BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT:
Title
Adopt Resolution Setting Time and Place of Public Hearing to Consider Adopting Modified Groundwater Benefit Zones W-2 and W-5, and New Groundwater Benefit Zones W-7 and W-8.
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
A. Adopt the RESOLUTION SETTING TIME AND PLACE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER ADOPTING MODIFIED GROUNDWATER BENEFIT ZONES W-2 AND W-5, AND NEW GROUNDWATER BENEFIT ZONES W-7 AND W-8; and
B. Set time and place for public hearing to occur on April 14, 2020 at 1:00 p.m., at the Santa Clara Valley Water District Board Room, 5700 Almaden Expressway, San Jose, CA 95118.
Body
SUMMARY:
The Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water) has sustainably managed local groundwater resources for many decades. The Santa Clara Valley Water District Act (District Act) authorizes the Board of Directors to establish zones encompassing areas where groundwater pumpers benefit from Valley Water activities to protect and augment water supplies. Valley Water established the two primary groundwater benefit zones (Zones W-2 and W-5) in 1963 and 1977, respectively. Valley Water last modified Zone W-2 in 1971 and Zone W-5 in 2008.
Valley Water initiated the science-based Groundwater Benefit Zone Study to assess existing zones and recommend changes needed to ensure that ratepayers are grouped in a way that reflects the most recent and relevant data regarding the services and benefits received by well users. Valley Water conducted extensive stakeholder engagement on the study and potential zone changes. On October 8, 2019, the Board directed staff to prepare metes and bounds for modified groundwater benefit Zones W-2 and W-5 and new South County Zones W-7 and W-8 (Attachment 1). Per the District Act, following a public hearing, the Board may establish or amend a zone by adopting a resolution containing the metes and bounds describing the zone. Staff recommends that the Board set the public hearing for Tuesday, April 14, 2020 by adopting a resolution (Attachment 2). A notice of the public hearing will be published in accordance with Government Code 6061 (Attachment 3).
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Though setting the date for a public hearing does not have any direct financial impact, the public hearings may affect the future finances of the Water Utility Enterprise.
CEQA:
The recommended action does not constitute a project under CEQA because it does not have a potential for resulting in direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Map, Existing and Proposed Zones
Attachment 2: Resolution
Attachment 3: Notice of Public Hearing
UNCLASSIFIED MANAGER:
Manager
Garth Hall, 408-630-2750