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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-15-1994 Joint Study Session CC/LEUSDMINOTES JOINT STUDY SESSION CITY COIINCIL OF THE CITY OF LARE ELSINORE AND T$E BOARD OF THE ELSINORE VALLEY MONSCIPAL FATER DISTRICT CITY OF LARE ELSINORE 130 SOIITH MAIN STREET LARE ELSINOREe CALIFORNIA TIIESDAY~ MARCH 15~ 1994 *s,**se*****+t*****************tt*fe****tttt************r******r******* CALL TO ORDER The Joint Study Session was called to order by Mayor Washburn at 5:01 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was led by EVMWD Boardmember Jeffries ROLL CALL PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: ALONG2, CHERVENY~ DOMINGUEZ~ WASHBURN ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: WINKLER PRESENT: BOARDMEMBERS: ATTRIDGE, BRYANT, JEFFRIES, SI-IAFFER, TOMAN ABSENT: BOARDMEMBERS: NONE Also present were: City Manager Molendyk, General Manager Laughlin, Assistant General Manager Hoagland, Clerk of the Board Matson and City Clerk Kasad. 1. Lake Water Oualit~ Mayor Washburn noted that this meeting had been called regarding Lake water quality and the problems that were experienced last year.and are beginning aqain this year. He commented that the issues are inflow water quality; existing water quality; and the watershed source and its quality. Boardmember Attridge commented that the wind has not blown across the Lake for the last three years and on Saturday the wind did blow and on Sunday the Lake was considerably clearer. He stated that if the wind blows it sweeps the lake clear. He explained that he had talked to Black and Veatch and felt that the alum treatment would be the only reasonable solution to iche problems that are being experienced by the Lake. He stated that the one problem he addressed with Black and Veatch was the cost of the treatment and the fact that it was only good for one year. Mr. Attridge stated that he since found out is that it may not cost as mucfi as first anticipated and that the alum treatment could last as long as four years and ~hat the treatment occurred was ~hrough an aeration device. He suggested that an area of the Lake be picked as a test area and see how effective it would be for this Lake. Mr. Attridge stated that he felt that the cost should be augmented, along with user fees, through an Assessment District; and the persons who live closest to the Lake should pay more than the persons further from the Lake. PAGE TWO - JOINT STUDY SESSION - MARCH 15s 1994 Councilman Dominguez asked Boardmember Attridge how soon he would suggest the treatment be done. Mr. Attridge stated that it should be done as soon as possible. He explained that the cost would need to be evaYuated and a test run prior to reaching an agreement, and this should be done as soon as possible. Boardmember Shafer explained that she had brough~ a summery of the viable alternatives and detailed the type of treatments, positive and negative impacts and the related costs. She explained the alum treatment and stated that the problems are complex and the major problem is phospfiorus which enters the Lake through storm flows and the entire 800 square mile drainage basin has a responsibility to solve the problem. She explained that the Riverside County Flood Control District has formed a CSA and charges an assessment of $2.50, to address ~he study of non-point pollution which ranges from possible dog droppings to fertilizers. She felt that there should be some assistance from that agency to address the problems which are caused by the drainage basin. She stated that it would require aggressive action by fhe City Council to gain assistance from the Flood Control District. Mayor Washburn stated that aggressive action is not foreign to either the Water District or the City Council and it would benefit both agencies to solve the water quality of the Lake. Councilwoman Cherveny asked if the Water District would be looking to do something above Canyon Lake. Boardmember Shafer explained that the Water District would not be looking above Canyon Lake since the water fed to Canyon Lake is from the San Jacinto River above Canyon Lake and the District has no control and there is nothing that they can do. She explained that the first flush caused by rain each year brings a high amount of phosphorous and there is nothing that the District can do. Mayor Washburn explained that when the channel is complete and there is a good flow from upstream, a release down the channel will that help to create a good flush. He stated that he knows that it will benefit the Lakea but how much is the questione Assistant General Manager Hoagland stated that there was a flush in 1980 and 1983 and at one time much earlier in the century. He explained that the Water Quality Study was related to salt and not algae. He stated that historically there has never been the problem with algae and Canyon Lake is not experiencing the same problem. Boardmember Toman stated that there is some algae in Canyon Lake and in Lake Perris, but nothing like the problems that have been experienced by Lake Elsinoree Mayor Washburn stated that in 1980, when there was the tremendous inflow to the Lake, it was two to three years before there was problem of algae in the Lake. He asked why ~here was such a great amount of phosphorous this rain versus tfie rain received in 1980. Assistant General Manager Hoaglancl explained that ~here is not the data from that time period as compared to what is available now, so it is hard to know exactly what the water conditions were tfien as comparecl to now. PAGE THREE - JOINT STIIDY SESSION - MARCH 15s 1994 General Manager Laughlin explained that in 1980 and 1984 there was less development. He also explained that now there are at least 60,000 to 70,000 homes upstream that were not there before. He explained that the same type of growth has occurred in Menifee Valley and Moreno Valley as well and this has created a different circumstance than what existed in 1980 and 1984. Councilwoman Cherveny stated that the populations have more than doubled since 1950 and this is a contributing factor with respect to run-off. Boardmember Bryant commented that he concurs that population is a factor. He stated that it used to take all winter to fill Canyon Lake and now it only takes two good rain storms to fill the Lake. Councilman Dominguez stated that he felt that the lack of activity in the Lake also makes a difference. Mayor Washburn stated that the report from Black and Veatch stated that it was the internal and external phosphorous causing undissolved oxygen which was causing the problem. He asked what can be done when there are later episodes which cause run-off of septic tanks which impact the Lake. Boardmember Attridge explained that at one time the District had started to take action regarding the upstream problems, but that action was stopped. He explained that perhaps they could start new action regarding upstream problems. Assistant General Manager Aoaqland stated that the District stopped due to political problems. Mayor Washburn explained that the City will try to work with LEMA to identify the pollution problems and see if LEMA will pursue this problem with the City's cooperation. He stated that it is as much a problem of the public's as it is the City's. City Manager Molendyk explained that the reason this Study Session was initiated was because a staff report had been sent to the City Council regarding what action should be taken by the community, the City and the Water District for the summer to maintain the economic viability of the Lake for the business community and prevent the odor problems of the Lake. He stated that the odor is a problem in the Vons shopping area now and there is no way to know what it will be like by August. Councilwoman Cherveny asked if the Water District Board discussed implementing the alum water treatment. Boardmember Jeffries explained that the Board has not discussed this, since the Board has not taken a position regarding their responsibility for existing water quality. Councilwoman Cherveny asked if the Water District was willing to entertain and discuss their position regarding the Lake and treatment. She explained that she felt that it was important to establish what the Water District will participate in regarding the water quality since originally the water did come from other sources. She stated that both agencies need to work together to clean this up. EAGE FOIIR - JOINT ~TIIDY SESSYON - MARC$ 15o Y994 Boardmember Attridge explained that if it were possible to get someone to offer a treatment and quarantee their work, then the Water District would possibly consider participating; but to invest money with no type of guarantee, would not be something he would care to consider. Mayor Washburn explained that the flood of 1980 created a situation where all the different entities came together and addressed the Lake and its problems, and that was the development of Lake Management. He explained the tasks of the different agencies and the problems of the Lake are a collective responsibility and he asked the Water District to consider water quality as part of the problems that the Lake experiences. Boardmember Jeffries explained that the Water District is and has been concerned with the long term study and evaluation and that is why they have not taken a position at this time. Boardmember Shafer explained that the Bureau has placed a levee which will cause the Lake to flush more often or approximately every ten years. She stated that their agency is concerned with the supplemental water guality and not the existing water quality and it is her position that the drainage basin is responsible for curing the problem. She stated that the drainage basin is 800 square miles and the Federal Bureau has appointed Riverside County to study the pollution problems. She noted that they have formed an assessment district to raise financing and they do have the mechanism in place. Mrs. Shafer stated that the Water District Board, City Council and representatives from the County should come ~oqether and gorm a steering committee to see what can be done to clean up the problems that are being experienced. She stated that after this meeting she would like to see the District and City have their staffs and legal counsels meet and come back before both the District Board and the City Council and define the responsibilities and how to address the issues of water quality. Mayor Washburn sugges~ed a joint resolution to let the public know that the City and the District are jointlyconcerned. ouncilwoman Cherveny stated that of the two agencies involved, she would look to the Water District to solve the problem because they are the experts regarding water. She sta~ed that she felt Boardmember Shafer°s suggestion for a s~eering committee was really a short term solution and it is the immediate concern that should be addressed. Mayor Washburn stated that there is a possibility of illegal sewage dumping. Boardmember Attridge stated that the District has checked this out and found no sewage. There was general discussion regarding illegal sewer dumping. Boardmember Toman encouraged the Board and the Council to consider short term as well as long term solutions and meet in two weeks to discuss the potential solutions. There was general discussion in regard to water seepage at the leveee Councilwoman Cherveny stated that she was very interested in PAGE FIVE - JOINT STUDY SESSION - MARCH 15~ 1994 the alum treatment and she would be very interested in the outcome of testing with alum in the channel area. Boardmember Shafer stated that Mr. Laughlin had indicated to her that Black and Veatch were in town and could be asked what a test demonstration should be and what it would cost. Mayor Washburn indicated that he would have Manager of Special Projects Watenpaugh schedule a meeting to investigate thzs. Boardmember Shafer stated that she would like to see thi.s done in the next two weeks for presentation at the nexti meeting between the City and the Districto City Manaqer Molendyk noted that there was some question as to the effectiveness of the treatments done last ~ummer and he understood that water quality is a long term issue, but suggested at least an application for odor control~ Boardmember Jeffries stated that he felt that most of this should be handled by the sta£f at least from the Water District and questioned creating another committee when LEMA is already in place and they should be addressing this. Mayor Washburn stated that he would suggest immediate action for problems occurrinq earlier in the season and other concerns regarding the Lake. Boardmember Shafer asked if one of the problems was illegal septic dumping. Mayor Washburn stated that dumping could be one of the problems. She stated that if it was not being dumped into the sewer, then they had no authority over it. Councilman Dominguez stated that the only way to solve this situation is to find out if the sewage is being dumped and who is doing ito Councilwoman Cherveny stated that in regarding to dumping, the agreement states that neither of the agencies shall contribute to the degradation of the water quality and she felt that the septic dumping could fall into that clause. Boardmember Jeffries stated that the Water District does not have the policing authority that the City has and that is a problem for the District. Mayor Washburn suggested that the Council will cooperate with the District and do what has to be done to solve the problem. Boardmember Shafer asked how the City deals with Solid Waste. She stated that she felt this would fall under the same conditions as solid waste. Mayor Washburn explained that in solid waste there is usually an address found on an envelope which leads back to the person that dumps. Boardmember Shafer asked if Council would follow up with their Legal Counsel to research which agency has the funding and sources in place to address the pollution problems. This will define the position of the City and the District. She stated that in two weeks there can be a meeting at the Water District to examine the findingso PAGE SY$ - JOYNT STUDY SESSION - MARCH 15~ Y994 ADJOURNMENT THE JOYNT STUDY SESSION BETWEEN TAE LAKE ELSINORE CITY COUNCIL AND THE ELSYNORE VALLEY MUNICIPAI, WATER DISTRICT WAS ADJOURNED AT 5:45 P.M.