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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 01241995 - S.7 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra l FROM; Supervisor Tom Torlakson / Costa a := DATE; January 24 , 1995 •;; , . .�. •` County SUBJECT: DIRECT ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO DEVELOP SPECIFIC GUIDELINES AND POLICY WITH REGARD TO APPROVALS FOR- SEPTIC SYSTEMS AND USE OF ALTERNATIVE SYSTEMS SPECIFIC REOUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDED ACTION: ( 1 ) Direct the Environmental Health Division Department to immediately implement a change in policy and procedures which will allow for the discussion, approval and implementation of alternate septic systems--as done, for instance, San Joaquin County. Refer to the Water. Committee to monitor the implementation of these policies . ( 2 ) Direct staff to pursue an ultimate change in the Memorandum of Understanding with the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board 'to allow the use of alternate systems, such as are in place in San Joaquin County. Further, direct Environmental Health Division staff to process immediate approval of septic systems for those applicants in the ' following categories : (a) Applicants in possession of final maps approved by and under the standards of the Environmental Health Division staff at the time of filing the final map or in possession of parcels created by such maps . (b) Applicants in possession of vested maps approved by and under the standards set forth by the Environmental Health Division at the time the map is vested. (c) Applicants in possession of maps approved by and under the standards of the Environmental Health Division, but whose maps have subsequently expired due to inactivity resultant from litigation or resolution of estate. or other unusual and protracted financial issues . CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: x YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIONATURE(9): ACTION OF BOARD ON Taniia T 24, 1 9 35 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER X The Board APPROVED Recommendation 1, 2, 3 and 4 with the amendment that the workshop referred to in the second paragraph of Recommendation 4 is to be conducted within the next 30 days. VOTE OF SUPERVISORS 1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE UNANIMOUS(ABSE�)I,T�._ AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: T.�s—J_f �L NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. cc: Health Services - Environmental Health ATTESTED January 24, 1995. County Administrator PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY AD"NISTRATOR BY ,DEPUTY S. 7 SEPTIC TANK SYSTEMS January 24 , 1995 Page TWO ( 4 ) Direct staff to convene a Task Force comprised of representatives of the property owners, the Contra Costa Farm Bureau, Cattleman's Association, Delta Board of Realtors, Citizens Land Alliance, East County Farmer, engineering firms and companies involved in well drilling and septic systems, and representatives of interested municipal advisory councils . This task force shall conduct a review of the current staff policies and procedures with regard to the approval of septic systems in the East County area . Further, .the Task Force will participate in a workshop sponsored by the Environmental Health Division to review the County's proposed new Septic System and Well Ordinances and current policies including use of mottling as a diagnostic tool . This workshop should be conducted within the next 45 to 60 days . The Task Force should also help further define what the current and/or potential water quality problems might be -- in location, type of quality issues, and relative contribution to the perceived risks by septic discharges, fertilizers currently and historically applied, and animal wastes fro horse paddocks or other farm animals . The Task Force and Environmental Health Division would be directed to develop educational, maintenance and other prevention strategies to address water pollution concerns . Transfer of property "informed consent" and notice regarding septic maintenance standards and guidelines should be included in this review process . BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Landowners in Far East County, particularly in the Brentwood and Knightsen areas, who have subdivided _ parcels or, who have purchased parcels that have been subdivided previously has encountered significant problems when attempting to obtain a building permit. These problems have resulted from the refusal of the Environmental Health Division to provide approval for septic systems, and an apparent lack of cooperation in providing options to these individuals . In many cases, these individuals have already been through the approval process and have received direct approval from the Health Department for septic systems when processing their application for subdivisions . In the majority of cases in question, applicants who have been denied are told to file an appeal, resulting in not only additional cost for the appeal itself but significant costs and time delays for additional monitoring and testing. These costs in many cases ran into thousands of dollars . It should be standard procedure within the Health Department that when the preferred system is found to be unsuitable for a particular parcel, alternate options should be provided and discussed with the applicant. We should not requireor force an automatic appeal on the part of the applicant. Contra Costa County currently falls under the jurisdiction of both the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board and the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control. Board. The Central Board has suggested in recent conversations that it would be amenable to changes with the approval of the San Francisco Bay. Regional Water Quality Control board. It is estimated that this process may take up to two years . The unique conditions found in Far .East Contra Costa County share nothing in common with the Bay RWQCB and the Board should direct the Environmental Health Division to pursue the establishment of standards for Far East County under the jurisdiction of the Central Valley Board independent of the Bay Board. Counties like San Joaquin have successfully implemented alternatives for property owners and Contra Costa should do the same. Our staff needs to convey a sense of reasonableness in relating to the public in these matters and provide cost effective and timely processing of alternatives . Date: BEQUEST TO SPEAK{ FORM (Two [2] Minute Limit) Complete this form and place it in the box near the speakers' rostrum before addressing the Board. Name: Phone: ✓ Address: 241U City: � �D I am speaking for: � yself OR ® Organization: AA NAME OF ORGANIZATION CHECK ONE: ❑ I wish to speak on Agenda Item # My comments will be: J,6. General ❑ For ❑ Against ❑ I wish to speak on the subject of: ❑ I do not wish to speak but leave these comments for the Board to consider: Date: �^ ��— CJS REQUEST TO SPEAK FORM (Two [2] Minute Limit) Complete this form and place it in the box near the speakers' rostrum before addressing the Board.o Name:_���� cc,G Phone: 61'7 SE 9 6 3 8 Address: At © ,tL / 70 City: -- I am speaking for: ❑ Myself OR ❑ Organization: %`i !i/� 5 6�5w� �9uiSAV 40411561-)-/ NAME OF ORGANIZATION CHECK ONE: I wish to speak on Agenda Item # ��,/7 My comments will be: ❑ General LJ For ❑ Against I wish to speak on the subject of: �] I do not wish to speak but leave these comments for the Board to consider: Date: .Z REQUEST TO SPEAK FORM (Two [2] Minute Limit) - Complete this form and place it in the box near the speakers' rostrum before addressing the Board. Name: ���� /�U� S7� Phone: 706' - 2-3 3 Address: City: Z—,<y I am speaking for: Myself OR ❑ Organization: NAME OF ORGANIZATION CHECK ONE: ❑ I wish to speak on Agenda Item # s — 7 My comments will be: ❑ General ❑ For ❑ Against 1 ❑ I wish to speak on the subject of: SCP 7`/G -� %STS/✓L.� Lf�L- TC�111�TiU�" ❑ I do not wish to speak but leave these comments for the Board to consider: ' 7 Date: REQUEST TO SPEAK{ FORM (Two [2] Minute Limit) Complete this form and place it in the box near the speakers' rostrum before addressing.the Board. f 5`70 Name: -z�a.,�- - TM a J Y, Phone: 6 zs= Address: I n,,, z e / —City: 0 a V(e Co Ld�LZJ -sd w 1� k,;! yY I am speaking for: ❑ Myself OR ® Organization: NAME OF ORGANIZATION CHECK ONE: I wish to speak on Agenda Item # s My comments will be: ❑ General ❑ For ❑ Against ❑ I wish to speak on the subject of: © I do not wish to speak but leave these comments for the Board to consider: f-99.6f4%4,q, It wLv 21elpje de-4-Y 3,a,4,4--.r G f 5 aS JV6lt7 �.�a, K TO Z(�7G 'Yari�1� ��N. 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