Pescadero Municipal Advisory Council
January 10, 2012
Pescadero Community Church
I. Call to Order
Present:
Greg Bonaparte (chair), Jake Bowman (recording sec’y), Darius Dunlap, Kate Haas (treas.), Clara Murphy (youth), Don McDermott, Catherine Peery (corresponding sec’y, had to be excused early), Carolyn Shade, Rob Talbot
Excused: Ken Pesso, arrived later
II. Review December Minutes
Rescheduled for February due to late publication and insufficient time for council members to review.
III. Open Communication/ Announcements
The chair introduced distinguished audience members:
Don Horsley, Supervisor
Karen McBride, Rural Development Assistance Corp.
Evan Boyd, Division Manager, Allied Waste/Republic Services
John Belo, Operations Supervisor from Allied Waste/Republic Services
Linda Parnassus, audio recording
Ann Stillman, DPW
Lillian Clark, DPW
Joe La Mariana, DPW
No announcements from the floor
$150 CalFire fee affects Loma Mar, will be put on next month’s agenda for decision on action in response.
The January 17th IRWMP meeting was postponed indefinitely.
Kate has successfully transferred the copier account to PMAC Treasurer.
South Coast Prevention Partnership has 2 art projects going and is in touch with Capt. Mike’s “Every 15 Minutes” program
IV. Officer Reports
Vice Chair no comment
Corresponding Sec’y:
Letter to United Services, asking for donation of services for port-a-potty located on Community Church grounds.
Letter to Alto Velo Bicycle Club, thanks for South Coast Childrens’ Services
No responses received as yet
Treasurer’s Report: Kate Haas, Treas.
$8,798.49 PMAC checking acct
$1,274.82 copier checking acct
Complete and on going account (s) register now available on the web site.
Youth Commissioner: Clara Murphy
Clara will be officially sworn in on the 26th of January at County Center
V. News from the County
Nicholas Calderon:
Green building code recommendations for unincorporated areas of San
Mateo County will be heard the 24th of Jan. by Board of Supervisors. New code installed, administered and inspected in the field by Built It Green.
The new standards:
Any addition or remodel equal to or greater than 35% of the value of the structure will be required to meet the new standards. 1 point for every % of home value affected
75 points to get an expedited permit
Floor:
Objections were raised as BuildItGreen is a local (East Bay) third party with an agenda and not responsible to anyone. All inspectors must be trained and certified by BuildItGreen.
Why not adopt a more conventional and recognizable national standard such as LEEDS or standards set forth by The International Code Council (ICC).
County Building Inspectors should be in charge of the program as a part of the existing inspection regime.
Isn’t this a PR thing from DuPont and other materials mfrs.?
Greg is welcome to present his arguments to the Board of Supervisors…
The County Planning Commission has approved the installation and sent it to the Supervisors for action.
A request from the floor to Supervisor Horsley to delay the review at the Supervisor level was agreed to by Mr. Horsley. Nicholas Calderon will advise new date.
Nick recommends PMAC write the letter, approve it, send to Horsley, also include Jim Eggermeyer.
There was a motion was made, seconded and approved to refer this letter to the Public Works Committee and Rob Talbot. Rob and Greg will develop the letter.
Rob and Greg will gather some local contractors to collaborate on the letter.
Steve Simms, Dante Silvestri, John Dixon were mentioned
The issue is not just who does the inspection, but whether the law is just. Is this really “green” building.
Process is the chair’s concern and not whether or not green building standards should be imposed.
Supervisor Horsley agrees simpler is better.
Nicholas Calderon:
F&O (finances & operations) dissolution of committees, commissions, minutes aren’t available. The meeting will be the 18th.
**Point of order: We should set up the mic so that everyone can hear.
Pescadero Creek Road East needs traffic engineering to ensure sufficient signage and appropriate barriers are in place.
Warning signs are already in place at the recent fatal accident location. Reflective markers at the bend eastbound. People coming the opposite direction along with road narrows and bicycle sign.
Joe La Coco DPW Roads said the signage was sufficient.
The report that there has been one accident over the last ten years is not an accurate, over 19 years there have been 10 accidents is what the resident reports. Rob Talbot agrees there is plenty of signage, adequate overall there are more concerns with the safety of Pescadero Road. The chair asked for a traffic engineer to make the decision instead of a functionary.
Don Horsley says if someone is familiar with the road and the signs, it won’t help. Guard rails don’t prevent accidents. The road crews don’t have the expertise to make these decisions without input from a traffic engineer. The chair is concerned. Ann Stillman had talked with Joe le Coco and her impression is that this stretch of road has been evaluated by the traffic engineer and the reflective markers are up to code. Yes, we looked at it, but we can check with Joe to make sure the traffic engineer was on location. Chair: this is a serious request, we would like a document outlining what was done. Don Horsley said, we’ll do that.
The floor asked how wide the right-of-way is vs. the travel way.
Culverts.
The cost to survey, permit, and have manpower and equipment to do the work at the south culvert at the Butano bridge amounted to $13,939.72 .
Supervisor Horsley stated he is very frustrated with State Water Resources, Cal Fish & Game, State Parks, so the county is still waiting for state permits.
Also will need a Coastal Development permit, water quality cert. from State Board, Army Corps of Engineers.
There is a mound of dirt at the outlet end of the south culvert.
Taking the ditchwork all the way to the creek requires additional permitting.
The Floor asked why Public Works started something that they couldn’t finish?
Why was this permit process started so late? This is a 16-year-old outstanding issue. The Federal letter (Dick Butler NOAA) written in 2010 and introduced at the December PMAC meeting has yet to make an impact.
Don Horsley gave the order to do what we could… HMB just lost a lawsuit for $1 million because they improperly cleaned a culvert.
Mr. Horsley has asked the Grand Jury to look into flooding along PCR, and he’s pressuring the state to do something about the state’s marsh.
The chair asked how we can help. Don said we should take it up with everyone we can.
Redistricting will make Rich Gordon our State Assemblyman.
2008 the state hydrological survey was never done because there was no money. If I could get the state to take care of the marsh, that fixes the fishkill and the road.
The floor asked for the cost to do a complete dredge within the right-of-way and up stream on the Butano.
The culvert on the north side of the road is a much more complicated permitting issue. It’s expected to take from six months to a year.
Ann Stillman, the practical preference from a functionality and maintenance stand point is to have a ditch as opposed to a culvert. The Floor wants to know if the north culvert can be replaced with a ditch?
BREAK
NEW MATTERS FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION & ACTION
Verizon cell tower at Pigeon Point received preliminary approval. The plan, among other things is to install a 70’+ tower.
Floor: is this is part of Bill Dunbar communication plan? Verizon tower at Seabreeze Bay City Flowers is the microwave LOS communication.
ASSIGNMENT: Rob Talbot will connect with Dante’s contact at Verizon Wireless as well as Bill Dunbar..
Karen McBride:
A preliminary meeting with Carole Foster, County Watershed Protection Specialist and Greg was held this date.
A laundry list of issues was discussed including drilling a new well, waste water treatment and various water conservation measures.
Carol Foster will assist with the development of a project application to request funds for the community from the $1 hundred million available from Proposition 84 and 1E. Project plans are due by the end of this year. If approved funding will not be available until 2014 or 15 and then funding is dependant upon availability from the state.
Dante Silvestri: The report done for the county in 2002 by Todd Engineering in re CSA11 water shows 4 wells to the south go down 600-800’, maybe we need a new or deeper well.
If Prop 84 funds were procured, a new and/or deeper well plus improved infrastructure could be drilled. Also funds may be available for some form of sewage treatment.
Carolyn asked about saltwater intrusion. The chair says report is not clear.
The floor feels there is a consideration regarding the depth of the water, so we don’t have treatment now, because there’s no salts or metals, so the state regulator will force us to regulate these wells- we need to be monitoring our existing wells.
The county asked if this was the same project turned down in 2000? The answer is yes as Pescadero did not feel a new well was needed and did not want to pay for it.
Dept. of Water Resources grant fund, asks for a 25% match. Pescadero as a Disadvantage Community (DAC) can ask for waiver.
Karen, Carole and Greg came up with a list of questions for Carl Morrison of the IRWMP group.
Rob Skinner asked if we can allocate these funds to other things besides digging wells. The money can only be used for the projest submitted and approved. However, we are not limited to the number of projects submitted as long as they fall withing the parameters of Prop 84 and 1E.
Karen: there are 3 funding cycles to be aware of for 2013. The chair reminds us that this is only the first meeting. Having a watershed plan is key to getting traction for any IRWMP funding.
Karen: water conservation efforts for bigger users. What can we do about our watershed?
NOTE: Karen needs to meet Kellyx!
Floor asks if State Parks can access that funding. Chair clarifies that Carl Morrison must get comprehensive list of questions from the community to shape a fundable project.
Neil Curry question: Will an enforcement action from the state be able to access these funds in order to comply with the court’s order? Can public works access these funds for watershed mgmt., or state parks . In the event of state parks being cited for lack of action, could they apply for grants under those circumstances?
Karen: long-term planning includes sewage, i.e. failing septic systems will affect the application for waterworks funds, waste water treatment plant. The focus is on the water purity and water conservation.
It is in Pescadero’s best interests to replace toilets/showers to low-flow for water conservation. This will be a part of the proposed Prop 84 project (s).
The floor is much more interested in energy and information about our existing system.
The floor was reminded that Prop 84 funding is for longer term strategic planning. The work the CSA 11 committee is doing must carry on.
We don’t know about details for drilling expenses, dry holes, etc. RCSC has worked in Monterey Bay and San Diego and budgets successfully for closures, contractors and administrative work.
OLD MATTERS
A. Transfer Station
In attendance: Joe la Mariana & Lillian Clark from SMC Dept. Public Works
Additionally, Evan Boyd and John Bello from Allied Waste were in attendance.
Evan Boyd: The Pescadero Transfer Station has unique characteristics:
Landfill closed in 1984, Xfr Stn opened to accommodate local needs, and those rates stood until 2008. Rates have not been adjusted since Oct. 1st, 2009.
$165,000/yr. subsidy still exists, down from ~$300k.
The Solid Waste Fund is depleted with a couple years left.
Burlingame, Millbrae, Foster City and others face stiff increases in garbage collection fees. Some of the increase can be attributed to the move to smaller cans but much is due to the fact that costs at land fills are increasing?
The chair will circulate the rate increases and open the discussion. SMC DPW needs to issue a RFP, request for proposal, to proceed properly.
Joe La Mariana: DPW’s current obligations include contractual relationship with Allied until 2015. Rodger Reinhart participated in the selection process. Seven or eight solid waste haulers were included in the bid, WMI was considerably higher, so Allied got the bid. Reminder: they are in contract with Allied/Republic.
What could this site look like? How could it serve the needs of the community without requiring a subsidy?
DPW will issue an RFP for other options, different site, “revenue neutral” i.e. paying for itself. Some of the ideas go beyond the traditional scope of the transfer station. Allied has been a great operator, Abel is very appreciated.
RFP process should be started soon. Let’s not lose the transfer station, get something done.
The chair is concerned that the station could be run much more efficiently. Reviewing the information sent to PMAC by DPW shows some serious discrepancies. Rather than getting into this discussion/argument here at this meeting an assignment was given to set up a meeting to include: DPW; Allied and PMAC reps. Greg will work with Joe La Mariana to set up the meeting.
Rob T. wanted to ask Allied what their ideas to manage the station.
Evan Boyd from Allied: RFP was debated within Allied about whether to participate in the RFP. Concerns about the employee’s well being at the site. The county hired a consultant. Bridged a $400k gap to $60k gap.
What can the county do to prolong the life of the Xfr Stn? From a business perspective, it will never be self-sufficient, there’s not enough volume that goes through that station according to Allied’s model of trucking trash.
Allied may not choose to participate in another RFP.
Some mechanisms available to reduce that cost. Allied gets paid a flat rate to operate that facility. Disposal rates are the same as over the hill.
You can reduce the number of days it operates, that’s an option under the current contract. Recycled material tonnages… Newby Island, barely over a ton in November, commodity values fluctuate, $130/ton, not much of an offset. Net zero would operate one day per week. Boyd’s personal opinion is: the county and cities subsidize a lot of other programs… the only option their business plan allows is either trucking more volume of trash, or closing the station down.
The floor asked about the tonnage of the trucks, if the route could be more efficient. It’s a function of volume, density and time. Pescadero route includes all south coast.
4 times a week, 7 ton trucks run it, recycle is a little under 3 tons.
These figures were questioned by the floor as they do not seem to agree with the information forwarded to PMAC.
Floor asks if there are other contracts with other people/subcontractors/businesses. South coast is not a franchise market. Outside city limits of HMB, not a requirement to haul your own garbage. Could we increase the critical mass necessary…
SMC DPW added that curbside could be done, but may not work. Allied’s infrastructure is closer to HMB, and it gets transferred to Milpitas. Eliminating curbside service would increase critical mass, but it would be a PR nightmare. Allied’s concern is that illegal dumping would occur if you raised the rates too high or eliminates curbside service.
SMC DPW wants to do a waste characterization study, take commingled boxes of recycled materials, to measure and extrapolate into what the market is paying, make an estimate of what you could hope to recover. The county is subsidizing other programs that are mandated, such as monitoring landfills, safety measures for methane gas capture. The closure project is almost done (“substantively”) heavy-duty earth-moving is done. Need to modify permit to finish in spring & summer. 30 years of monitoring is req’d, it’s in the $100k/yr. range. Upper Pescadero is now closed, lower Pescadero and HMB are closed. Solid Waste Fund came from County Compensation Fee from every ton generated in the county, that went through active landfills, that is now Ox Mt. The money can only be used for landfill diversion activities.
AGENDA modified. We had to excuse Catherine because of her knee. AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO BE MOVED TO FEB.
FLOODING ALSO TABLED FOR FEB.
CSA11 Chair Neil Curry announced Jan. 11th deadline for submitting their request.
Proposed water rate increase, how were those numbers generated?
Spreadsheets project from historical data forward.
Ann Stillman is still searching through emails, has set aside documents already.
Rate sheets are key and the financial data CSA11 ratepayers are looking for.
Rob Skinner is requesting the spreadsheet. Carolyn Shade clarified that Chris Brancart asked for rolling releases as materials become available. Tomorrow the county will send the public records requested, sans emails which are still being searched. It’s imperative to move forward with the rate increase proposal, but Ann Stillman is unclear with whom to work.
CSA7 has a customer-advice committee, sanctioned by Board of Supes. Could CSA11 have formal recognition at some point like CSA7.
What happens to the money, can it be set in escrow, how can we be sure that CSA11 will be maintained with that money? What is the basis of the rate increase, how will that money be spent, and what assurances that money will be spent on repair? The county is not sure with whom to talk.
Neil has said he’ll help coordinate. Rob Skinner is the CSA11 liaison. The ratepayers have requested information. Conferring with PMAC is a matter of respect. The county claims not to know whom to contact.
The floor was concerned that there was nearly an additional boil-water notice almost issued in November because of low water pressure.
ADJOURN
ASSIGNMENTS AS OF JANUARY 10, 2012:
|
# |
Assignment |
Assigned to: |
Date Assigned |
Date Due |
| 1. | Bylaws Committee to determine spending rules for PMAC budgetary scope, such as portapotties and Pacific Coast TV media. | Bylaws Cmte. (ad hoc) |
11/8/11 | 2/13/12 |
| 2. | Pescadero Foundation presentation, Warheit site update | C. Peery | 11/8/11 | 2/13/12 |
| 3. | Letters to agencies re: SolarBee follow-up | J. Bowman | 11/8/11 | 2/13/12 |
| 4. | Follow up with AT&T- also Dante’s contact at Verizon- regarding an emergency generator as back-up power. | R. Talbot | 5/10/11 | 2/13/12 |
| 5. | County traffic engineering document for road safety, signage, and perhaps parking, especially bicycle traffic and parking. | R. Talbot, N. Calderon, R. Skinner |
6/14/11 | 2/13/12 |
| 6. | CSA11 Water & Light District Cmte. to liase with PMAC re: action taken. | R. Skinner, N. Curry |
11/8/11 | 2/13/12 |
| 7. | Council to work with ADA on next year’s Tour de Cure | All | 5/10/11 | 2/13/12 |
| 8. | Write letter to state and federal representatives in re letter from Mr. Butler; NOAA | RS GB |
12/11 | 2/13/12 |
| 9. | Meet with Allied Waste and DPW in re discrepancies between what was sent to PMAC and proclaimations this meeting. | RT GB JLM EB |
1/12/12 | 2/13/12 |
