14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY may 11-17, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com As winter rains caused Monterey County’s rivers to swell past capacity and rush out to the sea, people began asking: Isn’t there a way to catch and reuse all that water? That’s what Monterey is preparing to do through a project financed by the state—in this case turning runoff lost to Monterey Bay into drinking water. The Lake El Estero Diversion to Sanitary Sewer Project will reroute drainage from the city stormwater system at the lake into existing sanitary sewage pipes along Del Monte Avenue, which lead to Monterey One Water’s regional treatment plant in Marina for recycling into drinking water as part of the Pure Water Monterey project. Currently, stormwater from the hills above Lake El Estero drains into the lake, and then untreated into the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Once the project is completed, city officials estimate it will capture 100 to 173 acre-feet of water each year, depending on rainfall. (In theory, 100 acre-feet would serve 50 typical five-person households per year, according to the Water Education Foundation. Pure Water Monterey at its current size can produce 3,500 acrefeet of recycled wastewater per year.) It’s a small project at just $1 million, but was deemed important enough by the California State Legislature, which approved the money in the 2022-23 state budget. It was a joint effort between Monterey One Water, the city and former assemblymember Mark Stone’s office to submit the project for consideration. The Monterey City Council voted on May 2 to accept the funding allocation. The city will pay upfront for planning, environmental review and construction to be reimbursed through the State Water Resources Control Board. It’ll take three years to get to construction in the fall of 2025, says Monterey Environmental Regulations Manager Tricia Wotan. During the discussion on May 2, councilmembers alluded to such a project leading to water credits that in turn could give the greenlight to more housing, but it’s not clear yet if that’s a possibility, Wotan says: “We’ve got a lot to do before that would be on the table. Once we understand the potential for the range of water that can be recycled, then we can talk with our partners as to how much water is being saved.” Originally in the plans for construction of the Monterey One Water plant, the Lake El Estero project was at one time dropped for further study, Wotan says. Now it’s been added back in. “It’s a small piece in the puzzle of Monterey One Water,” she says. The Carmel Youth Center, founded in 1949 by entertainment superstar Bing Crosby—creator of his famous “clambake” pro-am golf tournament in Pebble Beach—was originally a place for the village’s preteens and teens to enjoy supervised activities. At some point the nonprofit center expanded to include care for younger children. A complaint that it was operating without a child-care license was lodged with the California Department of Social Services in 2017, bringing an unannounced inspection and an order to revert back to its original purpose, which, according to a DSS report, it did. Somewhere over the last six years, child care was added back into CYC’s offerings in the form of after-school programs and day camps over school breaks, leading to another complaint earlier this year. On March 27, a second DSS investigator showed up unannounced. He told Executive Director Jessica Faddis she could apply for a license but the center had to shut down in the meantime, according to a DSS report. “It was really a very big shock to all of us who depend on the CYC,” said Dr. Julie Kenner, a single working mother, at a Carmel City Council meeting on May 2. Kenner and a number of others asked councilmembers and the community to come to the nonprofit’s aid. (The city owns the land; the nonprofit owns and maintains the building.) Boardmember John Plastini told the council that the 10,000-square-foot, five-level building is a “gem of a property” but was in need of repairs. “The city has been the greatest supporter of the youth center— we’re going to ask more of you,” he said. The CYC board is requesting $50,000 annually for five years from the city, beginning with the 2023-24 budget, which is set to be approved in June. Mayor Dave Potter said he would meet with CYC leaders to discuss possible funding solutions. How and when the center will be able to reopen is unclear—Faddis and board members contacted by the Weekly did not respond to messages. Slow Flow A stormwater capture and recycling project takes shape at Lake El Estero in Monterey. By Pam Marino news Migration Stories Angie Ngoc Tran teaches political economy and global studies at CSU Monterey Bay. She was born and raised in Vietnam, and escaped by boat at 17. She speaks about her research and 2022 book, Ethnic Dissent and Empowerment: Economic Migration between Vietnam and Malaysia. 11:30am-1:30pm Thursday, May 11. Hilton Garden Inn, 1000 Aguajito Road, Monterey. $40/members Democratic Women of Monterey County; $45/ nonmembers; $30/students; includes lunch. info@dw-mc.org. Coastal Creatures Pacific Grove’s Beautification and Natural Resources Commission provides an opportunity to learn about Pacific Grove’s wildlife including monarch butterflies, black oystercatchers, harbor seals and deer. This meeting will be held both in-person and virtually. 6pm Tuesday, May 16. Pacific Grove City Hall, 300 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove. Free. 648-3100, cityofpacificgrove.org. Traffic Calming Seaside officials working on the Hilby Avenue Calming Project are offering a guided walk of the area, followed by a workshop for community input. Share your thoughts and concerns about traffic on Hilby Avenue, and suggestions for what you would like to see change. Street experience walk happens at 5:30pm-6:15pm Wednesday, May 17. Meet at Hilby Avenue and Wheeler Street or at Hilby Avenue and Waring Street. Community input workshop happens at 6:30-8pm Wednesday, May 17 ay Oldemeyer Center, 936 Hilby Ave., Seaside. Free. 899-6700, ca-seaside. civicplus.com/802/Project-Outreach. starting young The Monterey County Workforce Development Board is teaming up with Mission Trails ROP program and Salinas Union High School District’s career and technical education program to host a youth job fair. Bolster your resume, practice your interview skills and learn how to compete in the job market. 2-5pm Wednesday, May 17. 344 Salinas St., Salinas. Free. 796-3335, montereycountywdb.org. Open Doors U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose, now represents much of Monterey County. She holds mobile office hours to meet with local constituents and hear their concerns. Call ahead to schedule an appointment. 10am-4pm Wednesdays May 17 and 24. District 18 mobile office at Monterey County District Attorney’s Office, 142 W. Alisal St., Salinas. Free. 837-6000, congress.gov. Care, Interrupted Carmel Youth Center leaders seek to reopen after the state shuts them down for no license. By Pam Marino Monterey Environmental Regulations Manager Tricia Wotan shows where stormwater pipes will link at Lake El Estero with pipes to the Pure Water Monterey recycling plant. e-mail: publiccitizen@mcweekly.com TOOLBOX “It’s a small piece in the puzzle.” Daniel Dreifuss
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