HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980-10-01; Municipal Water District; MinutesCONSOLIDATION OF CITY WATER DEPARTMENT AND
COSTA REAL MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT
MEETING OF NEGOTIATING TEAM
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1980
BOARD ROOM, COSTA REAL MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER - 11:00 A.M.
PRESENT - Mayor Ronald C. Packard City of Carlsbad
Councilmember Girard Anear " " "
Glen E. McComas
Roger W. Greer " " "
Donald A. MacLeod, President Costa Real Municipal Water District
Fred W. Maerkle, Director
William C. Meadows
S. M. (Skip) Schmidt
Chairman Packard called for comments or additions to minutes of the last meeting.
Minutes were approved as submitted.
Today's agenda calls for a recap of the issues that have been discussed in the
previous meetings to determine where the district and the city have areas of agree-
ment or disagreement and to decide if the areas of disagreement can be resolved or
if the negotiations will have to be declared at an impasse.
1. Consolidation of Water Service
a. Mr. Maerkle felt there would be a savings in O&M costs? It was
unanimously agreed that there would be a savings irrespective of whether
the district or the city runs the water service.
b. There will be facility cost savings*since there will be one facility to
operate instead of two.
c. Mr. Maerkle stated that both the city and district services are very good
now and no improvement is needed. All agreed with this statement.
d. Both the city and district have people on duty and stand-by at all times
for emergency calls and have equipment available to do the job. CRMWD
does not see any need for improvement in this area, but the city feels
there could be improvement by having the city forces and equipment on call
for emergencies.
2. Single Legislative Body
The mayor stated that his understanding of the basic concept of the district's
proposal is that it encompasses a continuation of bodies as they are now, or a
new body that would be a joint powers agency.
a. On the subject of potable water, the mayor's understanding is that the
district's position is that they would deal with potable water and the
city's position is that all areas of water service should be under one
body. The area of disagreement seems to be under which jurisdiction
potable water should fall - the district or the city. Discussion con-
tinued between Mr. Maerkle and Mayor Packard in regard to other districts
such as Leucadia, Olivenhain, etc. being involved in potable water. The
mayor felt this is one of the areas where there is significant disagree-
ment which would have to be resolved.
b. The district has agreed that the city should handle non-potable water.*
c. It was generally agreed that waste water treatment should be handled by
the city.
d. The district suggests the Water Utility Services Commission should
operate with the addition of a joint powers agreement and the city's
position is that this would increase the layers of government rather than
effect a reduction. After further discussion, the mayor stated there
were significant differences in the concept of layers of government. The
city sees it as an advantage to the voters if the water is handled through
one jurisdiction, whereas the city feels the district is suggesting
separate bodies of authority in addition to the commission. It was agreed
that both the district and the city see the need for one commission but
each one's concept of a commission is different from the other.
3. Planning
a. Mr. Maerkle felt long-range planning would not be improved but the city's
feeling is that it would be improved under a consolidation process.
b. There is no problem with a capital improvements review.
c. The city feels that processing for developers could be improved by having
one jurisdiction handle the processing and any problems or differences of
opinion between the board and the city could be removed by the decisions
being made under jurisdiction. Mr. MacLeod stated that by forming a
Water Utility Services Commission any problems would be avoided because
developers would have one place to go for decisions. The mayor still
felt this was an item of disagreement, however, since it could give the
commission an authority and power to regulate and arbitrate differences.
4. Utilities Commission Needed?
a (1) All parties agree that this commission*is needed. The city recommends
that it be advisory to the council but Mr. Maerkle disagreed. He
stated the council is involved in other things besides water and sewer
and the district's only interest is in water and sewer. The mayor
replied that both the city and the district have experts to advise
them and policy decisions still have to be made by elected officials.
There would be no difference in the quality of the organization but
one would be advisory to the council and the other would be advisory
to all parties.
(2) The district proposes an independent*commission, with local agencies
having veto power. The city recommends it not be independent but
subject to the approval of the city council. An outside agency should
not be able to override the elected officials of the City of Carlsbad.
Further discussion ensued, with no agreement being reached.
b (1) Mayor Packard stated he had definite reservations about including
other agencies in membership in the commission. Mr. Anear added that
members should live in the sphere of influence of the city, although
not necessarily within the boundaries of the city.
c. All parties agree that representation would be limited to the boundaries
of the city and would encompass the sphere of influence as determined by
LAFCO, which extends beyond the city limits to include the county islands
within the city.
5. Use of CRMWD Facilitv
There is no major disagreement on this subject. Mayor Packard said that if
the city proposal takes effect this facility would be a part of the total
city facilities.'
To recap, the mayor listed items where disagreements exist, as follows: item
1(d) Level of Emergency Service; item 2(d) Reduce Layers of Government; item 3(c)
Development Processing Improved; item 4(a) Utilities Commission Function; item
4(b) Utilities Commission Membership.
Recess was called at 12:00 noon.
Meeting reconvened at 12:20 p.m.
Mayor Packard asked if there was any feeling at this time about changing positions
on items of disagreement. Mr. MacLeod said he felt both proposals had merit and
what has to be done is to come up with one proposal that will combine the best of
both. He did say that he has strong feelings about the district running the water
business rather than the city. The board is managed like a business by business
men and he feels business men can run it more efficiently than a city government.
A draft of a city ordinance was handed out and Mayor Packard suggested this be
reviewed by all members of the board of directors of CRMWD, together with the
areas of agreement and disagreement. After this review, one more meeting should
be held to determine if a consolidation can be negotiated. If not, he felt there
is no use prolonging the series of meetings and an impasse should be declared.
Mr. Anear added that this ordinance has not been reviewed by council as a whole as
yet and at this point it is merely a proposal.
Mayor Packard will not be available for the next meeting and has named council-
member Buddy Lewis as his representative. Since Mr. Lewis is not available for a
morning meeting, it was requested that the next meeting be held at 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday, October 8, in the board room of Costa Real Municipal Water District.
This was agreed to.
Meeting adjourned at 12:30 p.m.
/R'espe/:tfully submitted,
PAMELA A. BATHO
Recording Secretary