City Council Agenda Report
TO: Mayor Clauzel and Members of the City Council
FROM: Fernando Ulloa, City Manager
BY: Will Barrera,
MEETING DATE: September 16, 2025
ITEM NO: 7.1
SUBJECT: Approve Resolution No. 2025-55 Approving and Authorizing a Well Variance Agreement Between the City of Patterson and James Fairfield for the Replacement of a Domestic Water Well Inside City Limits.
RECOMMENDATION
Motion to Approve Resolution No. 2025-55 Approving and Authorizing a Well Variance Agreement Between the City of Patterson and James Fairfield for the Replacement of a Domestic Water Well Inside City Limits.
BACKGROUND
On August 25, 2025, the property owner, James Fairfield, submitted an application and environmental information form seeking a variance to replace an existing domestic water well located at 741 Rose Avenue. The well currently servicing the property has sustained significant structural failure at the wellhead, including visible cracking that has rendered the structure unrepairable by standard methods. In addition, the water quality has deteriorated, with elevated nitrogen levels and high sediment content that require constant filtration and treatment. These conditions have made the well unserviceable and unreliable for continued domestic use.
Under Patterson Municipal Code Section 13.20.010, the installation of water wells within the city limits is generally prohibited, with the sole exception of wells installed by the Patterson Water Company (City). However, the Code provides a process for granting variances in cases where strict application of the regulation would result in unnecessary hardship and outcomes inconsistent with the overall purpose of City policies. While this request is not a zoning matter, the variance process is being utilized to evaluate and approve the proposal. The applicant is seeking a variance to construct a replacement well to provide water exclusively for domestic use and residential irrigation at the existing single-family home on the property.
Notably, the applicant and the City previously entered into the “Ivy Rose Agreement” (DOC2025-0004429) as part of the Zacharias Annexation, which outlined conditions for connection to the City's water and sewer systems. That agreement acknowledged the potential for the applicant to replace or repair the well if it failed. The current variance request aligns with the scope of that prior agreement.
ANALYSIS
The proposed well will be shallow in design and will match the specifications of the existing well to avoid increasing its operational capacity. The variance includes strict limitations on use, including an annual production cap of 651,702 gallons and a prohibition against distributing water to third parties. The Owner is required to install a flow meter and submit annual water usage reports to the City to ensure ongoing compliance. Upon completion of the new well, the existing well must be destroyed in accordance with state and county environmental health regulations.
City staff has reviewed the environmental information provided and determined that the project qualifies for a Notice of Exemption under CEQA due to its minimal environmental impact and limited scope. The well is being installed for domestic use only and restrictions in the agreement ensure that it will not lead to significant impacts on groundwater resources. The proposed Agreement includes all necessary safeguards and compliance mechanisms.
This variance does not set a precedent for future approvals; each variance is considered independently, and the unique facts of this case, particularly the existence of the prior Ivy Rose Agreement and the irreparable condition of the current well, justify this limited and conditional authorization.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the City resulting from the approval of this Well Variance Agreement. The applicant paid a total of $1,106 in application and processing fees to cover staff time for review of the variance request, environmental documentation and preparation of the agreement and accompanying resolution.