PISMO BEACH COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Agenda Item #12.C
SUBJECT/TITLE:
INTEGRATED REGIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT (IRWM) PLAN AND GRANT;
DETERMINATION OF EXEMPTION UNDER THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY ACT
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Adopt a Resolution adopting the 2019 San Luis Obispo County Integrated Regional Water Management Plan and adopting Statutory Exemption No. 2022- 030.
2. Adopt a Resolution designating the Director of Public Works/City Engineer as the authorized representative to file applications and execute agreements for the 2022 Proposition 1 IRWM Implementation Grant Program.
BACKGROUND:
Senate Bill 1672 established the Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Act in 2002, intended to promote collaborative, integrated management of water resources.
California voters passed a series of propositions, thereby establishing and funding efforts under the State’s IRWM Program. These propositions authorized the Legislature to appropriate grant funds for IRWM plans and projects, and to establish eligibility requirements. The IRWM Program is administered by the State’s Department of Water Resources (DWR).
As a regional collaboration, local IRWM efforts are conducted under the auspices of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with 29 local agencies (Attachment 2.A), including the San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (District), the Cities, the Community Services Districts, the Resource Conservation Districts, and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s), who support multiple water resource efforts. The District is the lead agency under the MOU, and collectively, the agencies are referred to as the Regional Water Management Group (RWMG). The District is also responsible for development and implementation of San Luis Obispo County Region’s IRWM Plan (Plan). The Plan was initially developed and adopted by multiple agencies in the county in 2005 and updated in 2007 and then again in 2014. The Pismo Beach City Council last adopted the Plan on August 19, 2014. Table 1 shows the grants that have been awarded to the SLO County Region since the adoption of the initial plan in 2005.
Table 1: Grants Awarded in SLO County Since 2005
Grant Funding
Source Funded Projects
Grant
Funding
Allocation
Year
Awarded
Prop 50 Planning Four (4) Planning Studies $500,000 2005
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Prop 84
Implementation
Los Osos Wastewater Project
Flood Control Zone 1/1A
Nipomo Supplemental Water Project
$10,401,000 2011
Prop 1E
Implementation
Flood Control Zone 1/1A –Waterway Management
Program $2,800,000 2011
Prop 84 Planning IRWMP Update
Five (5) Planning Studies $1,000,000 2012
Prop 84 Expedited
Drought
CSA 23-AMWC-Garden Farms Emergency
Intertie
Emergency Turnout
Emergency Water Supply
$6,323,610 2014
Prop 84
Implementation
Upper Salinas River Basin Conjunctive Use
Well Head Treatment
Water Resources Reliability Program, Planning
$3,702,762 2015
Prop 1 Planning IRWM Update & Region-Wide Stormwater
Resource Plan $204,183 2016
Prop 1
Disadvantaged
Community (DAC)
Involvement
DAC Needs Assessment
Water Resource Reliability Program, Phase 2
Turnout Pump Station Design and Water Master
Plan Update
Wastewater Plant Upgrade Study and Recharge
Basin Study
$877,563 2017
Prop 1 Round 1
Implementation
One Water SLO, MBR/UV Upgrade
Nipomo Supplemental Water Project, Final Phase
8th Street Well Construction
Water Resource Reliability Projects 1-1 and 1-9
$2,782,130 2020
Prop 1 Round 2
Implementation (Application in process) $3,782,129 2023* Total IRWM Grant Successes in SLO County IRWM Region $29,091,248
To comply with the Proposition 1 IRWM Implementation Grant requirements and to meet DWR eligibility requirements, the 2014 IRWM Plan needed to be updated to meet current State standards. The plan update is now complete.
Process Requirements
One of the eligibility requirements of the IRWM Program is that an IRWM Plan be formally accepted, as evidenced by a resolution or other written documentation, by the governing bodies of each agency that is part of the RWMG responsible for the development of the Plan and have responsibility for implementation of the Plan (California Water Code Section 10543). Therefore, staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached resolutions adopting the 2019 San Luis Obispo County IRWM Plan for the Flood Control District and the County. The MOU for the RWMG is attached to the resolutions since the IRWM Plan needs to demonstrate the governance under which the SLO County regional efforts are conducted.
IRWM Plan Content
The IRWM Plan has been developed in accordance with state standards and with extensive participation from the RWMG, the WRAC and the general public. The IRWM
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Plan is on file with the County Clerk’s office, and available at www.slocounty.ca.gov/IRWM by clicking on the IRWM Plan link.
Through its governance, goals, and objectives and project review process sections, the IRWM Plan provides a united framework among SLO County Region stakeholders for sustainable water resource management. The IRWM Plan also provides a “one stop shop” for information on the water resources of the county, and related planning and project efforts. The IRWM Plan is intended to be a “living” document, with the ability to update information and the project list within it as needed. A detailed discussion of IRWM Plan implementation and update efforts are described in Section 8 (Plan Performance and Monitoring) and Section 2.5 (Plan Implementation).
Prop 1 Round 2 Grant Application
Adoption of the 2019 IRWM plan will meet one of the eligibility requirements to receive IRWM grant funds, including the Prop 1 Round 2 Implementation Grant, whose application is expected to be submitted in January 2023 and includes approximately $1,000,000 for Central Coast Blue as one of the selected projects. In anticipation of the final application submittal, the District has requested local agencies adopt a Resolution (Attachment 2) designating an authorized representative and verifying support of the project.
Environmental Review
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), it has been determined that the 2019 IRWM Plan is statutorily exempt pursuant to Section 15262 of the CEQA Guidelines regarding a study which identifies potential projects and polices for possible future actions subject to future approval. A copy of the Statutory Exemption has been included as Attachment 3.
Conclusion and Recommendation
Staff recommends Council adopt the Resolution (Attachment 1) adopting the 2019 IRWM Plan in order to substantially advance cooperative integrated water resource planning in the region. Additionally, adopting this Plan will maintain eligibility for future IRWM grants, stormwater grants and others. Staff also recommends Council adopt the Resolution (Attachment 2) designating the City’s authorized representative to file an application and execute agreements for the 2022 Proposition 1 IRWM Implementation Grant Program in support of Central Coast Blue.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with the attached Resolutions. There may be an associated fiscal impact to implement actions consistent with participating in the IRWM plan. Those costs are unknown at this time, however any costs would be offset by the award of the grant funding.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Do not adopt one or both Resolutions, provide direction to staff.
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ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution – 2019 IRWM Plan
2. Resolution – Prop 1 Grant Authorized Representative
2.A – Exhibit to Resolution: MOU
2.B – Exhibit to Resolution: list of projects
3. Statutory Exemption 2022-030
Prepared by: Meeting Date: December 6, 2022
Erin Olsen, Management Analyst
Submitted by: Benjamin A. Fine, P.E., Director of Public Works/City Engineer City Manager Approval:
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RESOLUTION NO. R-2022-XXX
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PISMO BEACH, CALIFORNIA ADOPTING THE 2019 SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY
INTEGRATED REGIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN AND
ADOPTING STATUTORY EXEMPTION NO. 2022-030
WHEREAS, the State of California has established an Integrated Regional Water Management grant program pursuant to the Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014 (Water Code Section 79700 et seq.) (also known as “Proposition 1”); and
WHEREAS, a Memorandum of Understanding, which has been signed by the agencies who constitute the Regional Water Management Group for the San Luis Obispo County Region as of the date of this Resolution, designates the San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District as the lead agency responsible for plan development and adoption but also provides for the adoption of the plan by each member of the Regional Water Management Group; and
WHEREAS, the concepts, direction and approach to water resources management embodied in the State’s Integrated Regional Water Management program guidelines closely match those of the San Luis Obispo County Region; and WHEREAS, previous versions of/updates to the San Luis Obispo County Integrated Regional Water Management Plan were developed and adopted by multiple agencies in the County, in coordination with the San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, in 2005, 2007 and 2014 prior to development of the version known as 2019 San Luis Obispo County Integrated Regional Water Management Plan; and WHEREAS, the updates reflected in the 2019 San Luis Obispo County Integrated Regional Water Management Plan are needed in order to effectively and efficiently integrate the region’s water resources management planning objectives and implementation strategies in the following five key areas: Water Supply, Groundwater Monitoring and Management, Flood Management, Ecosystems and Watershed, and Water Resources Management and Communications; and
WHEREAS, similar to prior versions, the 2019 San Luis Obispo County Integrated Regional Water Management Plan has been developed in coordination with the Regional Water Management Group and in accordance with current (2016) State standards; and WHEREAS, the 2019 San Luis Obispo County Integrated Regional Water Management Plan identifies goals, objectives, strategies and projects designed to improve regional water supply reliability, water recycling, water conservation, water quality improvement, stormwater capture and management, flood management, recreation and access,
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Attachment 1
wetland enhancement and creation, and environmental and habitat protection and improvement; and
WHEREAS, the 2019 San Luis Obispo County Integrated Regional Water Management Plan is statutorily exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq.) because it involves only a planning study, as defined in Section 15262 of the State CEQA Guidelines.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Pismo Beach hereby adopts the 2019 San Luis Obispo County Integrated Regional Water Management Plan for the San Luis Obispo County Region and the Director of Public Works/City Engineer, or designee, of the City of Pismo Beach is hereby authorized and directed to implement actions consistent with updating the Plan on a five-year cycle as described within the Plan.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Pismo Beach hereby adopts Statutory Exemption 2022-030 under the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq.).
UPON MOTION OF Council Member , seconded by Council Member , the foregoing resolution was adopted by the City Council of the City of Pismo Beach this 6 th day of December 2022, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
RECUSED:
Approved: Attest:
________________________ ________________________
Ed Waage, Mayor Erica Inderlied, City Clerk
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Attachment 1
RESOLUTION NO. R-2022-XXX
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PISMO BEACH,
CALIFORNIA DESIGNATING THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS/CITY
ENGINEER AS THE AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE TO FILE APPLICATIONS AND EXECUTE AGREEMENTS FOR THE 2022 PROPOSITION 1 IRWM
IMPLEMENTATION GRANT PROGRAM
WHEREAS, the State of California has established an Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) grant program pursuant the Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014 (also known as Proposition 1); and WHEREAS, the City of Pismo Beach signed onto a Memorandum of Understanding (Exhibit A) which established the City of Pismo Beach as a member of the Regional Water Management Group for the San Luis Obispo County Region, and which also designates the San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (the “Flood Control District”) as the lead agency to submit Integrated Regional Water Management grants; and
WHEREAS, the Director of Public Works/City Engineer, or Designee, is especially suited to ensure the grant application materials submitted by and on behalf of the City are prepared in a complete, efficient, and adequate manner; and WHEREAS, the Director of Public Works/City Engineer has the authority to ensure that projects are carried out in full compliance with the applicable permits and agreements; and
WHEREAS, the Director of Public Works/City Engineer submitted the Central Coast Blue project for inclusion in the San Luis Obispo County Region’s 2022 Proposition 1 Round 2 IRWM grant program application; and
WHEREAS, the Central Coast Blue project was recommended by the Regional Water Management Group and the San Luis Obispo County Water Resources Advisory Committee; and
WHEREAS, Exhibit B includes a list of all the local projects endorsed to be in the Region’s application to the California Department of Water Resources; and WHEREAS, in anticipation of the final application submittal, Flood Control District staff has requested that local agencies adopt a resolution verifying support for the project, authorization to proceed with the IRWM grant application, and authorization to enter into reimbursement agreement to fund a share of the Flood Control District’s costs.
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Attachment 2
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Pismo Beach hereby:
1. The City of Pismo Beach City Council supports the Central Coast Blue project as described in Exhibit B, and that the application be made to the California Department of Water Resources to obtain a 2022 Proposition 1 Round 2 Integrated Regional Water Management Implementation Grant pursuant to the Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014 in coordination with the Flood Control District and the Regional Water Management Group.
2. The Director of Public Works/City Engineer, or Designee, of the City of Pismo Beach is hereby authorized and directed to prepare the necessary data, conduct investigations, file such application required for grant funding, and to execute a grant agreement (which must first be approved as to form by City of Pismo Beach Legal Counsel) with the San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District.
3. The Director of Public Works/City Engineer, or Designee, of the City of Pismo Beach is hereby authorized to enter into a reimbursement agreement to pay for Pismo Beach’s share of the Flood Control District application costs UPON MOTION OF Council Member , seconded by Council Member , the foregoing resolution was adopted by the City Council of the City of Pismo Beach this 6 th day of December 2022, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
RECUSED:
Approved: Attest:
________________________ ________________________
Ed Waage, Mayor Erica Inderlied, City Clerk
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Memorandum of Understanding Signatories for
San Luis Obispo County Region IRWM Participants
Agency or Organization
San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District
County of San Luis Obispo
Avila Beach Community Services District
California Men's Colony
Cambria Community Services District
Cayucos Sanitary District
Central Coast Salmon Enhancement
City of Arroyo Grande
City of Grover Beach
City of Morro Bay
City of Paso Robles
City of Pismo Beach
City of San Luis Obispo
Coastal San Luis Resource Conservation District
Estrella-El Pomar-Creston Water District
Heritage Ranch Community Services District
The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County
Los Osos Community Services District
Morro Bay National Estuary Program
Nipomo Community Services District
Oceano Community Services District
Templeton Community Services District
San Miguel Community Services District
San Miguelito Mutual Water Company
San Simeon Community Services District
Shandon-San Juan Water District
South San Luis Obispo County Sanitation District
S&T Mutual Water Company
Upper Salinas - Las Tablas Resource Conservation District
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Attachment 2.A
Attachment 2. Summary of Selected Projects
Project 1: Indirect Potable Reuse
Project Proponent: City of Morro Bay (City)
To develop a more reliable and resilient water supply portfolio, the City is constructing a Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) which incorporates advanced treatment for indirect potable reuse (IPR). Specifically, the IPR component includes injection wells and recycled water pipelines to recharge the Morro groundwater basin (Morro Basin) with advanced purified water. The WRF’s IPR facilities will have the capacity to produce up to 825 acre-feet per year (AFY) of advanced purified recycled water, which will be injected into the Morro Basin. By augmenting recharge in the Morro Basin, the City will protect the basin water quality (from seawater intrusion and nitrate contamination) and be able to extract up to 80 percent of their average water demands or approximately 880 AFY when imported SWP water supplies are limited and/or unavailable.
This project provides the City with a new, reliable and drought resilient water supply source, thereby diversifying the City’s water portfolio and providing the necessary protection against climate change drought impacts, natural disasters and infrastructure failures.
Project 2: Central Coast Blue, Phase 1
Project Proponent: City of Pismo Beach
Central Coast Blue (Project) is a regional, indirect potable reuse project developed in response to recent droughts that highlighted vulnerabilities in the Central Cost Blue Partners’ (cities of Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach, and Pismo Beach) water supply portfolios and the seawater intrusion risks faced by the groundwater basin. The Project will improve the reliability of the community’s water supply portfolio by capturing wastewater flows from the Pismo Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), purifying the water, and injecting it into the Northern Cities Management Area of the Santa Maria Groundwater Basin that is an important component of the water supply portfolios for the Central Coast Blue Partners.
Project 3: Oceano Water Resource Reliability Project
Project Proponent: Oceano Community Services District (OCSD) The Oceano Water Resource Reliability Project replaces non-standard obsolete/aged pipes that are leaking and contributing to water losses. Pipe replacement will support water use and operational efficiency for a State Water Project sub-contractor. The project will also address water reliability by improving system pressures and flows for fires and other emergencies with the installation of new larger pipes.
Continued on next page.
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Attachment 2.B
Project 4: Master Water Report and Information System
Project Proponent: San Luis Obispo County Flood Control & Water Conservation District The Public Works Department, in coordination with the Planning Department, is developing a tool to improve the District’s and County’s approach to the collection, storage, analysis and reporting of data and information needed for water-related planning efforts. This Decision Support Tool will facilitate a comprehensive update to the Master Water Report (MWR). This project would develop the data and information management and reporting tools needed to facilitate this and future updates to the MWR as well as other analysis needs determined in coordination with other County departments.
Project 5: Water Reliability Projects
Project Proponent: San Miguel Community Services District (SMCSD) A District Master Plan was finalized in 2020. Three high priority projects identified including: (1) replace aging and undersized pipelines, (2) replace undersized and poor condition tank with a new 25,000 gallon tank, and (3) construct a new booster pump station to improve inadequate pressure and fire flow. The pipeline replacement project addresses existing 4-inch cast-iron and 3-inch asbestos cement pipelines to be replaced with a new 8-inch PVC pipeline located within the right-of-way. This project will improve deficient pressure and fire flows to approximately 20 residences, reduce operating costs by reducing system losses, and reduce water losses from the existing pipelines in the event that they fail. Only pipeline replacement project would be included in this grant application
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Attachment 2.B
CITY OF PISMO BEACH
NOTICE OF EXEMPTION
To: County Clerk-Recorder’s Office From: City of Pismo Beach County of San Luis Obispo 760 Mattie Road
1055 Monterey Street, Suite D120 Pismo Beach, CA 93449-2056 San Luis Obispo, CA 93408
Project Title / CEQA No.: Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Plan
Project Applicant / Email / Phone: City of Pismo Beach/[email protected]/805-773-4656
Project Location – Address: Citywide
Project Location – City: Pismo Beach
Description of Nature, Purpose and Beneficiaries of Project:
Name of Public Agency Approving Project: City of Pismo Beach
Name of Person or Agency Carrying Out Project: Benjamin A. Fine, Director of Public Works/City Engineer
Exempt Status (check one): ☐ Ministerial (Section 21080(b)(1); 15268) ☐ Declared Emergency (Section 21080(b)(3); 15269(a)) ☐ Emergency Project (Section 21080(b)(4); 15269(b)(c)) ☐ Categorical Exemption. State type and section number: 15303 (a) ☒ Statutory Exemptions. State code number: 15262
Reasons why project is exempt:
Lead Agency Contact Person: Matthew Downing, AICP
Contact: (805) 773-4658
Email: [email protected]
If filed by applicant:
• Attached certified document of exemption finding.
• Has a notice of exemption been filed by the Public Agency approving the project? ☒ yes ☐ no
Signature: Title: Planning Director Date:
☒ Signed by Lead Agency | ☐ Signed by Applicant
The IRWM Plan provides a united framework for sustainable water resource management and a one stop shop for information on water resources and related planning and project efforts.
Exempt regarding studies which identify potential projects and policies for possible future actions subject to future approval.
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Attachment 3