Education Representation Water Resources Land Use
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Education Representation Water Resources Land Use |
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SIERRA AND FOOTHILL CITIZENS ALLIANCE MEETING January 26, 2005
A.
Gary Temple brought the meeting to order at 7:13 p.m. 1.
Bob Waterston, Fresno County Supervisor from District 5, including the
mountain and foothill areas is the guest speaker.
Phil Desatoff, Fresno County Geologist accompanied him to answer
questions. 2.
Channel 30 and the Mountain Press are present. 3. 130 attendees. B.
BOB WATERSTON SPEAKS 1.
Bob Waterston introduced himself. He
explained Fresno is the 10th largest county in California, and the 5th
largest economy in the country. He
oversees the health and welfare of the county, spanning 3,000 square miles,
which is half the size of the county. Bob
explained that it is not an easy job. Every six weeks, Bob visits Auberry and Shaver to meet with
his constituents, anyone wanting an opportunity to discuss pertinent issues.
Bob is dedicated to us, battling for what he believes in and is “not
for sale.” 2.
Bob explained that the new General Plan took over at the end of 1999, and
since then, no zoning changes have been allowed.
All development now seen is from before the 2000 General Plan.
However, these grandfathered developments still must show the water. 3.
Complaints come to Bob and Phil seasonally, mostly starting in October,
after the summer season regarding water problems.
There is not a lot of water up in the foothill and mountain regions.
The best thing people can do is get organized, as we have done.
He commented, “It is so incredible what you are doing.” Bob and Phil and the county supervisors are trying to work
with problems as best they can. Residents
in our area live on bedrock, like plates, with fissures in between that can hold
water. We can’t know for sure
what the true water quantity is. 4.
The Monowind Casino has 330 machines, with the law allowing them up to
2,000. But at 350, they must cut a
deal with the governor. Anything
that has to do with land or water use must go through the county supervisor.
It goes through Bob, or it is a no go.
If something is in the paper, take it with a grain of salt, Bob advised.
The casino issue is currently on the shelf. 5.
Regarding our infrastructure, we have more surface streets than LA County
– 3,600 miles, more than any other county in California. 6.
Bob said, please don’t complain. It
doesn’t get us anywhere. Please
do send your ideas and suggestions. Be
constructive.
C.
QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION WITH WATERSTON & DESATOFF Q:
How feasible is it to get the General Plan amended to protect us against
high density building? A:
Bob said they are doing a water study now.
Also, they have stopped people from being allowed to build who have to
truck in water. Health issues
(septic, etc.) take precedence above your (property) rights.
Experts will evaluate our problem. The
density issue is grandfathered-in development. Q:
How do we know that the more wells we drop don’t affect the strata on
other areas? A:
We won’t see eminent domain. These
things will be addressed in the study so we can get the facts and proceed from
there. Point:
Bob emphasized that we do not want the state coming in to address this
issue. Q:
The water study will take some time, to get data over an extended period,
so it may take at least a year. How
do we make decisions on development in the interim? A:
With the current rules we have, we can’t stop it.
It is an individual’s right to follow the rules and build.
We can’t stop development if people are following the rules.
If there is a moratorium, that means a total halt; no mother-in-law
suites, additions, or anything. Bob
is against a moratorium. Bob said
the “smart people in this room” have “opened my eyes”.
Planned growth is the approach to take, since a moratorium now would not
stop a water shortage next year. The
study must be done so that appropriate solutions can be devised.
Howard Hendrix interjected that the SAFCA has not ever used the word
“moratorium”. Q:
Is the water information (well logs, etc.) in the Health Department,
rather than the Planning Department, and is the backlog of information due to
this data not being computerized? A:
Phil explained the Health Department collects well logs and then
transfers information to Phil in Public Works.
Currently, data is now being scanned into a database. Q:
What is the study about? A:
Phil explained water problems are currently anecdotal. We must have scientific data to move forward.
The Board of Supervisors has directed the staff to get proposals from
companies to do this study, in order to get recommendations on how to proceed
with solutions. We need data to back up our approach. Q:
Should this have been done 20 years ago? A:
Yes, you are right – this is the 11th hour. Q:
Historically, many communities run out of water in October.
Why, in 1982, would the county approve a huge development if they knew
about this ‘yearly’ water shortage? A:
In 1978 there was a plan for a 5,000 unit buildout in Shaver. They’ve achieved 1,600 units since (approximately 40 built
per year). When it gets to 2,000,
ground water can no longer be used for development; they must use the lake
water. Also, now people are living
in Shaver 12 months out of the year – no one expected this in a resort area!
The population explosion makes it feel doubled.
They can get water out of the lake, but they must do environmental
studies – but it will still stop at 2,000.
Bob didn’t make the rules and wasn’t here in 1982. Q:
What is your stand on water meters? A:
Not up here. It is not
happening. Q:
Does the county have a stand if wells aren’t producing?
Can resale be affected? A:
No. New wells have to
produce .6 gallons per minute, which is affecting new builds, not existing
homes. It will not affect resale of
existing homes. Q:
Why is testing not done in the off-season (when the water is at its
lowest?) A:
If a builder decides to build in the high season, that is their
prerogative. Q:
What is the impact on neighbors during well tests? A:
This is why the study is being done!
The study must be done for this to be answered. Point:
Bob said if there is no water, you should not be allowed to build.
If a neighbor has a well and you are going to share, what happens when
the neighbor dies or leaves? Now it
is a Health Department problem. You
will poison the same environment you are trying to protect by building without
adequate water. Q:
We would like to see new development use conservation measures. A:
Bob agrees. You can’t tell
people what to do, but education is the answer.
The Board has directed the staff to look at landscape ordinances,
however. What we need to do is
educate, because you can’t enforce this. Q:
Lot size and the number of homes, the type of landscaping, all have a
bigger impact. A:
If you have a 2 acre lot, Bob can’t tell that person how much water to
use vs. a 10 acre lot. If your
neighbor uses water indiscriminately, we can’t stop that.
Also, if a neighbor moves in and is pumping close to your well, the rule
remains the same that they can do that on their property.
This will remain until the study is completed. Q:
What are the dates of the new ordinances? A:
March 29th, 6 months after before it goes into effect.
These are temporary ordinances and measures until the study is done.
The study is due in September or October or so. Q:
California has a lot of mountain and foothill communities. Perhaps they have come up with solutions in these other areas
that we can emulate? A:
We are farther ahead then many other regions, mainly because of resident
calls, our organization and support. Phil
says they are calling other organizations. Q:
Water districts have lobbyists. Why
don’t we? A:
We have State and Federal lobbyists who cover water as a subject.
The inland counties and central valley have the most growth. Q:
What is the logic behind .6 gallons per minute? A:
You need 2 gallons per minute to pull a permit, or ½ gallon per minute
with a 2,000 gallon storage tank (a sliding scale relationship).
This has been the standard since the 70’s. Phil says that people who move with ½ gallon per minute
should consider what happens in a drought.
“Buyer beware, you are stuck.” They
are trying to change this standard now. Q:
How do we establish how well tests are done? A:
Phil explained air tests are going away because it is an inaccurate test.
We are now doing pump tests in the future. Point:
California Water Law says: 1)
Water must be adequate, 2) sustainable, and 3) responsible (not unduly burden
neighbors). Q:
Why would you pump and drain and waste the water? A:
When you run water, it soaks in, but you can see the impact on neighbors. Q:
There has been a proliferation of “granny pads” (in-law suites).
I’m sympathetic to the high cost of housing, but is the county
rubber-stamping these and isn’t it like development? A:
There has been a population explosion in the U.S. and people are living
longer. We have allowed people to
have 2,000 sf pads on their property. 3
years ago, the government realized people are living longer and that people need
places to live. It is great that
families take care of families. There
may be abuse, sure, but we have to find housing for us all. Q:
Why aren’t we considering measuring well depths? A:
The study is the start for more data.
We will look at well logs, including depths and we’ll start to see what
is happening over the years. Now
you see wells that are 200 ft. deeper than they had been – it paints a
picture. Q:
There was an article (El Dorado) on well contamination.
Will the study address health concerns as well? A:
We will answer this after we get well monitoring going (not metering). Q:
If there is a community water system (such as 4 houses on 1 well), what
is the standard for parcels on well testing?
If there are 50 parcels, you prove water on 3.
The county should change its policy to either promote community water
systems or test on each parcel. A:
Phil said we may be at the point that we have to do something different. Q:
How can we start an education campaign? A:
Education plays into this heavily. People
must change their water habits now. Bob
emphasized ‘ideas, not complaints’. D. NEXT
MEETING: Wednesday,
February 23, 2005 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Senior Center.
Chris Velez of the Intermountain Nursery will speak on xeriscaping. Prepared
by Lauren Insco
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