City Council

Mayor Mark S. Nexsen Lake Havasu City Vice Mayor Don Callahan Lake Havasu City Police Facility Councilmember Crystal Alger 2360 McCulloch Blvd North Councilmember Dean Barlow Councilmember Donna Brister Regular Meeting Minutes - Final Lake Havasu City, Arizona 86403 www.lhcaz.gov Councilmember Jeni Coke Councilmember David McAtlin City Council Tuesday, February 11, 2014 4:00 PM Work Session 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Nexsen called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The mayor led in the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. ROLL CALL Present: 7- Mayor Mark S. Nexsen, Councilmember Dean Barlow, Councilmember Crystal Alger, Councilmember Donna Brister, Vice Mayor Don Callahan, Councilmember Jeni Coke and Councilmember David McAtlin 4. CALL TO THE PUBLIC There were no requests to address the Council. 5. PUBLIC HEARINGS Lake Havasu City Page 1 Printed on 3/12/2014 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - February 11, 2014 Final 5.1 ID 14-0095 Colorado River Shortages Water Resources Coordinator Doyle Wilson stated that he was before Council to address: • Current Colorado River Basin conditions. • How shortages will affect Lake Havasu City. • Lake Havasu City’s water use history. • What Lake Havasu City has done to help minimize shortage impacts. • What can be done to further these efforts and help make the City as self-sufficient as possible. Mr. Wilson reviewed the current Colorado River Basin conditions as follows: • The drought in the Southwestern United States began roughly in 1999 with the first subpar average precipitation year for the region. • All studies of the climate that include the Colorado River Basin indicate a continuing trend of drying into the foreseeable future. • As of early February 2014, water supply conditions are average to below average in the Colorado River Basin. • Reservoirs in the basin are currently experiencing falling water levels. Mr. Wilson reviewed the current conditions of Lake Powell and Lake Mead. He stated that the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) conducted a study over a three to four year period, and through their modeling, there is a slow divergence between demand and supply, with the supply of water being less than the demand for water. He explained that the river basin is subdivided into an Upper Basin and a Lower Basin, with the Upper Basin representing Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, and a sliver of Arizona, and the Lower Basin representing Arizona, California, and Nevada. Mr. Wilson further explained that the Lower Basin under normal water conditions is to receive 7.5 million acre feet of water per year. He reviewed the proportions of acre feet of water each state is entitled to on an annual basis, and added that Mexico also receives 1.5 million acre feet per year through a treaty signed in 1944. Mr. Wilson stated that along with the BOR report and prior to its issuance, the BOR put out a record decision in 2007 to manage the Colorado River system and balance the volume capacities between Lake Powell and Lake Mead with equalization being the primary objective of their strategy. He said if there is a shortage, there are 3-tiers of shortages proposed at this time: 1) when the elevation of Lake Mead reaches 1075 feet above sea level, 2) 1050 feet above sea level, and 3) 1025 feet above sea level. He said when there is a shortage they look at priority users 1 through 3, who would receive all the water that they are allowed and want at that time. He said there are also priority 4 users on the river, particularly in Arizona and somewhat in Nevada. He said that group would take the brunt of any shortage that is declared. Mr. Wilson reviewed the entitlements for priority 4 users for the Council. He noted that the water supply forecast, as of February 6, 2014, of the Colorado River Basin by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows the Lake Havasu City Page 2 Printed on 3/12/2014 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - February 11, 2014 Final probability of a water shortage possibly happening later, but said it is looking average to a little bit below average throughout this area at this time. Mr. Wilson stated that what this means to Lake Havasu City, as conditions stand now, is good news because based on the calculations, the lowest entitlement based on the reduction is still above what Lake Havasu City is using today. He said if Mexico does not live up to its agreement past 2017, those allocations will be added back into the shortages in the United States which could drop quite significantly. Mr. Wilson reviewed Lake Havasu City diversion and consumption trends from 1999 to 2013. He said there is a gap between water consumption and conversion that is reported to the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR). He explained the gap is due to water meter problems at the Water Treatment Plant in the past and accounting issues. He added that because there are four billing cycles, the numbers do not match the day to day information staff pulls from the diversion. Mr. Wilson reviewed city government and city resident actions to minimize the effects of water shortages to the city. He stated that since 2003, the City has received close to $700,000 from BOR for rebate driven upgrades through the Water Conservation Program. He reviewed future water conservation and efficiency efforts as follows: • South Intake is in disrepair and after some improvements, could serve in a reserve role if not enough effluent is available to customers. • Continued water conservation outreach and education and water efficiency practices. • Investigate water treatment plant improvements such as lime and activated charcoal treatment steps to soften water and take out organic contaminants. • Expand reclaimed water reuse opportunities to lesson dependence on Colorado River water. Mr. Wilson stated that in 2013, the city’s Colorado River water diversion was 12,696 acre feet, plus 1,981 acre feet of treated wastewater which was used for non-residential irrigation. He added that the City also treated 4,191 acre feet of wastewater and over 50 percent of that was disposed into the ground. Mr. Wilson further added that there is enough effluent today to irrigate all of the facilities in the city, including schools, parks, and the landscaping along Highway 95; however, there is no way to store the effluent. He said the City does have an existing effluent line near Mulberry Avenue that stops at Acoma Boulevard which could be a fairly easy connection. He added that irrigation at Rotary Park, London Bridge Beach, Grand Island Park, Cyprus Park, and Jack Hardie Park, along with the Arizona State University (ASU) Campus, the landscaping on Highway 95, and Nautilus Elementary could be hooked up today at a cost benefit without the need to store the effluent. Mr. Wilson listed the additional recommendations from the 2013 study, which included: Lake Havasu City Page 3 Printed on 3/12/2014 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - February 11, 2014 Final • Curtailment of the South Intake. • Continue City’s effort to develop a Vadose zone storage and recovery program which would provide the largest addition to the city’s water supply. • Construction of a seasonal storage facility for reclaimed water. (Not recommended due to the substantial costs). • Increase energy-efficiency to direct more wastewater to the Island Wastewater Treatment Plant and Mulberry Wastewater Treatment plant during summer months. Mr. Wilson listed the recommendations for reuse as follows: • If the current grant proposal is accepted, proceed with an engineering design study for the existing 18” effluent operations and individual irrigation site connection design. • Connect recommended irrigation sites. • A clause in the motorsports complex lease to be included to permit access and development of future reuse infrastructure. • A feasibility study for a proposed Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) pipeline alignment. • Examine alternatives to storing reclaimed water for seasonal reuse. • If feasible, construct an effluent pipeline along WAPA easement and addition of subsidiary pipelines. Mayor Nexsen opened the public hearing. There being no comments, he closed the public hearing. Mayor Nexsen said there were a lot of stipulations regarding shortages for the Lower Basin and wondered if the Upper Basin had similar stipulations. Ms. Maureen George, General Counsel for the Mohave County Water Authority (MCWA), said the Upper Basin is in a different situation because their contracts are based on use instead of a contract allotment by number. She added that the Lower Basin contracts are controlled by the Secretary of Interior, whereas the Upper Basin is controlled by the states. She said to answer Mayor Nexsen’s question the Upper Basin is nowhere near using their allocation. She added that they receive up to 7.5 million acre feet per year and right now they are using 4.4 million acre feet per year, whereas the Lower Basin is actually using more than 7.5 million acre feet per year. Ms. George said the Upper Basin states, being good neighbors and because of some power problems at Lake Powell, are looking into voluntary steps that they can take to help keep the levels of Lake Mead and Lake Powell higher. Councilmember Callahan said Mr. Wilson had mentioned balancing water levels between Lake Mead and Lake Powell and wondered if that was happening now, to which Mr. Wilson replied yes, it is part of their management policy. He explained that if Lake Powell goes below certain levels or volume differentials they will hold back water, and added that the opposite is true when water levels are higher. Lake Havasu City Page 4 Printed on 3/12/2014 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - February 11, 2014 Final Councilmember McAtlin asked if a shallow well at SARA Park would be a feasible short term measure for irrigation until effluent is available, to which Mr. Wilson replied no because of the geology. He said there is hard rock and the chances of hitting water are much lower in that area as opposed to further north. Councilmember Alger said with different levels in the lakes, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, if that would ever happen to Lake Havasu, to which Mr. Wilson replied that Lake Havasu is regulated on a differential of low to high water marks, about six to eight feet. He added that the lake has to be regulated because of the outtakes by the Metropolitan Water District and somewhat with the Central Arizona Project. Mayor Nexsen asked Mr. Wilson what the largest amount of water allocation Lake Havasu City has ever used, to which Mr. Wilson replied about 17,000 acre feet of water back in 2003 or 2004. Mayor Nexsen said after he was elected in 2006 there was a big debate over sewer flows and whether the city needed more capacity. He said the more people hooked up to the sewer, the lower the water usage was because the cost of sewer was so high people were forced to use less water. He added that as much as we hate the winter quarter averaging, it does promote water conservation but also hurts water conservation in another degree because it gives free reign in the summer. Mr. Wilson agreed and added that is why the Water Conservation Program is very important. Councilmember Alger asked, with regard to the drainage improvements out in Horizon 6, if there was any way to recycle any of the water that may go into the washes or drainage areas, to which Mr. Wilson stated that there was a possibility of doing that but the City would have to obtain special permits from the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR). Councilmember Barlow said it was his understanding that there is a reuse line that goes from the Mulberry Treatment Plant to ASU. Mr. Wilson explained that the reuse line is near the Mulberry Treatment Plant but is not connected to it. He added that the line does not quite go to ASU but does go by the Cypress Ball Field, up to Jack Hardie Park, and ends at Acoma Boulevard. He said the line has never been used but would be fairly easy to hook up to and at a low cost which would provide water to Jack Hardie Park and ASU. Councilmember Callahan said the City purchased 1,000 acre feet of water a few years ago which was reserved for industrial and commercial use and wondered if that was part of the City’s allocation, to which Mr. Wilson replied yes. Mayor Nexsen re-opened the public hearing. Mr. Peter Vanbaggen, resident at 2015 Cabana Drive, commended the Council on holding this Lake Havasu City Page 5 Printed on 3/12/2014 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - February 11, 2014 Final public hearing. He added that this is an important issue that affects all of the citizens of Lake Havasu City and our future generation. Mr. Vanbaggen said he would like to see more education and more encouragement by the City directly with the citizens regarding water conservation and alternative methods and devices that are available such as softeners and reverse osmosis systems that use less water. There being no further comments, Mayor Nexsen closed the public hearing. Mayor Nexsen said to follow up with Mr. Vanbaggen’s comments, he believes the City is continuing the education process and will be able to continue to receive BOR grants for low flow toilets and pool covers. Mr. Wilson explained that the rebate program is now through the Water Smart Program and grants are much harder to get because they are open to all of the western states. He added that there is a limited amount of money and only about 10 percent of the applicants actually receive the award. Mayor Nexsen asked if the City has ever done programs for low flow shower heads, to which Mr. Wilson replied yes. Mayor Nexsen said he thought one area the City really needed to educate the public about is outside irrigation during the winter months because people do not know how to change their sprinkler system settings. Mr. Wilson said the 2013 water consumption is mostly residential usage with about 40 percent being irrigation meters. He said if you include other irrigation, the entire consumption of the city is at 70-75 percent for some sort of irrigation, which does not include the effluent used on the golf courses. 6. ADJOURN Upon motion by Councilmember Barlow and seconded, the meeting adjourned at 5:19 p.m. CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing is a full and true copy of the Work Session Minutes of the Lake Havasu City Council held on the 11th day of February, 2014. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and posted, and that a quorum was present. ____________________________________ Kelly Williams, City Clerk Lake Havasu City Page 6 Printed on 3/12/2014