COUNCIL WATCH…
A Report on Council

Notes and commentary on the 6-1-09
Petaluma Council Meeting presented by the Council Watch Team of Petaluma Tomorrow


Agenda Item: 3A. Unfinished Business
Resolution Approving the Unit Development Plan and Development Standards and Adoption (second Reading) of Ordinance 2325 N.C.S. Approval of Rezoning to a Planned Unit District (PUD) for Logan Place Located at 1200 Petaluma Boulevard North, APN 019-020-013, Project File No. 08-Spc-0525-CR. Continued from the May 18th City Council Meeting.

Council Comments and Votes: Adopted Unanimously by the City Council.

Agenda Item 2.C.
Resolution Declaring a Water Shortage Emergency and Implementing Stage 1 Voluntary Conservation of the City’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan.

What's at Stake: There are three factors currently affecting Petaluma’s water supply and prompting the City Staff to recommend a Stage 1 voluntary reduction in water usage: 1) A biological opinion which limits the monthly maximum summer flow, which was determined to be too high for engaged species; 2) State Order Board Decision 1610 adopted 1986, which limits flow requirements to reduce the Russian River diversion by twenty-five (25%) to save Lake Mendocino, and; 3) Sonoma County Water Agency’s (SCWA) water transportation system is impaired. In addition to the reduced water supply, SCWA’s rates went up eleven (11%) percent in 2008 and ten percent (10%) in 2009. Rates continue to rise while supply has gone down.

Council Comments and Votes:
Glass emphasized the need for water recycling and pointed out that as Petaluma’s population has grown, our water consumption has decreased. He noted that Senator Diane Feinstein is working on securing six (6) million dollars in stimulus funds for water recycling programs. City staff noted that recycling programs would be able to start approximately two (2) years from receipt of any stimulus funds.
Renee commented that contaminants and water quality were also factors affecting availability of water and that the reduction in water flows were used to maintain water quality. She asked if there would be tiered pricing for water which would reward those residents who use less water and voiced concerns about the use of the City’s ground water supplies.
City staff responded that at some level, all tiers of water users could potentially see increases in water rates.
Barrett shared Renee’s concerns over the use of City ground water and in response to former City Council member Bryant Moynihan’s public comment on this agenda item, noted that in order to determine whether or not the ground water was safer than recycled water, testing would have to be done. She noted that we need to take the concerns regarding hormones and pharmaceuticals in our water supplies
seriously and was looking for ways to expand the pilot pharmaceutical recycling program through the Medicine Shoppe.
Healy stated that the recommendation for Stage 1 Voluntary Conservation was a superior alternative to raising rates.
Rabbit voiced support of the City’s water recycling programs and asked City Staff if water costs continued to rise, would it be more cost effective to use well water for watering playing fields at parks on the west side of town.
City staff commented that any ground water pumped into the City’s water system could not be a dedicated source for any one area. In response to Moynihan’s public comment, City Staff also clarified that Santa Rosa’s water recycling program was halted due to lack of funds, not due to safety concerns regarding the recycled water.

The Resolution was adopted unanimously by the City Council.

5 A. PUBLIC HEARING
Resolution Amending the FY 2008 Community Development Grant Action Plan to Allocate an Additional $93,164 through the HUD Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

What’s at Stake: These are American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 grant funds that are to be used for “shovel ready” projects that further economic investment, increased energy efficiency and/or increase job creation/ retention. They will be used to install low flow toilets, repair irrigation systems, and install water efficient dishwashers in two Eden Housing affordable housing projects.

There was no public comment on this item and the City Council voted unanimously to adopt the resolution.

I'm skeptical,but this report does not seem bias, good clean facts w/out favortism. Hope it is the same when hot button issues come up so debates can be held in the comment section. Thanks for this info on happpenings at the last meeting.

king01 - i agree w/ you completely...for the first time ever, i think it is a straight up report w/ no bias. good to read when there is no slant! i too hand out the thank you!