HomeMy WebLinkAbout5 Fee Increases Agenda Item # 5, 6, l & 8
TRUCKEE DONNER
Public Hearings
To: Board of Directors
From: Michael Holley
Date: February 6, 2008
Subject: Fee increases
Why this matter is before the Board: This matter involves public hearings regarding the
proposal to increase the water connection fee schedule, electric connection fees, schedule
of electric fees, electric facilities fee schedule, and establishing a rate for the voluntary
Renewable Energy Certificate (Green Tag) Program. The board conducts this hearing.
History: Workshops were held to discuss the fee increases. This agenda item moves that
process forward by scheduling and holding public hearings.
New Information: Public Hearing notices were published in the Sierra Sun the week of
January 28, 2008. The individual ordinances are attached to the action item on the
agenda.
Recommendation: None. This is a public hearing.
Michael D. Holley, General Manager
Dennis A. Dickinson
10579 Rosa Court
Truckee,CA 96161
Phone:(530)587-1420
Fax:(530)587-3204
e-mail:ec_hosdad')the rid_net
January 24, 2008
Board President and Board Members
Truckee Donner Public Utility District
11570 Donner Pass Road
Truckee, CA 96161
Subject: Public Information Question
Re: SB 211 Water Supply Verification—Gray's Crossing Specific Plan/
Tentative
Dear TDPUD President and Board Members,
Not to long ago a Town of Truckee council member asked me what I thought what
was the most pressing issue confronting Truckee today. Without even thinking my
immediate response was: "Water Supply." Of course my statement was implying that is
was a regional issue.
I have reviewed an agenda packet for the Hilltop development so that I would bring
myself up to speed to make public comment if necessary. I have been doing research so
that I may make a written environmental comment before the item comes before the
council again. In my travels I found this letter from the Truckee Dinner Public Utility
District dated December 12, 2003 verifying that there is sufficient water to supply water
to Gray's Crossing. There was no substantial evidence attached to this letter (Items 1
through 8). I am having some problems with this letter. I need some clarification to its
meaning so that I may respond to the Hilltop project.
The letter states: The proposed project will require roughly 581 acre-feet of water per
year. The letter also states that: [the project]....... includes approximately 408 single-
family dwelling units, 89 cottage lots, 21 live work lofts, 115 attached housing units, and
92 affordablelemployee housing units. At no time does the letter mention the commercial
component or the golf course as part of the development. Therefore I must assume that
the 581 acre-feet of water per year (1.6 acre-feet/day) was only to supply the housing
element of this development.
The TDPUD board reported to the Town of Truckee Council at a joint meeting that the
District is now supplying 1,000,000 gallons/day of water to East West Partners to irrigate
their golf course. Again, I must assume that includes Gray Crossing and Old Greenwood
golf courses. One million gallons/day of water equates to 3.07 acre-feet/day of water.
That is 571 acre-feet of water just to irrigate Gray's Crossing and Old Greenwood for six
months.
I am a very concerned Truckee resident. I would like the TDPUD board to answer the
following question: What is the TDPUD's estimated water consumption for PC-2 in
total acre-feet at build out including all residential, commercial, and irrigation uses?
Thank you for your attention in this matter. I look forward to your reply so that I may
make a comment about the Hilltop negative declaration. Please e-mail your answer to
echosdad@thegrid.net.
Sinc, rely,
Denis A. Dickinson
CC: Town of Truckee
Enc: TDPUD Letter December 12, 2003
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December 12, 2003
Ms. Heidi Scoble, Associate Planner
Town of Truckee Planning Department
10 183 Truckee Airport Road
Truckee, CA 96161
Re: SB 221 Water Supply Verification - Gray's Crossing Specific Plan/
Tentative Map
Dear Ms. Scoble:
The proposed Gray's Crossing Project, also referred to as Planned Community 2
(PC-2), includes approximately 408 single-family dwelling units, 89 cottage lots, 21 live
work lofts, 115 attached housing units, and 92 affordable/employee housing units. The
Truckee Donner Public Utility District (the District) is the water supplier for the proposed
project and this letter is being provided to fulfill the mandates of SB 221.
This verification relies on the information previously provided in the District's
letter dated April 4, 2003, and attached SB 610 compliance study, wherein the District
confirmed that it has sufficient water supplies available to provide water to the Gray's
Crossing Project, in addition to existing and planned future uses, during normal, single
dry, and multiple dry years over a 20-year projection. Substantial evidence supports the
District's finding of its ability to provide a sufficient water supply that will meet the
projected demand associated with the proposed project. The substantial evidence
includes, but is not limited to, the following:
I. The District's Water System Master Plan Update (March 2001), and 1997 Water
Master Plan, both of which included buildout of the PC-2 site as contemplated in
the Town's existing General Plan (1996);
2. The District's letter dated April 4, 2003, and attached SB 610 Compliance Study-,
3. California Department of Water Resources, Bulletin 118 (April 2003);
4. Nimbus Engineers, Ground Water Availability in the Martis Valley Ground Water
Basin (March 2001);
5. Kennedy/Jenks Consultants, Independent Appraisal of Martis Valley Ground
Water Availability (December 2002);
6. InterFlow Hydrology, Inc., Measurement of Ground Water Discharge to Streams
Tributary to the Truckee River in Martis Valley (April 2003);
7. Final Environmental Impact Report for the Gray's Crossing Specific Plan/
Tentative Map (SCH No. 20020721 15); and
8. Final Environmental Impact Report for the Martis Valley Community Plan Update
(SCH No. 2001072050) (May 2003).'
As considered in the above documents, and specifically in the Master Plan and SB
610 Compliance Study, the District relies almost exclusively on groundwater from the
Martis Valley Groundwater aquifer to serve its residential and commercial customers.
The District is also entitled to 990 acre feet/year of surface water from Donner Lake.
Approximately 24,700 acre-feet/year is potentially available from the groundwater basin
and is managed by the District under the groundwater management plan (1995).
The proposed project will require roughly 581 acre-feet of water per year.
Although the District overestimated the number of units and the amount of water required
for the project in the SB 610 Study (e.g., 1,109 acre feet/year), it nonetheless concluded
that sufficient water is available to serve the project in addition to existing and planned
future uses.
In compliance with SB 610 and SB 221, Table 3-2 and Figure 3-2 of the Master
Plan documents the District's annual historic deliveries since 1977. Figure 3-4 of the
Master Plan includes the District's projected increases in water demands based on the
General Plan and over 5 year increments. Table 5-4 includes historic and projected water
demands on a yearly basis from 1990 to 2020. Figure 5-2 summarizes and compares the
projected water demand versus existing supply capacity for the years 1978 to 2020.
Annual supplies based on recommended water supply improvements are included in
Table 5-5 of the Master Plan. Figure 5-3 illustrates the overall sufficiency of the total
supply capacity and compared to projected demands. The District's SB 610 Compliance
Study for the proposed project also includes this information.
In compliance with SB 221, and prior to determining that a sufficient water supply
exists to serve the project, the District considered the following four factors among
others:
V The District incorporates the documents and studies listed by reference as if
fully set forth within this letter.
1. The availability of water supplies over a historical record of at least 20 years.
2. The applicability of an urban water shortage contingency analysis prepared
pursuant to Section 10632 of the Water Code that includes actions to be
undertaken by the public water system in response to water supply shortages.
3. The reduction in water supply allocated to a specific water use section, if any, and
pursuant to a resolution or ordinance adopted, or a contract entered into, by the
District so long as that resolution, ordinance, or contract does not conflict with
Section 354 of the Water Code.
4. -The_amount of water that the District can reasonably rely on receiving from other
water supply projects, if any, such as conjunctive use, reclaimed water, water
conservation, and water transfer, including programs identified under federal,
state, and local water initiatives such as the Truckee River Operating Agreement
("TROA"), and to the extent that these water supplies meet certain criteria.
Section three of the Water Master Plan Update (2001) includes information
documenting the District's historic and projected water supply and demand over a period
of 20-plus years. The District does not have an urban water shortage contingency
analysis nor has there been any reductions in water supply allocated to a specific area;
thus, factors two and three above are inapplicable.
Regarding the fourth factor, and even though additional water supplies are
expected to be available in the future after resolution of the TROA, this verification does
not rely on projected water supplies that are presently unavailable to the District.
Therefore, additional information is not required under SB 221 from the District
regarding proposed future water sources.
The necessary additional groundwater may also be produced because: (1) the basin
has never been adjudicated; (2) the Department of Water Resources has not identified the
basin as overdrafted nor has the Department projected that the basin will become
overdrafted if present management conditions continue; and (3) the proposed use is
consistent with article X, section 2, of the California Constitution.
Under California law the use of water resources, including groundwater, must "be
put to beneficial use to the fullest extent of which they are capable, and that the waste or
unreasonable use or unreasonable method of use of water be prevented . . ." (Cal. Const.,
art. X, § 2.) The groundwater would be put to beneficial use by serving a residential
housing development on land overlying the groundwater basin. The right to engage in
additional groundwater production is also permitted in California under the correlative
rights doctrine.
Heidi Scoble
December 12, 2003
Page 4
The project, moreover, will not result in reasonably foreseeable impacts on the
availability of water for agricultural or industrial uses within the District's service area.
No agricultural activities exist within the District's service area. Similarly, industrial
activities within the service area that rely on the groundwater basin at issue are virtually
nonexistent. Teichert Aggregates' operations, for example, is the only one known.
Teichert's operations would not be affected because the project site is located several
miles away on the uphill and opposite side of Interstate-80 and the Truckee River in the
Martis Valley area.
This verification is consistent with the obligation of the District under the
Government Code to grant a priority for the provision of available and future water
resources and services to proposed housing developments, such as the proposed project,
that help meet the Town's share of the regional housing needs for lower income
households.
In short, substantial evidence supports the District's finding that a sufficient water
supply exists to serve the proposed project, existing, and planned future uses, during
normal, single dry and multiple dry years during a 20-year projection.
,,--Sincerely,
J
Ed Taylor
Water Utility Manager
Truckee Donner Public Utility District
Directors
Joseph R. Aguera
J. Ron Hemig
February 1, 2008 Patricia S. Sutton
Tim Taylor
Mr. Dennis A. Dickinson Bill Thomason
10579 Rosa Court General
a n Holley
Truckee, CA 96161
Subject: letter from Dennis A. Dickinson to TDPUD Board Members, Re: SB 221 Water
Supply Verification- Gray's Crossing Specific Plan/Tentative
Dear Mr. Dickinson,
Thank you for your letter dated January 24, 2008. The District is pleased to answer your
question and explain the Senate Bill (SB) 221 process.
The District, as well as other government agencies, has conducted numerous studies on the
water availability to accommodate the full build out of the water service area of the District
and for the Martis Valley Basin. All of these studies have concluded that there is more than
sufficient water to supply development within our area and to existing customers.
The District prepared its analysis in compliance with State of California guidelines and
standards, as defined in SB610 and SB 221. It has been determined there is sufficient water
to supply the project in question based on analysis from the Water System Master Plan and
the water availability studies. These Senate Bills were required for the Gray's Crossing
project, due to the fact that the project included over 500 housing units. Total water use for
a project involves defining each element of the project including residential, commercial and
Irrigation usages. The Gray's Crossing project projected a demand for residential = 321
acre feet per year (ac*ft/yr), commercial = 68 ac*ft/yr and Irrigation = 192 ac*ft/yr. The
entire Gray's Crossing project, including the golf course, therefore requires a total demand
of 581 ac*ft/yr.
As a point of clarification, although the Old Greenwood project is the same Developer as the
Gray's Crossing, it was a smaller separate project that did not require an SB 221 letter and
was not Included in the SB 221 letter for Gray's Crossing. However, the Old Greenwood
project is included In the Water System Master Plan total water demand estimate.
Thank you for your concern and your interest in our great community. I certainly hope that
this letter addresses your concerns. Should you have any questions and/or require
additional information please do not hesitate to contact me at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
Tim F. Taylor, PE
President of the Board
Truckee Donner Public Utility District
P.O.Box 309-Truckee,CA 96160-Phone 530-587-3896- www.tdyud.or2