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CC 2021-01-12_08g Adopt Resolution_Installation of Well_575 Easy St MEMORANDUM TO: CITY COUNCIL FROM: WHITNEY McDONALD, CITY MANAGER/ ACTING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR BY: PATRICK HOLUB, ASSISTANT PLANNER SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE INSTALLATION OF ONE (1) DOMESTIC WELL ON PROPERTY ZONED RESIDENTIAL ESTATE; LOCATION – 575 EASY STREET; APPLICANT – LOUIS MOSCARDI DATE: JANUARY 12, 2021 SUMMARY OF ACTION: Approval of the request of Louis Moscardi to drill and install a domestic well at 575 Easy Street to serve 580 Easy Street will allow the property owner to apply for a new domestic well permit from County Environmental Health. IMPACT TO FINANCIAL AND PERSONNEL RESOURCES: There is no direct funding impact anticipated as a result of this request. RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended the City Council adopt a Resolution approving the request by Louis Moscardi to drill and install one (1) new well on a residential parcel at 575 Easy Street for domestic supply at 580 Easy Street. BACKGROUND: The City has received a request from Mr. Louis Moscardi, owner of the property at 580 Easy Street, to drill and install a domestic supply well at 575 Easy Street in order to provide domestic water to an existing residential lot in the Residential Estate zoning district – one of the only districts that include properties not connected to City water and sewer utilities. There is currently no well at 580 Easy Street for domestic supply. Item 8.g. - Page 1 CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE INSTALLATION OF ONE (1) DOMESTIC WELL ON PROPERTY ZONED RESIDENTIAL ESTATE JANUARY 12, 2021 PAGE 2 ANALYSIS OF ISSUES: Arroyo Grande Municipal Code Chapter 13.08 requires Council approval for new or replacement wells or abandonment of existing wells. Approval to drill a well may be granted if the Council determines: 1) the well will neither deplete nor contaminate the City water supply; and 2) service from the City’s water system is neither practical nor feasible. Feasibility The applicant has provided a Groundwater Development Feasibility Report that examines the local conditions and finds that developing a groundwater well to serve the property at 580 Easy Street is feasible. The well site overlies Pismo Formation sand that extends up to several hundred feet in depth. Water quality in the Pismo Formation sands is typically suitable for domestic use, but may require treatment for reducing iron and manganese, and possibly other inorganic constituents. Depletion or Contamination The new well is proposed to be drilled on the property located at 575 Easy Street to provide domestic supply to the existing parcel at 580 Easy Street through an easement granted by 575 Easy Street to 580 Easy Street. The project is conditioned to submit verification that the well is located 100 feet from septic system areas, which will also be confirmed by County Environmental Health. Additionally, the new well is conditioned to include meters. The parcels are outside of the adjudicated Santa Maria Groundwater Basin and the property owner retains overlying water rights. As conditioned, the wells are not anticipated to deplete nor contaminate the City’s water supply. Item 8.g. - Page 2 CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE INSTALLATION OF ONE (1) DOMESTIC WELL ON PROPERTY ZONED RESIDENTIAL ESTATE JANUARY 12, 2021 PAGE 3 Practicality of Supply from the City’s Water System The neighborhood that includes the subject parcel also includes several other properties off of Easy Street and nearby Printz Road that use domestic wells for water supply. If utilities were to be extended to serve the property, it would likely be from La Canada and would be available to serve all the properties in the neighborhood. The City does not have any plans to extend water utility infrastructure to or near the property and service from the City’s water system is considered neither practical nor feasible at this time. The nearest existing water main is approximately 1000’ from the property and connection to this main would require significant infrastructure improvements and for the City to obtain numerous easements. ALTERNATIVES: The following alternatives are provided for the Council’s consideration: 1. Adopt the attached Resolution approving the installation of one (1) new domestic supply well; 2. Do not adopt the attached Resolution approving the installation of one (1) new domestic supply well; 3. Provide direction to staff. ADVANTAGES: The well will provide domestic supply to a residential property for domestic needs and will satisfy all health and safety requirements. DISADVANTAGES: No disadvantages have been identified to drill the requested well and it is not anticipated to create additional impacts to this portion of the Pismo Formation groundwater supply. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: In compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), it has been determined that this project is Categorically Exempt per Section 15303 of the CEQA Guidelines regarding new construction or conversion of small structures. This project is exempt per subsection (e) because it involves the construction of an accessory structure. PUBLIC NOTIFICATION AND COMMENTS: The Agenda was posted in at City Hall and on the City’s website in accordance with Government Code Section 54954.2. Attachments: 1. Groundwater Development Feasibility Letter Item 8.g. - Page 3 RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE APPROVING THE INSTALLATION OF ONE (1) NEW DOMESTIC SUPPLY WELL ON PROPERTY ZONED RESIDENTIAL ESTATE; LOCATED AT 575 EASY STREET; APPLIED FOR BY LOUIS MOSCARDI WHEREAS, Louis Moscardi has submitted an application to drill and install one (1) new domestic supply well at 575 Easy Street in order to supply water to 580 Easy Street in Arroyo Grande; and WHEREAS, Municipal Code Chapter 13.08 requires City Council review and approval of all new or replacement wells; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds the proposed domestic supply well will neither deplete nor contaminate the City water supply and is needed to serve the property to satisfy health and safety needs; and WHEREAS, based upon the distance from existing water infrastructure, the City Council finds that service from the City’s water system is neither practical nor feasible. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Arroyo Grande hereby approves the application to drill and install one (1) new domestic supply well at 575 Easy Street in order to supply water to 580 Easy Street, subject to the conditions as set forth in Exhibit "A", attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference. On motion of Council Member , seconded by Council Member , and on the following roll call vote, to wit: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: The foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted this 12th day of January 2021.    Item 8.g. - Page 4 RESOLUTION NO. PAGE 2 _________________________________________ CAREN RAY RUSSOM, MAYOR ATTEST: ________________________________________ ANNAMARIE PORTER, INTERIM CITY CLERK APPROVED AS TO CONTENT: ________________________________________ WHITNEY McDONALD, CITY MANAGER APPROVED AS TO FORM: ________________________________________ TIMOTHY J. CARMEL, CITY ATTORNEY Item 8.g. - Page 5 RESOLUTION NO. PAGE 3 EXHIBIT "A" CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL ONE (1) NEW DOMESTIC SUPPLY WELL 575 EASY STREET GENERAL CONDITIONS: 1. The applicant shall ascertain and comply with all State, County and City requirements as are applicable to this project. 2. The event shall occur in substantial conformance with the application and plans on file in the Community Development Department office. 3. The applicant shall comply with all the conditions of the City Council Resolution adopted on January 12, 2021, as well as the terms, conditions, and standards specified in the written permit issued by the County of San Luis Obispo Public Health Department. 4. The applicant shall agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless the City, its agents, officers, and employees harmless, at its sole expense from any action brought against the City, its agents, officers, or employees because of said approval, or in the alternative, to relinquish such approval. The applicant shall reimburse the City, its agents, officers, or employees, for any court costs and attorney’s fees which the City, its agents, officers, or employees may be required by a court to pay as a result of such action. The City may, at its sole discretion, participate at its own expense in the defense of any such action but such participation shall not relieve applicant of their obligations under this condition. 5. This approval shall expire on January 12, 2023, unless a drilling permit is obtained from the County of San Luis Obispo Public Health Department. Time extensions may be requested in conformation with the Arroyo Grande Municipal Code. 6. The applicant shall install a meter on the well heads and report annual pumping amounts to the City Public Works Department by December 31st of each year. 7. An approved backflow device shall be installed per City standard on the water meter service. 8. A copy of the well/driller report required by the provisions of Section 13751 of the Water Code of the State shall be submitted to the Public Works Department upon completion of the construction of the well. Item 8.g. - Page 6 RESOLUTION NO. PAGE 4 9. The applicant shall obtain permits for all electrical connections required for the new well pumps. 10. The applicant shall record a water well easement in favor of the property located at 580 Easy Street prior to connecting the well to 580 Easy Street. 11. The applicant shall produce survey verification that the distance of the well to any septic system (leach field) is greater than 100 feet to the satisfaction of the Director of Public Works. 12. The applicant shall ensure the recordation of an easement or other agreement on title at 575 Easy Street addressing the use and maintenance of the well, its pipelines, and all appurtenances, and benefitting the property located at 580 Easy Street. The form of easement or agreement shall be reviewed and approved by the City. Item 8.g. - Page 7 Cleath-Harris Geologists, Inc. 75 Zaca Lane, Suite 110 San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 (805) 543-1413 Feasibility letter 1 12/14/2020 December 14, 2020 Louis Moscardi 919 Anna Circle Nipomo, CA 93444 Subject: Groundwater Development Feasibility, 580 Easy Street, Arroyo Grande, California, APN 071-781-039 Dear Mr. Moscardi: As requested, Cleath-Harris Geologists (CHG) has evaluated the feasibility of developing a groundwater well to serve a future residence at 580 Easy Street in the City of Arroyo Grande. This letter summarizes the results of our evaluation. The subject parcel on Easy Street encompasses approximately 2.5 acres (shown as Parcel 1 on attached figure). There are two pipeline easements that connect the subject parcel to a well site easement designated for water wells to benefit the subject parcel and other parcels (shown as Parcel 3 on attached figure). The well site easement overlies Pismo Formation sand that extends up to several hundred feet in depth and has been successfully developed with wells for domestic groundwater supply, including existing wells within the well site easement. CHG visited the well site easement on December 11, 2020. There are a total of four wells within the easement, including three active wells and one inactive well. The active wells serve existing residences on Easy Street. The site is generally flat and wooded, with a drainage swale that enters along the west boundary and exits at the southern boundary. The easement was intended to accommodate a well for the subject parcel, along with wells that serve other parcels. There is sufficient room for rig access and equipment to drill a new well, although applicable setbacks (such as from septic systems and property lines) will need to be approved per State and County well standards. Depth to water was measured at an existing domestic well for which some historical information was available. The Well Completion Report for this domestic well indicates the local aquifer is a soft green sandstone and the well perforations are from 225 feet to 525 feet depth (log attached). A static water level of 60 feet depth was reported when the well was drilled in 1984, and was subsequently measured in October 2012 by CHG at 82.9 feet depth. The current water level was measured during our site visit at 81.9 feet depth. This information is limited, but sufficient to concluded that the Pismo Formation aquifer is not being significantly stressed in this area. Pumping interference can be a concern for wells that are in close proximity. However, historical information for the 525-foot domestic well indicates pumping water levels in October 2012 were close to 100 feet deep, which is only 20 feet below static levels. Given the additional 125 feet of available drawdown between pumping water levels and the top of the producing aquifer zone (at ATTACHMENT 1 Item 8.g. - Page 8 Feasibility letter 2 12/14/2020 225 feet depth), a new well operating at the site with similar depth, water demand, and performance to the existing 525-foot domestic well should not cause other wells within the easement to be unable to provide for existing uses. In other words, interference between wells can be accommodated given the depth of the aquifer and relatively low water level drawdown during pumping cycles. Water quality in the Pismo Formation sands is typically suitable for domestic use but may require treatment for reducing iron and manganese, and possibly other inorganic constituents. An ion-exchange water softening system for residential use or a localized reverse osmosis system at drinking water taps are some options for treatment, if needed. In conclusion, developing a groundwater well to serve the subject parcel at 580 Easy Street is considered feasible based on available hydrogeologic information. Respectfully submitted, CLEATH-HARRIS GEOLOGISTS, INC. Spencer J. Harris, HG 633 Senior Hydrogeologist attachments Item 8.g. - Page 9 File No.: 6392512Location: San Luis Obispo County, CA This map may or may not be an accurate description or identification of the land and is not intended nor may be it relied upon as a survey of the land depicted hereon. This map is solely intended to provide orientation as to the general location of the parcel or parcels depicted herein. First American Title Company, itssubsidiaries and affiliates, expressly disclaim any and all liability forall loss or damage which may result from reliance or use of this map.J Legend PARCEL 1 PARCEL 2 PARCEL 3 Item 8.g. - Page 10 Item 8.g. - Page 11 THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK Item 8.g. - Page 12