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City moves forward with recycled water project
north valley regional water project
Members of the North Valley Regional Recycled Water Project and local dignitaries break ground in August 2016 on the first phase of the project that will see recycled water conveyed from Turlock and Modesto to the Delta-Mendota Canal for agricultural use by Del Puerto Water District. The Turlock City Council approved contracts on July 24 for the start of phase 2: constructing a six-mile pipeline that will convey Turlock’s recycled water to Modesto’s Wastewater Treatment Plant on Jennings Road.

The Turlock City Council approved construction contracts for the Turlock portion of the North Valley Regional Recycled Water Project, which will see City of Turlock recycled water go to drought-stricken farmers in the county’s westside.

Members of the recycled water program broke ground two years ago on the first phase of the project that will see recycled water conveyed from Turlock and Modesto to the Delta-Mendota Canal for agricultural use by Del Puerto Water District

The Council’s action on July 24 launched phase 2 of the project:  constructing a six-mile pipeline that will convey Turlock’s recycled water to Modesto’s Wastewater Treatment Plant on Jennings Road. At Jennings Road, Turlock’s recycled water will enter into the Modesto pipeline and be pumped to the Delta-Mendota Canal.

The North Valley partnership is the single largest recycled water conveyance project in the country and the first water project for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the owner and operator of the Delta-Mendota Canal.

The project will convey 10,000-acre feet of recycled water from Turlock and Modesto through the construction of a pump station and pipelines to the Delta-Mendota Canal for agricultural use by Del Puerto Water District and for wildlife refuges by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

“Tonight’s proposed approval actions are truly a milestone for the North Valley Regional Recycled Water program and the result of an incredible effort by your city staff and the project partners. On behalf of the board of directors, staff and land owners of Del Puerto Water District, please acknowledge our sincere appreciation for this city’s commitment for our collective vision some eight plus years ago,” wrote Del Puerto Water District General Manager Anthea Hansen in a letter to the City Council and read by Del Puerto Water Operations Manager Adam Scheuber.

Funding for the project is coming from a U.S. Department of Interior grant in the amount of $4.2 million and a loan secured from the State Water Resources Control Board for $39 million.

On July 24, the City Council also:

·       -  Approved amending the Zoning Map for Planned Development titled Mission Ranch and allowed for the building of a gated community with a private cul-de-sac on the 1.79-acre site, where six single-family homes are proposed. This project, located on N. Berkeley Avenue, also received a variance for a reduction in the 15-foot corner side yard setback requirement to 10 feet to accommodate the wall surrounding the gated community on N. Berkeley Avenue.

·       -  Approved increase in commercial box (Dumpster) service refuse fees charged by the City of Turlock garbage contractor Turlock Scavenger. The charge for a commercial box service went from $53.53 per ton to $74.61 per ton. The fee change was proposed due to increased transfer and tipping fees at the County landfill. Because the commercial box is not a required service, but rather one requested by a customer, the fee increased is not subject to the Proposition 218 utility rate setting process.

·        - Approved the advertisement of construction bids for the Highway 99/Fulkerth Road Interchange improvement project. The project is expected to cost $12 million and will be funded by SB 1 funds ($5.5 million), with the remainder from the Capital Facility Fees. Ground breaking on the project is expected at the end of September.

·       -  Approved a new lease agreement with Turlock Chamber of Commerce for the City-owned building at 115 S. Golden State Boulevard. The new agreement will run until Oct. 6, 2063. It suspends the $675 a month payment plan for the next 25 years the Chamber has been paying to the City since September 2017 in repayment of Convention and Visitors Bureau funds. The new agreement has the Chamber obligated to pay all taxes on the property, including the Property and Business Improvement District tax, starting Sept. 1. The new agreement also prohibits the Chamber from hosting or engaging in political activities upon the premises.

·      -   Approved modifying the hours that all City of Turlock parks are open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. to dusk, on a trial basis with a report back on its effect on crime to the City Council in January.

·       -  Approved relamping the streetlights and security lights at Broadway, Central and GAR parks with energy-efficient LED technology at an estimated cost of $2,500 with funding through the Parks Maintenance fund.

The Turlock City Council will next meet at 5 p.m. Aug. 14 in a joint session with the Planning Commission and then at 6 p.m. Aug. 14 for their regularly scheduled meeting.