City Council Agenda Report
Meeting Date: June 16, 2026
From: Todd Dusenberry, General Manager of Public Utilities Department: Public Utilities
Submitted by: Adriana Ramos, Principal Management Analyst Subject
2025 Urban Water Management Plan
Recommendation
A. Find that the proposed action is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in accordance with California Water Code Section 10652, which exempts the preparation and adoption of Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) and the Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP), collectively referred to herein as the 2025 UWMP, from CEQA requirements, and CEQA Guideline Section 15061(b)(3), the general rule that CEQA only applies to activities that may have a significant effect on the environment, because the plan referenced herein is merely an update of the existing 2020 UWMP; and
B. Adopt Resolution No. 2026-033 Adopting the 2025 UWMP.
Background
The Urban Water Management Planning Act (California Water Code Section 10610, et seq.) mandates that designated urban water suppliers prepare and adopt an Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) and update it at least once every five years, specifically on or before July 1 of years ending in six or one. This Act applies to both public and privately-owned water suppliers that provide water for municipal purposes, either directly or indirectly, to more than 3,000 customers that supply over 3,000 acre-feet of water annually.
According to California Water Code Section 10609.60, water suppliers with 1,000 to 2,999 service connections are also required to develop and maintain a Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP). The City qualifies as an urban water supplier under both the Act and Water Code Section 10609.60, which obligates it to prepare, adopt, and periodically update its UWMP and WSCP.
On June 15, 2021, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2021-18, adopting the City of Vernon 2020 UWMP. In compliance with Water Code Section 10621, in April 2026, the City contracted with Stetson Engineers Inc. (Stetson) to prepare an updated UWMP and WSCP, collectively referred to herein as the 2025 UWMP.
The UWMP intends to serve as long-term resource planning to ensure that adequate water supplies are available to meet existing and future water needs. Moreover, the UWMP is useful for local, regional, and statewide water planning. Among other things, the UWMP:
- Assesses the reliability of water sources over a 20-year planning time frame; - Describes demand management measures and water shortage contingency plans; and - Discusses the current use and planned use of recycled water.
Pursuant to the Water Conservation Act of 2009, the City was required to target a twenty percent reduction in per capita water use by 2020. The City achieved the targeted twenty percent reduction prior to 2020, as detailed in the 2025 UWMP.
Every urban water supplier that prepares a plan is required to notify any city or county within which the supplier provides water that a plan review is underway, and that the supplier is considering amendments or changes to the plan. The plan must be accessible for public review, and a notice of a public hearing should be issued. Los Angeles County has been informed of the intent to prepare for the 2025 UWMP and has been given the opportunity to provide feedback on the draft plan. Pursuant to Government Code Section 6066, notice of public hearing was published in the La Opinion Newspaper on June 1, 2026 and June 8, 2026, and on the City's website (Attachment 2).
Formal adoption of the 2025 UWMP requires a resolution of the City Council, after which it will be submitted to the California Department of Water Resources, the California State Library, and the County of Los Angeles.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report.
Attachments
1. Resolution No. 2026-033
2. Notice of Public Hearing