COMMITTEE AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Environmental Creek Cleanup Committee
Government Code ? 84308 Applies: Yes ? No ?
(If "YES" Complete Attachment A - Gov. Code ? 84308)
SUBJECT: title
Receive Update on Valley Water's Water Resources Protection Zones (WRPZ) Ordinance Implementation.
End
RECOMMENDATION: Recommendation
Receive an update and provide feedback on the WRPZ Ordinance implementation progress after the first year of implementation.
Body
SUMMARY:
On November 26, 2024, the Valley Water Board of Directors adopted the Water Resources Protection Zones Ordinance (Ordinance), intended to address the environmental, health, and safety impacts of unauthorized camping in areas where Valley Water holds land rights. The primary goal of the Ordinance is to protect water resources, ecological resources, and riparian habitat by reducing the presence of encampments along waterways and near water supply facilities. The Ordinance also serves to enhance the safety of Valley Water staff working in the field.
In the first year of Ordinance implementation Valley Water has shown significant progress in meeting its operational needs while balancing those needs with compassion and community partnership. Through collaboration with advocates, nonprofit organizations, and local agencies, Valley Water has established a sustainable and adaptive framework for managing encampments that protects waterways and promotes the health and safety of both the public and Valley Water employees.
WRPZ Ordinance Implementation Plan
Leading up to Ordinance adoption, advocates and organizations supporting unsheltered individuals raised concerns about the potential criminalization of unhoused people and emphasized the need for safe relocation sites, housing, supportive services, interagency coordination, and community engagement. In response, staff developed an Ordinance Implementation Plan (Implementation Plan) to supplement the Ordinance and guide its phased and progressive implementation ...
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