I. RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation of staff is to hold a public hearing and accept comments on the City’s proposed 2015 Urban Water Management Plan and formally adopt the plan.
II. BACKGROUND:
On January of 2020, the City of Coalinga entered a contract with AM Consulting Engineers to complete our 2015 Urban Water Management Plan. Urban Water Management Plans are important tools for reporting water agencies' long-term planning efforts to meet future demands and tracking progress toward achieving state-mandated water conservation targets. They also support state laws linking approval for large developments to water supply availability.
In 1983, the California Legislature enacted the Urban Water Management Planning Act (Division 6 Part 2.6 of the Water Code §§10610 - 10656). It requires that every urban water supplier that provides water to 3,000 or more customers, or that provides more than 3,000 acre-feet of water annually ensure the appropriate level of reliability to meet the needs of its customers during normal, dry and multiple dry years. The act describes the contents of the UWMP as well as how urban water suppliers should adopt and implement the plans. Plan updates are required every five years, and updates maintain the Water Authority's eligibility for state grants.
III. DISCUSSION:
Water planning is an essential function of water suppliers but is critical as California grapples with ongoing drought and expected long-term climate changes.
Urban suppliers provide information on water management specific to their service areas. However, water management does not happen in isolation; there are other planning processes that integrate with
the UWMP to accomplish urban planning. Some of these plans include city and county General Plans, Water Master Plans, Recycled Water Master Plans, integrated resource plans, Integrated Regional Water Management Plans, Groundwater Management Plans, and others.
This 2015 UWMP relies on planning documents prepared by the City of Coalinga, the City’s 2007-2027 General Plan and the Fresno County Multi-Jurisdictional 2015-2023 Housing
IV. ALTERNATIVES:
Council may reject the 2015 Urban Water Management Plan or request changes.
V. FISCAL IMPACT:
None |