RESOLUTION NO. 77-14

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF MORRO BAY, CALIFORNIA, REGARDING THE LOCATION PREFERENCE FOR CONTINUING THE ANALYSIS NECESSARY FOR SITING OF A NEW WATER RECLAMATION FACILITY

THE CITY COUNCIL City of Morro Bay, California

WHEREAS, the City of Morro Bay has an existing Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) that requires replacement; and

WHEREAS, it has been determined to be in the best interest of Morro Bay to construct a new Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) that complies with the January 8, 2013 California Coastal Commissions actions; and

WHEREAS, it is in the best financial interest of the community to minimize the major maintenance and repair costs at the WWTP; and

WHEREAS, it is also in the best financial interest of the community to proceed with the construction of a WRF due to the time value of money and minimizing the cost increases due to inflation; and

WHEREAS, on February 25, 2014, the City Council resolved to have a WRF operational prior to the expiration of the discharge permit for the existing WWTP, being five years more or less; and

WHEREAS, on May 13, 2014, the City Council reviewed the report from John F. Rickenbach Consulting (JFR) regarding recommended sites for the WRF and reclamation; and

WHEREAS, the community has provided input through goal setting designating project goals including:

•  Produce tertiary, disinfected wastewater in accordance with Title 22 requirements for unrestricted urban irrigation in a cost effective manner for all rate payers.

•  Design to be able to produce reclaimed wastewater for potential users, which could include public and private landscape areas, agriculture, or groundwater recharge. A master reclamation plan should include a construction schedule and for bringing on customers in a cost effective manner.

•  Allow for onsite composting

•  Design for energy recovery

•  Design to treat contaminants of emerging concern in the future

•  Design to allow for other possible municipal functions

•  Ensure compatibility with neighboring land uses; and

WHEREAS, the WWTP in its present location is subject to the effects of Coastal Hazards such as: Tsunami, Storm Surge and Coastal Flooding; and

WHEREAS, the action of moving the critical public infrastructure, such as the WRF, outside the area of Coastal Hazards is consistent with the State’s Managed Retreat and the City’s Climate Action Policies; and

WHEREAS, removing the WWTP from its present location and locating a WRF away from the coast allows for the “highest and best use” of this beach front property” as visitor serving or recreational use; and

WHEREAS, due to the continuing drought in California, the limited and interruptible nature of the State Water Project and the City’s desire a LCP policy to develop a reclaimed water supply with the upgrade of its wastewater treatment system; and

WHEREAS, at their November 5, 2014, meeting, the City’s Water Reclamation Facility Citizens Advisory Committee (WRFCAC) recommended the City Council delay their decision regarding site selection until after the report from Carollo Engineering is complete and the WRFCAC can make a recommendation to the City Council; and

WHEREAS, on November 12, 2014, the City Council reviewed the incomplete report from JFR Consulting entitled of Report for New Water Reclamation Facility Project Comparative Site Analysis: Regional CMC Facility vs. Rancho Colina and chose to defer their decision until technical information regarding the preliminary design ant cost analysis for both the CMC and Rancho Colina facilities could be presented on December 9, 2014; and

WHEREAS, the final JFR Consulting report makes a compelling argument the optimal site, for the benefit of Morro Bay, is the Rancho Colina site; and the Carollo Engineers/MKN engineering and cost analysis confirms those conclusions; and

WHEREAS, on December 3, 2014, the WRFCAC met to review the engineering analysis and cost estimates for both the Rancho Colina and CMC sites and recommends the City Council express its preference for analyzing the Rancho Colina site as the location for the WRF with the following caveats:

•  The final Carollo Engineers cost estimate goes up, not down for CMC

•  There is an opportunity to discuss the environmental strategies and disposal options in

Morro Creek

•  Continue to evaluate environmental factors that might be a fatal flaw

•  Investigate the optimal location of groundwater injection for recharge benefits; and

WHEREAS, on December 9, 2014, the City Council reviewed Final Report for New Water Reclamation Facility Project Comparative Site Analysis: Regional CMC Facility vs. Rancho Colina, including the engineering analysis and cost estimates for both the Rancho Colina and CMC sites; and

WHEREAS, the abovementioned final report concludes the Rancho Colina site is preferential to the CMC sites based on a variety of reasons, including meeting the City Council’s time schedule goal, beneficial use of reclaimed water, and total project cost with a project at CMC estimated at $161.5 Million, versus an equivalent facility at Rancho Colina estimated at $81.4 Million, with a most probable project at Rancho Colina estimated at $74.2 Million.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Morro Bay, California, as follows:

• The City Council has reviewed the report entitled Final Report for New Water Reclamation Facility Project Comparative Site Analysis: Regional CMC Facility vs. Rancho Colina dated December 9, 2014, and accepts its conclusions and recommendations.

• The City Council directs staff to begin the Facilities Master Planning and Environmental Review to continue the analysis necessary for the Council to authorize construction of a Water Reclamation Facility at the preferred site location of the Rancho Colina site, in accordance with the previously adopted Five-Year schedule.

PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED, by the City of Morro Bay City Council, at a regular meeting held on this 9th day of December, 2014 by the following vote: