The Ordinance cannot be adopted until the next regularly scheduled Board meeting that is at least five days after the introduction and first reading of the Ordinance. Once the Ordinance is adopted by the Board, the Ordinance becomes effective 30 days after its adoption. Director Heinz Hamann commented, “I think it is important for very agency to have some ability to go beyond. When people have illegal connections or steal water from fire hydrants it affects all of our customers. (The Ordinance) is intending to give the agency a little bit of teeth." A member of the public asked during the discussion if the Ordinance could be posted on the AWA Agency's website and the Agency agreed to do so, so it may be viewed by the public. The Board waived the reading of the Ordinance which is scheduled to be adopted at the January 25th meeting.

Next on the agenda was the controversial discussion surrounding the Wastewater Improvement District No. 11 which is located in the Lake Camanche area. According to a report, Staff has been investigating the possibility of a new sewer treatment plant and disposal site following difficulties with the previous preferred locations. Gene Mancebo, Manager of Engineering & Planning for the Agency, has reported at previous meetings the concept of sending reclaimed water to a property owner north of Camanche Village for irrigation on pasture land appears to be a better option for disposal because of the ability for winter discharge into Jackson Creek. He said that staff has been holding meetings for the past few months with the property owners Faye and Chris Gansberg, and EBMUD representative, and Jackson Valley Irrigation District representatives. Mancebo explained that currently the Gansberg's are willing to enter into a long-term contract for acceptance of the recycled water for irrigation on their ranch and to provide drainage easements to their ponds and into Jackson Creek.

They are interested in getting a much water as possible to provide for permanent pastures for their livestock, said Mancebo. The Gansberg's have approximately 1,800 acres in this area. Wastewater from the Camanche area would likely be able to sustain around 200 acres of pasture land at build out. The Gansberg's have multiple reservoirs on their property that could also be utilized for storage, according to Mancebo and he said the reservoirs may be improved in the future to provide additional storage capacity. Tom Hoover, General Manager for JVID, has indicated that JVID has an interest in this project and may consider operating the storage reservoirs and irrigation system because the Gansberg property is currently in the JVID district.

JVID is interested in water development for the promotion of agricultural uses in the Jackson Valley area. Mancebo said that EBMUD is willing to allow the use of about 10 acres of their land for a new treatment sewer plant in the northern portion of the Hunt Club which is centrally located near Camanche Village Units 1, 2, 3A, 3B, 4, and 5. Director John Swift questioned the aesthetics of the plant. He wanted to make sure there was enough border between the homes and the plant so that it was not an eyesore to homeowners. Mancebo and Abercrombie assured him that there was sufficient distance since the parcel of land is 160 acres in size and the plant is tentatively planned to be located centrally on the property. They also pointed out that the back of the homes would be facing the parcel. Mancebo then went on to explain that Agency staff plans to re-direct the work of the consultant to concentrate efforts on this new concept. At the meeting Staff was seeking Board direction to begin preliminary work on a plant layout, force main alignment, hydrology and water balance on the Gansberg property, itemized cost estimates, and fatal flow analysis for CEQA/NEPA reviews.

The agency also plans to have a meeting with the Regional Water Quality Control Board staff in early March to discuss the permit structure and requirements associated with this potential project. Mancebo said, "I think this project has a tremendous amount of merit."  During the discussion one member of the public asked if the agency has explored the option of conservation methods, which Abercrombie said Finance Director Mike Lee has been looking into the possibility and plans to pilot one program in another water district shortly. Ultimately, the Board decided to move forward and have staff gather more information regarding the options before them and return at a later meeting for an update. Abercrombie said he expects staff to have significantly more information by April. Director Swift noted, "We need to focus on short term improvements for the people out there," referring to the developers and people whom have been waiting, some for years, to build their projects or homes and then recently discovered that the Department of Health Services imposed a moratorium on the Camanche area until the Water Agency develops a solution to the Wastewater issues.