McMillan, Acquanette (Netta)
From: Laura Fleming
Sent: Sunday, May 7, 2023 5:01 PM
To: PublicComment-AutoResponse
Cc: Lyon, Jason
Subject: Agenda item #16 Water rules revision
Some people who received this message don't often get email from ' Learn why this is important [A1 CAUTION: This email was delivered from the Internet. Do not click links or open attachments unless you know the content is safe. Report phish using the Phish Alert Button. Learn more....
Dear Mayor Gordo, Vicemayor Williams and City Councilmembers:
I opposed the staff recommendation to revise water rules - Agenda item #16.
Revising these rules is short-sighted. With the Colorado River in crisis and allocation cuts looming, adding watering days and discouraging conservation doesn't make sense. PWP should encourage preserving conservation efforts as the new standard.
It also sows confusion to be constantly changing these rules. Residents heeded the call and conserved. Do we really ask residents to go back to more wasteful ways?
Respectfully,
Laura Fleming
District 7 Resident
5/8/2023
Item 16
McMillan, Acquanette (Netta)
From: Kathy Berlin
Sent: Monday, May 8, 2023 10:06 AM
To: PublicComment-AutoResponse
Subject: Agenda #16 Water opposition & information
[A1 CAUTION: This email was delivered from the Internet. Do not click links or open attachments unless you know the content is safe. Report phish using the Phish Alert Button. Learn more...
Mayor Gordo and members of the City Council:
The residents of Pasadena have adapted to the current water restrictions, as has the local landscape. Why increase the water use now? We will only have to reduce it again. And again, and again. We must prepare for the future. We have been given a warning. We have seen drought. Let's keep moving in the right direction.
The following information is from a retired employee of the MWD:
"Additionally, Pasadena water users need to know that Pasadena's municipal water supplies come from 2 sources:
1) Local Supply. Pasadena has a right to pump groundwater from the Raymond Basin which underlies Pasadena and Altadena.
2) imported water from Metropolitan Water District which delivers water from Northern California and the Colorado River.
What is the current condition of these supplies? The Raymond Basin is not supplying as much water as in the past. The basin is divided into 3 subunits: Monkhill, Pasadena and Santa Anita. Pasadena has rights in the Monkhill and Pasadena units. In recent years, production rights in the Pasadena unit were reduced by 30 percent.
Effective in 2023, pumping rights in the Monkhill unit have been cut by 24 percent. This is because groundwater levels are dropping precipitously and the Watermaster Board is trying to stabilize the groundwater basin.
With respect to imported water, the Colorado River is in dire trouble. Because the Colorado River supplies water to multiple states and to Mexico, the US Bureau of Reclamation (under the Department of Interior) regulates the river. The Bureau has told the Lower Basin States (California, Nevada and Arizona) to find a way to reduce their withdrawals from the river by millions of acre feet in order to avoid complete collapse of the river. We are close to losing hydropower generated at the dams on the river. This year, the State Water Project is delivering 100 percent of water requests. Last year the amount was 5 percent. Storage accounts of Northern California water have been depleted and there is an all-out effort to replace that water that will supply water during the next shortage years.
It is imperative that we continue to use water as efficiently as possible. This allows for greater storage of water for the next set of dry years. Failing that, we will have hard core rationing." Please do not adopt level 1 watering. We should not do certain things just because we can. It is more important to be thoughtful and prepare for the future.
Thank you for your consideration,
Kathy Berlin
Pasadena resident
5/8/2023
Item 16
1 McMillan, Acquanette (Netta)
From: Machiko Yasuda
Sent: Monday, May 8, 2023 11:14 AM
To: PublicComment-AutoResponse
Cc: Hampton, Tyron; Williams, Felicia; Jones, Justin; Masuda, Gene; Rivas, Jessica; Madison, Steve; Lyon, Jason; Gordo, Victor
Subject: • Agenda Item 16 - Please Support Water Conservation!• Some people who received this message don't often get email from earn why this is important [A1 CAUTION: This email was delivered from the Internet. Do not click links or open attachments unless you know the content is safe. Report phish using the Phish Alert Button. Learn more...
Dear Mayor Gordo and Members of the Pasadena City Council, As a local constituent concerned about Pasadena's water supply, 1 urge the Council to maintain existing water conservation policies for outdoor use.
Despite a year of historic rains the Raymond Basin remains heavily depleted after decades of unsustainable extraction. This "water bank" under the City is our insurance policy for dry days ahead, which the best available science underlines we should expect in the future.
Rather than rolling back the City's existing outdoor watering guidance, please make water conservation the norm in Pasadena. Now is the time to encourage more residents to adopt beautiful, drought-tolerant, biodiversity-friendly landscaping
Thank you for your service to the Pasadena community,
5/8/2023
Item 16
McMillan, Acquanette (Netta)
From: Brad Wallace
Sent: Monday, May 8, 2023 11:18 AM
To: PublicComment-AutoResponse
Subject: PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR MAY 8, 2023 Some people who received this message don't often get email from. Learn why this is important [A1 CAUTION: This email was delivered from the Internet. Do not click links or open attachments unless you know the content is safe. Report phish using the Phish Alert Button. Learn more...
I work very hard to reduce our irrigation and water usage at my HOA. I am strongly opposed to the temporary lifting of watering restrictions in the city. The people of Pasadena need a strong message that California is still in drought and we should not let down our guard due to a single season of heavy rains. We need to keep our resolve. Please maintain the watering restrictions.
Brad Wallace
President of the Villa San Pasqual I HOA
5/8/2023
Item 16
McMillan, Acquanette (Netta)
From: Marc Futernick
Sent: Monday, May 8, 2023 11:57 AM
To: PublicComment-AutoResponse
Subject: Agenda item #16
Some people who received this message don't often get email from Learn why this is important [/A1 CAUTION: This email was delivered from the Internet. Do not click links or open attachments unless you know the content is safe. Report phish using the Phish Alert Button. Learn more....
Hi. I oppose relaxing the current water restrictions in Pasadena. One wet winter doesn't change how important it is for us to conserve water and plan for our future, which is likely to be dry. Water is an incredibly valuable resource and should not be wasted. Continue conserving. Do not go backward.
Thank you,
Marc
Marc Futernick, MD
Emergency Physician
Podcast: Climate Clinic - tune-in!
https://open.spotify.com/show/3ebfQ8U51c9pEBpH70KC7C?si=JX4s-Wf7SGilVWMQ2swYqw&nd=1 The Journal of Climate Change and Health, Managing Editor www.journals.elsevier.com/the-journal-of-climate-change-and-health Climate Resolve, Board of Directors
www.climateresolve.org
Medical Societies Consortium on Climate and Health, ACEP Representative https://medsocietiesforclimatehealth.org
5/8/2023
Item 16
1 McMillan, Acquanette (Netta)
From: Tim Brick
Sent: Monday, May 8, 2023 12:04 PM
To: PublicComment-AutoResponse
Cc: Hampton, Tyron; Williams, Felicia; Jones, Justin; Masuda, Gene; Rivas, Jessica; Madison, Steve; Lyon, Jason; Gordo, Victor
Subject: Agenda Item 16 - Promote a Conservation Mandate AI CAUTION: This email was delivered from the Internet. Do not click links or open attachments unless you know the content is safe. Report phish using the Phish Alert Button. Learn more...
ARROYO SECO FOUNDATION
RE: Agenda Item 16 - Please Support Water Conservation! TO: [email protected]
CC: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Dear Mayor Gordo and Members of the Pasadena City Council, The narrow focus on watering lawns one day a week or two demeans the urgency of the water crisis.
Conservation needs to be a way of life, and Pasadena needs to take bold steps to reduce consumption, replenish the Raymond Basin, and take on the challenges of dwindling supplies and climate change. • Landscape Transformation - The most effective way to reduce consumption is to promote a movement for nature-based landscaping using native plants that require minimal water, are spectacularly beautiful, and enhance biodiversity.
• UnPave Pasadena - Pasadena should incentivize the reduction and elimination of paved areas and the use of rainwater harvesting and stormwater best management practices (stream restoration, bioswales, etc.) to help replenish the dwindling Raymond Groundwater Basin. • Recycling and Greywater - Get real about recycling and greywater; reduce the use of potable water for landscape irrigation.
• Public engagement - Pasadena should establish a long-term community education and involvement campaign that avoids mixed messages and unapologetically promotes the conservation mandate.
Hahamongna Native Plant Nursery, which the Arroyo Seco Foundation (ASF) operates in Hahamongna Watershed Park, is a tremendous resource for promoting conservation-based landscaping, habitat restoration, and public education.
ASF is hopeful about the new leadership at Pasadena Water & Power. We would like to partner with PWP and other community organizations to meet the long-term water challenge now and for future generations. Please let us know how you would like to participate.
Tim Brick
5/8/2023
Item 16
Tim Brick
Executive Director
(626) 492-2884
Arroyo Seco Foundation, PO Box 91622, Pasadena, CA 91109-1622 www.arroyoseco.org 2 McMillan, Acquanette (Netta)
From: Christopher Yeh
Sent: Monday, May 8, 2023 1:17 PM
To: PublicComment-AutoResponse
Cc: Hampton, Tyron; Williams, Felicia; Jones, Justin; Masuda, Gene; Rivas, Jessica; Madison, Steve; Lyon, Jason; Gordo, Victor
Subject: Agenda Item 16 - In support of Water Conservation! • Some people who received this message don't often get email from i. Learn why this is important [AI CAUTION: This email was delivered from the Internet. Do not click links or open attachments unless you know the content is safe. Report phish using the Phish Alert Button. Learn more....
Dear Mayor Gordo and Members of the Pasadena City Council, As a PhD student at Caltech studying environmental sustainability, I am concerned about Pasadena's water supply. I urge the Council to maintain existing water conservation policies for outdoor use.
An estimated 60% of local water use goes towards landscaping. Rather than rolling back the City's existing outdoor watering guidance, please make water conservation the norm in Pasadena. Now is the time to encourage more residents to adopt beautiful, drought-tolerant, biodiversity-friendly landscaping and reduce the use of freshwater in landscaping.
Thank you for your service to the Pasadena community.
Sincerely,
Christopher Yeh
Caltech PhD student living in Pasadena
5/8/2023
Item 16
McMillan, Acquanette (Netta)
From: Kitty Kroger
Sent: Monday, May 8, 2023 2:20 PM
To: PublicComment-AutoResponse
Cc: Hampton, Tyron; Williams, Felicia; Jones, Justin; Masuda, Gene; Rivas, Jessica; Madison, Steve; Lyon, Jason; Gordo, Victor
Subject: Vote NO on Agenda Item 16
[A] CAUTION: This email was delivered from the Internet. Do not click links or open attachments unless you know the content is safe. Report phish using the Phish Alert Button. Learn more... https://mydoit.cityofpasadena.net/sp?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0010263>.
Dear Mayor Gordo and City Council Members,
I urge you to vote NO on Agenda Item 16 to roll back the 15% water reduction goal and to allow watering three times per week instead of two.
It would be shortsighted (if not foolhardy) to make these changes. All scientific evidence points to continuing drought--not to mention the current depletion of the Raymond Basin, massive reduction of water in the Colorado River, and our groundwater aquifers remaining depleted.
The retraction of the current 15% reduction goal and the restriction on watering would imply to the public that water supply is not at risk, that we don't face a future of more intense droughts, and that we are back to normal. This would indeed fly in the face of our real need, as indicated by your vote to declare a climate emergency, to stand up to this emergency and do everything we can to educate the public about the oncoming dangers and need for conservation. For example, what about holding workshops in drought-tolerant landscaping? What about messages explaining in graphs and diagrams where we get our water and how much it has declined in the past twenty years? Thank you so much for reading and considering this letter.
Kathryn Kroger
Pasadena 91106
5/8/2023
Item 16
McMillan, Acquanette (Netta)
From: Pilar Reynaldo
Sent: Monday, May 8, 2023 3:15 PM
To: PublicComment-AutoResponse
Cc: Hampton, Tyron; Williams, Felicia; Jones, Justin; Masuda, Gene; Rivas, Jessica; Madison, Steve; Lyon, Jason; Gordo, Victor
Subject: • Agenda Item 16 - Please Support Water Conservation!• [A] CAUTION: This email was delivered from the Internet. Do not click links or open attachments unless you know the content is safe. Report phish using the Phish Alert Button. Learn more...<https://mydoit.cityofpasadena.net/sp?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0010263>.
Dear Mayor Gordo and Members of the Pasadena City Council, As a local constituent concerned about Pasadena's water supply, I urge the Council to maintain existing water conservation policies for outdoor use.
Despite a year of historic rains the Raymond Basin remains heavily depleted after decades of unsustainable extraction. This "water bank" under the City is our insurance policy for dry days ahead, which the best available science underlines we should expect in the future.
Rather than rolling back the City's existing outdoor watering guidance, please make water conservation the norm in Pasadena. Now is the time to encourage more residents to adopt beautiful, drought-tolerant, biodiversity-friendly landscaping.
Thank you for your service to the Pasadena community,
Pilar Reynaldo
5/8/2023
Item 16
McMillan, Acquanette (Netta)
From: Kathy Kunysz
Sent: Monday, May 8, 2023 3:35 PM
To: PublicComment-AutoResponse
Subject: Council agenda item 16.
[Some people who received this message don't often get email from . Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderldentification] [AI CAUTION: This email was delivered from the Internet. Do not click links or open attachments unless you know the content is safe. Report phish using the Phish Alert Button. Learn more...<https://mydoit.cityofpasadena.net/sp?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0010263>.
Dear Pasadena City Council,
I live in Altadena, but receive water service from Pasadena. I'm a retiree of Metropolitan Water District.
The proposal to allow increased landscape irrigation is not in our best interest. We must continue to conserve water.
Pasadena's water rights in the Raymond Basin have been reduced 24 percent in the Monkhill sub basin and 30 percent in the Pasadena sub basin due to declining water levels. The State Water Project is in surplus this year, but the Colorado River is in shortage for the foreseeable future. Storage of imported water and groundwater has been depleted throughout the State.
It is prudent to continue with conservation and to store as much water as possible for future dry years. If we do not conserve now, we will likely be faced with rationing in the near future.
Please vote NO on item 16.
Thank you,
Kathy Kunysz
Altadena
5/8/2023
Item 16