HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 06/01/1977MINUTES OF MEETING
OF CITY COUNCIL
PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA
JUNE 1, 1977
SPECIAL MEETING
ROLL CALL
NOTICE OF CALL
L_
A Special Meeting of the Petaluma City Council was
called to order by 'Mayor Helen Putnam at the hour
of 9:00 a.m. .
Present: Councilmen Brunner, Cavanagh, Hilligoss,
Mattei, Perry, and Mayor Putnam
Absent: Councilman Harberson
Notice of Call for Special Meeting dated May 31, 1977,
Certificate of City Clerk of Delivery of said Notice,
and Consent of City Council for holding said meeting
submitted and filed.
PURPOSE OF MEETING To discuss proposed amendment to Section 15 of-the
Petaluma Municipal Code -- an urgency measure to per-
mit the irrigation of school grounds used for public
recreation purposes.
AMEND SECTION Assistant City Manager David Breninger explained the 101 A
15.18.050(5) OF
reason for the call for the Special Meeting was at the
PETALUMA.MUNICIPAL
request of the Petaluma-School-District and the Old .
CODE - PERMIT
Adobe Union School.District. Both districts are en-
SCHOOL GROUND
deavoring to maintain field areas by watering with trucks
IRRIGATION
and by hand watering. These methods are proving to be
ORD. #1245 NCS
inadequate in those areas where they are heavily used
(Ef.f. 6/1/77)
for soccer, baseball and other activities. The..schools
have requested..permission to incorporate a system sim-
ilar to the one approved by the City for watering pub-
lic parks. Mr. Breninger recommended the Council adopt the emergency measure
which would permit the
schools to keep the fields in a playable condition,
above the "wilt" level
and prevent severe cracking where schools are located
on adobe soil.
In response to a question raised by Councilman Hilligoss, Lesly Meyer, Superin-
tendent of the Petaluma School District, advised the school system has two
wells - one located at Petaluma High School and the other at Petaluma Junior
High School. The high school well is of high yield; however, he is not
certain how long the water level will last in the one at the junior high
school. Water is presently being pumped into the swimming pool at the high
school, transferred to tank truck, then distributed to Kenilworth Junior
High School, Casa Grande High School, McKinley and McDowell Elementary Schools.
They ~would like =to keep the playing fields available for use during the
summer at'McNear, Grant, Valley Vista and Cherry Valley Elementary Schools
as`they are used quite extensively. Mr. Meyer explained the use of the
sprinkler systems would be very carefully monitored.
Councilman Mattei stated he would not be opposed to amending the ordinance,
but felt the watering from irrigation systems should be confined to play
field areas and not used for ornamental lawns.
Mr. Marian Johanson, Business Manager for the Old Adobe Union School District,
advised their district has four schools, one of which is outside the City
limits. This school has its own well. The Bernard Eldredge School has
two wells, one which has been active and the other has had a new pump ordered
for it and will be put into service. They have no water at LaTercera or
Miwok Schools which are heavily used during the summer as play areas and
are the only available play fields in the immediate vicinity.
Councilman Mattei asked Mr. Johanson.the.same question as asked of Mr. Meyer
regarding the watering of ornamental lawns. Mr. Johanson advised they also
have a tank truck to do this type of-watering.
Ordinance No. 1245 N.C.S. amending Section 15.18.050(5) of the Petaluma
Municipal Code to allow the irrigation of school grounds used for public
recreation and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately,
was introduced by Councilman Perry, seconded by Councilman Mattei, and adopted
by six affirmative votes.
43 (p June 1, 1977
AMEND SECTION .
Assistant. City Manager.David Breninger advised the
15.18.050(5) OF
Sonoma County.Water Agency has advised the City
PETALUMA MUNICIPAL
is eligible for about 30 percent less water at.this
CODE - PERMIT
time than was used last year as long as Phase II
SCHOOL GROUND
is in effect.. The water rationing program will
IRRIGATION
change to Phase III when the Russian River goes
ORD X61245 NCS
dry. Santa Rosa has recently modified their ordinance
Eff. 6/1/77
to make changes in the use of water. Mayor Putnam
(Continued)
suggested these matters be brought before the Council
at the regular meeting of June 6, 1977, for discussion.
She also commended the community on the efforts
ADJOURNMENT
made to conserve water-.
There being = =no• further :hisiness to- comebef.ore-. e
�S- *-
Council, the meeting was au�ourried_^a_t 9:19 a.m.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City erk
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