Water Subcommittee Meeting Minutes
January 26, 2022
Via Zoom
Mayor Pro Tem Scott called meeting to order: 10:02 am (Recording started at 10:10)
Subcommittee Members / City Staff:
Mayor Deborah Robertson
Mayor Pro Tem Ed Scott
Marcus Fuller, City Manager
Robert Messinger, Assistant City Attorney
Tom Crowley, Utilities Manager
Angela Perry, Council & City Manager’s Executive Assistant
Other Attendees
June Hayes, Commissioner
Steve Dopudja, Consultant
Rolf Ohlemutz, RWS
Sonia Axter, Ullico
Peter Luchetti, Table Rock
Megan Matson, Table Rock
Joey Soto, Soto Resources
Jennifer Nevius, Soto Resources
Public Comments: None
Minutes: November 17, 2021, minutes – Accepted for the record.
1. WS-22-061 Water and Wastewater Grant Opportunities and Submittals Tom began presentation. Joey Soto and Jennifer Nevius are from Soto Resources Jennifer gave the PowerPoint Presentation regarding 2022 Grant Update
Committee Comments/Recommendations
Mayor Pro Tem Scott asked Tom if he was aware of a cistern at a residential home? The building department has discovered a resident with a cistern instead of a septic system.
There may be more in the same neighborhood. May need to ask for separate funding for that. Mayor Pro Tem Scott said, cisterns should be a separate category to request funding because it’s a much more detail clean up than just removing a septic system.
Mayor Robertson wants to know if anyone had conversations with the county or coordination with them in terms of what grants are they going to pursue.
Tom said they had a meeting with the Supervisor and his staff, and he followed up with some maps, however he has not had any follow up from them. She said what about West Valley, he said that he spoke to them about the elementary school being on septic. Mayor Robertson directed City Manager to start a dialogue with these other agencies. Maybe ask for an official meeting with the County. Mayor Pro Tem Scott said it was his impression that the Supervisor Baca was open to working with us on going after money for the county pockets in the county area. He added, the area that I think Supervisor felt almost an impossibility without some huge infusion of money was Bloomington.
Marcus said how do we accomplish the onsite connections. He said we have the challenge of how we find the funding. Are there grants to help homeowners pay for the connections. Mayor Robertson mentioned that she attended Mayors Water Council meeting in DC and one of topics was regarding the issue about led pipes; they recognized the costs and burden of changing the lead pipes for the communities. Moreover, septic tanks and areas under the appropriation of recognition. Mayor Robertson said that there was a discussion about having funds available to assist the property owner s with the connection and the indoor plumbing. She said that the problem is that they have not defined or written the guideline s for those bills. Marcus and she will get on the phone with Jamie Jones regarding this.
Mayor Roberson said that all the funds that come out for infrastructure, especially water, need to go directly to the communities. We need to stop having them navigate through a federal direction to the state. The state only delays the process and the ability to put the money and the dollars directly to these issues. She said that we need to focus on the disadvantage communities.
Tom said, during the conversations with the State Water Resources Control on the S RF funding for severely disadvantage communities, they said, if we could create a standalone project that would incorporate all the SDACs and DACs, that would be the most beneficial.
Moreover, if we can consolidate into a single project grant application, we can potentially get a loan forgiven and it would be at no cost. He added, one of the questions we asked them specifically, was the cost on site ? The comment back was , if we as the agency either did the work or provide the funding to a contractor ; they could incorporate that onsite work in the SR fund grant application.
Could get the onsite work included. Peter said they have access to SR F funding, the purple and light purple areas of the map, from power point, could be accommodated for a full forgiveness of the loan. For the WIFIA loan they have funding for the green area on the map, from power point, but it wouldn’t be forgiven. He added, it’s a low-cost loan, and according to his analysis on what could be for a typical homeowner to support something like this over a 30 - or 40-year repayment period. He said it would be between $15 and $25 a month for 30 years added to their water bill if they would not get the forgiveness.
These charges will be added to parties who did not qualify for a low-income status.
Mayor Robertson said, we assume that most of homeowners have le ad piping, but it is hard for us to know if there is still lead piping in the home because they have to be tested from the tap water. She asked, how do we address that? She added, led piping is the number one national prior ity. Mayor Robertson said, the houses on Base line, between Acacia Ave. and Eucalyptus Ave on the north side, they probably have led piping.
Mayor Robertson told Jennifer, regarding the 50% match, we need to have a partner.
Mayor Pro Tem Scott said, Tom’s comments including the house connections, i s a very costly proposition. He said taking the connection from 10k and raise it up to 30k, is a big bill. He believes that we have to find other programs to pay for connections.
Mayor Pro Tem asked, is there any harm to going after both projects or do we have better odds for going after Rialto Lake? Tom said that we should possibly go with the Rialto Lake project. He feels that we can put together a good grant application. Mayor Robertson said o ne of the big things that needs to be addressed for disadvantage communities, is contamination. She said the maps that Tom and his team put together for some of the septic issues are within the county pocket areas.
Tom said, we can do that one specifically because we are further along with that and continue to go after DAC funding for that project. Mayor Robertson said that the map on the power point does not show any areas of disadvantage communities. Tom agrees with the Mayor and explained the areas on the map.
Mayor pointed the elementary school located in the same area perhaps in the city boundaries. She said open the door for the work that has already been done. We already have information; she doesn’t want to leave it on the shelf.
Tom concluded by saying, they will go after the project area for sewer to septic and pursue Lake Rialto. Additionally, they are going to focus on the remaining SDACs and DACs toward the state water resources control part, SRF funds; they will create a project for that area. Mayor Robertson said, if we get one project done with BDP, it will underscore the point a lot of mayors were making last week. She added, it takes an endless amount of bureaucracy time to get something out of the shops so people can get going.
2. WS-22-062 Submittal of Projects for State Funding.
Tom and Marcus presented this.
This is Eloise Reyes’ request for a list of projects.
Committee Comments/Recommendations
Mayor Robertson said possibly the Microgrid. Peter said that they have the CIP projects; they aren’t short on projects. Mayor Pro Tem Scott asked if they had something that’s shovel ready at the plant. 30% design on the Microgrid project. Mayor Robertson agreed.
Megan and Peter will get back with Tom. Peter is developing a presentation to discuss with Marcus and Tom to bring to Subcommittee. Risk of raising rates. We should lock in interest rates. Can we consider some of the upstream?
Marcus is forwarding email to Peter and Megan and asked them to put something together.
3. WS-22-063 Amendment No. 1 to Professional Services Agreement with Dopudja & Wells Consulting for Lake Rialto Final Design Services and Concession Agreement Support.
Tom gave presentation. Steve prepared a proposal (shown on screen)
Committee Comments/Recommendations
Mayor Robertson commented that she hasn’t seen architectural conceptual of what the presenter is envisioning, where the restroom will be located. Moreover, there is a layout missing. She added, we agreed that we have to figure out a pathway to Agua Mansa and the relationship with the trail. Regarding restroom facilities, Steve said that he will send the Mayor concepts to review, these are more permanent type facilities for restrooms. In terms of access, Steve replied that there are 2 types of access, one is t he individual resident and the second is the school bus. He explained, there is not too much room on site for parking. He said that they will coordinate with the county on that access road that is adjacent to flood control. Steve explained different alternatives for parking access.
Marcus mentioned that there was an inquiry about a piece of land by the water park.
Tom answered, th ere is a 4-acre property located at the entrance of the wastewater treatment plant. Tom mentioned that the property is on sale for $14m.
Mayor Pro Tem Scott said we should enter into some discussions with them. Mayor Robertson asked if there was an agreement with Energia, she said we need to look at it.
Mayor asked Marcus to see what they are proposing; He will talk with the subcommittee members offline.
Side Note
The Committee said to move forward with Steve’s contract at the next Council meeting.
Tom said he has to do an RFP for the environmental. He said they will need a CEQA process for the Microgrid and Lake Rialto. Mayor Robertson said that she wants to see a scheduled milestone. She asked, what is the time frame for finishing the CEQA? Tom said the CEQA should be completed by the end of May, and construction at the beginning of the end of this year if we have funding.
5. WS-22-065 Approval of the City of Rialto’s share to develop the Rialto Basin Groundwater Council Groundwater Management Plan.
Tom gave presentation on the Rialto Basin Ground Water Council Management Plan City’s share $53,750.00 developing a Ground Water Development Plan
Committee Comments/Recommendations
Committee said to move forward.
Tom gave details about the project from Stetson Engineers. He said, their proposal was a total of $197, 600 , contingency was added to the project; the total project budget was $215,000. The budget will be split in four ways equally between West Valley, City of Rialto Water, City of Colton, and Fontana Water Company. The city share is $53,750. He said that he wanted to do an official approval of expending the $53,750 for accomplishing the development of the ground water management plan.
Mayor Robertson said, our recommendation is to move forward.
June Hayes asked Tom to bring information on the Groundwater Council to the Utility Commission. He will.
Marcus asked Tom if there is a join t agreement. Tom replied, no, it is a Budget Resolution. Mayor asked if there is anything else that we need to share in cost? Tom said, right now this is the only cost share that is identif ied. Moreover, there is no other expenses at this point.
6. WS-22-066 Professional Services Agreement with Water Systems Consulting, Inc. for Preparation of the US Bureau of Reclamation Drought Contingency Plan and Outreach Support Assistance.
Tom presented this PSA
Committee Comments/Recommendations
Committee said to move forward.
7. WS-22-067 Annual National Mayors Challenge for Water Conservation April 1 - 30, 2022.
Mayor lead this conversation.
June would like to have Tom put this on the Utility Commission Agenda.
Committee Comments/Recommendations
Mayor Robertson said that she would like us to get ahead of this. Our role that we play with Veolia. She wants us to see if we can get a better coordination with the school district.
She is concerned that people don’t understand that Veolia is RWS. She would hope that we can secure the trailer from Wyland. Everyone onboard. Get information out to all the members on the committee to help get the word out. Marcus will have us setup a meeting with everyone, including the subcontractors.
4. WS-22-064 Inland Empire Utilities Authority (IEUA) Principles of Agreement/Effluent Update.
Steve Dopudja gave this presentation with PowerPoint.
Committee Comments/Recommendations
Mayor Robertson wants to see what we can do to help them meet their goal of Fall of 2022. Mayor was wondering if the EPA will be handling where the pipe goes in . Mayor Robertson expressed her concerns about the negative impact to disadvantage communities. Marcus said to make sure that the last action required by Council has to happen by the last meeting in September, earlier would be better.
Mayor said we should look at us purchasing a well, similar to what Irvine Ranch has done.
UPDATES:
1. WS-22-068 EPA/Emhart’s Source Area Operable Unit (Combined Remedy).
Tom gave the presentation.
Committee Comments/Recommendations
No comments from the committee.
2. WS-22-069 PFOA and PFOS Testing at Rialto Well No. 5.
Tom gave the presentation
Committee Comments/Recommendations
Tom said, the Well No. 5 is being utilized as a monitoring well; they are not using it as a production well because all the production rights are allocated to Rialto Well No. 3 for the combined remedy project. He will present this information to the Utilities Commission as well. No additional comments.
3. WS-22-070 North Riverside Avenue Paving Project - Utilities Update.
Tom gave the presentation
Committee Comments/Recommendations
Marcus said they started this morning, but that we are working with them to get all permits.
He stated that, he and Tom are aggressively pursuing West Valley Water District, and need for them to be proactive. They will have an internal meeting with their staff. If the meeting goes poorly, Marcus will schedule a meeting with Mayor Robertson, Mayor Pro Tem Scott, and their board members to come to an understanding of what are their requirements.
Additional item.
Mayor shared an article on the Triton magazine.
Mayor Robertson suggested a partnership with our schools.
Mayor Robertson and Marcus have been talking about the possibility to track peaks to anticipate COVID. She said, we need to think about how we can put information and monitor through the sewer system; the level of the possibility of COVID outbreak.
Mayor Robertson added, this is important information that it should be updated.
She wants to know if we have the mobility to go even further and isolate the points where things may be coming, or do we just have one massive sewer line, and all comes into one? Mayor Robertson referred to the Triton’s article and said that San Diego Unified School District became the pilot, where they can be able to isolate and track students on campus and locate COVID outbreaks.
Mayor Robertson wants to make sure the Rialto City’s data is showing consistency with what is reporting on our community. She said the sewer water would be the ideal place to begin to indicate the health of our community.
Tom share d a document of the results from the treatment plant on COVID. Mayor suggested that we do something with the schools on their plan. She said there could be some grant opportunities.
Next Water Subcommittee Meetings
February 23, 2022
March 23, 2022
Adjournment: 12:16 pm.