Camarillo City Council Certifies Desalination Treatment Facility EIR

By Logan McFadden

At the June 10, 2015, meeting the Camarillo City Council voted unanimously to certify the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for the North Pleasant Valley Groundwater Treatment Facility. Concurrently, the Mitigated Monitoring Plan was approved.

Before the current drought, Camarillo’s water was sourced 45% from groundwater and 55% from imported water. These sources provided 10,000 acre feet per year. In the northeast sector of the City, the salt content in the water has increased and cannot be used for blending going forward. The proposed desalination plant will include two existing wells, two new wells and three new monitoring wells. The new treatment facility will provide 9.000 acre feet per year.

The feasibility study considered four potential water production targets, including the option to not build the treatment center. The 9,000 acre feet option was the most economically feasible proposal. The project benefits include the following:

1. Mitigation of brackish plume
2. Poor quality groundwater put to beneficial use
3. Improved recycled water quality encourages shift in potable water use
4. Salt exportation stops payment of fines levied by CSD and brings the City into TMDL compliance for watershed. The plant will remove 62,200 pounds of chloride daily outside of the watershed.

The fully vetted FEIR is the result of a 30-day public review of the Notice of Preparation (NOP) in 2008 and 2013. There were ten and seventeen comments, respectively. The Draft EIR went through a 45-day public review in 2014 and generated ten comments. The re-circulated Draft EIR resulted in seven comments during a 45-day review in 2015. The ten- day 2015 Final EIR resulted in only one comment. The land was re-zoned from agricultural to residential. The water rights owned by the farmers were transferred to the City. The proposed development will require less water than the rights transferred to the City.

In another matter, the Council adopted a Resolution approving Tentative Tract 5955. The vote was 4 to 1 with Councilmember Jan McDonald opposing. Ms. McDonald has voted against the development since the outset. Elacora Springville, LLC requested approval to subdivide a 5.76-acre parcel for the development of 99 residential airspace condominium units with common landscaping, access, and parking. The property is located at the southwest corner of Ponderosa Drive and Spring Oak Road within the Springville Specific Plan area. Twenty percent of the units will be affordable; 10 designated low income and 10 very low income.

The condos will have five different floor plans ranging from 1,158 to 1,788 square feet. The units will include 2 bedrooms/2.5 bathrooms and 4 bedrooms/3.5 bathrooms. A five acre public park is planned for the land west of the development.

The 99-unit development is not in compliance with new off-street parking rules, however, it does comply with rules adopted on January 15, 2015, for new three or fewer bedroom units. The Council approved new parking rules on June 10, 2015, for future multi-family ownership projects (condos, townhouses, or other common interest developments) of units with four or more bedrooms. Each unit must have a two car enclosed garage, two car parking apron in front of the garage (driveway) or two car dedicated side parking stalls. The new rules require three open guest parking spaces for every five units. The rules prohibit tandem parking spaces.

Mayor Bill Little has requested consideration of St. John’s Healthcare Foundation’s request for a $100,000 grant to the Foundation for equipment in the new Catheterization Lab which will be part of the expansion project scheduled to be complete in early 2018. The grant will be payable over five years. The new Lab with state-of-the-art equipment will save lives and eliminate the transfer of heart patients requiring this type of diagnosis to a hospital in Oxnard. Councilmember Jan McDonald asked that the grant be used to purchase a critical component versus several small equipment items. The matter will be placed on the Council’s June 24th meeting agenda. The Council members expanded consideration of the grant to a maximum of $200,000. The award of public funds will be justified as the Lab will serve residents of Camarillo, i.e. the common good.

Doug Tapking, Executive Director, Ventura County Area Housing Authority, was recognized for his twenty years of service with a certificate of recognition signed by all of the Council members. Mr. Tapking inherited the Housing Authority when it was in a state of disarray. Council members praised his leadership, credited him for turning around the agency and remarked that Mr. Tapking was a pleasure to work with.

Another certificate of recognition was given to Jane Rozanski, Chief Executive Director, Camarillo Health Care District for her 22 years of service. Councilmember Charlotte Craven said Ms. Rozanski took over the agency when “no other government agency wanted to work with the District”. Over the years, programs for the elderly, meal programs and senior care have blossomed. Councilmember Kevin Kildee described Ms. Rozanski as a “kind and compassionate person”. Councilmember Jan McDonald thanked her for serving the community well and Mayor Little said Ms. Rozanski “made a big difference”. Ms. Rozanski said the job was very satisfying and she had accomplished what she set out to do. She also thanked the community for their support.

Brine Line, to carry salt to the sea from Camarillo plant

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Logan McFadden is a Citizensjournal.us city reporter and a recently retired banker, residing in Camarillo. He volunteers for the Heritage Action Sentinel team and serves as the AMAC Delegate to the 26th Congressional District.

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