RESOLUTION NO. RES-2023-051
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA RESCINDING THE JUNE 29, 2021 DROUGHT EMERGENCY DECLARATION, RESCINDING STAGE 3 OF THE CITY’S WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN, REMOVING AUTHORIZATION FOR SANTA ROSA WATER TO UTILIZE THE WATER ENTERPRISE FUND CATASTROPHIC RESERVES, AND DIRECTING STAFF TO IMPLEMENT DEMAND REDUCTION ACTIONS CONSISTENT WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF TITLE 23, SECTION 996(c)(1) OF THE CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS FOR THE DURATION THIS EMERGENCY REGULATION IS IN EFFECT WHEREAS, Santa Rosa Water purchases approximately 94% of its water supply from Sonoma Water, the region’s wholesale water supplier; and WHEREAS, the majority of Sonoma Water’s water supply comes from the Russian River; and WHEREAS, the Governor of the State of California declared a local drought emergency in Sonoma and Mendocino Counties on April 21, 2021; and WHEREAS, the County of Sonoma declared a local drought emergency on April 27, 2021; and WHEREAS, as a result of several temporary urgency change petitions filed with the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) over the past two years, Sonoma Water has had to seasonally reduce water diversions by 20% and make corresponding reductions in deliveries to its water contractors, including to the City of Santa Rosa (City); and WHEREAS, on June 29, 2021, the Council of the City of Santa Rosa adopted Resolution No. RES-2021-125, thereby declaring a drought emergency, adopting Stage 3 of the City’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan, directing staff to implement the water conservation program as defined by Stage 3 to realize community-wide water use reduction of 20%, and authorizing Santa Rosa Water to utilize the Water Enterprise Fund Catastrophic Reserve; and WHEREAS, on March 28, 2022, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-7-22, thereby ordering the State Water Board to consider adopting emergency regulations including a requirement that each urban water supplier that has submitted a water shortage contingency plan to the Department of Water Resources implement, at minimum, the shortage response actions adopted under section 10632 of the Water Code for a shortage level of up to twenty percent (Level 2); and WHEREAS, on May 24, 2022, the State Water Board via Resolution No. 2022-0018, adopted Title 23 California Code of Regulations (C.C.R.), Section 996; and WHEREAS, Title 23 C.C.R. Section 996(c)(1) requires the City to implement all demand reduction actions identified in the City’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan for a shortage level of 10% to 20% percent (Level 2); and WHEREAS, the region recently received substantial rainfall via a series of atmospheric rivers and Lake Sonoma and Lake Mendocino have fully recovered from historically low levels to the point that the water supply pool for each reservoir is full; and WHEREAS, as of March 1, 2023, the Lake Sonoma water supply storage pool is at 101% and the target water supply curve for Lake Mendocino is at 117%; and WHEREAS, the water supply outlook is vastly improved such that mandatory reductions in community-wide water use are no longer necessary; and WHEREAS, on March 2, 2023, the Board of Public Utilities passed a resolution recommending that the Council of the City of Santa Rosa rescind the June 29, 2021 drought emergency declaration, rescind Stage 3 of the City of Santa Rosa’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan, remove authorization for Santa Rosa Water to utilize the Water Enterprise Fund Catastrophic Reserves, and direct staff to implement demand reduction actions consistent with Title 23 of the California Code of Regulations, Section 996(c)(1) for the duration this emergency regulation is in effect.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Santa Rosa hereby finds the above recitals to be true and correct and incorporates the recitals herein. / / /
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council takes the following actions:
Rescind the June 29, 2021 drought emergency declaration.
Rescind Stage 3 of the City of Santa Rosa’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan requiring an up to 20% community-wide water use reduction in water use compared to 2020.
Remove authorization for Santa Rosa Water to utilize the Water Enterprise Fund Catastrophic Reserve.
Implement demand reduction actions, which actions are listed in Exhibit A attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference, consistent with Title 23 of the California Code of Regulations, Section 996(c)(1) for the duration that this emergency regulation is in effect.
IN COUNCIL DULY PASSED this 14th day of March, 2023.
AYES: (7) Mayor N. Rogers, Vice Mayor MacDonald, Council Members Alvarez, Fleming, Okrepkie, C. Rogers, Stapp
NOES: (0)
ABSENT: (0)
ABSTAIN: (0)
ATTEST: _________________________ APPROVED: ______________________________ City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: ________________________
City Attorney
Exhibit A – Summary Table of Demand Reduction Actions
Reso. No. RES-2023-051
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