Desal task force OKs nearly $600k in spending: Opponents want consultant funding stopped
J.M. Brown
Santa Cruz Sentinel
11/16/2011
Despite objections from critics upset about ongoing spending on a seawater desalination project, a task force charged with guiding the proposal unanimously approved contracts for two consultants totalling nearly $600,000.
The task force representing the desalination partnership between the Santa Cruz Water Department and Soquel Creek Water District approved hiring the San Diego County-based firm Dudek through December 2012 for up to $480,000 for permitting work. If the proposed plant is eventually approved, permits will be required from several regulatory bodies before it can be built.
Desal opponent Rick Longinotti, founder of a group called Desal Alternatives, urged the task force not to hire a permitting consultant until after an environmental analysis is completed and approved, and the project is given a green light by both agencies and perhaps voters.
"I think it is fair to ratepayers in both districts to delay spending on permitting until the people have had a chance to weigh in," Longinotti said in an email to members.
Task force members asked why the permitting work had to start now.
"I'll be frank, $480,000 is a lot of money," said member Bruce Jaffe. "I have to be convinced this is necessary."
Bill Kocher, director of the Santa Cruz Water Department, said municipally owned desal plants are rare.
"A lot of regulatory agencies are not quite certain what to do with this," Kocher said. "It's definitely a wide-open field in terms of regulation, which makes permitting for this enormously important and will require somebody who specializes in it."
