Laserfiche WebLink
In answer to Mayor Gerton's question, Mr. Bradshaw replied that there is a <br />movement in the State Legislature now to put the State Building Program on a five <br />year projection basis. <br /> There being no further questions addressed to Mr. Bradshaw, Mayor Gerton <br />thanked him for his report and announced that discussion on the sewer problem was <br />now in order. <br /> Mr. David Bigger, 301Junipero Street, reviewed the history of the Pleasanton <br />and V.C.S.D. Sewer Treatment Plants. Mr. Bigger complained about the odor from the <br />Sewer Plant and asked what could be done about it until the phase out is completed. <br />Mr. Bigger asked Mr. Campbell what the current limiting capacity of the Sewer Plant <br />on Sunol Boulevard was. Mr. Campbell stated that it was about 75%. Mr. Bigger <br />concluded his remarks by stating that he is not asking that growth be stopped, only <br />that the City Council stop rezoning to higher densities. <br /> Councilman Rega explained the costs involved of an odor-free plant and how <br />drainage affects the bacterial balance. <br /> Mr. Fales explained that a number of methods and equipment have been tried and <br />installed. He stated that whether you spend a considerable amount of money on a <br />facility of this type and get it to the height of its operational capacity, ~}ich <br />will be limited because of its geographical location, or whether to limit the in- <br />vestment in it and made a decision to establish a sinking fund and make arrangements <br />with a better facility and phase-out ~leasanton's sewer plant, is a value judgment <br />~hat has to be made each year. <br /> Mr. John Long maintained that the V.C.S.D. sewer plant is approaching capacity <br />and that the percolating that is currently being done in the surrounding open areas <br />is polluting the Valley's water basin. Mr. Long stated that if the City can't <br />dispose of its sewage, the City is not keeping up with the growth. Mr. Long con- <br />cluded by saying that the developers aren't paying the total amount for the people <br />they are forcing upon us and that someday the City will be forced into a large <br />bond issue to subsidize this growth. <br /> Mayor Gerton stated that V.C.S.D. claims that the effluent from their sewer <br />plant is treated and considered almost as pure as water, so therefore it can't be <br />polluting the Valley's water basin. <br /> Cit ' <br /> Councilman Reid, in reference to the y s future needs regarding sewage <br />disposal, stated that the fact that Pleasanton's sewer plant is an old plane and <br />the fact that the City entered into a joint powers agreement with V.C.S.D. for <br />disposal of the City's sewage, which was based on a program that V.C.S.D. would <br />handle all of the Valley's sewage, and the fact that it has been determined that <br />V.C.S.D. cannot handle this sewage unless their present plant is expanded, that <br />he would be opposed to a local bond issue. He further stated that he would ask <br />the City Attorney about the legality of Pleasanton using bond money to buy capacity <br />in the V.C.S.D. plant. Councilman Reid concluded by stating that if the agreement <br />with V.C.S.D. was a wrong action to take, then the City has but one alternate and <br />that is to build it's own plant. <br /> City Attorney Hirst stated that offhand, he found no particular legal impediment <br />with the City spending sewer bond money to buy capacity in the V.C.S.D. plant but <br />asked for time to research this matter and prepare a report in writing, on his <br />findings. <br /> Mayor Getton reported on why the City decided to phase-out Pleasanton's sewer <br />plant and negotiated a contract with V.C.S.D. Mayor Gerton stated that about 25% <br />of Pleasanton's sewage is now being sewered into the V.C.S.D.'s plant. Mayor Gerton <br />concurred with Councilman Reid's remarks by s~ating that the expansion of the <br />V.C.S.D. plant was that Agency's responsibility and if they can't work out their <br />~roblems they should notify the City of Pleasanton that they cannot accept the <br />sewage. Mayor Gerton stated that the V.C.S.D. Board of Directors were working on <br />their problems which he felt would be solved. <br /> Discussion ensued regarding the City's allowing a subdivision to be developed <br />in the immediate vicinity of the V.C.S.D. Plant. Mayor Gerton gave the following <br />reasons for the property being developed; 1) The City annexed the property be- <br />cause they didn't want to create an island, 2) The City wanted to hold as much <br />industrial land as possible. Mayor Gerton explained what had transpired betw~en <br />Mr. Volk, a developer, regarding the zoning of this property and emphasized that <br />if the City Council had it's way the property would not have been zoned R-l, as <br />the Alameda County had determined. <br /> Councilman Reid stated that he has been quite concerned about the Val Vista <br />Tract and that letters have been written to both V.C.S.D. and the U.S. Army regard- <br />ing this odor problem from the V.C.S.D. and Army sewage plants. Councilman Reid <br />stated that the Brown and Caldwell Report concerning this is still under study. <br /> Councilman Rega suggested that the City Council strengthen their contract with <br />V.C.S.D., particularly in the area regarding sewer connections, or else establish <br />a Citizens Committee to work with V.C.S.D. and the City Council. <br /> <br /> <br />