WATER DEMAND COMMITTEE

 

ACTION ITEM

 

3.

CONSIDER RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD REGARDING DISPOSITION OF DISTRICT RESERVE ALLOCATION

 

Meeting Date:
May 7, 2020

Budgeted: 

N/A

 

From:

David J. Stoldt

Program/

 

 

General Manager

Line Item No.:    

N/A

 

Prepared By:

David J. Stoldt

Cost Estimate:

N/A

 

General Counsel Approval:  N/A

Committee Recommendation:  N/A

CEQA Compliance:  Action does not constitute a project as defined by CEQA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUMMARY:  At its April 2, 2020 meeting the Water Demand Committee deferred action on the City of Monterey’s request for an allocation of water from the District Reserve Allocation.  Conversation ensued among Committee members whether (a) the balance in the Reserve be allocated equally to the jurisdictions, or (b) it should be retained by the Board for use at its discretion.

 

The District Reserve was established by Ordinance 182 adopted by the Board at its May 20, 2019 meeting.  That Ordinance added a new definition to Rule 11:

 

"District Reserve Allocation" shall mean a quantity of water held/or use at the discretion of the District. 

 

It also established Rule 33-B: 

 

The District Reserve Allocation shall refer to a quantity of water available/or use at the District's discretion. The District Reserve Allocation can be augmented by dedications of water from a Water Entitlement, Water Use Credit, Water Credit, or a new Source of Supply

 

Use of the word “discretion” was intentional and derived from direction provided to staff by the Water Supply Planning Committee at its February 21, 2018 meeting.  At that meeting under the agenda item “Discuss Reinstatement of District Reserve and Policy for Use,” The committee discussed establishment of a District reserve, and if it should be restricted to projects that provide a public benefit or if it could be allocated for jurisdictional use. During the discussion committee members opined that: (a) only for public benefit projects; (b) Board should determine if a project provides a public benefit; (c) each request should be determined on its merit by the Board – not according to a list of qualifying projects; and (d) project should not be growth inducing.

 

RECOMMENDATION:  The Committee should recommend the Board whether (a) the balance in the Reserve be allocated equally to the jurisdictions, or (b) it should be retained by the Board for use at its discretion.  Staff recommendation is to maintain the status quo.

 

EXHIBIT

None

 

 

 

 

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