City Council meeting June 11, 2024 Item 13.B NORCAL Oaks License Agreement Dear Mayor Sparks, Vice Mayor Ford and Councilmembers Lemus, Rivers and Harvey, For item 13.B, the introduction specifically identifies “new turf and functioning drainage systems, new irrigation systems”. Addressing my comments specifically to the Putnam Park Baseball Field on water quality issues;
A question: Should the Baseball irrigation system (sprinklers and potential drainage) be designed so that it never facilitates waste polluting water spilling into the Laguna during the summer? In previous maps of the Putnam Park upgrade, I have never seen any underground drainage systems identified. When the construction of the ball park was taking place it’s clear that a storm water drainage system to the East of the ball park existed and is being utilized, and by all appearances will spill excess irrigation water to the Laguna channel.
Cotati has a Mediterranean climate, with a natural regime of deluge of storm water in the winter months and hot dry summers with limited natural water in storm water channels.
There is currently a storm drain with inlets feet away from the east of the ball park and identified with orange keep out tape. It drains through a storm drain (see map), that drains 10’s feet away to Laguna.
There is ample space for implementing standard stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs).
As you are probably aware the city subscribes and requires private developers to do BMPs as part of the NPDES (National Pollution Discharge Illimitation System). Putnam Park is adjacent to the Laguna da Santa Rosa drainage channel, and there has been discussions about how BMPs should be implemented on the East Park Boundary – but surely it should be applied to all potential runoff from all Parks.
I believe if residents see irrigation water spilling into the Laguna during the summer, there is a Cotati hotline to call 707.663.3605
Parks in other jurisdictions have been used in a dual usage function for storm water BMPs.
To quote from municipal code, codepublishing.com/CA/Cotati/html/Cotati17/Cotati1734.html Chapter 17.34 WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPING STANDARDS 17.34.010 Purpose. <…>“The provisions of this chapter are intended to protect local water supplies through the implementation of a whole systems approach to design, construction, installation and maintenance of the landscape resulting in water conserving climate appropriate landscapes, improved water quality …” Cotati drains exclusively to the Laguna de Santa Rosa, which was first listed in 1992 as impaired under the Clean Water Act Section 303(d). Landscaped areas must be properly designed and maintained to eliminate or minimize discharges of sediment, fertilizers, and plant wastes to the storm drain system, which drains to the Laguna de Santa Rosa. Irrigation water must be applied appropriately, avoiding runoff, to minimize discharges of these pollutants. (Ord. 826 § 1(part), 2010).
2. Storm Water Management. Rain gardens, cisterns, and other landscape features and practices that increase rainwater capture and create opportunities for infiltration and/or on-site storage are recommended.”
Public Comment
See https://www.streetstocreeks.org/spill-numbers/ with a Cotati Hotline of 707.665.3605 Sincerely Neil Hancock
Snip from the Cotati Storm Drain Plan – I’ve identified in red.