In the article above it mentions 68K in savings to parks and a school in the path of the pipeline. It doesn't mention the hundreds of thousands of the golf course will save every year, it doesn't mention the cost to install the pipeline at the parks. Or how much revenue the water district will lose by losing it's second largest customer...

Elizabeth:

Those figures aren't included because they aren't known yet. Calculating savings can't be done without knowing the construction and annual maintenance costs, for example. When we have more information we'll include it.

Sandy

Who would pay for complete replacement of the recently re-paved streets? It would not be appropriate to only ask for patching the 4 miles of streets. Patches don't last as long as the paving would.
Would the private blub be totally responsible for operating costs, including repairs of the well equipment and pipeline?

In times of drought, how would the city ensure that the private club is doing its fair share to conserve water? How can the city ensure the aquifer is not depleted and won't cause subsidence? How can the city ensure the aquifer is replenished and the club's runoff doesn't contaminate it?

Why would the city allow private development of a large bite of any city park?

How much does the club pay in property taxes?

What are their membership requirements? Fees/Dues?

What is the impact of this on Menlo Park's groundwater...or the relation to Menlo Park's Emergency Water Supply Wells Project?

Web Link

Remember that every resident in Menlo Park will pay more for their water to cover the fixed costs of Hetch Hetchy water that the club will be escaping.

A very large group of private individuals currently draw their water from the aquifer in the willows without water meters. Menlo Park has a long history of allowing private individuals to use this water. The real issue here is the cost of the installation and its maintenance. The club should pay for those items. However, maintenance of the right of way, like paving, should be born by everyone who uses it.

I read in the project FAQ's published by the City that the country club uses over 60 million gallons of water per year. Wow... even at my lowest Tier 1 rate on my Cal Water bill, that would amount to over $355k annually. And Menlo Park "might" save $68k year if they could tie this new pipe into pre-existing irrigation systems at parks and schools? I can see why that country club is very motivated to find a solution to their very expensive problem. And they just have to pay for the cost of the pipe and maintenance? Sweet deal for them.

This is in no way a good deal for anyone but the country club. If they want this they should be charged the going rate for water. Then, and only then, might it be a good deal for Menlo Park.

So Menlo Park has no water policy? Does the city have any information about the aquifer, its status, and the draw on it?
Long Time Resident - Why do you think it's appropriate to compare a private homeowner's well to a commercial well for a heavy water user like a golf course and country club?