply Overview and Conjunctive Management (Oral Report)
- Michelle Carey (Supervising Engineer, DOU) presented an overview of the city's potable water system, emphasizing conjunctive use of surface water and groundwater. The city uses approximately 110,000 acre-feet per year, with groundwater historically supplying about 15% (20,000-25,000 acre-feet). The 2017 Groundwater Master Plan calls for $9 million per year over 17 years to replace aging wells and expand capacity. Future flexible operations could produce 9,000 acre-feet in wet years and up to 60,000 acre-feet in dry years. Passive in-lieu recharge is the primary strategy; active Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) is being studied regionally but is expensive and geologically challenging.
- Committee questions: Councilmember Guerra asked about plume migration affecting wells; staff agreed to provide a map. He also inquired about bioswales for recharge; staff noted clay soils limit infiltration. Chair Harris noted the need for updated development impact fees to fund infrastructure.
Item 3: General Plan Goals and Policies for the Department of Utilities
- Jim Peifer (Principal Engineer) presented seven utility goals, focusing on water, wastewater, and stormwater. Potential policy revisions were discussed, including alignment with state law (Urban Water Management Plan updates), adding social justice and environmental equity considerations, and a new policy for wastewater infrastructure rehabilitation. The committee is to provide feedback; a follow-up is scheduled for February 2019.
- Committee comments: Councilmember Guerra emphasized equitable access to rebate programs (e.g., lawn replacement) and Spanish-language outreach. Chair Harris called for a customer satisfaction policy with metrics.
Item 4: Water Rights and Water Supply Regulatory Processes
- Jim Peifer and Michael Voss (Senior Deputy City Attorney) updated on two proceedings: (1) The Delta Tunnels (WaterFix) – the State Water Resources Control Board’s change petition process is largely finished; a final order is pending. The city was a protestant. Litigation (CEQA, CESA, bond validation) is consolidated in Sacramento Superior Court with ~50 plaintiffs; merits briefing on the CEQA case expected spring/summer 2019. (2) Water Quality Control Plan (Bay-Delta) – The state board is considering a plan to mimic natural hydrograph flows. An alternative voluntary settlement agreement (VSA) approach is being pursued. The Sacramento River proceeding may be considered on December 11, 2018. The city is participating in negotiations and advocating for a Modified Flow Management Standard (MFMS) to protect Folsom Reservoir and lower American River fisheries.
- Committee questions: Councilmember Guerra requested a future update on the Sites Reservoir Project, noting he sits on the JPA.
Water Quality Data Portal Update
- Bill Busath (Director, DOU) presented a new water quality data portal beta site, expected to go live mid-December. It will provide real-time water quality data, explanations of test results and terminology, and information during water quality incidents. The portal aims to improve transparency and reduce misinformation. Councilmember Guerra suggested a catchy URL and praised the initiative. Chair Harris noted Sacramento’s water quality is consistently among the best in the country.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Mac Worthy spoke on multiple occasions, expressing concerns about: (1) Consent Calendar – water meter policies and transparency; (2) General Plan – lack of public inclusion and work order transparency; (3) Water Rights – need for desalination study and education; and (4) General Public Comment – water quality issues, drainage problems, and the need for security in water supply. He criticized the city for prioritizing revenue over public education.
Key Outcomes
- Approved consent calendar (minutes).
- Received and filed all three oral reports (Items 2-4).
- Staff to provide a map of well plume migration to Councilmember Guerra.
- Staff to return in February 2019 with refined General Plan goals and policies based on committee input.
- Commitment to update future Water Committee meetings on Delta Tunnels litigation outcome, Sites Reservoir, and Water Quality Control Plan developments.
- Water Quality Data Portal to launch mid-December 2018; staff to consider a simpler URL.
- Councilmember Guerra asked staff to investigate state grant opportunities (e.g., Prop 68) following the failure of Prop 3.
- Meeting adjourned at 3:59 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon. I just wanted to say we're waiting on Councilmember Gera. We just reached him. He should be here in a couple of minutes. We'll get started. Eventually they just tell you to bring the line. So I have to bring the flow. Ready to flow. Good afternoon. Welcome to the November twentieth meeting of the Water Committee here in the City of Sacramento. Uh Madam Clerk, can you please call roll? Councilmember Guiara? Here. And Chair Harris. Present. So we have a quorum. Will you all join us in the Pledge of Allegiance? Salute. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. So we will start with the consent calendar, which is approval of the committee meeting mean minutes from our last meeting. And I would entertain the motion. And a second, all those in favor? Aye. Aye. We do have one speaker on consent. Correct. And that would be Macworthy, no doubt. Should be better educated to the people of Sacramento. People in Sacramento does not know what's going on with the water meter. Then the city put bought bonds with it instead of going manually. It's the way it was explained by somebody from Sack State, the number of jobs would be produced by. But we we find out that a house, a lot got two houses on it, have one water meter. One house to meter, and the other house don't. How do you do it? You cannot determine which house used the most money. Why would you put a meeting in and still use the old fashioned room of the house? What I was talking about. Why do you keep people in the dark on the water meters? The water meters measure water. Which price it? You don't save water. When that black box fail, do it block water? No. How many million gallons that you lose when that black box is not functioning? I come back to where you punch it, and that's how you measure it. Why could you have people walk and reach the meter, which would give them minimum jobs? But no, you pick big time jobs, but you're gonna still pull people paying the bill. Wake up Sacramento. You are going backwards to infrastructure. Where is the work order?
openpublica.com