A RESOLUTION OF THE GOLETA WATER DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO ESTABLISH STANDING COMMITTEES AND THE TIME AND LOCATION OF REGULAR COMMITTEE MEETINGS
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE GOLETA WATER DISTRICT AS FOLLOWS:
1. The purpose of this Resolution is to establish the allocations for new water service connections subject to the SAFE Water Supplies Ordinance. In 1991 the voters in the District approved participation in the State Water Project through adoption of the initial SAFE Ordinance. In November 1994, voters in the District approved an amendment of the SAFE Ordinance which included the authority to acquire additional entitlement to State Water Project water. The SAFE Ordinance includes terms pertaining to a Water Supply Distribution Plan. Chapter 5.12 of the Goleta Water District Code states the procedures for compliance with that Plan.
2. In December, 1996, the District initiated the implementation of the SAFE Ordinance Water Supply Distribution Plan and the allocation of new water service connections. In January 1997 the County of Santa Barbara adopted Resolution No. 97-15 to establish procedures for the coordination of the administration of new land use projects requiring water service in the Goleta Water District service area.
3. In 1997 all available allocations were allocated by the County and the District. In 1998 the County of Santa Barbara allocated 87.15 acre feet ("AF") of the allocations made available by the District. After reconciling allocations previously made to projects, the County had 51.65 AF of allocations remaining available. For 1998, the District had reserved 50 AF for allocation to new water connections subject to the SAFE Ordinance, and not subject to County land use discretionary approval. In 1998 the District allocated 8.56 AF of that available allocation. The total available allocations for 1998 that were carried over to 1999 was 93.09 AF.
4. In 1999 the County had a total of 232.69 AF of allocations available. The County made no allocations of water service under these procedures in 1999. The District had reserved 25 AF of allocations for 1999. As of the date of this Resolution, the District has allocated 9.40 AF of water service allocations.
5. Goleta Water District Code 5.12.050 provides that any water service declared to be available for new water service connections in one year, shall be carried over into the next year allocation and added to the allocation otherwise available in that following year. The District hereby resolves that all available 1999 allocations that are not allocated in 1999, shall be carried over and made available for allocation in 2000. That is currently 248.29 AF, 232.69 AF from the County and 15.6 AF from the District.
6. The District is subject to the Judgment in the action commonly referred to as Wright v. Goleta Water District, Santa Barbara Superior Court Case No. SM57969 ("Wright"). The Wright Judgment addresses water rights in the Goleta groundwater basin. The ("Wright") Judgment requires the District to develop a Water Plan to achieve a balance between supply and the demand for water in the District. The Judgment requires the District to submit to the Court and the parties an Annual Report setting forth its compliance with the Water Plan and the Judgment. Each year since entry of the Judgment the Court has found that the District is in compliance with the Judgment and the Water Plan. In 1999 the District filed the Eleventh Annual Report. In the Eleventh Annual Report, the District set forth its compliance with the Water Plan which includes the following supplies:
Cachuma Project - 9,310 AFY (acre feet per year)
State Water Project - 3,800 AFY
Basin Groundwater - 2,350 AFY
Reclamation Project - 1,000 AFY
Total Supply - 16,460 AFY (approximate)
Stored Groundwater - 21,891.49 AF (as of June 1999)
7. The SAFE Ordinance Water Supply Distribution Plan restricts the District to releasing only 1% of its available water supplies annually, for new water service connections, to properties that had not been previously served with District water service, nor otherwise entitled to District service. Based on the District's available water supplies which are at least 16,460 AFY, the Board hereby resolves to allocate for 2000, an additional 164.6 AF.
8. Assuming that there is no change to the existing allocations for 1999 before the end of the year, the Board hereby resolves that a total of 412.89 AF of allocation shall be made available for new water service connections in 1999. That is calculated as the 164.6 AF of allocations for 2000 and the carry over of 248.29 AF from 1999.
9. Pursuant to the procedures established by the District and the County of Santa Barbara for administration of new water service connections, the County is responsible for allocating new water service connections to new development projects subject to County discretionary land use approval, and the SAFE Ordinance restrictions. The District is responsible for allocating new water service connections for all other uses that are not subject to County discretionary land use review. The Board of Directors hereby resolves that 387.89 AF shall be made available for allocation by the County to new development projects subject to County discretionary review. The Board of Directors hereby resolves to reserve 25 AF of allocation, for allocation by the District, to all other new water service connections, subject to the SAFE Ordinance restrictions.
10. The Goleta Water District operates under the authority of California Water Code 30,000 et seq. Pursuant to those statutory provisions, the District has the power to perform all acts necessary to carry out its purposes. Those purposes include the furnishing of sufficient water in its service area for any present or future beneficial use. The District is required to establish rules and regulations for the sale, distribution, and use of water within its service area. This Resolution sets forth rules and regulations for the use of water in the District. The California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") Guidelines provide that administration, policy and procedure making such as the adoption of this Resolution, is exempt from CEQA and therefore adoption of this Resolution is exempt from CEQA.
11. If the exemption to CEQA stated in paragraph 10 above, were not available, the District would nevertheless find that the action to adopt this Resolution is exempt from CEQA as there is no substantial evidence available to the District to indicate that adoption of this Resolution will cause a significant adverse effect on the environment.
12. The four criteria set forth in the SAFE Ordinance Water Supply Distribution Plan that must be satisfied to authorize the District to release new water service connections, have been met.
13. The District intends to continue to defer groundwater production in 2000 and to store its entitlement pursuant to the Wright Judgment, for future use.
14. The Board of Directors hereby finds that the foregoing is true and correct.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of Directors of the Goleta Water District, this 7th day of December, 1999, by the following vote:
AYES: Blois, Cunningham, De Witt, Mills, Rogers
NAY: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
ATTEST: