City of Buena Park Office of the Mayor September 8, 2009 The Honorable Kim Dunning Presiding Judge of the Superior Court*

There is inadequate coordination between local land-use planning agencies and local water supply agencies, resulting in a process that fails to fully engage the issues. (a). Water agencies have tended to avoid interfering with or participating in growth- management decisions. (b). Cities and the County have tended to not critically evaluate the limitations of the water agencies' supply projections. The City of Buena Park respectfully disagrees. Water agencies are not land planning agencies - by design. Historically and today, water agencies have had the responsibility of providing water for the approved land use. Planning being performed at the local, regional, and state levels is aimed at using our existing water supplies more efficiently and developing new supplies and systems to accommodate the current and future needs of our residents and businesses and to improve supply reliability where necessary.

California's looming water supply crisis receives very little, if any, expressed concern from the public in comparison to the numerous other environmental issues presented during development project reviews. (a). Orange County's citizens and interest groups do not appear to grasp the seriousness of the water supply situation or the complexity and urgency of the necessary solutions. 6650 BEACH BOULEVARD, P.O. BOX 5009, BUENA PARK, CA 90622 (714) 562-3754 • FAX (714) 562-3506 . . . "Paper Water - Does Orange County Have a Reliable Future" September 8, 2009 (b). Several recent, substantial water supply awareness efforts are underway (e.g. the O.C. Water Summit) that show promise but appear targeted to audiences that are already informed. The City of Buena Park agrees that the water crisis receives little concern, but it is not for lack of trying by the water community. What are outlined below are the outreach efforts that are currently being utilized. The water industry has many communication and outreach avenues, but the spending by public entities is generally low compared to industries that would spend at much higher levels to brand or market new products. Still, water industry communications can be and are effective. In recent years, the water industry has collectively advertised itself as the "Family of Southern California Water Agencies" and promoted "Bewaterwise.com" to get the word out on the water supply situation and water conservation tips and opportunities. Retail agencies utilize bill stuffers, newsletters and websites to inform the public. In Orange County, we have monthly meetings of a Public Affairs Workgroup made up of the staff from all of the retail agencies. They work to develop and implement consistent message points for the public. MET also has a Public Information Officers workgroup that coordinates outreach and communication among the MET member agencies. Due to the expense and the limited budgets of the retail agencies, the brunt of the TV and radio media outreach has been developed via MET through an advertising campaign for the Los Angeles and San Diego markets. While we are always open to new methods of communication, we believe the existing communication system works. Polling conducted from time to time to track water industry messages and the understanding of the public indicates that high percentages of people understand there is a water crisis (76% in a recent survey by MWDOC). Furthermore, 78% indicated they would change their water using habits to conserve to prevent water rationing and 67% believe that their water agency does an effective job of keeping them informed about water supply. We also believe high percentages of the public are engaged because of recent actions such as the "run" on rebates for water conservation devices, which pushed spending up to a point where the available funding was exceeded several times over. Following is an outline of our current outreach efforts: In June of 2008, Public Affairs Workgroup began developing a regional message that incorporated three critical elements of a long term communication strategy: The message must be positive Focus on water-use efficiency and eliminating water waste Adaptable at the retails level 6650 BEACH BOULEVARD, P.O. BOX 5009, BUENA PARK, CA 90622 (714) 562-3754 • FAX (714) 562-3506 "Paper Water – Does Orange County Have a Reliable Future" September 8, 2009 A comprehensive, strategic communication plan was developed that incorporates grassroots education, strategic partnerships and guerrilla marketing techniques. Research has shown that this approach has been most successful in achieving social change. The following logo was adopted: WATER: DO MORE WITH LESS This plan augments and enhances the large media campaign that Metropolitan is orchestrating Increases visibility throughout the region Integrates new technology and social marketing channels as well. Critical part of the plan is to engage strategic partners to help carry the message. Everyday new partners are signing on. Current strategic partners include: IBM Hurley Sportswear Volcom Sempra Energy Surfer Magazine Latino Water Coalition TransWorld Media Sunset Magazine Fuel TV Other parts of the program include: Huell Howser contracted with the Association of California Water Agencies to produce 15 episodes about California Water. This series is being utilized to help inform citizens. Cable channels are being used to get the word out Educational trips are provided by MET for each of its Directors to host community leaders to get the word out on water issues We have one of the best School Education Programs in the state for water awareness education in grades K-6; it reaches about 90,000 students per year and has reached about 3,000,000 since 1972. Water Heroes – a new program aimed at kids and families, focuses on identifying "Paper Water - Does Orange County Have a Reliable Future" September 8, 2009

LAFCO is the agency charged with facilitating constructive changes in governmental structure to promote efficient delivery of services. To this end, LAFCO is conducting a governance study of MWDOC which is the designated representative for nearly all of the Orange County retail water agencies, acting on their behalf with their surface water supplier Metropolitan. (a). There are a number of points of governance disagreement between MWDOC and several of its member agencies. This is creating an impediment to the on-going effectiveness of these agencies in critical areas of Orange County's water supply management. (b). The current disagreement is a distraction from the greater good of the agencies working toward Orange County's water future. (c). The stakeholders in LAFCO's study failed to meet their March 11, 2009, deadline for LAFCO's public hearing on this matter. Continued delays are unacceptable. The City of Buena Park agrees with this finding. This issue needs to be resolved – the sooner the better.

Orange County is uniquely fortunate to have a vast, high-quality, well-managed groundwater basin serving its north geographical area. However, in its south reaches, it has an equally large, high-growth area with virtually no available groundwater resources. (a). The difference in groundwater availability creates a "haves versus have-nots" situation that is conducive to inherent conflicts. (b). The difference in groundwater availability provides opportunities for responsible participants to develop and construct long-term solutions which will benefit the entire County. The City of Buena Park agrees on finding F.4(a), but we do not find a problem with this. The City of Buena Park disagrees partially on finding F.4(b). Use of storage in the OCWD basin is allowed by agreement with OCWD. OCWD has entered into storage arrangements that allow MET to store up to 66,000 AF of imported water and to recall as much as 20,000 AF out of this same storage in any one year. This additional yield out of storage benefits everyone in Southern California. In addition, a February 2006 Emergency Services Program Agreement was developed with OCWD that allows emergency water supplies from the basin to be exchanged with south Orange County. This program is currently being used to allow conveyance of water to south Orange County during emergency situations. Allowing access to the lower cost groundwater outside of the basin or allowing access to more storage by south Orange County would increase the cost to the basin agencies and put them at risk. 1, 6650 BEACH BOULEVARD, P.O. BOX 5009, BUENA PARK, CA 90622 (714) 562-3754 • FAX (714) 562-3506 "Paper Water - Does Orange County Have a Reliable Future" September 8, 2009 GRAND JURY RECOMMENDATIONS: