HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-18-2015 CLR AshbaughCOUNCIL MEETING: I g (c3d
ITEM NO.:
CITY OF
AUG 14 2n15
�' .. sH R LUIS OBIS
Council Liaiso ` a8ffK
City of San Luis Obispo, Office of the City Council
DATE: August 14, 2015
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: John B. Ashbaugh, Vice -Mayor
COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT — PASO ROBLES GROUNDWATER BASIN ADVISORY
COMMITTEE MEETING 8/3/15
On Monday, August 3, a special meeting of the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin Advisor
Committee was called by Chair Sue Luft to consider a staff recommendation for a funding
formula, which they expect to present at the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, August 18. This
funding formula would establish the means to finance the formation and operation of the yet- to -be-
formed Paso Robles Groundwater Basin Management District (PRGWB).
The Committee consists of about 25 "stakeholders" in the Basin, and was appointed in 2013 by the
BOS to advise them on implementation of the PRGWB Management Plan, adopted a year earlier.
It includes myself as a representative of the City of SLO, since we also are a "stakeholder" through
our participation in the Nacimiento Water Project - and because of our rights to Salinas Reservoir.
The Advisory Committee received a staff report from Jahn Diodati of the SLO County Public
Works Department, and heard testimony from several members of the public. The Committee
voted by a large majority to recommend approval of the funding formula, which is expected to
raise about $950,000 /year in order to support operations of the District. I voted with the majority.
Assuming that the BOS also approves the formula on August 18, the next steps are for the Local
Agency Formation Commission to consider the application by the County to form the District,
which they will first consider at their meeting August 20. From there, it is expected that two ballot
measures will be placed before: 1) The property owners within the boundaries of the District, who
must vote by a simple majority to approve formation of the district; and 2) About 7,500 registered
voters within the proposed District, who will receive a Prop 218 ballot seeking approval of the new
taxes included in the funding formula. Under Proposition 218, 2/3 of the returned ballots must
support the new taxes before they can be imposed on the property owners in the district.
This is the link to the County's 48-page consultant report that explains the funding formula
recommendation and the process for forming this district. It's important that the Council remain
up -to -date on this proposed groundwater management district, because it will almost certainly
consider whether it is feasible and desirable to acquire an interest of some type in water rights for
any "unallocated" Nacimiento water. Their engineering studies may, within as little as two years,
determine that Nacimiento water is a significant part of any solution to stabilizing the groundwater
basin.
The next meeting of the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin Advisory Committee will be Thursday,
August 20 at 2 pm. Questions or comments may be directed to me, or to Carrie Mattingly.
Council Lictison Report - ITGHAC uteeling August 3