2005-06-20 - Laserfiche WebLink

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(e) the hours, if any, during which the proposed restricted parking block is affected by commuter vehicles; now, therefore BE 1T RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Charlottesville that Park Lane East is hereby designated as a restricted parking block. REPORT: WATER SUPPLY Mr. Tom Frederick, Executive Director of Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority, gave Council an interim briefing on the water supply process. He said that a small pre- application meeting with regulators will be held on Wednesday. He said the group will bring forward an interest in staying within the existing watershed and taking advantage of existing resources. He said the idea of a pipeline between Ragged Mountain and South Fork Rivanna is being explored. He said he hopes we will be able to move forward with a final application after the meeting. Responding to a question from Mr. Lynch, Mr. Frederick said that the four concepts already discussed, with the addition of the new pipeline alternative, will be discussed. Mr. Lynch said he does not support, and he does not think the community supports any of the four alternatives. He said he feels that the water need can be provided by repairing the Ragged Mountain dam and bringing it up to 13 feet and taking a phased approach. He said if that is done we would not need an additional pipeline and we would not have to ask rate payers for more money. He said the James River pipeline is clearly not an option and should not be on the short list of options. He said it does not address the drought issue and is not cost effective. He asked for more information about which of the numbers to raise the Ragged Mountain dam, 13 feet, 33 feet or 45 feet, is the optional number to take the dam to. Mr. Frederick said the optimal height will likely be determined after receiving feedback at the meeting with the regulators. He noted that the base of the dam can be built to support 45 feet for future need. He said he has heard no support for the James River pipeline, but said that the Corps of Engineers has said they will not support dropping it as an alternative at this time. He said we have to make the argument that we have a better alternative. Regarding repairing the dam and not building a pipeline, he said that the time to refill Ragged Mountain in a drought would be too long. He said that the current line is very old. He said he feels an argument can be made that it would be best to do a pipeline from South Fork Rivanna as it would give flexibility to have a pipeline between two reservoirs which could work both ways. He said it would take money to restore the pump station at Mechums River. Mr. Lynch said he agrees with Mr. Frederick in the long term, but the question is what we should do right now. He said he does not think the pipeline is the best use of funds right now. He said using Mechums and other things would cover us for 30 years, then we could build a new pipeline. Mr. Frederick said we need to explore the engineering in more detail. He said it has been calculated that building the dam to 13 feet will add 8 years to the water supply. Mr. Lynch advocated focusing on the 30 year water supply. He said the cheapest water would come from raising the South Fork Rivanna. He said he would be surprised if the concern about those wetlands remains. He said we should build the minimum plan now. Mr. Caravati said the operative word is risk. He said he would like to keep within the existing watershed. He said he finds Mr. Lynch's idea of frugality dangerous. He said he would advocate keeping the 50 year water supply goal and not be too frugal in phasing it in. He said he thinks we should build expeditiously as it will cost more to put it off.