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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.1 Water Policy Consensus. • ~o~a -~~ $ • CITY OF DUBLIN AGENDA STATEMENT CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: Ju1y 24, 1989 SUBJECT: Request for Funding from the Committee for Water Policy Consensus (Prepared by: Lou Ann Riera-Texeira, Administrative Assistant to the City Manager) A EXHIBITS: Inf mational Packet from the Committee for Water Policy sensus RECOMMENDATION: Consider request for funding. If approved, Council will need to authorize a budget transfer from the contingent reserve. FINANCIAL If Council choases to fund the Co~nittee for Water Policy STATEMENT: Consensus, a contribution of $100-$250, based on the City's population, is requested. A budget adjustment from the contingent reserve would be required. DISCUSSION: The Committee for Water Policy Consensus (CWPC) was organized in 1983 to ensure that the interests of the Bay-Delta region are effectively represented in debates over California's water problems. Much of the CWPC's work directly serves the interests of cities. For example, the CWPC's support for Los ~Jaqueros Reservoir, facilitation of a statewide agreement on the federal-state Coordinated Operation Agreement, leadership on the delta levee rehabilitation and maintenance program, and coordination of the CWPC-ABAG city-county water conservation campaign (landscape guidelines for new development). The CWPC is requesting support from all communities within the 12 county Bay-De1ta region. Presently, the CWPC receives financial support from the cities of San Jose, San Francisco and Walnut Creek, and in-kind support from the city of Oakland. The CWPC has asked that the Dublin City Council consider supporting their program by providing a financial. contribution. The funds would be used to support the CWPC in its continuing efforts to promote economically-sound and environmentally safe solutions to water problems. Contributions can be earmarked for specific city and/or regional activities such as the city-county water conservation program {landscaping maintenance guidelines) where CWPC provides direct technical assistance to participating cities and counties. This program has proved to be cost-effective for participating cities. Funds can also be used for general support of CWPC sponsored programs including efforts aimed at improving protections for the Bay-Delta Estuary. The attached correspondence describes the CWPC's "win-win proposal for resolving California's water problems" and details some of the Committee's programs and activities. A representative from the CWPC will be present to address the City Council and answer questions. Therefore, staff recammends that Council receive the presenta- tion from the CWPC representative and consider the request for funding. If Council chooses to fund the CWPC, a contribution of $100-$250, based on the City's population, is requested. ~ . / • ~ ~o~~o~° ° ~or~ ~a~c~r~ poDoc~ Cc~o~~c~~~~~ ~ July 7, 1989 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers: As many cities struggle with a third dry year in a row, water remains a subject on all our minds. The Committee for Water Policy Consensus (CWPC), organized in 1983, works hard to ensure that the interests of the Bay-Delta region are effectively represented in the debates over California's water problems. The CWPC believes it is possible to protect all the beneficial uses of the Bay- Delta Estuary, including drinking water supplies, and to meet future water needs in California. The enclosed brochure describes the CWPC's win-win proposal for resolving California's water problems and describes the CWPC in more detail. Attached you will find a list of some of the CWPC's programs and activities that direcdy benefit cities, including our water conservation (landscape guidelines) campaign, co-sponsored by the Association of Bay Area Governments. One of the keys to the CWPC's success has been the involvement of local elected officials. The CWPC would like to involve more cities in our work as we advocate this region's concerns about protecting the economic and environmental resources of the Bay-Delta Estuary. This region has developed an economy -- and enjoys a marvelous quality of life -- that is dependent upon the health of the Estuar~s ecosystem, which, in turn, is affected by state-determined water quality standards. This letter is to urge your city to join the CWPC and to lend your support to our work by providing a modest financial contriburion. The suggested annual support schedule is as follows: $ 50, - 75 Up to 10,000 population $ 100 - 250 Over 10,000, under 50,000 population $ 300 - 500 Over 50,000, under 100,000 popularion $ 600 - 900 Over 100,000, under 200,000 population $1 ,000 - 3,000 Over 200,000 population We are proud to count among our ciry supporters San Francisco ($2,000 for our water conservation program), San Jose ($3,000), and Walnut Creek ($400). There is much that needs to be done to ensure that the interests of this region continue to be aggressively and effectively represented in the state's water debates. Your support of the CWPC will assure that our collective voices remain strong and united in the eternal battle to protect the water resource needs of this region. 1485 Enea Court, Suite 1330 ~ Concord, California 94520 ~(415) 682-6633 ~ Mayor and Council Members ~ Page 2 We hope that you will respond to our request for support and involvement by August 15, 1989. If you would like more information, or wish to put this request on the agenda for discussion with a committee representative, please contact the CWPC's Executive Director, Lori Griggs, at (415) 682-6633. Also attached are letters from the League of Women Voters of the Bay Area and the Environmental Defense Fund urging your support of this request. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, ~'~ `'~ /Y~ ~~~~ L~~ Sunne Wright McPeak Supervisor, Contra Costa County and Committee Chair A1 Aramburu Supervisor, Marin County. Mary Griffin Supervisor, San Mateo County ~~%!/0'LeJ ~ Susanne Wilson Supervisor, Santa Clara County of San Francisco Osby Davis ~ Supervisor, Solano County ~ ~ Vv , Warren Widener Supervisor, Alameda County Enclosures ~:~~~o~° ° f~o~ ~a~c~r~ po~o~ ~•o~~c~~~~~ ~ ~ ° ~~ PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES THAT BENEFIT CTTIES Included among the CWPC's programs and aetivities that direcdy benefit the cities in the San Francisco Bay-Delta azea are the following: Promoting a city-county water conservation campaign, co-sponsored by ABAG, which urges cities and counties to develop and implement landscape guidelines for new development. Sample guidelines, developed with the assistance of the landscaping industiy, and other helpful materials are available, saving coundess hours of city staff time. The CWPC's water conservation coordinator is available to work with cities to explain the ease with which effective, cost-saving guidelines can be developed. • Leading campaign to secure legislative protections for all beneficial uses of Bay-Delta ` Estuary. • Sponsoring a Bay-Delta Hearings Coordination & Public Education Project, which aims to secure favorable and improved water qualiry standazds from the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to protect the Bay and Delta and to ensure public participation and education in the hearing process. • Working with the Southern California Water Committee in a joint project focused on conservation and efficient use of water -- urban and agricultural. The intent is to develop joint positions and recommendations on conservation so that the responsibility is more equitably shared statewide, rather than placing most of the conservation burden on urban coastal areas, as is now proposed by the SWRCB. • Leading advocacy for adoption of water banking in statewide consensus discussions. Water banking in offstream or underground storage as one of the keys to securing water to meet future needs in a manner that also provides improved protections for the Bay-Delta Estuary. Supporting Los Banos Grandes Reservoir and. Los Vaqueros Reservoir. • Served as the catalyst and azchitect for the statewide consensus developed in support of a Coordinated Operation Agreement (COA) between the federal and state water projects. The COA commits the federal government to meeting state-determined water quality standards in the Delta and provides for improved operations management of these two major exporters of Delta water. • Spearheaded the coalition effort that successfully secured legislation for a comprehensive Delta levee rehabilitation and maintenance program. 1485 Enea Court, Suite 1330 ~ Concord, California 94520 ~(415) 682-6633 ~ ~ ; LEAGUE OF : : WOMEN VOTERS • ' OF T~-~ BAY AREA w An Inter League Organization of the San Francisco Bay Arca Dear Mayor and Councilmembers: As an active member of the Committee for Water Policy Consensus, the League of Women Voters of the Bay Area endorses the work of the CWPC in developing and acting upon water poiicies that reflect a consensus of pubiic and private leadership in the 12-county Bay Delta region. It is hoped that these regional policies will be the basis for statewide consensus building that will lead to solutions for California's serious water problems. To this end, the CWPC and the Southern California Water Committee recentty joined together to form the State Water Conservation Coalition. The Coalition wiA be determining reasonable and practicaf programs which can be implemented and recommending appropriate amounts of water that can be conserved and used more efficiently statewide. We are encouraged to see the CWPC bring together counties, farm interests, environmental groups, industry representatives, and others in a constructive attempt to address the fair and efficient use of water in the region, and also in the state. The League hopes that you will offer financial support for the work of the CWPC. Sincerely, ~~ y~~~ Ora Huth President 477Fifteenth Street' Suite 200' Oakland,Califomia 94612' (415) 834-2031 ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND Rockridge Market Hall 5655 College Avenue Oakland, CA 94618 (415) 65$-8008 (415) 658-0630 FAX Dear Mayor and Councilmembers: The Environmental Defense Fund has been an active member of the Committee for Water Policy Consensus since its inception in 1983. We were skeptical at the beginning that this group of diverse interests from throughout the San Francisco Bay-Delta region could forge a consensus on an issue as fraught with complexity and controversy as water. The CWPC has done an outstanding job of building a regional consensus and advocating sensible solutions to California's water problems. Your support of the CWPC will enable the committee to continue- to be a strong and effective voice in the battle to protect the water resources needs of the region, including the need for improved safeguards for the Bay-Delta Estuary. We respectfully urge you to contribute to the CWPC, enabling the committee to continue with its effective work , on promoting economically-sound and environmentally-safe solutions to our water problems. Sin erely yours, National Headquarters 257 park .A~enue South Thomas J. Graff New York, NZ 10010 (212) SUS-2140 Senior Attorney 1616 P Street, NV~' TJG : mj g Washington, DC 20036 (202)387-3500 }405 Arapahoe.Avenue Boulder, CO 8030?- (303) 440-4901 1108 East Main Street Richmond, V.A 23219 (804) 780-1~97 128 East Hargett Streei Raieigh, NC 2ibOl (919) 821-7793 ke:>.led Papr: