“We’ve Been Working with the City for the Past Five Years on an Agreement to use Recycled Water on Our Golf Courses
Beaumont City Council Workshop Transcript November 2, 2016
2:05:00 Chairman Robert Martin from the Morongo Tribe: As one of the City’s largest landowners with more than 500 acres and a regional business owner with over 500 employees who are Beaumont Residents; Morongo has a vested interest in working with each of you so that together we can bring jobs, prosperity, and environmental stewardship to the City of Beaumont.
That’s why we’ve been working with the City for the past five years on an Agreement to use Recycled Water on our Golf Courses instead of potable water. In this time of drought; it’s clearly the right thing to do from an environmental perspective. In fact, golf courses and others across the Coachella Valley and Southern California are making the switch from potable water to recycled water. I don’t know if you’ve had a chance to visit Tukwet Golf Course, but you’ll notice there are a lot of brown areas. The reason for that is because we cut back 25% on watering.
2:06:00 Martin: That was a goal that the Governor set and we were able to meet it, but that has effected the Course. As I understand it; the choice before Council this week is to either keep control of your own wastewater treatment or pay approximately double and hand over control to another Agency. Not only do I think the first option is better for Beaumont and the Taxpayers, but from Morongo’s perspective; we have a longer history and working relationship with Beaumont and would prefer to work directly with you.
If the Council decides to keep its treatment plant, and Morongo hopes you do, then we would like to respectfully request the Council directly City Staff to complete the Agreement we have been working on with you for the last five years by the end of this year; replacing potable water with recycled water.
2:07:00 Martin: We strongly believe it’s in the best interest of the City, Morongo, and the Public. It’s been done in other communities. It’s cost effective and more importantly; it’s the right thing to do to protect potable water. That’s a precious recourse.