Local Advanced Water
Purification System
Site and Design Review
May 13, 2024 www.cityofpaloalto.org
1 BACKGROUND
• 2010: Council approved the Recycled Water
Salinity Reduction Policy and directed staff to
implement a project at the RWQCP to reduce
salt content in recycled water
• 2021: Council approved the location and
concept design based on feasibility study and
directed detailed design
• 2023: Council directed staff to move forward
with Agreements, Permits, and to issue an
Invitation for Bids.
• 2023-2024: ARB study session (Nov 2023);
PTC recommendation (Feb 2024); ARB
recommendation (April 2024)
2 PROJECT LOCATION AND PURPOSE
Project
Location
Baylands
Palo Alto Airport • Located within the boundaries of the RWQCP south of the Palo Alto Airport and within the
Baylands (east of Harbor Road)
• The project improves the recycled water
quality from the RWQCP by lowering salt
content
• Higher quality recycled water decreases
potable water demand for irrigation uses
3 PROJECT OVERVIEW
Key Project components include:
• New RO permeate storage tank (stores
350,000 gallons of RO permeate)
• Open Air Canopy Structure:
• Microfiltration / RO treatment
process equipment below structure
• Electrical Building
• Landscaping, paving, and site work
(perimeter sound wall and fencing)
RO = Reverse Osmosis
4 AGENCY PARTNERS AND GRANTS
Project Component Valley Water Role Palo Alto Role Mountain View Role Local Salt Removal
Facility
-Funding
-Support Valley Water’s
goal to increase
recycled water use
within the County
-Design, construction,
operation, and
maintenance
-Distribute enhanced
recycled water
-Funding
-Distribute
enhanced recycled
water
External Funding Sources:
• U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Grant - $12.8 M
• Valley Water Contribution - $16 M
• California Clean Water SRF Loan - $34.7 M
Capital Cost: $63.6M
5 PTC REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
• Recommended approval of the
project with the following
conditions:
• Investigate utilizing 2,700
kelvin lighting versus the
4,000-kelvin lighting currently
proposed;
• Recommended revising the
planting to be 100% native
6 ARB REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
• Recommended approval with the following
recommendations, which have been addressed:
• Add a condition of approval related to requirements
for motion sensors to reduce lighting on site and to
set a maximum time limit for these motion sensors
such that lights are only on at night as necessary for
operational and safety needs;
• Extend the sound wall to meet the existing chain
link fence;
• That tree plantings be increased on the reverse
osmosis permeate tank side of the soundwall; and
• A screen be added to the northeast, northwest and
southwest side of the building so that the bottom of
the screen is no greater than 20 feet above finished
floor
7 ARB REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
• The ARB recommended that the color temperature of the lighting be changed to 3,000 kelvins
• This change has not been made due to worker safety concerns. The following modifications were made to reduce lighting on the site:
1. Limited locations of lighting
2. Shielding
3. Based on earlier feedback, lighting color temperature was reduced from 5,000 kelvins to 4,000 kelvins
4. The design incorporates provisions for timers and motion sensors
8 ARB REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
• The ARB recommended that
staff explore the potential
relocation of reverse osmosis
permeate tank to move toward
the new proposed structure
and/or to move towards the
future headworks building
• This was explored but revisions
were not made as the design
already provided the minimum
necessary area for maneuvering
of trucks and fire access
9 DESIGN ENHANCEMENT EXCEPTION
DEE requested for a wall that exceeds
the 8-foot maximum height
requirement (height varies 8-10 feet):
• Provides Screening for users
entering the Baylands
• Serves as a sound wall
1 CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
10 • In 2015 Council adopted an EIR for the City of Palo Alto Recycled Water Project. The EIR included MM HYD-3d, requiring the City to consider treatment options, such as reverse osmosis, to reduce the salinity of its recycled water and thus make its recycled water useable for irrigation of salt- sensitive species.
• In November 2019, in taking discretionary actions to further pursue this project, Council adopted an EIR addendum that included more site-specific details associated with the proposed development.
11 NEXT STEPS
• Spring 2024: Permitting & Financial Agreements
• SRF Loan Agreement
• Title XVI U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Grant
• Amended Recycled Water Agreement with Mountain View
• Planning Entitlement
• Fall 2024: Invitation for Bids
• Winter 2025: Estimated Construction Start
• Summer 2027: Construction complete
12 RECOMMENDATION
• Approve the Record of Land Use Action (RLUA) approving the request for Site and Design Review as well as the requested Design Enhancement Exception based on findings and subject to conditions of approval. 13 PUBLIC WORKS APPLICANT TEAM
• Diego Martinez Garcia, Engineer and Project Manager (staff table) • Tom Kapushinski, Senior Engineer (Council Chambers)
• Karin North, Assistant Director of Public Works (zoom) • Brad Eggleston, Director (Council Chambers)
Claire Raybould, AICP
Principal Planner
[email protected]
650-329-2116
Jonathan Lait
Director
[email protected]
650-329-2679