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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - January 15, 2020 C-16AGENDA ITEM lcalb 9%.CITY OF LODI COUNCIL COMMUNICATION TM AGENDA TITLE: Adopt Resolution Authorizing City Manager to Execute Cooperation Agreement with Woodbridge Irrigation District and City of Stockton to Collectively Manage Groundwater Resources MEETING DATE: January 15, 2020 PREPARED BY: Public Works Director RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt resolution authorizing City Manager to execute Cooperation Agreement with Woodbridge Irrigation District and City of Stockton to collectively manage groundwater resources. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: On August 29, 2014, the California Legislature passed comprehensive groundwater legislation enacting the "Sustainable Groundwater Management Act" (SGMA). Then Governor Brown signed the legislation on September 16, 2014 and it became effective on January 1, 2015. SGMA requires the formation of groundwater sustainability agencies (GSA's) and the development and implementation of one or more groundwater sustainability plans (GSP's) for each groundwater basin categorized by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) as high- or medium -priority. The Eastern San Joaquin Groundwater Authority (Authority) is a collaboration of agencies (including Lodi) within San Joaquin County that, over the past two years, has collaboratively prepared a GSP in accordance with the SGMA legislation. SGMA requires GSP adoption by all involved GSA's within the Authority prior to the GSP submittal date of January 31, 2020. On November 20, 2019, upon conducting a public hearing, Lodi City Council took action to adopt the GSP in its final form. The Authority is on schedule to submit the GSP (separately approved by all GSA's within the Authority) to DWR by the January deadline. The SGMA legislation also allows GSAs to negotiate cooperation agreements between GSAs to jointly manage groundwater resources with neighboring jurisdictions. This can be an advantage to the agencies by sharing costs, resources and other efforts to secure future groundwater supplies and implement the GSP in compliance with the SGMA. Lodi, Stockton, and Woodbridge Irrigation District GSA's (Party or collectively Parties) share long term interests in the Mokelumne River water supply, and since these GSA's have invested heavily to obtain groundwater sustainability, staff from all three GSA's have initiated discussions and agree it would be prudent to enter into a cooperative agreement (Agreement) to identify a framework under which Parties will work together in cooperation to collectively and effectively manage groundwater and other resources between their respective GSA's. APPROVED: ephen Schwabaue , City Manager K:\WP\PROJECTS\WATER\SGMA\CC SGMA GSA WID_SCK_LODI_coop_agreement.doc 1/6/2020 Adopt Resolution Authorizing City Manager to Execute Cooperation Agreement with Woodbridge Irrigation District and City of Stockton to Collectively Manage Groundwater Resources January 15, 2020 Page 2 The proposed Agreement is intended to allow the Parties to maintain control and autonomy over their respective water supplies, water facilities, and operations while encouraging cooperation for implementing mutually beneficial projects and/or programs with other local GSA's consistent with the GSP and SGMA legislation. The proposed Agreement will not require any contribution or commitment by any Party to share or contribute assets or resources without prior Board or Council approval. Any Party may unilaterally withdraw from the agreement at any time upon 30 days written notice to the other Parties. FISCAL IMPACT: All Parties must mutually develop a budget and cost sharing agreement as needed for any work to be performed under the Agreement. Both the budget and cost sharing agreement must be approved by each Party's governing body by unanimous vote before any financial expenditures or obligations are incurred. At this time, no expenses associated with the Agreement are planned. FUNDING AVAILABLE: Not applicable. Ck=Qk'Q2 Charles E. Swimley, Jr. Public Works Director CES/CES/tdb Attachment K:\WP\PROJECTS\WATER\SGMA\CC SGMA GSA WID_SCK_LODI_coop_agreement.doc 1/6/2020 EXHIBIT 1 COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN WOODBRIDGE IRRIGATION DISTRICT, THE CITY OF LODI AND THE CITY OF STOCKTON TO COLLECTIVELY MANAGE GROUNDWATER RESOURCES This Cooperation Agreement ("Agreement") is made and entered into as of this day of 20 , by and between Woodbridge Irrigation District ("WID"), the City of Lodi, a Municipal Corporation ("Lodi") and the City of Stockton ("Stockton"), a municipal corporation organized under a Charter pursuant to Government Code section 34101, and referred to herein as the "Party" or collectively as the "Parties." The Parties are located within the boundaries of the Eastern San Joaquin Groundwater Sub - basin as defined by the Department of Water Resources Bulletin 118 ('Bulletin 118") and are subject to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act as defined below. RECITALS WHEREAS, on September 16, 2014 Governor Brown signed into law the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (Senate Bills 1168 and 1319 and Assembly Bill 1739) codified in Part 2.74 of Division 6 of the California Water Code, commencing with section 10720 ("the Act or SGMA"); and WHEREAS, the Act went into effect on January 1, 2015; and WHEREAS, the legislative intent of the Act was to provide sustainable management of groundwater basins, to enhance local management of groundwater, to establish minimum standards for sustainable groundwater management, and to provide local groundwater agencies with the authority and the technical and financial assistance necessary to sustainably manage groundwater; and WHEREAS, the Act defines a local agency as a local public agency that has water supply, water management or land use responsibilities within a groundwater basin; and WHEREAS, the Act requires that basins designated as high priority be managed by one or more Groundwater Sustainability Agencies ("GSA") and will be responsible for the development and implementation of a Groundwater Sustainability Plan ("GSP"); and WHEREAS, the Parties jurisdictional boundaries overlay the north and western portions of the Eastern San Joaquin Groundwater Sub -basin ("Basin"), defined under Department of Water Resources Bulletin 118 and designated a high-priority basin in critical overdraft; and WHEREAS, the Parties have Mokelumne River water rights, long-term water supply agreements, interests, water resources management, land use and/or other responsibilities within this portion of the Basin; and WHEREAS, the Cities of Lodi, Stockton and WID are local agencies as defined under the Act and pursuant to the California Water Code Section 10723 et seq. and have elected to become GSAs; and 1 EXHIBIT 1 WHEREAS, the Act allows for multiple GSAs, interested in achieving cost-effective and sustainable groundwater management through an adopted Basin GSP, to organize through a cooperation agreement pursuant to California Water Code Section 10723 et seq.; and WHEREAS, the Parties intend by this Agreement to set forth a framework under which the Parties will work together in cooperation to collectively manage groundwater and other resources between their GSAs in accordance with an adopted Basin GSP and in consideration of the interests of all beneficial uses and the common good of all users of groundwater within their GSAs, and to work cooperatively with other GSAs in the Basin as necessary; and NOW, THEREFORE, it is mutually understood and agreed as follows: I. PURPOSE AND INTENT The Parties establish a cooperation agreement to jointly manage a portion of the Eastern San Joaquin Sub -basin within their collective jurisdictions. The purpose of this Agreement is to establish a framework to outline the intent and actions of the Parties. It is each Party's intent, goal and objective to maintain control and autonomy over the surface water supplies, water facilities, water operations, groundwater supplies, assets and other interests to which each Party and each Party's constituents are legally entitled. Nothing in this Agreement requires any contribution or commitment by a Party to share or otherwise contribute that Party's water assets or other resources as part of the implementation of a GSP without that Party's written consent. The Parties, to the maximum extent permitted under SGMA, agree to implement the GSP in its own service area or cause the implementation of the GSP in its own service area through written agreement, delegation or other means. Further, the Parties under this Agreement shall endeavor to not prohibit or impose conditions upon the drilling or construction of any new permitted groundwater well developed for beneficial uses or operation of a water system within the sphere of influence of another Party. To further carry out the purpose and intent of the Agreement, the Parties agree to the following actions: (a) The implementation and management of a GSP within this cooperation or managed area ("Area") with a boundary which includes the GSAs of the Parties as outlined on the Eastern San Joaquin Subbasin GSA Area Map attached hereto as Exhibit A and made a part hereof. (b) The Parties may develop, fund and implement mutually beneficial projects/programs and collaborate with other local GSAs and other agencies to implement and update the GSP consistent with the goals, interests, authorities and responsibilities of the Parties. (c) The Parties will also have discretion under this Agreement to develop a separate GSP if required for the Area and to work collaboratively with other GSAs within the Basin to enter into coordination agreements as required under the Act. In addition, in the future, the N EXHIBIT 1 Parties may decide to form a new entity in order to better serve the community as a GSA under a Joint Powers Agreement or other legal agreement. (d) The implementation of a GSP for the Area or in any coordination with other GSAs in developing and implementing a Basin GSP will be consistent with the Parties' goals and objectives. (e) Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent the Parties from seeking reimbursement or crediting for projects developed to meet the requirements of an agency to establish a sustainable water supply. H. RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES This Agreement shall not confer on the Parties any power to alter any water right, contract right, or any similar right held by the Parties individually or to amend any Party's water delivery practices, course of dealing, or conduct, without the affected Party's express written consent, nor shall the sharing of any intellectual property or other information or technical know-how of any Party to create any right or license to such intellectual property, information or technical know- how, except as may be expressly granted by the affected Party in writing. All such intellectual property, information, and technical know-how that any Party may share in connection with the Party's participation pursuant to this Agreement shall remain the sole property of the affected Party. Nothing in this Agreement shall be interpreted as superseding the land use authority, police power, or any other authorities of a Party. III. COORDINATING COMMITTEE A Coordinating Committee will be established and made up of at least one staff member from each Party and shall meet at least on a semi-annual basis or otherwise as needed. The Committee shall develop a process to authorize, direct, and coordinate GSA activities of the Parties, including the development, planning, financing, environmental review, permitting, implementation, long-term monitoring, projects, and programs of the GSP for the Area, and/or for the portion of a GSP developed and implemented for the Basin that is applicable to the Area. In addition, the Committee may delegate tasks and responsibilities to other staff, organizations, consultants and/or contractors on direction from their Governing Bodies. The Committee shall keep their Governing Bodies apprised of its activities, and may from time to time, attend Governing Body meetings for the purpose of seeking approval on proposed actions, answering questions and providing information. In addition to being responsible for development and implementation of the GSP or portion of a Basin GSP for the Area, the Committee shall have responsibility for the following: (i) Develop and implement a stakeholder participation plan as needed, pursuant to the requirements of the Act and the GSP regulations that involves the public and area stakeholders in developing and implementing the GSP. EXHIBIT 1 (ii) Coordinate with other entities within and without the Basin regarding GSP implementation and future updates as required by the Act and the GSP regulations. (iii) Work cooperatively to develop agreement on specific actions, recommendations and positions before communicating their GSA's positions on specific issues with other entities within the Basin, whenever feasible. (iv) Establish positions on GSP issues which may affect the other Parties to this Agreement after majority approval of the Agreement by the Governing Bodies. (v) Each Party's participation in this Agreement is at that Party's sole cost and expense. (vi) The Parties shall mutually develop a budget and cost sharing agreement as needed for any work to be undertaken under this Agreement. Both the budget and cost sharing agreement shall be approved by the Governing Body of each Party by unanimous vote prior to implementation and before any financial expenditures, financial obligations or liabilities may be incurred by the Parties. Expenditures as well as any income, funding, grants or other funds received by the Parties under this Agreement must be included within a budget developed by the Committee. IV. COMMUNICATION To provide for consistent and effective communication between Parties, each Party agrees to designate one staff representative as its central point of contact on matters relating to this Agreement. Additional representatives may be appointed to serve as points of contact on specific actions or issues. All notices, statements, or payments related to implementing the objectives of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been duly given if given in writing and either delivered personally or mailed by first-class, registered, or certified mail as follows to the following individuals or their successors: Woodbridge Irrigation District Anders Christensen, General Manager PO Box 580 18750 N. Lower Sacramento Road Woodbridge, CA 95258 widirrigation@gmail.com Phone: 209-625-8438 Fax: 209-625-8663 City of Lodi Steve Schwabauer, City Manager 221 West Pine Street PO Box 3006 Lodi, CA 95241 sschwabauer@fodi.gov Phone: 209-333-6700 Fax: 209-333-6807 2 EXHIBIT 1 City of Stockton John Abrew, Director Department of Municipal Utilities 2500 Navy Drive Stockton, CA 95206-1191 John.Abrew@stocktonea.gov Phone: 209-937-8758 Fax: 209-937-8577 V. TERMINATION, WITHDRAWAL AND ADDITIONAL PARTIES (i) Termination - This Agreement may be terminated upon unanimous written consent of all the Parties. (ii) Withdrawal - A Party may unilaterally withdraw from this Agreement without causing or requiring termination of the Agreement, effective upon thirty (30) days written notice to the remaining Parties. A Party that has withdrawn from this Agreement shall remain obligated to pay its share of expenses and obligations as outlined in the budget and cost share agreement included or accrued up to the date the Party provided notice of withdrawal. A Party withdrawing from this Agreement shall expressly retain the right and responsibility to serve as the GSA for the groundwater basin underlying its boundary or join with other GSA entities in the basin to comply with the groundwater management activities required under SGMA. (iii) Additional Parties - Additional agencies may join the Agreement and become a Party to the Agreement provided that the prospective new Party, (a) is eligible to join a groundwater sustainability agency as provided under SGMA, (b) pays all previously incurred costs that have benefited the new Party, (c) agrees in writing to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and (d) is approved by all the Parties. VI. AMENDMENT, INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE (i) Amendment - This Agreement may be amended only by a subsequent writing, approved and signed by all Parties. Approval from a Party is valid only after that Party's Governing Body approves the amendment at a public meeting. GSA staff, and individual Governing Body members do not have the authority, express or implied, to amend, modify, waive or in any way alter this Agreement of the terms and conditions hereof. (ii) Indemnification - No Party, nor any officer or employee of a Party, shall be responsible for any damage or liability occurring by reason of anything done or omitted to be done by another Party under or in connection with this Agreement. The Parties further agree, pursuant to California Government Code section 895.4, that each Party shall fully indemnify and hold harmless the other Parties and their respective agents, officers, employees and contractors from and against all claims, damages, losses, judgments, liabilities, expenses, and other costs, including litigation costs and attorney fees, arising 5 EXHIBIT 1 out of, resulting from, or in connection with any work delegated to or action taken or omitted to be taken by the indemnifying Party under this Agreement. Each Party shall additionally include within any third -party contract entered into in furtherance of this Agreement, provisions requiring the contractor, consultant or vendor to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the other Parties to the same extent as the contracting Party is indemnified. (iii) Insurance - Each Party shall include within any third -party contract entered into in furtherance of this Agreement, provisions requiring the contractor, consultant or vendor to provide insurance coverage to the other Parties equivalent to the coverage provided to the contracting Party. Without limiting the foregoing and to extent the following policies are required by the contract, the non -contracting Parties shall: (1) be named as additional insured and provided coverage on a primary and non-contributory basis on the contractor, consultant or vendor's policies of commercial general liability and business automobile liability insurance and (2) be included in any waiver of subrogation endorsements issued on the commercial general liability, business automobile liability and workers' compensation/employer's liability policies. VII. MISCELLANEOUS (i) Execution in Counterpart - The Parties intend to execute this Agreement in counterparts. It is the intent of the Parties to hold one (1) counterpart with single original signatures to evidence the Agreement and to thereafter forward (# of Parties to Agreement) other original counterparts on a rotating basis for all signatures. Thereafter, each Party shall be delivered an originally executed counterpart with all Party signatures. (ii) Term of Agreement - This Agreement shall become operative upon its execution by each of the named Parties. The term of this Agreement is indefinite and will cease existence only upon termination by the Parties. (iii) Choice of Law - This Agreement is made in the State of California, under the Constitution and laws of such State and is to be so construed. (iv) Severability - If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in force and unaffected to the fullest extent permitted by law and regulation. (v) Entire Agreement - This Agreement constitutes the sole, entire, integrated and exclusive agreement between the Parties regarding the contents herein. Any other contracts, agreements, terms, understandings, promises or representations not expressly set forth or referenced in this writing are null and void and of nor force and effect. (vi) Construction and Interpretation - The Parties agree and acknowledge that this Agreement has been developed through negotiation, and that each party has had a full and fair opportunity to revise the terms of this Agreement. Consequently, the normal rule of construction that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not apply in construing or interpreting this Agreement. Cel EXHIBIT 1 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties' hereto have executed this Agreement as of the dates set forth below. CITY OF STOCKTON Lo LAURIE MONTES INTERIM CITY MANAGER ATTEST: ELIZA R. GARZA, CMC CITY CLERK APPROVED AS TO FORM: JOHN M. LUEBBERKE CITY ATTORNEY CITY OF LODI STEVE SCHWABAUER CITY MANAGER APPROVED AS TO FORM: JANICE D. MAGDICH CITY ATTORNEY 7 EXHIBIT 1 WOODBRIDGE IRRIGATION DISTRICT APPROVED AS TO FORM: COUNSEL 3 a E C o. � ILl I 3 Lei I ! 01LL RESOLUTION NO. 2020-13 A RESOLUTION OF THE LODI CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE COOPERATION AGREEMENT WITH WOODBRIDGE IRRIGATION DISTRICT AND CITY OF STOCKTON TO COLLECTIVELY MANAGE GROUNDWATER RESOURCES WHEREAS, in 2014, the Governor signed legislation creating the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act ("SGMA") "to provide local groundwater sustainability agencies with the authority and technical and financial assistance necessary to sustainably manage groundwater" (Wat. Code, § 10720, (d)); and WHEREAS, the City of Lodi is a member of the Eastern San Joaquin Groundwater Authority ("GWA"), formed to develop a groundwater sustainability plan ("GSP") and coordinate sustainable groundwater management in the Eastern San Joaquin Subbasin. Wat. Code, § 10723.6(i) of SB 1168 states that "the following agencies created by statute to manage groundwater shall be deemed the exclusive local agencies within their respective statutory boundaries with powers to become a Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA);" and WHEREAS, the SGMA requires sustainable management through the development of GSPs, which can be a single plan developed by one or more GSA or multiple coordinate plans within a basin or subbasin (Wat. Code, § 10727); and WHEREAS, the GWA submitted an Initial Notification to the Department of Water Resources (DWR) on behalf of its members to jointly develop a GSP for the Eastern San Joaquin Subbasin on February 8, 2017; and WHEREAS, the City of Lodi's, the City of Stockton's, and Woodbridge Irrigation District's jurisdictional boundaries overlay the north and western portions of the Eastern San Joaquin Groundwater Subbasin (Basin), defined under Department of Water Resources Bulletin 118 and designated a high-priority basin in critical overdraft; and WHEREAS, the City of Lodi, the City of Stockton, and Woodbridge Irrigation District have Mokelumne River water rights, long-term water supply agreements, interests, water resources management, land use and/or other responsibilities within this portion of the Basin; and WHEREAS, the City of Lodi, the City of Stockton, and Woodbridge Irrigation District intend by this agreement to set forth a framework under which they will collectively manage groundwater and other resources between their GSAs, in accordance with an adopted Basin GSP and in consideration of the interests of all beneficial uses and the common good of all users of groundwater within their GSAs, and to work cooperatively with other GSAs in the Basin as necessary; and WHEREAS, staff recommends that the City Council enter into a Cooperation Agreement with the City of Stockton and Woodbridge Irrigation District to jointly manage a portion of the Eastern San Joaquin Subbasin within their collective jurisdictions. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Lodi City Council does hereby: 1. Enter into a Cooperation Agreement between the City of Lodi, the City of Stockton, and Woodbridge Irrigation District to jointly manage groundwater resources within the Eastern San Joaquin Subbasin, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit A and incorporated by this reference. 2. Authorize the Municipal Utilities Department to work in collaboration with the City of Stockton and Woodbridge Irrigation District to implement the projects and programs developed in the Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) to comply with the SGMA. 3. Authorize the City Manager or his designee to take whatever actions are necessary and appropriate to carry out the purpose and intent of this Resolution; and 4. Pursuant to Section 6.3q of the City Council Protocol Manual (adopted 11/6/19, Resolution No. 2019-223), the City Attorney is hereby authorized to make minor revisions to the above -referenced document(s) that do not alter the compensation or term, and to make clerical corrections as necessary. Dated: January 15, 2020 I hereby certify that Resolution No. 2020-13 was passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Lodi in a regular meeting held January 15, 2020, by the following vote: AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS — Chandler, Johnson, Nakanishi, and Mayor Kuehne NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS — None ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS — Mounce ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS — None PAMELA M. FARRIS Assistant City Clerk 2020-13 3 a E C o. � ILl I 3 Lei I ! 01LL