News of the Arroyo
Title: | LCF sewer plans stuck in quagmire |
Subtitle: | |
Date: | 2003-12-03 |
Summary: | December 3, 2003 -- Problems could delay the construction of La Canada's sewer system for up to two years. |
Author: | Robert Chacon |
Publication: | News-Press |
Content: | Lack of state funds, dispute between L.A. County and Pasadena could stall project until 2005. LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE — Neighboring cities and the state have hit La Cañada Flintridge with setbacks that could delay its sewer construction for up to two years. In a special meeting Monday night, city staff and other officials told the City Council that state funding has been pulled from the project, and that a dispute between Pasadena and Los Angeles County regarding a main sewer line could delay construction of Sewer District 3. La Cañada Flintridge\'s sewer system will connect to the Pasadena line. Pasadena has planned for years to turn over a main sewer line to the Los Angeles County Sanitation District, but must repair root damage to the line before doing so. Pasadena is balking at the repair because it would rather pay the sanitation district to mend the line. Officials from both cities and the county met Tuesday to discuss the problem. At issue is how much Pasadena will pay the sanitation district, said Mark Alexander, city manager for La Cañada Flintridge. The sooner the sanitation district can take over the line, the sooner it can make improvements that increase the sewage-carrying capacity demanded from La Cañada Flintridge\'s new sewer ways. \"I am completely confident that we will find a quick solution to this,\" said David Spence, a La Cañada Flintridge city councilman. Pasadena officials did not return phone calls for comment Tuesday. The more serious of both setbacks, however, is the state\'s Water Resources Control Board suspension of its revolving loan fund program. A revolving loan is like a line of credit, and the city can borrow against it. The department administers federally funded loan programs for sewer construction, but budget setbacks have caused the state to review many of its projects slated for funding. City officials were dismayed that the state is pulling back on commitments it made to the city years ago. Construction on the sewer district is scheduled to begin in the fall. \"We based our construction strategy on funds from the loan program,\" Spence said. The city could eventually receive up to $20 million in funding from the state for the construction of Sewer District 3 in La Cañada Flintridge, Alexander said. The district is bounded by La Cañada Boulevard on the east, Ocean View Boulevard on the west and north of Foothill Boulevard to the edge of the Angeles National Forest. The total cost of construction for that district is about $29 million. Sewer District 1 was completed in 2000, bringing sewer service to about 850 homes. District 2 is under construction and serves more than 1,300 homes. The city has three options regarding District 3 — two of them will keep sewer construction on schedule, said Angel Lucero, a private consultant working with the city on its sewer projects. The other is to drop the project. \"The city could wait for the revolving fund, in which case sewer construction could begin in 15 to 24 months,\" Lucero said. Or, the city could issue an improvement bond that would put the city in control of construction timing, because the city and its residents will pay for it through the bond. It could also request that the Water Resources Control Board accept an application for a bridge loan to give the city enough money to begin construction until the loan program fully kicks in. Councilman Anthony Portantino pressed for putting political pressure on the department. Spence said that he has already contacted the office of Rep. David Dreier (R-La Crescenta) in hopes of influencing the state to fund the project on time. |
Url: |