Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Service Clearwater Ranch topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Cloverdale approves outside service agreement to allow Clearwater Ranch to connect to city water
Summary
The council conditionally approved an outside service agreement to permit Clearwater Ranch properties to connect to Cloverdale—s water system, citing urgent arsenic contamination at the ranch—s wells and directing staff to file with Sonoma County LAFCO.
The Cloverdale City Council on March 26 adopted a resolution conditionally approving an outside service agreement (OSAA) to allow Clearwater Ranch properties to connect to the city—s water system, and directed staff to file the OSAA application with the Sonoma County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO).
City staff described the OSAA as an initial, conditional authorization that allows the city to be the applicant to LAFCO; final approval requires LAFCO consent, county permitting and subsequent design and construction work. Kevin, a city staff member, told the council the agreement is one of several steps that must occur before physical connections can be made.
Howard Bogart, identified as president of Clearwater Ranch Community, told the council the property discovered extremely high arsenic levels in its well last August, briefly investigated filtration that proved technically and economically infeasible, and has relied on hauled water since December using a fire-hydrant meter. Bogart said the hauling operation has damaged internal roads and is costing Clearwater Ranch about $3,000 a month; he described the situation as financially challenging for the property owners and tenants.
Council members expressed support and accepted the staff recommendation. A motion to adopt the resolution conditionally approving the OSAA for parcel number 115-239-008 at 695 Cherry Creek Road (Clearwater Ranch) and to direct staff to file the OSAA application with Sonoma County LAFCO was made and seconded; the council approved the motion by voice vote, recorded as passing 5-0.
Council members acknowledged that even with council approval the process will require additional steps including LAFCO approval, county permits, design and construction work, and that connection timelines will depend on those approvals and funding arrangements.
The council thanked city staff and community representatives for their work on the agreement and asked staff to continue to expedite each feasible step to reduce the ranch—s reliance on hauled water.
