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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014/08/14 - Minutes - Special Joint (CC, CVWD) August 14, 2014 CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA JOINT CITY COUNCIL MEETING WITH THE CUCAMONGA VALLEY WATER DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS SPECIAL MEETING A. CALL TO ORDER I A special meeting of the Rancho Cucamonga City Council and the Cucamonga Valley Water District Board of Directors was held on Thursday, August 14, 2014, in the Board Room at the Cucamonga Valley Water District office, located at 10440 Ashford Street, Rancho Cucamonga, California. President Oscar Gonzalez and Mayor L. Dennis Michael called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. Present were Council Members: Bill Alexander, Marc Steinorth, Diane Williams, Mayor Pro Tem Sam Spagnolo and Mayor L. Dennis Michael. CVWD Board Members present: Luis Cetina, Randall James Reed, and President Oscar Gonzalez. Kathleen J. Tiegs and Vice President James V. Curatalo, Jr. were absent. Also present were: John Gillison, City Manager; Linda Daniels, Assistant City Manager; Mike Costello, Deputy Chief, Rancho Fire Department; Tony Onodera, Captain, Rancho Police Department; Fabian Villenas, Principal Management Analyst; Candyce Burnett, Planning Manager; and Debra L. McNay, Assistant City Clerk/Records Manager. I B. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS I No communication was made from the public. C. ITEMS OF DISCUSSION I Cl. CITY ANNEXATION GOALS AND POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT (CITY) Candyce Burnett, Planning Manager, reported on the City of Rancho Cucamonga's annexation goals and potential development opportunities. She highlighted details from the 2010 General Plan and shared maps identifying additional parcels for future use along the Foothill Corridor, as well as a proposed annexation area in the northeastern sphere of the City, totaling 4,100 acres. Council Member Spagnolo inquired, and Ms. Burnett responded that the parcels identified along the Foothill Corridor were vacant parcels currently underutilized, and totaling approximately 2,000 dwelling units. Council Member Steinorth asked about the proposed annexation area and who it belonged to. Ms. Burnett and City Manager Gillison informed that the area was currently under the jurisdiction of the Flood Control District and that the County of San Bernardino was planning to declare it surplus with the information gathered in the City's annexation study. Council Member Alexander inquired, and City Manager Gillison indicated that he had directed staff to conduct the annexation study and would present the results to the City Council upon completion. Mayor Michael stated that the City would partner with the Cucamonga Valley Water District (CVWD) as development progressed. C2. 2014 DROUGHT AND COMPLIANCE WITH STATE BOARD EMERGENCY REGULATIONS (CVWD) August 14, 2014 I Joint City Council Meeting with the Cucamonga Valley Water District(CVWD) Board of Directors I City of Rancho Cucamonga I Page 1 of 3 • a. WATER SUPPLY UPDATE AND COMPLIANCE John Bosler, CVWD Chief Operating Officer reported on the State drought condition. He noted that the main concern for the District was the overall effect on water supply. He indicated that the District conducts extensive forecasting and planning in the Water Supply Master Plan. He informed that the State Water Resources Control Board had recently enacted restrictions allowing them to fine agencies without a water shortage plan in place, and mandating those with plans to enforce them. He stated that the District has a Water Supply Shortage Contingency Plan in place and on August 26, 2014, staff would be recommending the Board approve moving to Stage 2 of the Plan. Mayor Michael inquired and Mr. Bosler replied that the District would look at the collective usage and conservation of District customers as a whole when reporting to the State, not at one level of each individual customer. Council Member Steinorth inquired and Mr. Bosler responded that the population and development forecasts shared by City Planning Staff could possibly help to lower usage numbers in the future, since new development would be more efficient, especially in the high density areas. Martin Zvirbulis, CVWD General Manager/CEO, explained that Metropolitan Water District was reaching out to retail agencies to target commercial customers who were large water users to identify areas where they can use water more efficiently. Since the District purchases water from a member agency, he stated that funding was available to commercial customers to help facilitate retrofits and other processes to become more water efficient. Council Member Williams asked and Mr. Bosler advised that the basins in the region were adjudicated and the proposed legislation on groundwater would not affect the local basins. b. DISTRICT OUTREACH AND CUSTOMER COMMUNICATIONS Jo Lynne Russo-Pereyra, CVWD Assistant General Manager, continued the presentation on District drought messaging and communication. She explained that the District references its foundational principles when strategizing how to convey messages to customers to ensure consistency and effectiveness of the message. Current efforts include a Conservation Hotline, rebate and educational programs, on-line reporting for water waste, a "Water Watch Program," billing inserts, customer newsletters, website, social media and RCTV Channel 3 updates with conservation tips. She added that upon adoption of Stage 2, additional outreach efforts would be made, including conservation clinics, contact with large water users, irrigation assistance to homeowners, community presentations, recognition of good water stewards, as well as water saving tool kits for customers. In response to an inquiry from Council Member Alexander, Ms. Russo-Pereyra explained that Proposition 218 prevents the District from offering discounted or special rates to customers on a fixed income, as it dictates that all customers in the same class must be billed at the same rate. It was noted that the District was currently in discussion with legal counsel to find a solution to this matter with the potential use of a life line fund. C3. WATER AND SEWER RATE UPDATE (CVWD) Carrie Corder, CVWD Chief Financial Officer provided a presentation on the District's water, sewer and recycled water rates, highlighting the District's commitment to cost effective rates for customers. She noted that CVWD water rates were consistently below average, in some cases the lowest, for water, sewer and recycled water. She reported that current water rates were due for renewal in 2015 and that the District's cost of service study was currently being prepared. Should adjustments be required, she indicated that the District would begin informing customers prior to adoption by the Board in early 2015. She mentioned that the sewer and recycled water rates had been approved through 2018, therefore a cost of service study was not necessary until 2017. C4. CUCAMONGA CANYON UPDATE (CITY AND CVWD) August 14, 2014 I Joint City Council Meeting with the Cucamonga Valley Water District (CVWD) Board of Directors I City of Rancho Cucamonga I Page 2 of 3 a. CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP—ARROWHEAD Eric Grubb, CVWD Principal Management Analyst reported on the Cucamonga Canyon and a partnership with Nestle Waters North America. He noted that CVWD has a long standing relationship with Nestle Waters North America, which affords the District grant funding for educational and environmental programs. Recently added to the grant funding is a Watershed Cleanup Program to be used for the Cucamonga Canyon. He informed that Nestle Waters North America and the District would present a check to the Cucamonga Foothills Preservation Alliance (CFPA) on August 26, 2014 at their board meeting for assistance with the implementation of the Cucamonga Canyon Project. He stated that the District would continue to partner with Nestle Waters North America and encourage them to offer additional resources for continued efforts in the Canyon. b. STATUS OF CITY EFFORTS IN CUCAMONGA CANYON Tony Onodera, Rancho Police Captain, reported on the status of the Cucamonga Canyon. He advised that the Rancho Cucamonga Police Department had experienced a significant decrease in the impact that Cucamonga Canyon visitors had on law enforcement resources due to the efforts by the City to limit access to the Canyon, and the CPFA's efforts to educate visitors about the Canyon. He stated that the most significant decrease could be seen in the number of search and rescues. He reported that in 2013 there had been 15 rescues at a cost of $42,500, and this year there had been no search and rescues due to the results of the City's and CFPA's efforts. Mike Costello, Rancho Fire Department Deputy Chief highlighted the Fire Department and US Forest Service's efforts to control the access points of the Canyon to reduce the risk of fire hazards and safety risks to visitors, as well as personnel. He indicated that the Fire Department and CFPA would continue to work together with the rest of the coalition of agencies to keep the Canyon safe and maintained. Fabian Villenas, Rancho Cucamonga Principal Management Analyst reported on the efforts being made in the Canyon area on the legislative front, noting that in 2013, the National Park Service had released a study recommending a National Recreation Area designation along the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, stopping about two miles from the Canyon. Staff requested that the Cucamonga Canyon be included along with protection of water and property rights in the surrounding area. He advised that Congress Woman Chu was carrying the bill and had released the legislation with Cucamonga Canyon and the water and property rights included in the proposed area in June 2014. He stated that the bill had been assigned a number HR 4858 and had also been assigned to the subcommittee for Public Land and Environmental Regulation. Congress Woman Chu had requested the bill be heard in that subcommittee, but it was yet to be heard. He advised that bill would be dropped until the next session if there was no movement by the end of the congressional session. He stated the possibility of HR4858 moving forward was slim, but the City would continue to advocate and push for it in the meantime. I E. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 5:11 p.m. Respectfully submitted, •/ Debra L. McNay, MMC Assistant City Clerk/Records Manager Approved: Wednesday, February 18, 2015 August 14, 2014 I Joint City Council Meeting with the Cucamonga Valley Water District (CVWD) Board of Directors I City of Rancho Cucamonga I Page 3 of 3