Ramona Water District Moves Forward With Solar Project

A public hearing on the proposed solar energy installations at Ramona Municipal Water District's (RMWD) plants brought out two men who oppose the project. Daniel Morales and Robert Mitton live near the Santa Maria Water Reclamation Plant on Sawday Street in Ramona Acres. No one from the neighborhood of the San Vicente Water Reclamation Plant requested to speak before the board.

Letters of notification of the March 8 public hearing were sent to 22 households in the Santa Maria area and nine in the San Vicente area.

District staff recommended the board approve a resolution calling for an exemption from the county's building and zoning ordinances for the solar energy installations. It was approved by the board with a 4-1 vote, with Kit Kesinger voting against it.

Morales expressed concern that the decision would change the zoning regulations for the Ramona Acres neighborhood. He also questioned if there would be enough room for the solar panels in the planned space. General Manager Ralph McIntosh said several options had been considered and the planned location was "the best we can come up with." He also said the locations will be permanent once the solar panels are installed.

District counsel Brooke Miller told Morales the exemption for the district would not necessarily change the zoning for the neighborhood. The exemption is necessary for the plans for the project to continue without requiring special permits from the county.

Mitton suggested the district should make improvements on the existing facility before spending money on solar panels. He mentioned problems with sewage leakage during winter storms.

"It sure stinks there sometimes," Mitton said.

Kesinger told Mitton the district will be saving money by switching to solar energy.

"We're not spending money on it," Kesinger said. "It's for the existing plant to save electricity."

Director Red Hager suggested that staff arrange a time when the neighbors could have a tour of the plant. McIntosh said it would be unrelated to the project but it could be arranged for anyone interested in touring the plant.

The general manager said it is not known yet when the project will begin. The next step will be approving a contract with a company to do the work. That information will be brought back to the next board meeting.

In other business brought before the board, Chief Financial Officer David Barnum presented a workshop to provide an overview for the directors of the progress on the budget process. Barnum will make regular presentations at the board meetings before a public hearing is scheduled in May.

The presentation included information on operating funds, capital improvements and capital replacement funds. It also showed the changes that have occurred over the years in the percentages of revenues and expenditures.

RMWD has approximately 9,500 customers, Barnum said. This represents less than 2 percent of San Diego County Water Authority's customer base. Ramona has one of the largest service areas in the county, covering 75 square miles.

Barnum also touched upon the economy and its impact on the district, as well as the current financial situation of the district.

The board unanimously approved hiring a third-party rate consultant for a study on water and sewer rates. Barnum stressed the need for hiring a consultant, saying the  consultant would be an expert who deals with many agencies and is familiar with what other agencies are doing. The cost of hiring a consultant will run between $15,000 and $20,000.

In other business, Director Darrell Beck questioned the expenses involved with a water main break that occurred on Scrub Oaks Lane in the early morning Feb. 9. He asked if the district had insurance that would cover the expenses. The general manager said expenses must be paid by the district, and that the repair was not covered by insurance.

The expenses include $11,273 to have the road repaved and $1,286 paid to the property owners for damages incurred from the main break.

The board also approved using Fire Prevention Services, Inc., for weed abatement. It will include other vegetation and combustible materials in addition to overgrown weeds. There is no charge to the district for this service. 

Ramona Patch asked the water district for a response regarding the odor issue raised at the meeting and during December flooding. Here is General Manager Ralph McIntosh's response to that and other issues raised at the March 8 hearing:

"I have talked with the SMWRF (Santa Maria) Supervisor and he states no one has ever come to him or into the District to complain about it smelling bad at the plant. Sure, it is going to smell on occasions, it is waste water that is being treated and reclaimed at this plant.  This was also off topic and had nothing to do with the agenda item itself.  It seemed that (the resident) wanted to express his complaint about the plant smelling vs. what the actual intent of the public hearing was about. 

"As one Board member asked “was the plant there when you moved in?”  The response was “yes”.  I would point out and I believe that the Director’s question was asked because this plant has been there since about 1972.  With a few exceptions the neighborhood grew up around the plant, not the plant being built around the neighborhood.  Mr. Morales commented that the plant was built after he moved in a little over 30 years ago.  I responded that I have been with the District for 38
years and the plant was there when I started. 

"Mr. Morales also stated he went to the grand opening of the plant where he was able to drink the treated effluent.  I responded that I can guarantee this was not true.  While efforts are being  made at some agencies (not RMWD at this time) to go to indirect potable reuse (or as some would call it toilet to tap) it is not currently allowed and it definitely wasn’t allowed 30 years ago.

"In the article it states that two men spoke in opposition to the project.

"I wouldn’t say that they were opposed to it but really wanted or needed
more information about the project."

McIntosh writes that, as regards the mention of the locations being permanent, "this was in response to the planned upgrades for the plant itself, not the solar project. However once and if built those solar arrays will stay in place until to expiration of the contract."

He continues, "Mr. Mitton states that the District should make improvements for the existing facility before spending money on solar panels.  As Director
Kesinger pointed out, the District is not paying for this.  The project
is done with a private contractor through a power purchase agreement (PPA)
which is funded under a government program.  The District did have to
expend some money up front to get the project moving forward but will be refunded that money once the project is completed.  The benefit the District receives will be reduced energy costs for the two plants over a 20 year term.  It is unknown at this time what those savings would be until the project is completely vetted out by the newest proposer of the project.

"Director Hager suggested a tour of the facility for these two neighbors.  That will be happening on March 15th.  At this point it is completely unrelated to the solar project.  It will be more just informational on the operations of the plant.

"One last point of clarification.  The last item in the article states that the Board approved using Fire Prevention Services (FPS) for weed abatement. I want to clarify that we already contract with FPS for weed abatement. The agenda item was the first step towards a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for nuisance abatement (weed abatement) with the County of San Diego & Cal Fire to run the program.  RMWD would then no longer require contracting with FPS for this function which is a benefit to all.  The action taken was that RMWD would continue to use FPS until RMWD can finalize the MOU and reach agreement with the County of San Diego and Cal Fire."