April 6, 2004

1. Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 9:05 AM in the District Conference Room.

Committee members present: City of Carmel-by-the-Sea – Sean Conroy

City of Monterey – Chip Rerig

City of Pacific Grove – Doug Ricks

City of Sand City – Steve Matarazzo

City of Seaside – Diana Ingersoll

Committee members absent: City of Del Rey Oaks – Ron Langford

County of Monterey – Al Mulholland

Monterey Peninsula Airport District – Thomas Greer

District staff present: Stephanie Pintar, Water Demand Manager

Henrietta Stern, Project Manager

Arlene Tavani, Executive Assistant

District Counsel present David C. Laredo

2. Comments from the Public

No comments.

3. Election of TAC Chairperson

On a motion by Chip Rerig and second by Steve Matarazzo, Diana Ingersoll was unanimously elected as Chair of the Technical Advisory Committee.

4. Status Report

a. Status Report on Future of Water Credit Transfer Program

Ms. Pintar reported that on March 15, 2004, the Board agreed to develop a new ordinance regarding water credit transfers that incorporates the TAC recommendation to change from discretionary approval of water credit transfer applications to ministerial approval. The proposed changes to the water credit transfer rules should not prompt preparation of an environmental impact report (EIR). The draft ordinance will be submitted to the Board in April or May.

District Counsel noted that a negative declaration will be prepared for the ordinance, as there is no categorical exemption that would apply to the proposed changes. A previous attempt to modify the water credit transfer rules by categorical exemption was invalidated in Monterey County Superior Court.

Mr. Matarazzo suggested that a categorical exemption might apply because the amount of water transferred will be less than the amount of water used on the original site, and only the “project” would receive environmental review. District Counsel replied that the proposed ordinance would enact additional protections on water use by tightening up methods of determining water use, so a negative declaration should not be challenged.

b. Status Report on Request for Jurisdiction’s Accounting of Water Used

Ms. Pintar noted that each jurisdiction received a telephone call requesting an estimate of the amount of water remaining for allocation. She explained that the request was made per direction of the Board of Directors at their March 15, 2004 meeting. Presently, the Board receives a monthly report showing how much water in each jurisdiction’s allocation has not yet been permitted. The Directors expressed a concern that much of the water shown as not yet permitted may have been committed by the jurisdictions for future projects. Showing the amount of water not yet permitted, does not give an accurate picture of water that is available for future projects.

5. Action Items

a. Discuss Near-Term Water Supply Concepts

Ms. Stern raised the issue by asking if the committee was interested in pursuing the allocation of water from any of the potential near-term water sources outlined in the staff report. Also, would the committee consider dividing amongst themselves the 156 acre-feet of water remaining from the Paralta and pre-Paralta allocations. If water were to be allocated to the jurisdictions, how would it be divided?

Ms. Ingersoll made a motion to not modify the 156 acre-feet presently allocated to the jurisdictions. She proposed that 140 acre-feet of water from the Pebble Beach Wastewater Reclamation Project (a portion of 420 acre-feet set aside in project agreements for the District) be made available for allocation to the jurisdictions. There was no second to the motion. The following comments were made by other committee members on the motion. (1) Wait to see what happens with the Seaside Basin adjudication. (2) It would not be wise to take additional water from the Carmel River when water use is so close to the production limit established in State Water Resources Control Board Order 95-10. (3) Not sure that Pebble Beach Company is able to produce the 800 acre-feet of reclaimed water that would be required to take advantage of the 140 ace-feet of potable water. (4) Too many questions need to be answered.

Ms Ingersoll stated that the TACs comment to the Board is that it is not prepared to make a recommendation on selection of a near-term water supply source at this time. Issues surrounding the Seaside Basin adjudication and insuring that the Pebble Beach Wastewater Reclamation Project provides 800 acre-feet of water must be answered before a recommendation can be made. A majority of the TAC members indicated that the 156 acre-feet presently remaining in their allocations should not be tampered with because most of it is committed to future projects. Mr. Rerig requested that at the next TAC meeting staff provide information on toilet retrofits. Specifically, would it be possible to develop a district-wide retrofit program that would enable water use credit from the retrofits to be placed in a community benefit allocation. The committee requested information on previous retrofit program proposals, and the water use credit recently granted to the Defense Language Institute that was based on toilet and urinal retrofits.

b. Discuss Development of Common Methodology to Estimate Future Water Needs

Chair Ingersoll summarized the TAC consensus that using each jurisdiction’s general plan as the basis for establishing water use would be a good option. The District could apply its water use factors to the general plan totals in order to estimate future water needs. The jurisdictions should consider what they actually need and what build-out is. The TAC members would bring additional ideas to the next meeting for discussion, so that a recommendation could be developed for the Board at that time. Mr. Rerig agreed to make the City of Monterey’s recommendation to the TAC members. It involves development of a trend analysis that is combined with general plan build-out projections.

During the discussion the TAC members gave a report on the status of their general plans. Seaside – City Council will review on April 29, with a plan to adopt by the end of the year. Sand City – approved by Coastal Commission in March. Monterey – will be updated by the end of the year. Carmel-by-the-Sea – update is in process. Pacific Grove – not sure of status.

During the public comment period on this item, Larry Seeman stated that a reasonable method of estimating commercial water use should be developed, in lieu of the present commercial water use factors. He suggested that a commercial factor might be developed by dividing the number of commercial meters in the Cal-Am system by the quantity of commercial water sales. Mr. Seeman agreed that general plans should be part of the methodology for establishing water needs.

6. Confirm Next Meeting Date of May 4, 2004 at 9 AM

Confirmed.

7. Consider Approval of Minutes from February 25, 2004 TAC Meeting

Mr. Rerig made a motion that was seconded by Mr. Matarazzo to approve the minutes of the February 25, 2004 TAC meeting. The motion was approved unanimously.

8. Comments by Technical and Policy Advisory Committee Members

No comments.

9. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 10:10 AM

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