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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.17.2016 WB Minutes Regular Mtgi B A K E R S F I E L D MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE WATER BOARD - CITY OF BAKERSFIELD Wednesday, February 17, 2016 - 2:00 p.m. Water Resources Building Conference Room 1000 Buena Vista Road, Bakersfield, CA 93311 CALL TO ORDER Chairman Hanson called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL Present: Chairman Hanson, Member Smith, Member Maxwell Absent: None 3, MINUTES A. Minutes of the Regular Meeting of January 27, 2016 for approval Motion by Maxwell to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of January 27, 2016. APPROVED, ALL AYES 4. PUBLIC STATEMENTS John Ryan, Water Resources Hydrographic Supervisor, introduced Jacob Price from Troop 484, who is working on his Citizenship in the Community Merit Badge and Bill Price, Scout Master. 5. KERN RIVER LEVEE DISTRICT - None 6. REPORTS A. Kern River & Isabella Reservoir Operations Report, John Ryan, Hydrographic Supervisor, reviewed the operations graphs and stated the current Isabella storage is at 39,677 acre feet; inflow in the basin is up due to the recent storm, The outflow is up and is expected to remain static at 325 second feet, which is the power flow requirement for Edison Company, Mr, Ryan reviewed the snow pack accumulation graph and stated last week the State of California Department of Water Resources published the B120 Forecast for the Kern River. The initial forecast was for 75% of normal at 350,000 acre feet, last Thursday they updated the forecast and dropped it to Bakersfield, California, February 17, 2016 - Page 2 6. REPORTS continued A. 70% of normal or 330,000 acre feet, The forecast is expected to drop about 4% and the warm temperatures in the basin will play havoc, The current storm is forecasted to bring in approximately six inches of snow, Information only, no action taken. B. Update on Water Usage in the City's Domestic Water Service Area for January 2016. Jason Meadors, Water Resources Director, stated staff calculated the monthly water reduction for January 2016 vs. January 2013. The City is at 11% reduction, which is well below the 36% needed to achieve the target set by the state and disappointing, Mr. Meadors stated there has not been a lot of house irrigation that occurred. The cumulative savings for our system is 27.9 %, short of the 369/o target. The state is looking at our savings through February 29, 2016 and our conservation goal is 36 %. Staff recently learned that the state is going to adjust that goal to 32% for the City of Bakersfield. One thing to note is that 2015 and 2016 numbers are being compared to year 2013 numbers. In this three year time period, total residential connections have increased by 2,600 and contributed to the decrease in our conservation reductions. Information only, no action taken. Art Chianello, Water Resources Manager, stated he agrees with Mr. Meadors report. Since January approximately 70% of our water is used for outside irrigation, about 30% is used for inside use, If everyone has their sprinklers practically turned off for January it is harder to conserve and get the numbers up. It is disappointing and we still need to be diligent and continue to get the message out for conservation. Mr. Chianello stated we are still in a drought and still under emergency regulations, C. Report on State Water Resources Control Board's Extended Water Conservation Regulation, Art Chianello, Water Resources Manager, gave a brief update and stated the current water conservation regulations that we are following by the State of California were slated to expire the end of February 2016, On February 2, 2016 the State Water Resources Control Board adopted revised emergency conservation regulations effective thru October 2016, In the revised regulations it is important to note that the state made a few changes that help out urban water suppliers. The two changes that help Bakersfield are an adjustment for climate and an adjustment for population growth. Those details are talked about more on the State's fact sheet, There are a few other provisions that help water suppliers, but those adjustments do not apply to the City. Another adjustment is recycled water for potable use, The City has disinfected tertiary use water, but it is not quite potable water, Staff did write letters to the state requesting a credit for non - potable tertiary treated water, The City is not able to get a credit for that right now. All the urban water purveyors would be in the same conservation target, but then the purveyors would be able to get credits or deductions based on a few methodologies that the state has adopted. For the City it would be climate adjustment because Bakersfield is in a warmer, dryer climate. Our calculations show the Bakersfield, California, February 17, 2016 - Page 3 6. REPORTS continued C. City would get a climate reduction of a -3 %. A second reduction available is for population growth. Looking at our population growth and other factors, the City is able to get another reduction of 1%, That would give the City's domestic service area an overall credit of 4 %, so now the new standard is going to be 32% rather than 36 %. Member Smith stated he read that the 32% was the maximum reduction; but you say you could go up 8 0/o? Art Chianello, Water Resources Manager, stated the early draft proposal was a ceiling cap of 4 9/o. The City of Bakersfield and other agencies transmitted comments to the State Water Resources Control Board and they revised the adopted upper cap from 4% to 8 %. 7. HEARINGS - None 8. DEFERRED BUSINESS 9. NEW BUSINESS 10. MISCELLANEOUS 11. WATER BOARD STATEMENTS Art Chianello, Water Resources Manager, introduced Joe Navarro, the new Water Resources Department Business Manager, Chairman Hanson recognized Dennis Fox, who spoke regarding an article by our Congressman regarding elimination of the salmon; and also stated that the Fish and Game Commission will possibly hold a meeting here during this summer. Chairman Hanson thanked Water Resources staff for stepping -up and doing an outstanding job with a limited staff, due to recent retirements. 12. CLOSED SESSION A. Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation Closed Session pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9(d)(1) (One matter) North Kern Storage District v. City of Bakersfield Ventura County Superior Court Case No. 56 -2011- 00408712- CU- CO -VTA Court Appeal - Second Appellate District - Division Six - Civil No. B260065 Recess to Closed Session at 2;18 p.m. Closed Session was adjourned at 2;45 p.m. 13 Bakersfield, California, February 17, 2016 - Page 4 CLOSED SESSION ACTION Virginia Gennaro, City Attorney, stated there was no reportable action on Closed Session Item 12, A. 14, ADJOURNMENT Chairman Hanson adjourned the meeting at 2;45 p,m, 2 _ Harol , Hanson;, Chairman` City of Bakersfield Water Board Bobbie Zarago a, C C Secretary, City o Ba ersfield Water Board