FINAL MINUTES

Special Meeting/Workshop

Board of Directors

Monterey Peninsula Water Management District

March 23, 2006

 

 

CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL

The meeting was called to order at 7 PM in the Boardroom of the Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency offices.

 

Board members present:

Michelle Knight, Chair – Division 4

Judi Lehman, Vice Chair – Division 2

Alvin Edwards – Division 1

Kristi Markey – Division 3

Larry Foy – Division 5

David Pendergrass – Mayoral Representative

David Potter – Monterey County Board of Supervisors (arrived at 7:25 PM)

 

Board members absent:  None

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

The assembly recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

ORAL COMMUNICATIONS

Linda Agerbak addressed the Board during Oral Communications.  She urged the Board to work with the Monterey County Herald on ensuring publication of factual information about the District and its many responsibilities and accomplishments.  She referenced a recent article that erroneously stated that the District had not conducted groundwater monitoring in the Seaside Basin.  She requested that Board workshops be advertised more effectively.

 

REPORT FROM DISTRICT COUNSEL ON MARCH 20, 2006 CLOSED SESSION OF THE BOARD

District Counsel Laredo announced that there was no reportable action taken on the Closed Session agenda items.

 

WORKSHOP/DISCUSSION

1.                  Water Needs Analysis Existing Setting and Demand

The report was presented by Darby Fuerst, Senior Hydrologist.  A summary of the report is on file at the District office and on the District’s website.  Mr. Fuerst reported the following findings that were based on specific assumptions outlined in the report. (1) Water demand in the California American Water (Cal Am) Distribution System has been reduced by 30 percent between 1998 and 2005.  (2) In 1988, 53 percent of production was from Lower Carmel Valley wells, and 17 percent was derived from the Seaside Coastal wells. (3) In 2005, 73 percent of the water produced within the Cal Am system was from lower Carmel Valley Wells and 22 percent was derived from Seaside Coastal wells.  (4) In order to meet existing demand, the minimum amount of water that must be developed to replace water supplies from the Carmel River and the coastal area of the Seaside Groundwater Basin is 8,186 AFY.  (5) In order to meet existing demand, a maximum of 13,236 AFY must be developed to replace water supplies from the Carmel River and the coastal area of the Seaside Groundwater Basin.  (6) The minimum amount of water that Cal Am must produce to meet existing system demand is 15,066 AFY.  (7) The maximum amount of water that Cal Am must produce to meet existing system demand is 18,106 AFY.  

 

During the Board discussion on this item the following comments were made.  (1) Representatives from the Policy and Technical Advisory committees should attend the May 18, 2006 Board workshop on the water needs analysis and advise the Board when they would like to begin using water from a new water supply project, the amount of water needed, and how the project should be funded.  (2)  Would like an explanation of how the Policy and Technical Advisory committees developed the 20 percent contingency in their water needs estimate.  (3) More information is needed on Cal Am’s 12 percent rate of unaccounted for system losses such as how the water is lost and what can be done to correct the situation.  (4) Cal Am has selected a consultant to develop an analysis of the unaccounted for system losses that will include a cost benefit analysis of how to reduce those losses.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD

The following comments were directed to the Board during the public comment period.  (1) David Dilworth, representing Helping Our Peninsula’s Environment, stated that any amount of water developed in excess of the 10,730 acre-feet required by State Board Order 95-10 will be expensive to produce. A new water supply should produce only enough water to meet the requirements of Order 95-10, and it should also provide a  drought reserve that could only be allocated by a vote of the people.  (2) John Fischer, a resident of Pacific Grove, urged the Board to be aware of groundwater monitoring that must be accomplished by the Watermaster, and to carefully consider how long monitoring should be carried-out before baseline production numbers are adjusted.  (3) Steve Leonard, General Manager of California American Water, stated that the community needs forward movement on development of a water supply because the area is always close to a drought or catastrophic drought.  He noted that Cal Am has taken the initiative to develop the Coastal Water Project but additional projects are necessary and he is interested in learning about any new water supply project proposals.

 

ADJOURNMENT

            The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 PM.

 

                                                                                    ___________________________________

                                                                                    David A. Berger, Secretary to the Board

 

A Tavani/3-23-06 Board Minutes/5-10-06/2 pages

U:\Arlene\word\2006\BoardMeetings\Minutes\FINAL032306.doc