HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2017-061 N.C.S. 05/01/2017Resolution No. 2017 -061 N.C.S.
of the City of Petaluma, California
RESOLUTION APPROVING JOINT EXERCISE OF POWERS AGREEMENT (JPA)
CREATING THE PETALUMA VALLEY GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY
AGENCY (GSA) AND APPOINTING A PRIMARY DIRECTOR AND
ALTERNATE DIRECTOR TO GSA BOARD
WHEREAS, Senate Bills 1168 and 1319, and Assembly Bill 1739, known collectively
as the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014 (SGMA), became law on September
16, 2014; and
WHEREAS, SGMA initially became effective on January 1, 2015; and
WHEREAS, the stated purpose of SGMA, as set forth in California Water Code section
10720. 1, is to provide for the sustainable management of groundwater basins at a local level by
providing local groundwater agencies with the authority and technical and financial assistance
necessary to sustainably manage groundwater; and
WHEREAS, SGMA gives local agencies including cities, counties and water districts or
agencies, authority to sustainably manage groundwater over the long -term; and
WHEREAS, SGMA requires the designation of Groundwater Sustainability Agencies
( "GSAs ") for the purpose of achieving groundwater sustainability through the adoption and
implementation of Groundwater Sustainability Plans ( "GSPs ") or an alternative plan; and
WHEREAS, SGMA gives broad powers to GSAs to achieve sustainability including
investigations, registration of groundwater wells, determination of sustainable yield of a basin,
measurement and limitation of groundwater extractions, assessment of fees for groundwater
management, and enforcement; and
WHEREAS, a GSA is required to assess the conditions in its local basin and to adopt a
locally -based Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP); and
WHEREAS, SGMA requires the formation by June 30, 2017 of a new GSA for each
medium and high - priority groundwater basin as designated by the California Department of
Water Resources (DWR); and
WHEREAS, GSPs must be completed by January 31, 2022 and be designed to achieve
basin sustainability within 20 years of adoption; and
WHEREAS, the Petaluma Valley Groundwater Basin, basin number 2 -01 in DWR
Bulletin No. 118, is designated by DWR as medium - priority; and
WHEREAS, the Petaluma Valley Groundwater Basin stretches from Penngrove south to
the Marin County line and San Pablo Bay, encompassing about 94 of the approximately 146
square miles of the Petaluma River Watershed, and includes approximately 77 percent of the
land area within the City of Petaluma; and
Resolution No. 2017 -061 N.C.S. Page 1
WHEREAS, the Sonoma County Water Agency and the City of Petaluma are currently
engaged in a 3 -year United States Geological Survey study of the Petaluma Valley basin initiated
in September 2014, to analyze groundwater use and conditions; and
WHEREAS, SGMA defines the entities eligible to act as a GSA as local agencies that
have water supply, water management, or land use responsibilities within a groundwater basin;
and
WHEREAS, the GSA - eligible entities in the Petaluma Valley Groundwater Basin are the
City of Petaluma, the County of Sonoma, the Sonoma County Water Agency, the North Bay
Water District, and the Sonoma Resource Conservation District; and
WHEREAS, the City and other GSA - eligible entities in the Petaluma Valley
Groundwater Basin have been working collaboratively since 2015 to form a basin -wide GSA;
and
WHEREAS, the City Council held meetings and workshops to discuss GSA formation
on November 2, 2015, November 14, 2016, and December 19, 2016; and
WHEREAS, public workshops have been held in the Petaluma Valley basin by the GSA -
eligible entities regarding SGMA and GSA formation on November 9, 2015, August 17, 2016,
and March 23, 2017; and
WHEREAS, SGMA authorizes a combination of local agencies to form a GSA by
entering into a joint powers agreement; and
WHEREAS, the GSA - eligible entities in the Petaluma Valley Groundwater Basin,
individually and collectively, have the goal of cost effective sustainable groundwater
management that considers the interests and concerns of all beneficial uses and users of
groundwater; and
WHEREAS, the GSA - eligible entities within the Petaluma Valley Groundwater Basin
are entities authorized by the Joint Exercise of Powers Act (Chapter 5 of Division 7 of Title 1 of
the California Government Code) ( "Act ") to create a GSA for the purpose of jointly exercising
those powers granted by the Act and any additional powers which are common among them; and
WHEREAS, the GSA - eligible entities within the Petaluma Valley Groundwater Basin
have developed a Joint Execution of Powers Agreement for approval.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Petaluma
as follows:
1. The above recitals are true and correct and hereby declared to be findings of the City
Council of the City of Petaluma.
2. The Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement creating the Petaluma Valley Groundwater
Sustainability Agency, a draft of which is Attachment 4 to the staff report
accompanying this resolution, and which is hereby made a part of this resolution by
this reference as if set forth in this resolution in full, is hereby approved, and the
Mayor is authorized and directed to execute an agreement substantially in accordance
with the draft Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement on behalf of the City.
Resolution No. 2017 -061 N.C.S. Page 2
3. Council Member Mike Healy is hereby appointed as a Primary Director on behalf of
the City of Petaluma for the Petaluma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency.
4. Director of Public Works and Utilities Dan St. John is hereby appointed as an
Alternate Director on behalf of the City of Petaluma for the Petaluma Valley
Groundwater Sustainability Agency.
Under the power and authority conferred upon this Council by the Charter of said City.
Resolution No. 2017 -061 N.C.S.
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