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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-1030.SS.MINMINUTES FOR THE STUDY SESSION ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL October 30, 1998 CALL TO ORDER Mayor Shaw called the meeting to order at 12:30 p.m. in the Civic Center Council Chambers. IN ATTENDANCE Councilors Laws, Reid, Wheeldon, and DeBoer. Staff present included: City Administrator Mike Freeman, Assistant City Administrator Greg Scoles, Administrative Services Director Richard Wanderscheid, Director of Finance Jill Turner, City Attorney Paul Nolte, Communications/Marketing Manager Ann Seltzer, Director of Community Development John McLaughlin, Parks Director Ken Mickelsen, and Public Works Director Paula Brown. DISCUSSION OF THE WATER MASTER PLAN Public Works Director Paula Brown presented information on where the water planning process currently stands, what alternatives are available to the City, what needs to be done next, and what is requested of the Council at this time. Brown commented that Kay Atwood has prepared a 45 page document on water issues for the past one hundred years, which will be distributed to the Council at a later date. Noted that Carollo Engineers and the Water Advisory Group have helped to prepare options for the Council, but will not make any recommendations. Emphasized that their goal is to bring back sound, clear options for the Council to consider. Noted that they have identified six options, with several sub-options for each one. Stated that a community water forum has been scheduled for November 10th at Southern Oregon University's Stevenson Union from 7-9 p.m., and that this forum will serve as a follow-up to the previous one. Informed Council that another study session will be set to allow for more lengthy, detailed discussion. Discussed the possibility of combining options, noting the complexity of the viable options and sub-options. Brown noted the options under consideration as using Talent Irrigation District (TID) water, re-using effluent, using groundwater wells, participating in the Talent Ashland Phoenix (TAP) Intertie, and building a new storage reservoir. Noted that based on temperature, elevation, and logistics, the "snow making" option was not viable. Brown discussed the TID option, citing the possibility of piping the TID ditch and establishing year-round water rights. Stated that savings from piping could be substantial, but would depend on the irrigation practices of larger agricultural users who also use the water. Discussed the possibility of implementing water marketing and water banking. Noted that discussions have occurred about increasing capacity at Emigrant Lake to address increased water storage needs. With regard to the Effluent Re-use and Reclamation option, Brown noted that it is being looked at for additional irrigation purposes. Noted that treating effluent to provide potable water is not viable given current restrictions in state law. Explained that the technology to re-use effluent is not available now for spray irrigation, but could be made available in the future. Stated that effluent re-use for irrigation could be combined with the TID option. Councilor DeBoer asked for clarification as to whether this planning is based on emergency needs or general water needs. Explained that he is operating under the assumption that this discussion is based on the need to address an emergency. Councilor Wheeldon stated that this study is to determine water needs for the next fifty years and as such needs to look at water source options. Councilor Reid noted that the initial interest in the TAP Intertie project was driven by concerns over the effects of a catastrophic fire on the Ashland Watershed. Explained that after this initial consideration, the Council began looking at the bigger picture. Ashland City Council Study Session Minutes 10-30-98 1 Brown discussed the Groundwater Wells option, noting that while it is continuing to be looked at, it is not believed to be the most reliable option. Explained that well production varies significantly, and based on the geology of the area, the long-term reliability is questionable. Stated that more information was needed from the state and county. Discussion of the number of streams and springs in Ashland. Councilor Reid suggested that the City meter water that is going into storm drains. Councilor DeBoer noted the need for a decision on the TAP Intertie within the next sixty days. Mayor Shaw suggested that Ashland building its own pipeline to Phoenix may be more cost-effective than TAP participation. Commented that the water supply issue needs to be looked at in a comprehensive way, and stated that the TAP project should not be allowed to drive the decision. Councilor Reid indicated that a decision on building a pipe to Phoenix was ultimately up to the Medford Water Commission, and noted that they had already agreed to provide water for the TAP intertie. Brown explained the three options relative to the TAP project: 1) Just up-size the TAP line for emergency and incremental use, up to 3 million gallons/day (mgd). 2) Up-size the TAP line all the way to Medford to supply the total water needs for Talent, Ashland and Phoenix. 3) Build a separate pipeline to the Rogue River. In any case, the City would have the option of up-sizing the pipe. With regard to the Snow Making option, Brown re-emphasized that this was not a valid option. Brown briefly discussed the possibility of building a new storage reservoir, on city owned lands or the Winburn property, to supplement the existing reservoir. Confu-med that Council direction to staff has been not to consider new dams. Council discussion of the potential use of water from a new source to aid in firefighting. Brown noted that based on today's discussion, four options remained - TID, Effluent Re-use, Groundwater Wells and Springs, and the TAP Intertie Project. Discussed the need to address future needs of the community as well as look at emergency water needs. Mayor Shaw urged the need to develop a Comprehensive Water Plan. Brown discussed the Water Study evaluation criteria, noting that four categories were used. Emphasized that the idea of "sustainable ecosystems" came up repeatedly. Stated that information will be brought back to Council to provide qualitative descriptions of where the options fit in the bigger picture. Discussed "implementability", or how the options could be implemented, at what level of reliability, flexibility and cost. Councilor Wheeldon questioned how much time it would take to get water to Ashland if piped from Talent in the event of a catastrophic situation, how long would this last, and what would the City be able to do with only 25% on the average demand? Brown discussed scenarios for meeting emergency demand, and stated that she would get numbers for Council to address these scenarios. Council discussion of potentially using the TAP Intertie pipeline for a connection to the Medford Water Commission for all water needs. Councilor DeBoer stated that he sees no problem with becoming a customer of the Medford Water Commission. Stated that he would like a report from the Fire Department as to whether the fire hydrants were full or empty on January 2nd after the flood. Stated that as a citizen, he has no problem with using less water for a month and having 25% of the needed water coming from the TAP intertie. Emphasized the importance of having drinking water available. Ashland City Council Study Session Minutes 10-30-98 2 Brown explained the difference between pushing 1 million and 3 million gallons of water through the pipes, and noted that the proposed pipe size has the capacity to handle most daily needs during off peak periods. Brown noted that she had been told by the Medford Water Commission that more water could be made available as needed in an emergency. Noted that she would bring back numbers for the smaller pipe size, and for a larger pipe to handle fifty year peak demand. Noted that all options discussed presume that conservation measures will be in place, with the potential of curtailment measures as needed. Councilor Laws stated that the Council needs to decide whether it is making a decision on a twenty year or fifty year planning horizon. Council discussion of whether the issue before them is based on emergency catastrophe preparation or long range planning. Councilor DeBoer suggested that rather than dwelling on a fifty-year planning horizon the Council should consider meeting the City's needs over the next ten years. Stated that a decision could be made now, based on the options available through the TAP Intertie. Councilor Laws questioned how much it would cost the City in the future by dealing with this as only an emergency supply issue, if additional water is needed in the future. Mayor Shaw questioned whether savings for piping the TID ditch, and increasing the efficiency of irrigation practices, are taken into account in the scenarios being discussed. Also questioned the exposure of the TID ditch in the event of a catastrophic fire in the water shed. Brown noted that the Water Advisory Group (WAG) has discussed some of the issues involved in the decision making process, and leaves the decision to the Council. Emphasized that Councilors can still get questions to her before the Water Forum on November 10th. ADJOURNED The meeting was adjourned at 2:05 p.m. Submitted by Barbara Christensen, City Recorder Ashland City Council Study Session Minutes 10-30-98 3