Water Subcommittee Meeting Minutes
March 23, 2022
Via Zoom
Mayor Robertson called meeting to order: 10:05 am
Subcommittee Members / City Staff:
Mayor Deborah Robertson – Absent
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
Steve Dopudja, Consultant
Peter Lucetti, Table Rock – in person
Megan Matson, Table Rock – on phone
Rolf Ohlemutz, RWS
Sonia Axter, Ullico – on phone
Evan Kominsky, Ullico – in person
Public Comments: None
Minutes: January 26, 2021, minutes – No issues, so they moved on
1. WS-22-274 Review of Water and Wastewater Capital Improvement Projects and Financial Options
Tom went through the provided PowerPoint.
Committee Comments/Recommendations
Mayor Pro Tem asked Tom, what do we currently have for those projects, in terms of funds? Tom Crowley answered, FIP funds for sewer have been all exhausted. WE still have approximately $5.0 in the water FIP. However, we have around $6.5 million funds in the Wastewater development impact fees set aside, and we also have other funds coming. Peter added, over the past 10 years they have collected approximately $9.9 million. in funds, $3.9 million has been allocated to S1. Mayor Pro Tem asked, why the necessity of upsizing the Sycamore sewer main? Tom said that it’s part of the Master Plan.
Mayor Pro Tem asked if the upsizing was due to the Lytle Creek project? Marcus responded to Mayor Pro Tem, he said our current sewer connection fee is about $900/unit, so there are 740 units, it is going to be less than $1 million. when they fully build up Lytle Creek. Mayor Pro Tem asked, why we approve a project if we have to put this kind of capital into? He asked if this was in the original capital improvement plan for the Concession Agreement? Tom said sections on Sycamore and Foothill.
Mayor Pro Tem said, the Lytle Creek project it’s been existing since 1996, we should have planned for this; it should have been part of the Concession Agreement.
He asked, why if we have $6 million, we didn’t move forward with belt presses? Marcus said the wastewater treatment projects are critically; we should work on how to structure in the Concession to move forward. Moreover, look to the SRF as a way of financing it with some of the money we have on hand. Marcus added, he would like Veolia and RWS to start working towards moving a package of projects together for funding. Marcus said, if we are doing a package of projects with SRF, we should include Sycamore upsize. Marcus said, with SRF funding, he needs to make sure the way they bid this to meet their requirements. The Concession has a different bidding process. Marcus wants to know if they need to do the traditional bid process or the Concession’s bid process.
Marcus will work with Tom on the SRF and move forward the 23 projects. It will take 2 years by the time they get financing in place.
MPT wants to know were these projects in the original concession agreement. Tom and Steve said not and explained why it wasn’t. Peter said things have gotten better since the original agreement. MPT asked how will this be paid? Marcus said SRF funding. He asked, have we looked at federal monies? Marcus said, when the city did the complete reconstruction the water lines on the Riverside segment where the old ones; they were not aware of leaks when the construction was going through. Tom and Peter mentioned issues on Sycamore old lines.
Tom said we have 5 million in FIP funds for water. He said for riverside Central that the water lines are not the issues. He said we are not planning to do anything that’s not necessary.
Mayor Pro Tem asked, why it says water main replace project and asked Tom to change the title. Tom said they will reevaluate and reconfirm the 5 million. Marcus said Tom needs to bring a proposal. Mayor Pro Tem said, we need to get with Robert Messinger and look at surplus property.
Sidenote
Tom said that we did not get the funding for City Well 3A. Didn’t have it in the CIP. He said we have enough wells.
June talked about Sterling project; the project has no access for wastewater discharge. She wants to know if the line can provide the money from Valley to help with the well.
Mayor Pro Tem asked Steve and Tom to have Joey Soto look into it. Everything below baseline and south below in pockets, considered severally disadvantage areas. Mayor Pro Tem asked if severely disadvantage communities are based on income. Tom responded, yes. Peter talked about funding. Start application process with WIFIA and SRF.
Mayor Pro Tem asked, what is the time frame for getting the application done? Peter responded, 6–9-month process.
Peter explained the Emergency ORR Fund slide. Peter focused on wanting to change – adding $300,000 a year to an existing budget. Mayor Pro Tem asked Peter where he is getting that increase from. Tom answered, they work on a budget. Mayor Pro Tem wants to know if the Concession Agreement was modified. Peter said, there are no modifications on the Agreement. Tom and Peter explained the reduction on the water.
Mayor Pro Tem said Marcus will give Mayor a summary; he doesn’t see any reason not to bring it forward to Council.
June asked to make sure things come through the Utility Commission. Mayor Pro Tem said he would hope that it would.
3. WS-22-268 Extraterritorial Wastewater Service Agreement with Bloomington Hills, LLC, for the property located at 11279 Cedar Avenue, Bloomington, CA, Assessor’s Parcel Number 0257-101-09-0000.
Tom gave quick presentation
Committee Comments/Recommendations
MPT said to bring it to full Council.
4. WS-22-277 Review EPA Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill.
TABLED
5. WS-22-278 Review Water and Wastewater Plan Review Process.
TABLED
Side Note
June will give presentation regarding Valley funding.
Mayor Pro Tem said she should bring to the full Council. She will work with Marcus and Angie on which meeting.
2. WS-22-275 Consider a Santa Ana River Habitat Conservation Plan Well Site at Rialto’s Wastewater Treatment Plant
Steve gave the presentation.
Committee Comments/Recommendations
Mayor Pro Tem asked if the Riverside North contamination is from thermals. Tom said that he will have to look into that. Mayor Pro Tem asked if West Valley has contaminated wells. Tom said Well 42 and talked about how it’s been treated.
MPT asked, about were the contamination well are.
MPT wants to know who will do the coordination between us and Kinder Morgan. Tom said they will continue to talk with them. Marcus said he hasn’t seen the final agreement.
Steve responded, the agreement just came through and he will send it to Marcus.
UPDATES:
None
Next Water Subcommittee Meetings
April 27, 2022
May’s meeting will need to be changed.
Adjournment: 11:24 pm.