HomeMy WebLinkAboutJANUARY 2,1996
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CITY COUNCil. PROCEEDINGS ARE TAPE RECORDED AND ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE
CITY CLERK
ROLL CALL
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MINUTES
CITY COUNCil. OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA
and the
ARCADIA REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING
JANUARY 2, 1996
The Arcadia City Council and the Arcadia Redevelopment Agency met in an Adjourned
Regular Meeting on Tuesday. Janwuy 2. 1996, at S:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers
Conference Room.
PRESENT: Councilmembers Chang, Kuhn, Ulrich. Young, and Lojeski
ABSENT: None
TIME RESERVED FOR lliOSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISH TO
ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCil.
None.
INFORMATIONAL BRIEFING FROM LARRY GLENN, SAN GABRIEL BASIN
WATER QUALITY AUTI{ORITY (WQA) BOARD MEMBER,
ON WQA ACTIVITIES AND RELATED MATTERS
Since the election of Larry Glenn to the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority
(wQA) Board. representing cities with water pumping rights. Mr, Glenn has met with
representatives of the various cities to discuss their interests. goals, and objectives with
regard to the WQA. Mr, Glenn. who is the cumnt Mayor of the City of Glendora. has
also met with representatives of the City of Arcadia. one of the cities with pumping
rights. Statf distributed a chart prepared by Arcadia Water Manager. Eldon Davidson.
indicating the various entities which the City must deal with in regard to water issues.
Mr. Glenn, who recently replaced Bob Margett on the WQA Board. represents the
pumping rights cities which pay the tariff' for all the operations of the WQA. The City
of Arcadia pays SIOO.OOO a year for operational purposes. The WQA was established
for the specific purpose of starting the cleanup of the water system.
Being a mayor. Mr, Glenn noted from experience that counciJmembers have not been as
weU informed as city managers and staff about the purpose of the WQA. He has since
learned that there is a "sunset clause," and the WQA will phase out of existence in
Janwuy of 1997. The WQA was created for a five-year period with the main goal of
cleaning up contaminants in groundwater in the San Gabriel Valley. which is some of
the most contaminated water in the counUy. Mr. Glenn inuoduced Ken Manning, who
has been with the WQA since its inception and represents the Upper Water District.
The City Manager commented that, although the WQA's intentions were clear when it
was established, about, a year ago city managers and city attorneys met with water
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representatives to ask. "What is going on with our money...to us. for us. against US..,,",e
don't know," CIty and water representatives were concerned that the goal and objective
of the WQA may not be attuned to what staff thought the direction was. and there were
several attempts to informally work With the WQA staff to open communication and
ease some of the problem, There are still questions, such as how is money being spent.
and will the organization have completed its goals and objectives when it sunsets? City
managers and staffs are advocating more formal panicipation in the process of the WQA
in order that information regarding budgets. decisions. and directions can be brought
back 10 the cities, and to the WQA. so cities know that money is not being spent
inappropriately. The City Manager noted that there are some internal politics causing
problems on the pan of both city and WQA staffs which must be overcome. He
suggested that the Council ask the WQA. through Mr. Glenn, 10 creale formal advisory
groups of city managers, city attorneys, and water representatives to give the WQA
Board and staff more specific and direct input. Stafl' would like to take a more active
role so that it may report to Council regarding policy directions, what is going to
happen, and "how does the City of Arcadil\ want to play the game."
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Council discussion ensued, with the Water Manager. Mr, Glenn. and Mr, Manning
answering questions from Councilmembers. In response to Councllmember Chang, Mr.
Manning explained thaI there are two "sunset clauses" built into the WQA legislation,
One is open~nded, and says that when the organization finishes all of its
responsibilities and duties, it will end. Another sunset clause was attached to legislation
with a "drop dead" date of December 31, 1997, because no one knew how the
organization was going to interact and how effective it was going to be, Mr. Manning
noted that there is an effort going on, basically spurred by the Upper District and
himself, to change the sunset clause of the WQA to use a series of criteria for ramping
down of the WQA. extending the tennination date and thus allowing more time for the
organization to finisb all of its duties, Mr, Manning clarified that the intent of the five-
member WQA Board has always been 10 be a very open and consensus-building
organization of a non-regulatory nature. It is the Board's feeling that the WQA was
establisbed for the purpose of discussing ways to accomplisb water cleanup in the fastest
and most cost-dfective manner with the least effect on all interested panies. including
cities, potential responsible panies, and citizens.
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There are ongoing projects to extract volatile organic compounds (VOC's) from
groundwater. Two projects are at Arrow Well and Big Dalton Well in Baldwin Park.
and Project No. 3 will be online soon at three wells in Monrovia, VOC's being
extracted from the groundwater are measurable in tonnage. It is the WQA' s policy not
to extract nitrates unless they happen to be in the same location with VOC's. It was
pointed out that of the $100 million long-tenn cost of the Baldwin Park Operable Unit. a
little over 50 pen:enl is being paid for by the responsible panies. The other 50 percent is
going to be offset with the sale of the water coming out of the ground and from possible
assessments that could be incurred. Large corporations whicb contributed to the
pollution have joined together to fund the cost of the remedial activities; grants have
been secured from the Bureau of Reclamation; and the WQA is funding a small portion
of the financing of the Baldwin Park Operable Unit. Part of the responsibility of the
WQA is to make sure that the impact of cleanup is DOl going to cause financial hardship
on anyone in the Valley, Mr. Manning stated that by reaching a consensus approach to
cleanup, "we can avoid the typical EP A superfund project wbere three or four people are
appointed as the responsible panies, and then they sue ten people who then sue one
hundred people." resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars being spent on attorneys
instead of cleanup, The City Manager raised the issue of third-party lawsuits, Mr,
Manning explained that the responsible panies have signed agreements with the WQA
not to start third-party lawsuits as long as the consensus plan moves in the direction it is
going, and they will absorb the liability for what the WQA has assessed to them,
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In response to a question from Councilmember Young regarding the Bald,,;n Park
Operable Unit. Mr, Manning stated that the WQA's contribution of funding comes from
assessments 10 the cities which hold pumping rights. That assessment generates about
$1.8 million at the current assessment rate, The WQA has the ability to assess up to
$40 per acre.foot of water pumping rights every year, He explained the WQA's budget
process. which includes public hearings and meetings with staff. groundwater producers
and pumping rights holders in the Valley, The assessments collected are invested;
however. no more is collected within a year than is expended within a year,
Assessments collected also go toward some of the stanup costs on other operable units
such as South EI Monte, EI Monte, and Monrovia. which are "pockets of pollution, n In
addition. the money funds "hot-spot" removaJ, investigations. multi-port wells to help
discover where pollution is in the aquifer. and other activities in order to characterize
the pollution within the basin so that the final strategy for each operable unit is effective
for that operable unit. For instance. the cleanup strategy for a city with large
corporations which are able to help fund the cleanup may be different from a city WIth
no large corporations; however, the formula is the same whereby responsible parties WIll
pay for baIf of the cost. The WQA retains anorneys who are specialists in the area of
superfund law. and has lobbyists in Washington. D.C.. who recently helped get language
put into the new Superfund Bill which may save the Basin $2~ million to $~O million
dollaJS. The WQA pulls together all of the parties and spearheads activities, thereby
getting the cleanup done faster and cheaper. Mr. Manning assuRd the City that its
$100.000 annual assessment is being spent effectively. As Treasurer of the WQA. he
reviews every bill and every check wrinen by the organization. In response to a question
from the City Anorney, Mr, Manning answered that the WQA is a State agency which is
under the Public Records Act. and it would respond to a records request from the City.
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Councilmember Ulrich inquired about the percentage of the WQA's budget being spent
for administrative costs (35 percent). Also. salaries and fringe benefits have gone up 19
percent between Fiscal Year 1994-9~ and Fiscal Year Projected 199~-96, Mr, Manning
exp1ained that there has been an increase in employees, from five to seven and one.baIf.
resulting in an increase in salaries and benefits. With regard to Councilmember
Ulrich' 5 comment that Fiscal Year 1996-97 tolal Administration Operating COSlS of
$1,024,781 seem to be out ofbaJance when compaRd to tota1 Project Cost Summary of
$2.630,6~1. Mr. Manning explained that all of those costs are not administrative; some
of the money is reserves and canyovcr. Comparing fiscal year 1994-9~ to 1996-97 is a
little misleading because during the WQA's initial year of operation the organization
was in a state of flux. Since that time staff has increased, but will be reduced when
project work allows, Referring to the Fiscal Year 1996-97 budget and the fact that 34
percent of salaries and benefits is cleared to projects and 66 percent is for administrative
expenses, Mr. Manning stated that by the end of the WQA's fourth year, when the
Baldwin Park Operable Unit is online. the budget will probably show 80 percent toward
projects.
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Discussion continued with regard to the WQA's budget. In reply to Councilmember
Ulrich, Mr. Manning stated that it is projected that next year's assessment to the City
will be between $13.00 and $13.50 per acre-foot, down from $14.00, It is anticipated
that in three to three and one-baIf years, there will be no need for an executive director
of the WQA. as all of the strategies of the WQA will have been met. Part of the plan the
Upper District has is to merge the WQA with one of the other water agencies-the
Watermaster or one of the municipal water districts-and that agency's executive
director would become head of the agency called the Water Q\Jality Authority. There is
no anempt to have the WQA become a continuing organization collecting assessments
from cities, unless they are minor assessments.
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COUl1C1Jmember Chang asked about an article wnnen by Congressman Esteban Torres
expressing his opposition to HR 2500. Mr. Manning explained that that leglsLauon I
would have prevented the WQA from being able to put Its consensus approach together
and would have kepi the agency from bringing all IRvolved panies to the table. [t....as
designed for other superfund siles thai were having problems, but II affected the WQA
also. The WQA asked for a modification of Language 10 allow those agencies already IQ
the process of ao:omplishing their purpose 10 continue. Had thai legislation gone
through without modification. the responsible parties in Baldwin Park and South EI
Monte could have gotten away without paytng anything loward cleanup of contanuRaled
groundwaler. Enacting modification of language to the legislation will save the WQA
multiple rrullions of dollan over a long period of time. The business community IS very
pleased with what the WQA has been able 10 ao:omplish: they know il Iirruts theIr
liabilities. Discussion continued with regard 10 the matter of WQA sta1f sa1anes.
Although the salary of the Executive Director is on the upper end. his job is lemporary
and will be ICnninated in about three 10 three and one-half ycan when his job will be
complete. There is no advantage in d;cm;";ng him now and hiring someone else al a
lower wage.
Mr. Manning stated that the City Manager's suggestion of creating city commirtces to
meet with water represcntauves wouJd be an excellent opponunity for cities to provide
inpuL He encourages Mr. Glenn 10 bring the matter 10 the WQA Board in the fonn of
an action ilem. Mr. Glenn commenled that he would like 10 see member ciues involved
in the form of a committee that could submit decisions and rec:ommendauons which
would then be broughl up at Board meetings. Mr. Manning noted thai by dialing 1010
the WQA web sile, anyone may look al agendas and minulCS, and obtain IRforrnauon
about Board and sta1f members and the status of projcc:ts. He stated that the goals and
objectives listed in the WQA' s cunem brochure are about 9' percent 3lXUl3le: and a I
new goals and missioIII brochure will be out in . couple of month&. The City Manager
clarified that his iIllcnt for a commiaee would be 10 have city managers be appoinled by
city counciJs wbo in tum appoiDl . pusoa from 5IaJf 10 work with the WQA sta1f IQ
lechnical, not policy, participalioll. The Water Manager poimed OUI the faa thai the
original estimate made by the EnvirolltDCRtal Protection Agency (EPA) for cleanup of
the San Gabriel Basin was S800 million. The WQA has broughl thai figure down to a
long-term cost of S 100 mi11ion or less. The WQA worlccd hard 10 convina: the EP A
that there was a COI\SCIISUI among people in the basin that cleanup could be more
effectively accomplished locally than by allowing the EPA 10 oversee IL Mr. Manning
believes that the formula which the WQA is using 10 ao:omplish cleanup will be
replicated tlInlugbout the United States at similar kinds of supafund sites because il
makes _ eco"'l"'w..lly.
ADJOURN- A16:43 p.m. the AdjowDcd Rqular meeting ADJOURNED sine die.
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of the City of Arcadl~
ATTEST:
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ne D. Alford ity CleJk
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