ITEM:		ACTION ITEMS
30.	CONSIDER TAKING A POSITION ON THE SAFE, CLEAN AND rELIABLE dRINKING WATER SUPPLY ACT OF 2010
Meeting Date:			June 21, 2010	Budgeted:	N/A
From:			Darby Fuerst,	Program/	N/A
			General Manager	Line Item No.:
Prepared By:			Arlene Tavani	Cost Estimate:	N/A
General Counsel Review: N/A
Committee Recommendation: On May 6, 2010, the Legislative Advocacy Committee recommended on a vote of 2 – 1 that the Board adopt a resolution in support of the bond measure.
CEQA Compliance: N/A

SUMMARY: The Association of California Water Agencies has requested that the Board adopt a resolution in support of the Safe, Clean and Reliable Drinking Water Act of 2010. Attached as Exhibit 30-A is a resolution expressing support for the bond measure. Also attached as Exhibit 30-C is information that outlines opposition and could be incorporated into a resolution. The Board could decide to take a position in support or opposition to the bond measure, or take no action on this issue. If the Board does take a position on the bond measure, the District will notify ACWA and post notice of the Board’s action on the District website.

RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Board review the information provided, and decide if action should be taken on the bond measure. The Legislative Advocacy Committee recommended on a vote of 2 to 1 that the Board adopt the resolution expressing support (Exhibit 30-A).

BACKGROUND: This item was first submitted to the Board of Directors for approval on April 19, 2010. No action was taken, and the issue was referred to the Legislative Advocacy Committee. On May 6, 2010 the committee reviewed the attached resolution (Exhibit 30-A) Expressing Support for the Safe, Clean and Reliable Drinking Water Act of 2010 and recommended on a vote of 2 – 1 that the Board adopt the resolution. At the May 17, 2010 Board meeting, the item was deferred to the June 21, 2010 meeting.

The Safe, Clean and Reliable Drinking Water Supply Act of 2010 is an $11.14 billion state-wide general obligation bond measure set for the November 2010 ballot. If approved by the voters, the measure would provide funding for California’s aging water infrastructure and for projects and programs to improve water supply reliability and ecosystem health. Exhibit 30-B lists the amount of money that would be available from the Act for eligible projects in Monterey County such as water conservation, water recycling, salmonoid restoration; wetlands restoration, watershed protection, vegetation management, drought relief, and groundwater and surface water storage. Many special interest groups are opposed to the water bond. Attached as Exhibit 30-C is a document titled No on the Water Bond. Also, a list of websites that contain information advocating opposition to the bond measure is shown below.

Websites Advocating Opposition to the Bond Measure

http://www.nowaterbond.com/voteno/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/NoWaterBondPacket.pdf

http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2010/02/18/voters-will-flush-water-bond-says-pollster/

http://www.nowaterbond.com/2010/04/both-gop-gov-hopefuls-agree-lots-of-pork-in-water-bond/

http://www.nowaterbond.com/bond-opponents/ 

www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/02/22/ED7U1BUUH3.DTL

EXHIBITS

30-A Resolution 2010-___ -- A Resolution of the MPWMD Board of Directors In Support of the Safe, Clean and Reliable Drinking Water Supply Act of 2010

30-B Funding Summary for Projects in the Central Coast Hydrologic Region

30-C No On the Water Bond, sponsored by the Planning and Conservation League

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