Score: +11 (11/2/0)

Sonoma County Grand Jury • 2016-2017

Planning for Groundwater Sustainability To Meter or Not To Meter?

Published: June 30, 2017 14 pages

Ver PDF original

⚠️ Aviso de traducción: Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.

⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.

Findings and Recommendations 10 findings

F1

As recommended by the 2014-15 Civil Grand Jury, the eligible agencies have assigned a high priority to implementing The Sustainable Ground Management Water Act and forming Groundwater Agencies.

No recommendations for this finding

F2

The JPAs are still being finalized and all eligible agencies must work diligently to approve them before the June 30, 2017 deadline.

Related Recommendations (1)

R1

Continue to work cooperatively in order to finalize and approve the JPA’s by the State mandated June 30, 2017 deadline. [F1, F2]

F3

Wells that pump less than approximately 1,785 gallons per day will be exempt from metering.

No recommendations for this finding

F4

A rate study will be conducted in each basin to ensure that any use fee is appropriate for the cost of service delivered or the benefit received.

No recommendations for this finding

F5

The BOS, because they control the SCWA, will have two votes on the board of each groundwater agency.

No recommendations for this finding

F6

The Petaluma Basin Groundwater agency only has five members. Both the City of Petaluma and the County need to vote in the affirmative for any super majority (2/3) vote to pass.

No recommendations for this finding

F7

Each of the three GSA’s in Sonoma County will require similar technical and managerial expertise to prepare their respective Groundwater Sustainability Plans.

Related Recommendations (1)

R2

Specifically instruct, through their JPA agreements that the three Groundwater Agencies pool technical resources and staff in order to avoid costly duplication. [F7]

F8

Many operational issues will be defined after the June 30, 2017 deadline. Residents of Sonoma County will be able to comment on proposed funding mechanisms before they are finalized. Each Basin’s JPA will be revisited after a rate study is completed and every 10 years after.

No recommendations for this finding

F9

In order for Groundwater Agency boards to function properly, they will need to focus on representing all users.

No recommendations for this finding

F10

Influence by groundwater users, both large and small, may impede the goal of developing an accountability system on an aquifer’s many users, therefore groundwater agencies will need to have substantial independence and maintain transparency when implementing their authority.

No recommendations for this finding

Agency Responses 5

Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.

City of Rohnert Park's

June 16, 2017 • 2 pages • 3 responses • Score: +3 (+3, 0, 0) View Details ▾

PDF

3 responses to findings and recommendations

F1

As recommended by the 2014-15 Civil Grand Jury, the eligible agencies have assigned a high priority to implementing The Sustainable Ground Management Water Act and forming Groundwater Agencies.

Response: Agree Score: +1

agree with the findings numbered: F1 through F9 with the clarifications attached.

F2

The JPAs are still being finalized and all eligible agencies must work diligently to approve them before the June 30, 2017 deadline.

Response: Agree Score: +1

The City agrees with Findings F1 through F9, with the following clarifications: F2: The City of Rohnert Park approved the Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement Creating the Santa Rosa Plain Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) on April 25, 2017.

F9

In order for Groundwater Agency boards to function properly, they will need to focus on representing all users.

Response: Agree Score: +1

agree with the findings numbered: F1 through F9 with the clarifications attached.

North Bay Water District's

June 16, 2017 • 6 pages • 4 responses • Score: +2 (+2, 2, 0) View Details ▾

PDF

4 responses to findings and recommendations

R1

Continue to work cooperatively in order to finalize and approve the JPA’s by the State mandated June 30, 2017 deadline. [F1, F2]

Response: Implemented

Score: 0

R1 has been implemented.

R2

Specifically instruct, through their JPA agreements that the three Groundwater Agencies pool technical resources and staff in order to avoid costly duplication. [F7]

Response: Implemented

Score: 0

R2 has been implemented.

F3

Wells that pump less than approximately 1,785 gallons per day will be exempt from metering.

Response: Agree Score: +1

agree with the findings numbered: <math display="inline">\underline{Attachment}\,{}^{\!{}^{\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!</math> I (we) disagree wholly or partially with the findings numbered: F3, F5.

F5

The BOS, because they control the SCWA, will have two votes on the board of each groundwater agency.

Response: Agree Score: +1

agree with the findings numbered: <math display="inline">\underline{Attachment}\,{}^{\!{}^{\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!</math> I (we) disagree wholly or partially with the findings numbered: F3, F5.

Petaluma City School's

March 12, 2018 • 4 pages • 2 responses • Score: +2 (+2, 0, 0) View Details ▾

PDF

2 responses to findings and recommendations

F1

As recommended by the 2014-15 Civil Grand Jury, the eligible agencies have assigned a high priority to implementing The Sustainable Ground Management Water Act and forming Groundwater Agencies.

Response: Agree Score: +1

acknowledge having received __1__ copy(ies), by hand delivery, of the 2016-2017 Sonoma County Civil Grand Jury Final Report intended for reference and retention by the Petaluma City Schools _____ Signature: ___ any Callahan Printed Name: Agency: Petalima City Schools Response to Grand Jury Report Form Report Title: Elementary School Truancy_____ Report Date: June 12,2017_____ Response by: Gary Callahan Agency/Department Name: Petaluma City Schools FINDINGS: F1, through F5 I (we) agree with the findings numbered: <math>\underline{\hspace{1cm}\mathcal{F}\hspace{1cm}/}</math> I (we) disagree wh...

F5

The BOS, because they control the SCWA, will have two votes on the board of each groundwater agency.

Response: Agree Score: +1

acknowledge having received __1__ copy(ies), by hand delivery, of the 2016-2017 Sonoma County Civil Grand Jury Final Report intended for reference and retention by the Petaluma City Schools _____ Signature: ___ any Callahan Printed Name: Agency: Petalima City Schools Response to Grand Jury Report Form Report Title: Elementary School Truancy_____ Report Date: June 12,2017_____ Response by: Gary Callahan Agency/Department Name: Petaluma City Schools FINDINGS: F1, through F5 I (we) agree with the findings numbered: <math>\underline{\hspace{1cm}\mathcal{F}\hspace{1cm}/}</math> I (we) disagree wh...

Santa Rosa City School's Response Updated

April 05, 2019 • 8 pages View Details ▾

PDF

Sonoma County Waste Management's

June 16, 2017 • 3 pages • 4 responses • Score: +4 (+4, 0, 0) View Details ▾

PDF

4 responses to findings and recommendations

F1

As recommended by the 2014-15 Civil Grand Jury, the eligible agencies have assigned a high priority to implementing The Sustainable Ground Management Water Act and forming Groundwater Agencies.

Response: Agree Score: +1

agree with the findings numbered: <math>\frac{-6}{5}</math> I (we) disagree wholly or partially with the findings numbered: <math>F1</math>, <math>F2</math>, <math>F3</math>, <math>F4</math> (Attach a statement specifying any portions of the findings that are disputed with an explanation of the reasons.

F2

The JPAs are still being finalized and all eligible agencies must work diligently to approve them before the June 30, 2017 deadline.

Response: Agree Score: +1

agree with the findings numbered: <math>\frac{-6}{5}</math> I (we) disagree wholly or partially with the findings numbered: <math>F1</math>, <math>F2</math>, <math>F3</math>, <math>F4</math> (Attach a statement specifying any portions of the findings that are disputed with an explanation of the reasons.

F3

Wells that pump less than approximately 1,785 gallons per day will be exempt from metering.

Response: Agree Score: +1

agree with the findings numbered: <math>\frac{-6}{5}</math> I (we) disagree wholly or partially with the findings numbered: <math>F1</math>, <math>F2</math>, <math>F3</math>, <math>F4</math> (Attach a statement specifying any portions of the findings that are disputed with an explanation of the reasons.

F4

A rate study will be conducted in each basin to ensure that any use fee is appropriate for the cost of service delivered or the benefit received.

Response: Agree Score: +1

agree with the findings numbered: <math>\frac{-6}{5}</math> I (we) disagree wholly or partially with the findings numbered: <math>F1</math>, <math>F2</math>, <math>F3</math>, <math>F4</math> (Attach a statement specifying any portions of the findings that are disputed with an explanation of the reasons.

No Responses Found 7

Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.

Cotati City

Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District Conservation District

Sonoma County Board of Supervisors Elected County Office

Sonoma County Water Agency Special District

Sonoma Resource Conservation District Conservation District

Town of Windsor Town

Valley of the Moon Water District Special District