TIMELINE OF WATER PLANNING PROJECT & COUNCIL ACTIVITY

Transcription

1 TIMELINE OF WATER PLANNING PROJECT & COUNCIL ACTIVITY Council Meeting, March 24, Presentation of the Sunset Valley Water Plant Feasibility Study as summarized by the Public Works Committee and consider action to be taken including possible selection of water plant style, size and location. (Councilmember Smith /Katy Phillips) Katy Phillips, Director of Public Works, began by stating that the Public Works Committee has tried to simplify and summarize all the information, give Council the pros and cons, and hopes to get further direction and possible selection of water plant style, size and location from Council. Councilmember Jenkins suggested that if the City were to put a Visitors Center on the Uplands Property the HOT funds could help to pay for the new water well. Mayor Mills asked that Council decide how the City is going to fund the water well before any engineering or design work is done on this project. Councilmember Smith explained that a test well has no guarantee to produce water, he also asked Council to concentrate on selecting the style, size and location so that the Public Works Committee can move forward. - Randy Machemehl, 42 Lovegrass Lane, commented on the Public Works Committee selections. The selections were ground storage, 40,000 gallon storage capacity and for location they selected the current site. Council discussed chlorine leaks, escalating contracts with the City of Austin, and having our own fire protection. - Tony Pifer, 28 Pillow Road, commented that he supports the City having their own fire protection but he would like to see the location change., commented that the new well will cost more than getting our water from the City of Austin. - Melissa Gonzales, 26 Reese Drive, stated that the more we rely on other cities the more we lose our individuality. She said that all the residents want us to have our own well. - Jody Grenga, 12 Lone Oak Trail, stated that she is in favor of using the resources that we have. She added that the rates from the City of Austin keep escalating. - John Bellanca, 3 Yellow Tail Cove, stated that we cannot be self sufficient all the time, some things you simply have to farm out. Councilmember Smith added that due to Homeland Security a concern had been raised that any water facility at the 290 location may require additional security measures which could add to the cost of operating the facility at that location. A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Moore, seconded by Councilmember Wilson to divide the items. All voted yes and the motion carried. The items were divided as follows: Location A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Moore, seconded by Councilmember Kalar to select the current site, if the well is to be built and funded. All voted yes and the motion carried. Size A motion was made by Councilmember Wilson and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Moore for storage with sufficient capacity to provide our own fire protection, if the well is to be built and funded. Councilmember Kalar abstained from voting. Mayor Pro Tem Moore, Councilmember Jenkins, Wilson, and Smith voted yes and the motion carried.

2 Style A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Moore and seconded by Councilmember Wilson for ground storage, if well is to be built and funded. All voted yes and the motion carried. Mayor Mills asked Council to send this item back to Public Works to get better cost estimates and take to the Finance Committee to explore ways to fund it. Council Meeting, October 26, Presentation on the Sunset Valley Water System. (Councilmember Smith/Public Works) - Clay Collins, City Administrator, gave an introduction to the presentation. Katy Phillips, Public Works Director, gave a presentation. Mary Black, 15 Pillow Road, spoke in favor of a City owned and operated well and the benefits that came with that ownership. There was no action on this agenda item. Council Meeting, April 5, Consider approval of a Work Order as submitted by Civil Land Group, for the professional engineering services related to the Water Plant Improvements Water Tank Replacement Project for the design and construction of 2 groundwater storage tanks. (Councilmember Smith/Public Works) - Katy Phillips, Public Works Director, gave a presentation. A motion was made by Councilmember Smith and seconded by Mayor Pro tem Cardona to postpone this agenda item. - Mitch Chazan, 2 Curley Mesquite Cove, asked Katy how she computed the additional 32 houses that could be on the well and asked about the fire protection water storage. All voted yes and the motion carried. Council Meeting, May 3, Consider approval of options to be considered for the Water System Planning Project. (Mayor Wilson/Administration) Katy Phillips, Public Works Director, gave a presentation on the two scenarios to be used to provide financial analysis for water system improvements. - Helen Besse, 795 Oakdale, spoke in favor of higher quality water testing. - Mitch Chazan, 3 Curley Mesquite Cove, noted that there was not an option for 100% City Well usage and stated that if we had one more tank, the City could provide its own fire protection. - Melissa Gonzales, 26 Reese Drive, spoke in favor of providing home water filters for every house, at a reduced cost since we could buy in bulk, like the rain barrels.

3 - Randy Rosengarten, 25 Yellow Tail Cove, asked about the effect on the well during drought conditions. - Helen Besse, 795 Oakdale, discussed the water testing of Barton Springs and the timing of the water tests and spoke in favor of talking to the experts. - John Bellanca, 3 Yellow Tail Cove, spoke in favor of including personnel cost in the financial analysis. A motion was made by Councilmember Porter and seconded by Mayor Pro tem Cardona to approve the project scenarios #1 and #2, with the addition of more frequent testing and a higher level of testing, for inclusion in the financial analysis report. All voted yes and the motion carried. Public Hearing on the Water System, April 10, Presentation on Water Planning Project. - Katy Phillips, Public Works Director, explained how this project came to fruition and reviewed the Water System Report. She also reported on the Committee's comments about the Water System Report. - Randy Williams, 12 Reese, gave a presentation as a representative of the Public Work Committee. - Katy Phillips, Public Works Director, continued her review of the Water System Report. 3. Public Hearing on Water Planning Project. Mayor Wilson opened the Public Hearing at 7:48 P.M. The following residents made comments regarding the water supply for the City. Full detailed comments are available on a video/audio file in the office of the City Secretary. - Margaret Bentley, 11 Pillow Road - Sandy Cox, 14 Sunset Trail - Carla Jenkins, 800 Oakdale - Helen Besse, 795 Oakdale - John Moore, 15 Lone Oak - Bill Gurasich, 27 Yellow Tail Cove - Richard Hayes, 42 Lone Oak Trail - Karen Medicus, 36 Pillow Road - Melissa Gonzales, 26 Reese Drive - Mickie Powers, 23 Sunset Trail - Mary Black, 15 Pillow Road - David Lapham, 29 Lone Oak Trail - Randy Rosengarten, 25 Yellow Tail Cove - John Bellanca, 3 Yellow Tail Cove - Rob Harrison, 28 Lovegrass Lane - John Frick, 36 Pillow Road - Danny Horrigan, 3 Pillow Road - Mayor Wilson read into the record comments from Cheryl Wahlgren, 7 Lone Oak

4 - John Duprik, P.G., of BSEACD, made a statement. The following residents made additional comments and spoke in support of getting more information and input before a decision is made. Full detailed comments are available on a video/audio file in the office of the City Secretary. - Mary Black, 15 Pillow Road - Randy Rosengarten, 25 Yellow Tail Cove - Melissa Gonzales, 26 Reese - Carla Jenkins, 800 Oakdale - Mickie Powers, 23 Sunset Trail The following residents made additional comments. Full detailed comments are available on a video/audio file in the office of the City Secretary. - Bill Gurasich, 27 Yellow Tail Cove Mayor Wilson gave the following summary. - Meet with committee and bring it back with structure, boundaries, timelines, and recommendations on how you can make it balanced. - Schedule more public hearings; take the questions received tonight and do summary sheet to answer all those questions. With no further discussion, Mayor Wilson closed the Public Hearing at 9:20 P.M. Council Meeting, May 8, Discuss and consider possible action regarding the Water System Planning Project. (Mayor Wilson/Public Works and Administration) Clay Collins, City Administrator, reported that staff has continued to work on this project and has provided some answers to the questions that were brought up during other meetings and some other financial scenarios. A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Porter to postpone this agenda item until the first meeting after the City Council retreat. All voted yes and the motion carried by a 5 0 vote. Council Meeting, October 9, Presentation on the Water Planning Report (Mayor Cardona/Public Works) - Mayor Cardona gave an opening statement. - Katy Phillips, Public Works Director, gave the presentation. The following residents made comments after the presentation

5 - Randy Rosengarten, 25 Yellow Tail Cove - John Bellanca, 3 Yellow Tail Cove This item will be up for discussion again within 3 months. Council Meeting, May 7, Presentation regarding Water Planning Project. (Mayor Cardona/Public Works and Administration) - Mayor Cardona made an opening statement. - Clay Collins, City Administrator, made introductory comments. - Katy Phillips, Public Works Director, reviewed the timeline. - Clay Collins, City Administrator, reviewed the recommendations. - Melissa Gonzales, 26 Reese, had comments regarding the frame of the public hearing and urged Council to look at the bigger issues. - Staff was directed to schedule a public hearing for June 4, Council Meeting and Public Hearing, June 4, ) Public Hearing on Water Planning Recommendations a. Open Hearing Mayor Cardona opened the public hearing at 7:30 P.M. b. Presentation Clay Collins, City Administrator, gave a presentation reviewing the 5 options recommended by staff. c. Citizen comments - John Dupnik, BSEAD, discussed the options and was available for questions regarding the City s permit. - Roxanne Thompson, 2 Sunset Trail, is in support of the approval of this item as recommended. - John Frick, 36 Pillow Road, spoke in support of the well. - Sasha Russell, 17 Sunset Trail, spoke in support of the approval of this item as recommended. - Mary Black, 15 Pillow Road, spoke in support of the well. Mary Black and Tricia Murphy also submitted a letter to include in the record. - Mayor Cardona read an from Susan Durso, 6 Pillow Road, in support of maintaining the well. - Mike Melinger, 26 Reese Drive, is in favor of keeping the well option open. - Randy Williams, 12 Reese Drive, spoke against recommendation 2, but spoke in favor of recommendation 1, 3, 4, and 5. - Gerry Lowe, 27 Pillow Road, is in favor of the city maintaining its own water supply/well. - John Bellanca, 3 Yellow Tail Cove, spoke in favor of recommendations 1, 3, 4, and 5, but would like more information on recommendation 2. He is in favor of the well, but not today. - Melissa Gonzales, 26 Reese Drive, spoke in favor of recommendations 1, 3, and 4, but spoke against recommendation 2 and 5. She also discussed creating a Comprehensive Water Plan.

6 - Marshall McHone, 11 Pillow Road, spoke in support of recommendations 1, 3, 4, and 5 but not in support of recommendation 2. - Mayor Cardona read an from Cat Quintanilla, 43 Pillow, in support of keeping the well. - Margaret Bentley, 11 Pillow Road, spoke in support of having a well and a Comprehensive Water Plan. - Russell Harding, 10 Pillow Road, spoke in support of the well and a dual water system. - Sharon Drinkwine, 5 Reese Drive, spoke in favor of keeping the well. - Mayor Cardona read a letter from Helen Besse and Susan Cassano, 795 Oakdale, in support of recommendations 1, 2, and 4 and suggested additions to recommendation # 3 and no comment on recommendation 5., spoke in support of the approval of this item as recommended. Mr. Schroeder also submitted a letter to include in the record. - Richard P. Leigh, 18 Pillow Road, spoke in support of the well. d. Close Hearing Mayor Cardona closed the hearing at 8:54 P.M. 11) Consideration of Water Planning Recommendations. (Mayor Cardona/Administration) A motion was made by Mayor Pro tem Rosengarten and seconded by Council Member Jenkins to accept recommendations 1, 3, and 4 as presented. All voted yes and the motion carried by a 5 0 vote. John Dupnik, BSEAD, was asked to come forward and answer questions. A motion was made by Mayor Pro tem Rosengarten to bring back recommendations 2 and 5 to the July 16, 2012 City Council meeting for further discussion. Mayor Pro tem Rosengarten asked staff to answer these questions. 1) If we had a well, we didn t use it to full capacity, how long was the previous well in service before it started to deteriorate to the point that it is? 2) How long would the well sit without being used fully and would it cause it to deteriorate quicker or not? 3) Is it possible to continue with just using it as non potable water and it would not deteriorate quickly because you re not using full chlorination gas etc? Council Member Powers seconded the motion. All voted yes and the motion carried by a 5 0 vote. Discussion about a Comprehensive Water Plan. The City Council directed staff to create a working document Council Member Burdett would like to see these questions answered. 1) If the City of Austin were no longer a source of water for us what would we do? 2) Summarize permits, how you lose permits, any clarification on permits. Katy Phillips, Public Works Director, will bring back a one page report at the July 16th City Council meeting outlining what the Comprehensive Water Plan would be, who was going to do it, what would it accomplish, what are the goals, etc, just to clarify that everyone is on the same page.

7 Council Meeting, July 16, Consideration of Water Planning Recommendations tabled from June 4, 2013 meeting. (Mayor 213 Cardona/Administration) Clay Collins, City Administrator, gave a brief overview. Residents that made comments during the meeting - Melissa Gonzales, 26 Reese - Randy Williams, 12 Reese -Charles Porter, 2103 N. Oak Canyon Road, gave an overview of ground water. This agenda item will come back in two weeks.