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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-06-15 Agenda Packet - Board (19) Agenda Item # Public Utility Memorandum To: Board of Directors From: Peter Holzmeister Date: June 10, 2005 Subject: Public hearing on Donner Lake water tanks CEQA Why this matter is before the board: At the June 1, 2005 board meeting the public hearing related to construction of water storage tanks at Donner Lake was continued to this meeting. History: We have been reconstructing the water system at Donner Lake. We are close to complete, but a few projects remain, among them construction of water storage facilities. We have been conducting the environmental review related to water storage tanks and several comments were made during the public hearing on June 1. As a result of those comments the hearing was continued to June 15 and staff was asked to evaluate to comments and report back to the board. New Information: Glenn Merron of Inland Ecosystems is preparing a report for submission to the board. I do not have that report at this time. It will be provided to the board as soon as I have it. Recommendation: 1. 1 recommend that the board complete the public hearing process on June 15 and then close the hearing. 2. 1 further recommend that the board extend the period for submission of written comments to 4:OOPM on Monday, June 20, 2005 € 1 IT , 500Z `q 1 aunt aN SS fi4 "'�YR9¢ k t vlfi �. i f Y p t {,�ia Yf£�lai:. �'v'ti dual @BeJOIS JaleM . S peo I a a jauuoQ pasodOJd Location of Proposed Project Site Tank sate i !. v_ a tlJ ! La: CJ14L ",r ,t L+ t ; 1" Gi 7 Comments Received During CEQA Process ➢ Visual Impact ➢ Wetlands Impact ➢ Threatened Species of Moss ➢ Mule Deer Migration Permitting Visual Impact Project modified from two tanks to one tank. Tanks will be set back from the road to the maximum extent possible within the Town of Truckee Right of Way. Reduction in number of trees removed . Additional trees to be planted . At 35 MPH there would be a 2-3 second period where the tank is visual . e� 5 f t t C aLr r' r,r z i Lei . . . . . . . . . �. . . . . : . . . . . . . . . . . . � . . . . . . . . . . . �\ < . © \ � � § < \§ ^ l \� � . . f . �� � 7 � . y � � . � �f � - � / � �\ ` > ���. \ \ \ � \ � . �� . � & �:w2 : fa . � ���� \\ w �q� � - % x � /® »d 2 < \ \ \ : � � � ��« � � : � \:�� ° � < ./� � . � � � � �/�� . � � � \ �� . \\ 2 \ \ : \ w \ :�\�, � . ���\ � \ . « : . � z ` ?? '° ` 2' } ^ ~ \ \��/ � . � � �\ . ?�/�\ ` %«: � ������ . y 2 «����. < 37����© � . �����« . .:� �.��2 ^ . m���z » ««���\ ��� � 4\ ` ��« ° � \�����\ �\ : : � . : « S+sue��� � ����} � . /� � � � � � ___. _ . __ ffi �,, 1 ,zti 4�}Y..rj,}4�I sd ,"�' r r�x �~sue� r t4 �� �� � t .� ���{{.s.{4 44 4� {.. tr rfi 4 � F�f' �hs '. 1 . . .: :. t�'r".f i 4F`Y,'Ty �• 1 ii'Y YID {. � 4 �i .?'.aim#P��`,# �x?i_}'r'�Ky'` 4 4 r 4 _ y''�vrt$� 4'`4 t' °5:M" 'YI'r{+'ra 4 a` i"f ��j{� 4 ''4.'fv* }+y�}r�}.`}i f �*. ':�].V' i 4 es j; :: .,: rYr�'Yrrti ,, ``J 4fi,,{ rr. . 4 y � I'� ^` �,,t I" xr�f �1'#� �� �"�� � �# {, �y. # � r �- *'f l'{tJe�t'� �� Y� J }'�f`Y".Y'2 � "fir#4ys .?' 1 Ja T p{ '.�f'#:y'�r�4�'�°"s'Ys�4,'#+4''.Y+{ III f(` �I� +,+� 44 �" ' fi#'3' ram,vr... 4 l� `lvYf ��� sY' , `': S'4`� ~ t`S YyY .�{'+'s . sv j��,� , •fir ', { t 4 p+. , OO'.i, 5 Yto t y 4 v1h ${y 4 ^M S RY 1 J SV 4 <^ b S p1 4 yr^ A Ask South Shore of Donner Lake � s t 4 cl r� sf s r { r � Z✓ ✓s Idll " r i s P ' s � t v� � Y "s?r t Location Of Existing Water Storage Tanks Y ` k . i {� k Existing Water Storage Tanks rsFSi fi�� 4 5r�,4t rr'�,!'r`✓6,*k�t/n4'�?s;. �h��r �� +;;tvs�� ,!}r 'vv}nrfi"fu s�yli�:�z< �,yN2 ! `d t42 �Y< r`s{�;'c.;✓1�`'`tf'�'�l�zi�"`�ly$�tti� ��ll�'`� l,�r���h'y���'�''�>�1��..ts J�l6�fIY��: 1 r� ✓.n � � '.S`gt Tt' �. t E. 1 ZS f y v i k r N F rs u Y E rrY`y Wetlands Impact The existing eroded channel is a result of 1-80 runoff and contributes to poor water quality in Donner Lake. Soil samples do not show signs of wetland conditions. No obligate wetland vegetation was found on the site. There are small stands of willows but these are not indicative of a wetland . The District will create a defined channel east of the project site that will improve water quality. Caltrans may abandon this culvert in future which will eliminate runoff. k80 Runoff Onto Project Site N eu + 5, 5 Y r u ') a v� 5. £ v 15 x5'r7 v f xve xc p' pIt 5'GL'`k Runoff Through Project Site x t a 4 i xM I YT. h t F`. t, sz a ' ti� t ff } M Drainage onto Donner Lake Road k 4J. t 3 tid r> 4' S it! SY' t J• JtU"£ 5f�'ttPl k,eYZa}rk v ',r f% r/r t d u tr r` r r£�?�if 3t rC sU>rFr''~<b 74} °F^.i�?t"ir%�i3t .ir 'tte `£7'�dJ✓uN`"Av~`' t �.';� .: t Lr ss}ts � vr+ r fs r tyr t S 3 I4�}'t"✓ s�� � s £1{'fE2 rl: v ttiS74 ,.5, ro z��:Yt�b� `���';��'`:"a����1d'n�4z�� u?�Y`}.hr',.�i4;uft?. 2 trk r�4�)sl„„7�:'r„(txi..,�,M , h•;��.�. `t+ ,r.,.^�4�;Yr}xt,^~ts£>t',`tat`�,.�a�Zh'�7f2t�llr,��_fz`�il"�Y�;r�`H"�'r�;�Y ... .....:.:. .. 4 Threatened Species of Moss LocaAlong on of Moss nerLak Moss is common along Along Donner Lake Road roadside ditches r3 The moss located on Donner Lake Road is the ,r3 aosJ i 4. common species Philanotis F. g F Fontana and is not the rare f , moss species Bruchia � Im _ bolanderi which is a California Native Plant Society List 2 . Mule Deer Migration District conducted site visit with John Eaton . ' ' There may be temporary disturbance as a result of x' „G S construction . ` There would be sufficient room for deer to move around the project site. There would be minimal human disturbance once the tank is in place . CEQA CEQA 30 day review process was up on June 7t" but was extended at the last Board meeting . 15 State Agencies reviewed the document including CDFG , LRWQCB , Caltrans, etc. No comments received from the State Agencies . District has extended the public comment period in order to address any other concerns . ... ---------- Permitting The District is coordinating with the LRWQCB to determine if there are any water quality issues . Conclusion The District has no alternative site that would meet the hydraulic requirements of the water system in a cost effective manner. With mitigation measures the project will not have a significant impact on visual resources. There would not be a significant impact to biological resources. Renovating the drainage channel will significantly improve water quality of this drainage. A The District continues to work closely with LRWQCB, Town of Truckee, and John Eaton regarding theproject. } t Y From: Emilie Kashtan [maiito:ekashtan@prodigy.net] Sent: Monday, June 13, 2005 1:17 PM # To: Peter Holzmeister; Neil Kaufman; Ed Taylor Cc: DLCA Advisory Group; Jamie Bate Subject: DLCA Position on Donner Lake Water Tank Location June 13, 2005 To: TDPUD Board Re: Location of the Donner Lake Water Tanks. Greetings, The Donner Lake Community Association Advisory Group, which consists of businesses, Associations and property owners located around Donner Lake, has reviewed the issues and documents surrounding the TDPUD proposed location of the Donner Lake Water Tank as well as other available options, including the proposal by Al Farrintine and Brian Freed. Multiple trips have occurred to the site, including having Ed Taylor, from the TDPUD with complete plans and maps clearly show the involved areas, as well as individual trips to the site. Photographs were taken and sent to members of the Advisory Group along with a Summary of the Negative Declaration and existing considerations. Discussions have occurred with the TDPUD, Town, MAPF and the involved property owners. The citizen's oversight committee that met with the TDPUD monthly for over a year in 2001- 2002, reviewed and discussed the issues surrounding the Water Tanks, so community review and input with existing Donner Lake water customers has been a long standing part of the Donner Lake Water Capital Improvement Project. The DLCA is a formalization and expansion of that initial effort. The findings of the group include consideration to: 1. Benefit to the environment 2. Tank Visibility and Options 3. Appropriate Land use 4. Cost to existing Donner Lake Customers. 5. Management of Project Timeline 6. General Public Benefit Fundamentally, Donner Lake is reducing from three malfunctioning incompetent water tanks to one functioning water tank, with a primary purpose to properly manage an emergent situation, like a fire. The existing TDPUD proposed site continues to be our endorsement, based on the following findings. We would hope that the process of review becomes satisfied, efforts to comply with local and State requirements are met and satisfied, and the process of installing the tank occurs as per the Timeline, this building season, which is also in the best interest of the existing Donner Lake Water Customers. The DLCA also continues to want to be properly informed of any additional issues involving this Project, for timely input. BENEFIT TO THE ENVIRONMENT: I x 5 The proposed TDPUD site, a Town right of way, will be accessed via an old existing power r road, which continues use of that property as an access road, leaving the surrounding environment undisturbed, while using a portion of the existing flat road for tank location. Continuing to address Town and Citizen concerns, the TDPUD design has minimized the road grade, minimized the hill cut, addressed proper drainage measures, and limited the project to one tank with a landscape plan. The existing unsightly power poles and visible freeway traffic in this area are outside the scope of this project, other than the TDPUD plans to address any required needs for the 1-80 Scenic Corridor. The drainage dumping unfiltered and incorrectly from a Caltran culvert onto the old access road, will be properly channeled down the access road to the Donner Lake Road drainage channel, something that is not occurring today. Caltran's responsibility will be shouldered by the TDPUD and paid by the existing Donner Lake Water customers. The area has been reviewed for wetland considerations and no rare species have been identified from what we have been told. The proposed Farrantine/Freed Site, would be accessed via the same power road, which would have to be extended on to their private property, with significant disturbance and excavation to the sloping hillside, removal of mature Pine trees, and a considerable hill cut that would have to be stabilized. There doesn't appear to be any issue of wetland on this site, but large rocks are visible, causing question to the excavation needs. Visibility: The TDPUD site, access road and tank will be behind a wall of existing trees having branch cover from the ground to the 32 ft height of the proposed tank. There is one area of exposure, directly south of the proposed tank location, that will require landscaping to provide additional decreased visibility of the tank. With this plan, it is felt that no mature pine trees will need to be removed, with the guaranteed benefit to the public that measures addressing visibility will be required. The FarrantineiFreed Site is in a grove of tall mature Pine trees, but the branches are sparse from the ground to the 32 ft. proposed tank height. Some of these trees would have to be removed for the tank, but the benefit decreases because the private property below the tank and continuing along Donner Lake Road east to the curve, has two subdivisions planned, including a total of eight homes. Additional tall mature trees will have to be removed for these homes continuing to decrease the screening from a tank that would be on this property. Another decrease in benefit to this private property site is that they do not have to adhere to the same visibility requirements as a project on public lands. Visibility from the lake from either site will be minimal due the thick tall trees on the opposite side of the road, on un-buildable land. Appropriate Lane Use: Either property would be appropriate given the close proximity to unsightly power poles and 1-80, rendering these properties largely unusable for most purposes, with the benefit that the TDPUD site is already flat and has less need in addressing the slope of the hill. Cost to Existing Donner Lake Water Customers: The cost to extend to the Farrantine/Freed property is estimated to be at least $185,000 more than the TDPUD site, due to the cost of land use, excavation, hill stabilization and tree removal. Again, the cost to correct Caltrans drainage will also be assumed by Donner Lake Water Customers. Additionally, the people of Donner Lake and the TDPUD worked very long and hard for the State Revolving Loan that has helped soften the considerable financial obligation to customers having to completely reconstruct the water system. This loan expires December 31, 2005, with no guarantee, given the current state of the State of California's finances, that it can be extended if this project is not completed. 2 f Y Management of Project Timeline: Given the current TDPUD design and their attention to all the Local and State requirements, with approval from the Town, Fish and Game, Lahonton, Caltrans, etc, It is hoped that the TDPUD can begin the bidding process for this project the first of July, in order to be able to install the tank in this building season, the fifth year of this project. r To wait another year, obviously would increase the cost of the project due to the escalating costs of labor and materials prevalent in Truckee, as well as to prolong the hardship of the Customers of Donner Lake in getting a fully working system, not to mention them not having to continue oversight in this project. This project should not be stalled, at the expense of existing customers, by new development or customers that were not initially a part of this project. Public Benefit: To all property owners and visitors, the benefit of having a full functioning water tank for fire abatement is a necessity. Donner Lake experiences a tremendous number of Vacation Renters and perhaps owners who may not be as educated in preventing fires in this basin. Given the cold weather, fires in fireplaces have been used more, lending to potential problems of hot ashes and disposal, to name one problem. The existing leaky tanks are a poor excuse for security. Use of the public land negates any suggestion of special interest or individual benefit in this project, at the expense of the existing customers, not to mention the public at large. Additionally, consideration has been given to the new developments in scoping them in on the existing Project, which was not part of the original design. The public benefits finally, in the use of a site that would have few other uses, while preserving other available sites that might be more visible, to remaining natural, undeveloped and as an Open Space, as has been a focus of the town. Respectfully, The Donner Lake Community Association, Advisory Round Table Group Emilie Kashtan, Chairperson and Charlie White, Vice Chairperson 3 h ^ $ y& • h•x "M • h 'r � M 'M x ,...,.... .,r,:u:4. 4 .w Engagement Partner — Tim McCann $ Concurring Partner — Kathleen Porterfield field Engagement Manager — HollyGren nan a Engagement Supervision Senior — Erin Rice - r (>2W5APMG lLP,theJS.member lM tKP o M6l OR P WP 8 1051 e Sv�ss cooPe,atVve.Alt rights raservoU.Pnntetl vi U.B.A. i 051OF Revenue Recognition Procurement and Contract Management Additions to Capital Assets Human Resource Management Non-operating Revenues/ Expenses Accounting for Mello Roos Transactions • Accounting for Assessment District Activity '* Telecommunication Expenditures Financial Reporting m 1005 KPMG LAP the U.S.member firm of KPMG Int9rnetioesl.a S W coo{te'We-.NJ nghn reserved.Prmta io U.S 4 ,...__.._m-._..._ 1051 a POR WP 2 • Auditor's Responsibility Under Professional Standards • Accounting Policies and Alternative Treatments • Management Judgments and Accounting Estimates • Audit Adjustments and Uncorrected Misstatements • Other Information in Documents Containing Audited Financial Statements • Disagreements with Management • Consultation with Other Accountants • Major Issues Discussed With Management Prior to Retention • Difficulties Encountered in Performing the Audit • Material Written Communications • KPMG 's System of Quality Control and Related Matters • Independence - ©200E KPMG LLP,the r,nber firm of KPMG Internatronat e Swise ooapnrapve_Alt(V lb reserved Pra ted 1 o518 POR WP 3 �. - . ..e . -..i. c R R a ... ......_ . . . nsibility Under o • Standards We have a responsibility to conduct our audit in accordance with professional standards. In carrying out this responsibility, we planned and performed the audit to obtain reasonable - not absolute - assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether caused by error or fraud . * We have no responsibility to obtain reasonable assurance that misstatements that are not material are detected . ©2005 KPMG K6P,the US.member firm of KPMG Intemsnhie(a Swiss cooperative.Afi n8hts reserved Punted in U SA. (E 10518 PGa W * Risk of possible misstatements relating to revenue recognition — Review of period end journal entries — Review of accounts receivable aging and bad debt write offs • Risk of management override of internal controls — Review of period end journal entries and adjustments — Review of significant accounting estimates for consistency and unsupported changes — Significant unusual transactions • Nothing unusual has come to our attention based on fraud testing performed and other audit work 0 2005 KPMG UP the U.S.member film of KPMG elnnt POfl a Swiss cooperative.All rghts reserved.Prved m USA. ........... r..... Wlll� MK`,`2. ........ U it d e . .... Ajustmnts The following lists proposed and corrected adjustments to the District's 2004 Financial Statements P/L Impact - Area Inc/(Dec) Description •Electric&Water Unbilled revenue 40,467 To account for revenue earned, but not billed Fixed assets 116,943 To record capital amounts received from Gray's Crossing Prepaid expenses (16,900) To record expense associated with pension contributions Accumulated 55,630 To reverse depreciation expense depreciation Cash 17,044) To mark cash equivalents to fair value in accordance with GASB No. 31 *Water Accrued interest (18,644) To record interest expense incurred in 2004 Accumulated (505,582) To record depreciation on assets in service related to the Donner depreciation Lake assessment district Construction—work in (527,341) To write-off the abandoned Alder Drive well progress *Gray's Crossing Accrued interest (248,216) To record the capitalization of accrued interest and subsequent contribution out *Old Greenwood Accounts receivable 354,706 To record tax income Accrued interest (242,604) To record interest expense incurred in 2004 2005 KPMG LLP,the U.S.member firm of KPMG tnternaoonal,a Swiss moPoretice.Ali 111hts reselvihd P,,ntej,h u S A 6 10516 POP We S Accounting Policies and Alternative Treatments o Quality of Accounting Principles Management Judgments and Accounting Estimates ® Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Implemented — GASB 40, Deposit and Investment Risk Disclosures — GASB 42, Accounting & Financial Reporting for Impairment of Capital Assets and for Insurance Recoveries -- GASB 45, Accounting & Financial Reporting by Employers for Postemployment Benefits Other Than Pensions 0 2G05 KPMG UP,the U.S.mr>rcibe,firm of KPMG International a Swiss cooperative.All nynts reserved.Printed in U.SA. n • M 10518 POP WP • Non-Routine Transactions — Gray's Crossing — Merge of benefit plans into CalPERS • Other Information in Documents Containing Audited Financial Statements — We will read such information for consistency with the audited financial statements • There have been no disagreements with Management • There has been no consultation with other accountants, written or oral, of which we are aware • There were no major issues discussed with management prior to retention for 2004 P 2005 KPMG l P ibe US member firm of KPMG Intetnatonal,a Swiss cooPsrabve.All rghts reserved Pnnted m U S.A 8 10518 POP WP L. +� There Were No Significant Difficulties Encountered in Performing the Audit • Material Written Communications — Engagement letter — Management representation letter KPMG 's System of Quality Control and Related Matters — See attached report ©2005 KPMG LLP.the J.S member fill of XPMG intente[ionxi,x Swas coo,18,,e.4 nphls tesemed Primed In U S.A. 10518 POR WP 9