Sonoma Valley Regional Water Resources _____________________

The Sonoma Developmental Center has chosen to purchase water from Sonoma Water, rather than continue treating local water for its supply, but the Restructured Agreement may give the Valley of the Moon Water District the right to replace Sonoma Water as the water supplier for the Sonoma Developmental Center. Permit Sonoma wholly or partially disagrees with this finding. Permit Sonoma was not a party to a decision to purchase water for Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC), and similarly was not a party to a decision to discontinue treating local water for SDC’s water supply. Permit Sonoma is also not a party to the Restructured Agreement. Accordingly, Permit Sonoma is unable to provide a factual response to Finding F2.

The City of Sonoma, the Valley of the Moon Water District, and Sonoma Developmental Center have common interests that warrant current and ongoing cooperation between and among them through formal and informal processes. Permit Sonoma agrees generally with this finding, but is not one of the entities enumerated in this finding. Permit Sonoma has no authority or control over the SDC site. SDC is owned and controlled by the State of California. However, in its role leading the ongoing SDC Specific Plan process in accordance with state law and an agreement with the California Department of General Services (DGS), Permit Sonoma is working cooperatively with DGS and is actively engaged with the City of Sonoma and Valley of the Moon Water District (VOMWD) to inform the planning process and outcomes and facilitate cooperation where appropriate. Permit Sonoma notes that other entities not enumerated in this finding, including the Local Agency Formation Commission, may also have a role in facilitating ongoing cooperation among these entities.

Cooperation between regional water suppliers might include projects such as: wastewater collection and treatment, recycled water use, spreading basins for groundwater recharge and fire suppression. Permit Sonoma objectively agrees with this finding, and supports identification and implementation of holistic approaches to regional problems, such as the options listed in this finding. However, Permit Sonoma is not a regional water supplier, and accordingly is unable to respond as to any particular options for cooperation between suppliers in this context. Responses to Recommendations R1, R2, R3, R4