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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07221997 - C80 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS COMM FROM: BOS WATER COMMITTEE coata SUPERVISOR GAYLE B. UILKEMA, CHAIR County SUPERVISOR JOE CANCIAMILLA DATE: JULY 22, 1997 s'a-couK'� SUBJECT: REPORT FROM WATER COMMITTEE REGARDING ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA WATER AGENCIES (ACWA) MEMBERSHIP SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND & JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION: AUTHORIZE the County Water Agency to become a member of the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA), and DIRECT the Auditor to release funds for membership dues. FISCAL'IMPACT: Membership in ACWA will cost$1,545 per year, to be paid by Water Agency funds, which have been budgeted for this purpose. For the remainder of 1997, dues will total $418. BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION: During the June 7 and July 7, 1997 meetings of the Board's Water Committee, the relative merit of the County joining ACWA was discussed. The Water Committee elected to recommend joining ACWA due to benefits the County would receive. Membership in ACWA will provide a valuable forum in which to discuss water issues affecting agencies throughout California. Benefits would include greater education, involvement and higher profile networking opportunities relative to issues affecting the delta and the County. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER � t SIGNATURE(S):X,-.-,/e,?"�4. Superv"l,Xr Gayle B. ema,Chair Sue isor a Canciamilla ACTION OF BOARD ON jLl, 22, 190L APPROVED AS RIECOMMENDED x OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE _ AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN X UNANIMOUS(ABSENT ) AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE AYES: NOES: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ATTESTED July 22, 1997 Contact: Roberta Goulart(335-1226) PHIL BATCHELOR c.c.: Community Development Department(CDD) CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Auditor Controller & COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BY: DEPUTY RG:rw RRG4:7-22wcl.7bd . -APF;. 21. 1497 6.4BAM ACWA 11;. 21 1 P, 2 ACOA FACTS AeSOCIATtON OF CALAVORNIA WAT[R AOtNGI[s Working Togetherfor California's Water Future 910 K STREET • SUITE !60 • SACRAY49WO • CA M144577 • 916.441ANS • RAX 916."1.7893 WHAT IS ACWA? purpose: To provide good consensus building; develops The Association of California quality water at the lowest reasonable goals and Water Agencies (ACWA) is the practical cost. objectives for water resources largest coalition of As members of the management; advocates sound public water Association, they speak with a legislation; and fosters coopero- agencies in the united voice and work together tion among all interest groups 190% country. to ensure a reliable water concerned with stewardship of Its 420 supply for future Californians as the state's water resources, public well as for the stole's oCviron- In addition to its public agency mental resources, agency members, ACWA has members collectively are respon• ACWA has been a leader numerous affiliate members sible for 9004 of the water in California water issues since that include mutual water delivered in California. 1910, Its primary mission is to companies and other non-profit, ACWA's members hail assist its members in promoting non-public water suppliers, from every part of the state, and the development, management Hundreds of firms and corpora- provide water to cities and and reasonable beneficial use tions with an interest in water businesses as well as farms. The of water in an environmentally also belong to ACWA as Association's membership list balanced manner. associate members. includes municipal water In Fulfilling Its role, districts, county water districts, ACWA identifies issues of ACWA PROGRAMS Irrigation districts and other concern to the water community Government Rrlvlions is the special agencies with water• and the public it serves; centerpiece of ACWA's advlties. reloted functions. accumulates and communicates The association reviews an Though diverse in their the best available scientific and average of 16,000 new and site and services, ACWA technical information to the public amended pieces of legislation members have a common and policy makers;facilitates each session, kantinued) APR. 21. 1997 9:22AM ACWA NO. 2154 P. 1 rr . ACWA FACTS —cowrinv 0 trucks hundreds of bills and takes deroal,vision, life and longterm about water issues and their active positions on about 25%of disability. Members also are impocts'on water agencies. The those in response to member eligible for deferred compensation association serves as a clearing- needs. and workers'compensation house for information on member With its broad represen- programs. Dramatic cost savings activities and water policy lotion of member interests, for these programs are made issues, and is a firstline resource ACWA is a major player in possible by the association's for media representatives water issues and has significant unique group pooling power. statewide. Impact on legislation ranging A biweekly newsletter, from individual member bills to ACWA's IMM61vry program is ACWA News, and special fees to emergency water supply aimed at representing member publications and reports on key measures. agencies before state and issues help ACWA provide federal regulatory agencies, important information to federal Affairs is another key ACWA analyzes and researches members, the Legislature, progrem. The association's water quality and other media representatives, opinion Washington, D.C., office tracks regulations, submits testimony leaders, the public and other federal legislation and represents and comments to regulatory organizations. California water interests before agencies, and generally seeks Congress, the Administration, to promote regulations that Membership Services of the and federal regulatory agencies protect public health in a association allow members to such as the Environmental costiaffective manner. take advantage of education Protection Agency. The association also and networking opportunities The association works in publishes a bimonthly newsletter, through numerous specialized concert with all other levels of ACWA Waller OLdi ,Monitor, seminars, two annual confer. state and federal government to on pertinent issues, sponsors enees and other services. assure that ACWA member seminars and workshops on reg. These events allow interests are represented. ulations and issues, and coordin members to interface with top notes with state and national water officials as well as other Bene&=W I mane programs water-related organizationt members, helping water provide vok"dded services. districts keep current on legisla. Members have the opportunity to ACWA's CommYnitotwo tion and water issues, as well participate in a number of benefit efforts provide members with as trends in personnel and programs, including health, timely, accurate information administrative requirements. -lost rry W Oda/mr 1995- CONTRA COSTA COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO: WATER COMMITTEE Supervisor Gayle Uilkema, Chair Supervisor Joe Canciamilla FROM: Roberta Goulart, Water Agency Staff DATE: May 27, 1997 SUBJECT: POTENTIAL FOR COUNTY MEMBERSHIP IN THE ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA WATER AGENCIES (ACWA) BACKGROUND The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA),has been in place since 1910,providing a valuable forum in which to discuss water issues affecting agencies throughout California. Members include municipal and county water districts, irrigation (agricultural) districts, and districts with other water-related functions, as stated on the attached fact sheet. ACWA is quite well attended by water districts within the County,with a large contingent from CCWD, EBMUD, as well as Diablo Water District, East Contra Costa Irrigation District and Byron Bethany Irrigation District. Staff attended ACWA's spring 1997 conference and found it to be a valuable networking tool and very educational in terms of updates on water issues from renowned water experts. There were a number of programs and committee discussions relevant to County Water Agency activities; in fact on some occasions several relevant panels occurred at the same time, so I could not get to them all. For example, committee panel discussions on federal affairs provided up to the minute information on Washington activities, and the Local Government Committee focused on government reorganization, LAFCO and special district issues. In addition,Bay-Delta issues were discussed in many forums,particularly related to CALFED and BDAC work groups. Water management in agriculture and Colorado River issues as they could affect the Bay Delta were also found to be pertinent and informative,to name a few. Finally, meetings of the smaller, geographical California regions were scheduled,to discuss specific water issues closer to home. Attached materials are provided for additional background. In addition to the ACWA fact sheet, 1997 conference materials are attached, as well as the schedule of meetings, for your perusal. COST OF MEMBERSHIP IN ACWA Preliminary discussions with ACWA staff have indicated that the County, as a non-water purveying agency falls between two categories,the `full (voting)member' category or an `associate' member. ACWA staff is, at this time, looking into this issue. Dues are approximately$800-$1000 per year,pro- rated,with a $200 discount because we attended the conference ('/z of conference fees paid are deducted). So, at this time, dues are anticipated to be approximately$200-$400 for 1997, and full cost thereafter.