HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-06-13 - AGENDA REPORTS - APPOINT COUNCILMEMBER AND ALTERNATE TO SERVE ON TH (2)Agenda Item: 18
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
Q;" AGENDA REPORT
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
i,
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: fAI
DATE: June 13, 2017
SUBJECT: APPOINT COUNCILMEMBER AND ALTERNATE TO SERVE ON
THE SANTA CLARITA VALLEY GROUNDWATER
SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY BOARD
DEPARTMENT: Public Works
PRESENTER: Araz Valijan
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council:
1. Appoint one Couzcilmember to represent the City of Santa Clarita on the Santa Clarita
Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency.
2. If City Council desires, appoint an ahernate in the absence of the aforementioned
representative.
BACKGROUND
At the May 9, 2017, City Council Meeting, Couzcilmexnbers unanirnously voted to adopt a
resolution to approve the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to form the Santa Clarita
Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency. As part of the MOU to form the Santa Clarita Valley
Groundwater Sustainability Agency, the City of Santa Clarita (City) must appoint one
Couzcilmetnber and potential ahernate to represent the City on the Groundwater Sustainability
Agency board prior to June 30, 3017.
The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) of 2014 is a comprehensive bill
package that was signed into law by the state with the following goals:
(1) Set minimum standards for sustainable groundwater management
(2) Provide local agencies tools necessary to sustainably manage groundwater
(3) Increase groundwater storage
(4) Provide opportunity for local control
(5) Prevent deterioration of water quality
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(6) Preserve existing water rights
Local agencies are required to establish a Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) in
grouidwater basins as defined by the Department of Water Resources. The GSA is tasked with
assessing groundwater conditions in their basin, preparing and adopting a Groundwater
Sustainability Plan (GSP) to manage groundwater over a 20 -year period, and governance
responsibilities to enforce implementation and compliance with the GSP by all grouidwater
users in a basin. Local public agencies, defined as agencies with water management, supply, or
land -use responsibilities, must form a GSA by June 30, 2017. The City is located in the Santa
Clara River Valley East Groundwater Subbasin (Basin), which is part of a series of subbasins in
the Santa Clara River watershed.
To comply with SGMA, local public agencies in this subbasin established a working group
which includes a City staff member and staff representatives from Castaic Lake Water Agency,
County of Los Angeles Water Works District Number 36, Newhall County Water District, Santa
Clarita Water Division, Valencia Water Company, and County of Los Angeles Regional
Planning. The goal of the working group is to establish a recommended framework for the Santa
Clara River Valley East Subbasin GSA. The City is participating in this effort.
As part of the formation of the GSA, the working group has hosted four public meetings to seek
input and share information. The MOU has been developed to establish future GSA membership
and responsibilities, and must be adopted by each govenmmenntal body.
If a GSA is not formed by Juie 30, 2017, the State Water Board may place the Basin in
probationary status and could start charging fees to all groundwater pumpers beginning July i,
2017.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Other action as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
None
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