Politics & Government

Council May Have Low Cost Solution To Marina Water Problems

The council will consider including repair of broken water pipes at the Marina as part of a low-interest bond issue for the city's water system.

The Martinez City Council may have found some low interest money to fix a long-standing problem at the Marina. If things work out the way they hope, council members may vote next week on a bond issue which would fund the repair of broken water pipes at the Marina.

The issue floated to the attention of the city Wednesday as the council convened as the Martinez Public Improvement Corporation to consider issuing $3.5 million in new bonds to fund improvements to the city’s water system, including the replacement of the Harborview Reservoir, and electrical and structural repairs to the Water Treatment Plant. Bonds would also be issued to help finance the upgrades made to the system in 1999.

For several years, liveaboards at the Marina have complained about leaking and broken water pipes. Siltation and other factors make repairing the problem difficult and expensive.

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As part of the discussion, councilman Mark Ross suggested increasing the amount of bond money, which would have an interest rate of under 1 percent, to help fund repairs to the broken pipes at the Marina, which was been a cause of concern for liveaboards and other Marina users.

“I’m thinking we could help those water lines at the Marina be better able to serve our customers if we had some improvements to the tune of maybe $3 or $4 million,” Ross said.

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Councilman Mike Menesini said the number of people affected by the Marina repair would not justify the additional cost.

“There are 12 water customers down there,” he said. “Spending half a million dollars doesn’t make any sense.”

Councilwoman Lara DeLaney said the city should issue a higher amount since the interest was so low, as a way to prevent coming back later for more bonds at a higher rate.

“Given the interest rate environment, shouldn’t we issue a higher amount to provide a cushion, a safety net for projects which costs may rise so we don’t have to incur additional costs,” she asked.

Menesini cautioned that spending too much money might lead to the need to raise water rates to pay off the debt.

The council will consider the matter further when it meets next Wednesday. 


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