ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: July 9, 2025 AGENDA CATEGORY: Consent - Agreements TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Matthew S. Collom, Deputy City Attorney
DATE: June 30, 2025
SUBJECT: Agreement with Rosedale-Rio Bravo Water Storage District.
Enabling the Conveyance of South Fork ‘Onyx Ranch’ Water via the Kern River Channel.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends adoption of the Agreement
BACKGROUND:
The proposed agreement between City of Bakersfield (“City”), Kern Delta Water District (“KDWD”), and North Kern Water Storage District (“NKWSD”) (collectively, the “First Point Parties”) and Rosedale -Rio Bravo Water Storage District (“RRBWSD”) enables RRBWSD to move, convey, or otherwise transport water from its Onyx Ranch project on the Kern River’s South Fork to its district via the Kern River Channel (the “Agreement”). A brief point of clarification, NKWSD is a First Poin t Party by virtue of its contracts with the City, only.
The Agreement enables City to increase water flows in the Kern River channel within City’s boundaries.
Further, the Agreement contains language whereby RRBWSD will defend, hold harmless, and indemni fy City in the event litigation is brought against City as a result of RRBWSD’s conveying ‘Onyx Ranch’ water.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This contract has no compensation from the City to NKWSD nor to RRWSD t herefore, there is no fiscal impact to the City Water Department Budget nor the City General Fund.
COUNCIL GOAL:
Community Character & Quality of Life
Innovative and Efficient City Government
ATTACHMENTS:
Agreement