HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2022-005 N.C.S. 01/03/2022Resolution No. 2022-005 N.C.S. 1
Resolution No. 2022-005 N.C.S.
of the City of Petaluma, California
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE GRANT APPLICATION, ACCEPTANCE, AND EXECUTION FOR: 1) THE CITY OF PETALUMA ADVANCED METERING INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT; AND 2) FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR CITY OF PETALUMA GROUNDWATER STORAGE/AQUIFER STORAGE AND RECOVERY
PROJECT
WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma is a California municipal corporation and charter city authorized to provide water services within certain boundaries in accordance with Government
Code Section 38730 et seq., Title 15 of the Petaluma Municipal Code, and other applicable law;
and WHEREAS, the Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) is a wholesale supplier of water to the City of Petaluma and other municipal water contractors pursuant to the Restructured
Agreement for Water Supply (“Restructured Agreement,”) executed on June 23, 2006, by and
between Sonoma Water, the Cities of Cotati, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, Sonoma and Forestville, the North Marin and Valley of the Moon Water Districts and the Town of Windsor, collectively known as the Water Contractors; and
WHEREAS, the City’s primary source of water supply is Sonoma Water, which delivers
imported water from the Russian River and from groundwater wells in the Santa Rosa Plain to the City of Petaluma pursuant to the Restructured Agreement; and WHEREAS, Lake Mendocino and Lake Sonoma, Sonoma Water’s water storage reservoirs,
are at unprecedented low levels due to two consecutive, critically dry years; and
WHEREAS, on March 22, 2021, the State Water Resources Control Board reported that 95% of California is experiencing Moderate to Exceptional Drought and called upon all water users to prepare for drought impacts; and
WHEREAS, on April 21, 2021, Governor Newsom declared a drought emergency; and WHEREAS, on April 27, 2021, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution Proclaiming a Local Emergency Due to Drought Conditions in the Sonoma County
Operational Area and Requesting the Governor to Seek a Presidential Declaration; and
WHEREAS, historical dry conditions have resulted in severely low storage levels in Lake Mendocino (36.5% of capacity as of December 7, 2021) requiring the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to adopt an emergency regulation authorizing the Division of Water
Rights to issue curtailment notices to water rights holders in the Russian River watershed to
protect water storage levels; and
DocuSign Envelope ID: 9EA3BE89-8FBD-47ED-9663-40DB0D52FE31
Resolution No. 2022-005 N.C.S. 2
WHEREAS, the storage level in Lake Sonoma (49.4% of capacity as of December 7, 2021) is significantly below average, and on June 14, 2021, the SWRCB issued an order to protect lake storage levels that reduced instream flow requirements in the lower Russian River and required
that Sonoma Water and its contractors reduce total diversion from the Russian River by 20% compared to the same period of 2020 from July 1 through October 31; and WHEREAS, Sonoma Water, in response to the SWRCB order issued on June 14, 2021, required all water contractors, including the City of Petaluma, to meet a mandatory 20%
reduction in water use from July 1, 2021, through October 31, 2021, as compared to the same period of 2020; and WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma has the authority and pursuant to the Restructured Agreement is obligated to adopt water demand reduction measures within its area of service
during water supply shortages in accordance with water supply reductions imposed by Sonoma Water; and WHEREAS, on June 21, 2021, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2021-103 N.C.S. Implementing the City’s 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan; and
WHEREAS, the continuous use of local groundwater to augment supply from Sonoma Water is reducing local groundwater supply availability over time; and WHEREAS, due to ongoing drought conditions in our area, the City of Petaluma proposes to
implement the following water supply and drought resiliency projects 1) Advanced Metering Infrastructure Project and 2) Feasibility Study for City of Petaluma Groundwater Storage/Aquifer Storage and Recovery Project; and
WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma has the legal authority and is authorized to enter into a
funding agreement with the State of California; and WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma intends to apply for grant funding from the California Department of Water Resources for the 1) Advanced Metering Infrastructure Project and 2)
Feasibility Study for City of Petaluma Groundwater Storage/Aquifer Storage and Recovery
Project; and WHEREAS, these actions are exempt from the California Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15307 and 15308 of the State CEQA Guidelines as an action taken to assure the
maintenance, restoration, enhancement, and protection of natural resources and the environment.
The installation of AMI and feasibility study will result in the protection of water; and WHEREAS, the AMI project is categorically exempt under CEQA Guidelines, sections 15301 (Existing Facilities and 15302 (Replacement). The project consists of a minor alteration to
existing facilities in the City of Petaluma. All improvements will replace existing meters.
Moreover, the AMI will reduce time, labor, cost, energy, and Greenhouse Gas emissions compared to the existing AMR system which requires Water Service Representatives to drive by each meter. Accordingly, there is negligible or no expansion of use beyond what currently exists,
DocuSign Envelope ID: 9EA3BE89-8FBD-47ED-9663-40DB0D52FE31
Resolution No. 2022-005 N.C.S. 3
the AMI replacement will result in a benefit to the environment and there are no cumulative impacts, unusual circumstances or other factors that would make the exemption inapplicable pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15300.2; and
WHEREAS, the proposed grant to support the feasibility study for groundwater storage is
exempt in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15262 as the project involves feasibility
studies for potential future actions.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Petaluma as follows: 1. The above recitals are hereby declared to be true and correct and to be findings of the City Council of the City of Petaluma.
2. That pursuant and subject to all of the terms and provisions of Budget Act of 2021 (Stats.
2021, Ch. 240, § 80), the City of Petaluma City Manager or designee is hereby authorized and directed to prepare and file an application for funding with the Department of Water Resources and take such other actions necessary or appropriate to obtain grant funding. 3. The City of Petaluma City Manager or designee is hereby authorized and directed to
execute the funding agreement with the Department of Water Resources and any
amendments thereto. 4. The City of Petaluma City Manager or designee is hereby authorized and directed to submit any required documents, invoices, and reports required to obtain grant funding. 5. This resolution shall become effective immediately.
Under the power and authority conferred upon this Council by the Charter of said City.
REFERENCE: I hereby certify the foregoing Resolution was introduced and adopted by
the Council of the City of Petaluma at a Regular meeting on the 3rd day
of January 2022, by the following vote:
Approved as to
form:
__________________________
City Attorney
AYES: Mayor Barrett; Barnacle; Fischer; Healy; King; McDonnell; Vice Mayor Pocekay
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
ABSTAIN: None.
ATTEST: ______________________________________________
City Clerk
______________________________________________
Mayor
DocuSign Envelope ID: 9EA3BE89-8FBD-47ED-9663-40DB0D52FE31