Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/09/2007 - Study SessionCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH City Council Minutes Study Session January 9, 2007 — 4:00 pan. ROLL CALL Present: Council Member Henn, Mayor Pro Tem Selich, Council Member Webb, Council Member Gardner Excused: Council Member Curry, Mayor Rosansky, Council Member Daigle Council Member Daigle arrived at 4:08 p.m. and Mayor Rosansky arrived at 4:10 p.m. 1. CLARIFICATION OF ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR - None. 2. RUNOFF REDUCTION PROGRAM: WEATHER -BASED IRRIGATION CONTROLLERS AND IRRIGATION AND LANDSCAPE ORDINANCE. 1100 -20071 Principal Civil Engineer Stein provided the staff report and utilized a PowerPoint presentation to display and discuss the large dry weather flows in the coastal canyons, particularly in Buck Gully and Pelican Hill. He confirmed that a lot of the runoff is subsurface runoff due to over irrigation. He reported that the City has already conducted source identification and will now be working on encouraging property owners to install $500 to $600 SmarTimer irrigation controllers. He added that the Pelican Hill Community Association has been very cooperative and is currently installing controllers and working with the City to monitor flows. He reported that the City is working with the Irvine Ranch Water District (IRWD) and the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) relative to the quality control elements of the program. In response to Council questions, Principal Civil Engineer Stein reported that this program differs from the IRWD program in that it focuses on the residences. He noted that about five SmarTimer products have been certified by the landscaping industry, but the City is encouraging the use of the product that has been successfully tested by the Metropolitan Water District (MWD); however, other products may be looked at as the City progresses in the program. He noted that MWDOC has a grant that sponsors the rebate program, and the City also utilizes a grant from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and funds from IRWD. He agreed that the systems need to be monitored to ensure they are performing properly. He reported that the City has asked Hydropoint to monitor water usage so a report can be generated to see if the residents are saving 20% to 40 %, and to see how landscaping is handling the regulation. Principal Civil Engineer Stein reported that the residents that are not in the target area have been placed on a waiting list until funds become available since the focus is on Buck Gully and Newport Coast. He also discussed problems in the Crystal Cove development. Discussion ensued relative to who should be responsible for this area. He noted that all the permits have been issued and new conditions cannot be placed on those permits. Assistant City Manager Kiff reported that the City and the Pelican Point Community Association Volume 58 — Page 1 City of Newport Beach Study Session Minutes January 9, 2007 received a letter from the State Water Board relative to the Areas of Special Biological Significance (ASBS) and, therefore, is responsible to do something within its jurisdiction. He noted that Principal Civil Engineer Stein is using some of the grant money to prove to the State Board that there is not a significant negative impact associated with a lot of activities there. He stated that the City may want to discuss this issue with County Supervisor Bates. In response to Council questions, City Attorney Clauson reported that the City is responsible for Crystal Cove once it inherits it; however, until then, the City may want to work with The Irvine Company (TIC) and the County to possibly require the installation of the controllers. Mayor Rosansky concurred that TIC should be contacted possibly via a letter from the City Attorney's office to encourage them to incorporate these devices into their building guidelines for new developments. Council Member Webb noted that IRWD sets rules and regulations related to connections to their system. Council Member Gardner emphasized that there is no mandate for any other development in the City to install these devices. Mayor Rosansky indicated that the City needs to look into creating a program to either make installation mandatory or to have the City pay for controllers by charging an additional fee. Council Member Daigle expressed support for education and incentives; however, expressed concern with creating an ordinance with penalties attached. Mayor Pro Tem Selich expressed concern about the liability for this area. Principal Civil Engineer Stein reported that the developer of the Crystal Cove Phase III development, Lang, has agreed to install the controllers. He noted that the City is applying for additional grant funds to expand the program and hope to team with Rogers Garden to use their updated landscape on San Joaquin Hills Road as an example to show homeowners what landscaping can look like that doesn't require a lot of water. He reported that a draft dry weather runoff reduction ordinance for the coastal canyons and a landscape and irrigation guidance manual have been drafted. Public Works Director Badum indicated that permits are not required for all irrigation and landscape projects, but the idea behind the program is to require that the controllers be installed in new homes or major remodels. In response to Council questions, Principal Civil Engineer Stein indicated that the Fire Department created a list of plants that are appropriate for the Newport Coast area. He believed that the most economical solution is to use the controllers, along with a properly functioning irrigation system, versus completely re- landscaping properties with water - thrifty plants. Deputy General Services Director Pisani utilized a PowerPoint presentation to discuss the benefits of having a Citywide Central Irrigation Control System. He reported that the City's Parks Division currently spends $580,000 in water and that saving 20% to 30% is substantial. He added that other benefits to having an irrigation system include public safety, better plant health, and the ability to change irrigation timing for seasonal changes from the office rather than doing it manually. He displayed a map of where the controller systems are located. He reported that the City could save about 426,000 gallons of water a year and noted that the average house uses about 125,000 gallons of water a year. He reported that, in the non - Newport Coast areas, they are in year five of a ten year program, receive about $45,000 a year via the CIP budget, and convert about 40 acres per year. However, for Newport Coast, they are in year three of the five year program that only converts about 40% of the controls and has a CIP budget of $40,000 a year. In response to Council questions, Deputy General Services Director Pisani reported that completely converting the non- Newport Coast areas would cost about $125,000 and it would cost $125,000 to $150,000 to convert Newport Coast completely. He confirmed that the change out is done by City staff. He indicated that they have not advertised the program well, but could increase their CIP budget request for next year. Public Works Director Volume 58 - Page 2 City of Newport Beach Study Session Minutes January 8, 2007 Badum clarified that the $45,000 CIP funding is through the water budget and, when it was first created, the City didn't want to put too much stress on the water fund. However, at Council's direction, this program can be accelerated but it would affect the water rate and how they calculate capital improvements and capital replacements in the water budget. Deputy General Services Director Pisani reported that, of the $580,000 water budget, about $130,000 goes to IRWD for Newport Coast, Bonita Canyon Sports Park, and Bay View Park, and the remaining $450,000 is a general fund transfer from the General Services budget into the water fund. Mayor Rosansky believed that this should be fully budgeted if there was a way to accelerate the program, realize a savings, and get the program running quicker. He suggested looking into using contractors to install the controllers. Council Member Henn requested a more refined cost estimate to accelerate the program and a better calculated payback. Council Member Webb indicated that the water rates will probably be significantly increasing soon and that the City needs to look at how it allocates expenditures in the water fund. Council Member Gardner indicated that Council needs to consider this as part of the General Plan. She reminded everyone that the genesis for today's discussion is to reduce runoff. City Manager Bludau stated that staff will look into what it can do, especially as it relates to cost benefits. 3. CABLE CASTING. [421100 -2007] Assistant City Manager Kiff utilized a PowerPoint presentation and reported that Time Warner Cable (TWC) indicated that they will no longer provide the crews to cablecast Council meetings after the end of February 2007. He reviewed the coverage TWC and Cox Communications provides in the City, their legal relationships with the City, the cable regulations, and how the City's Public, Educational, and Government (PEG) programming works. He highlighted the capital grants from the cable companies, the ongoing PEG support, the use of the PEG channels, and the franchise fee amount. He reported that the options to keep the Council meetings aired are to (Option 1) see what TWC would charge the City to continue to provide the service; (Option 2) rent or purchase used cameras, hire freelancers to operate the cameras, improve the editing equipment, save most of the $1.13 million capital grant money for new equipment when a new City Hall is built, and use TWC's support money for supply costs and to hire the freelancers and production specialist; and (Option 3) buy new remote - controlled cameras and accessory equipment, hire or contract for a production specialist using TWC's support money, use part of one of the new trailers for the production specialist office, bulletin board system, and editing bay, and possibly hire freelance camera assistance. He noted that Public Information Officer Jackson feels that the quality of the City's productions suffer if it does not have a reliable production specialist. In response to Council questions, Assistant City Manager Kiff indicated that providing staff to air the Council meetings was not part of their contract. He stated that, instead of writing this service into the contract, the City requested the money with the option to do whatever it wanted to with it. Council Member Daigle indicated that TWC also wants to get out of PEG programming. She added that the City may also want to consider partnering with TWC for video -on- demand, but would need to request digital channels from them. Assistant City Manager Kiff recommended that the City try Option 1 and see how much TWC would charge for this service temporarily. He indicated that TWC would probably deduct it from the $8,500 monthly franchise agreement money. It was the consensus of Council to start with Option 1 , as long as the City doesn't have to Volume 58 - Page 3 City of Newport Beach Study Session Minutes January 9, 2007 pay TWC the entire $8,500. Gordon Glass suggested that the City drop in its own cable line when cable companies are updating their lines. He emphasized the importance of continuing to televise Council meetings and indicated that the City could save money on personnel by partnering with the local colleges. PUBLIC COMMENTS -None. ADJOURNMENT - 5:26 p.m. The agenda for the Study Session was posted on January 3, 2007, at 3:20 p.m. on the City Hall Bulletin Board located outside of the City of Newport Beach Administration Building. The amended agenda for the Study Session was posted on January 4, 2007, at 9:15 a.m. on the City Hall Bulletin Board located outside of the City of Newport Beach Administration Building. Recording Secretary City Clerk Volume 58 - Page 4