HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-01-09 - AGENDA REPORTS - SCRIVER WATERSHED PLAN (2)CONSENT CALENDAR
DATE:
SUBJECT:
DEPARTMENT:
Agenda Item: _'
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
City Manager Approval:
Item to be presented by:
January 9, 2007
Travis Lange
PARTICIPATE AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE PREPARATION OF
AN UPPER SANTA CLARA RIVER WATERSHED
INTEGRATED REGIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
City Manager's Office
City Council approve and authorize the City Manager to execute a Memorandum of
Understanding with Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, Los Angeles County Department of
Public Works, Castaic Lake Water Agency, Santa Clarita Water Company, Newhall County
Water District, and Valencia Water Company, and other appropriate agencies as required, to
develop the Upper Santa Clara River Watershed IRWMP subject to City Attorney approval.
City Council approve transferring $45,000 from Council Contingency 2250-7401 to the Solid
Waste Professional Services account number 1291-8110.
BACKGROUND
The state agencies responsible for administering proposition funds, such as Proposition 50 and
the recently approved Proposition 84, are now requiring an adopted Integrated Regional Water
Management Plan as an eligibility requirement to apply for grant funds. This is for several
reasons. First and foremost, the state only wants to support watersheds that have worked out
differences and come to a consensus. They also want the watershed stakeholders to prioritize, as
a group, the most important projects to avoid competing and ineffective grant applications from
being submitted. Thirdly, the state requires these Integrated Regional Water Management Plans
to be adopted by local public agencies to ensure that there is a responsible local government or
utility to improve the chances of the funded projects reaching completion.
Seven agencies in the Los Angeles County half of the Santa Clara River Watershed are proposing
to work together to develop an Upper Santa Clara River IRWMP. The seven agencies include the
City of Santa Clarita, Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, Los Angeles County Department
of Public Works, Castaic Lake Water Agency, Santa Clarita Water Company, Newhall County
Water District, and Valencia Water Company. If approved, the process will include an
extensive stakeholder process.
Since 2002, a coalition of 27 agencies in Ventura County has been working to integrate their
water management strategies. These agencies are located in three watersheds, the Santa Clara
River, Callegus Creek and the Ventura River. In 2004, the group members agreed to work
together to develop the Ventura Countywide Integrated Regional Water Management Plan
(VCIRWMP). Their efforts recently resulted in a tentative award of $25,000,000 in Proposition
50 grant funds.
Recently, Castaic Lake Water Agency asked Kennedy Jenks, their consultant on water issues, to
put together a scope of work and budget, as well as a draft Memorandum of Understanding, for
the effort that would result in an Upper Santa Clara River Watershed IRWMP consistent with
Proposition 50 and conceivably Proposition 84 guidelines. Kennedy Jenks staff members are
performing similar work throughout southern California, in the Antelope Valley for example.
The Upper Santa Clara River Watershed IRWMP would consist of administering meetings,
developing objectives, data collection, developing strategies, and an implementation plan,
technical analysis and other tasks, such as an extensive stakeholder process. Kennedy Jenks staff
estimates the work would cost $235,924 without the optional tasks and the work would need to
be complete by summer/early fall of 2007. The City is being asked to contribute $45,000 towards
the basic contract. All agencies party to the Memorandum of Understanding are contributing to
the overall cost of the contract.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
Other action as determined by Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Council Contingency Fund currently has a balance of $1,042,000. If the City Council
approves this request, the Council Contingency fund will have a remaining balance of $997,000
($1,042,000 - $45,000 = $997,000).
ATTACHMENTS
Draft Memorandum of Understanding available in the City Clerk's Reading File
Scope of Work available in the City Clerk's Reading File