HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-05-09 - RESOLUTIONS - SCV GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY (2)RESOLUTION NO. 17-34
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, TO APPROVE THE
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING TO FORM THE SANTA CLARITA VALLEY
GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY
WHEREAS, the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014, California Water
Code section 10720 et. seq. (SGMA), went into effect on January 1, 2015; and
WHEREAS, the legislative intent of SGMA is to provide for the sustainable management
of groundwater basins, to enhance local management of groundwater, to establish minimum
standards for sustainable groundwater management, and to manage groundwater basins through
the actions of local governmental agencies to the greatest extent feasible while minimizing state
intervention; and
WHEREAS, SGMA requires that California groundwater basins and subbasins
designated by the California Department of Water Resources as high priority or medium priority
be managed by one or more Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) and that such
management be accomplished pursuant to one or more approved Groundwater Sustainability
Plans for the basin; and
WHEREAS, California Water Code Section 107210) defines a GSA as one or more local
agencies that implement the provisions of SGMA; and
WHEREAS, any local public agency that has water supply, water management, or land
use responsibilities within a groundwater basin may decide to become a GSA over that basin
(California Water Code Sections 10721 and 10723); and
WHEREAS, SGMA provides that a combination of local agencies may form a GSA by a
joint powers agreement, a memorandum of understanding, or other legal agreement (Water Code
Section 10723.6); and
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Clarita overlies a portion of the Santa Clara River Valley
East Subbasin, groundwater basin number 4-4.07 per the State of California, Department of
Water Resources (DWR) Groundwater Bulletin 118, which has been designated by the State of
California as a high priority basin; and
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Clarita has land use responsibilities within the Santa Clara
River Valley East Subbasin; and
WHEREAS, it is beneficial to the health, safety, and water supply reliability of the Santa
Clarita Valley to retain local jurisdiction and control over groundwater resources within the
Santa Clara River Valley East Subbasin; and
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Clarita has been working cooperatively with other local
agencies that also plan to manage groundwater in compliance with SGMA, including Castaic
Lake Water Agency, Newhall County Water District, Los Angeles County Waterworks District
No. 36, the Santa Clarita Water Division, and the County of Los Angeles; and
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Clarita, along with its regional partners Castaic Lake
Water Agency, Newhall County Water District, Los Angeles County Waterworks District No.
36, the Santa Clarita Water Division, and the County of Los Angeles intend to jointly form the
Santa Clarita Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency (SCV-GSA) through a Memorandum of
Understanding to work collaboratively to manage groundwater resources within their respective
service areas in the Santa Clara River Valley East Subbasin and to comply with SGMA; and
WHEREAS, prior to adopting a resolution of intent to establish the City of Santa Clarita
as a member of the SCV-GSA, Water Code Section 10723 requires the City of Santa Clarita to
hold a public hearing, after publication of notice pursuant to California Government Code
Section 6066, on whether to become a GSA; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Government Code Section 6066, notices of a public hearing on
whether or not to adopt a resolution to establish the SCV-GSA through a Memorandum of
Understanding were published on April 25, 2017, and May 2, 2017; and
WHEREAS, adoption of this Resolution does not constitute a project under the California
Environmental Quality Act because it does not result in any direct or indirect physical change in
the environment;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Santa
Clarita does hereby:
SECTION 1. Elect that the City of Santa Clarita will participate as a member of the SCV-
GSA to manage groundwater within its statutory boundaries of the Santa Clara River Valley East
Subbasin pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding to form the Santa Clarita Valley
Groundwater Sustainability Agency.
SECTION 2. Authorize the City Manager or his designee to execute the Memorandum of
Understanding to form the Santa Clarita Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency.
SECTION 3. Authorize the City Manager or his designee to coordinate with the other
members of the SCV-GSA to provide a copy of this resolution, a Notice of Intent, and all other
necessary documentation to DWR within 30 days and to otherwise comply with the requirements
of Water Code Section 10723.8.
SECTION 4. Authorize the City Manager or his designee to coordinate with the other
members of the SCV-GSA to maintain a list of interested parties regarding the newly formed
SCV-GSA pursuant to Water Code Section 10723.4.
SECTION 5. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 91h day of May 2017.
MAYOR
DATE: �z`(117
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss.
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA )
I, Mary Cusick, City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita, do herby certify that foregoing
Resolution was duly passed and adopted by the City Council of Santa Clarita at a regular
meeting, thereof, held on the 9th day of May 2017, by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: McLean, Kellar, Weste, Miranda, Smyth
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
CITY CLE