Agenda - 09-02-2008 - 6e - Laserfiche WebLink

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s i Chair Jacobs said that there was discussion at the school collaboration meeting that both 2 school districts are looking at zeroscaping and reexamining the policy on watering lawns at 3 SCt1001S. 4 Bill Strom said that he wants to hear from Mark Marcoplos. He said that OWASA's plans s are in response to Chapel Hill's land use plans. He said that if they want to take these steps to 6 close that period of time where they are vulnerable to having a water shortage, etc., then they 7 need to look at their land use plans, growth patterns, and ordinances and see how to adjust s them in a sustainable way. 9 Joal Hall Broun suggested that if boards want to participate, then each should go bads and 1o discuss this issue as to what they would or would not agree to and then determine whether or 11 not they would like to come bads and discuss it as a group. She does not have an opposition 12 for staff to continue to talk about this, but she does not think that the issue of the positions of all 13 five jurisdictions will be solved in this discussion. 14 Chair Jacobs said that there seems to be general agreement that no one is proposing is changing any policies within Orange County governments in relation to how supply is used. 16 What has been raised is looking at use. He made reference to Resolution 9532 in the packet 17 that deposits the idea that there continue to be work on some kind of intake on the west side, is and whether or not OWASA is a party to the discussion. 19 George Lucier said that the water conservation issue is essential, but in Chatham County 20 there is an immediate issue of water use. Chatham County has to put out $15 million to 21 upgrade the plant to use the current allocation out of Jordan Lake and then up to another $15 22 million to upgrade the distribution lines so that it can deliver the water. This will increase 23 Chatham's water supply by about 2 % fold. This decision has to be made this summer and 24 cannot be made any later than this. 2s Mayor Bell said that he understands Mark Chilton's Concerns. He said that Durham has 26 no interest in using Jordan Lake except on an extreme emergency .basis. He said that each 27 entity needs to start planning, and the proposed resolution addresses this. He said that he 28 would hope that the boards would agree to allow the discussions to continue. 29 Randy Kabrick, Chair of OWASA Board, said that the board approved unanimously to 3o cooperate with Chatham and Durham to look at a regional intake from Jordan Lake strictly as 31 part of the water planning. There is no intention by the board to take allocations as part of a 32 base load. He said that this is a long term process. He encouraged all participants to support 33 long-range planning, even if it involves a portion of Jordan Lake for emergency purposes. 34 Mark Marcoplos said that he was on the OWASA board from 1999 to 2006 and went 3s through the first drought and helped to craft the new conservation measures. He said that, after 36 the drought of 2001-2002, he looked around astounded that OWASA was the only utility that 37 was treating this as a very serious, highly changing event. As soon as possible after the 38 drought, OWASA instituted year-round conservation and no other jurisdiction did this and it also 39 began the discussions that led to tiered rates to encourage conservation. He said that the 4o entities need to get the conservation and sustainability issues out there. He firmly believes that 41 OWASA has the know-how to get through to when the quarry is available in 2030 with 42 conservation, efficiency, use of storm water, sealing leaks in the system, etc. He does not think 43 that Jordan Lake will be needed from OWASA's standpoint. 44 Mark Kleinschmidt said that it is not in the AOG's interest to not participate in these 45 discussions. He said that he would like to see them at the table discussing what efforts are 46 being made in the neighboring counties and cities for water conservation and efforts. He would 47 like to hear more about the water reuse plans and other plans. 48 Bill Strom said that all understand that this conversation is going to take awhile to sift 49 through and the Chapel Hill Town Council needs the opportunity to put its thoughts in a so resolution. There should be no action tonight. He wants to be able to give OWASA dear sl direction. as