Title
Consider making appointments to the Primary and Alternate Public Member Director positions on the Board of Directors of the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (“SVBGSA”) for terms commencing July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2025.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors consider making appointments to the Primary and Alternate Public Member Director positions on the Board of Directors of the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (“SVBGSA”) for terms commencing July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2025.
SUMMARY:
The County makes appointments to certain Director positions (Primary and Alternate) on the Board of Directors of the SVBGSA. Three of those positions had terms expiring on June 30, 2019; the Board of Supervisors previously made appointments to two of the Agricultural Director positions, but the Public Member positions remain open for appointment and the Board of Supervisors should consider making such appointments.
DISCUSSION:
The SVBGSA, a Joint Powers Authority (“JPA”) created by the County, the Water Resources Agency, various cities and other public entities in the Salinas Valley, is governed by an 11-member Board of Directors. Each Director position has a Primary and an Alternate Director, and each represents a different interest or stakeholder group generally as required by the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. As set forth in the Joint Powers Authority agreement forming the SVBGSA, various members of JPA make appointments to the Director positions.
The County is responsible for the appointments of a Primary and Alternate for each of 7 Director positions: A) one representing Other GSA Eligible Agencies; B) four representing agricultural interests; C) one representing environmental interests; and D) one Public Member representing interests not otherwise represented on the Board. Generally, the Director positions have three-year terms; however, so that not all Director positions would expire at the same time, a number of the positions were given two year terms at the start. The permanent Board was appointed effective July 1, 2017, and three of the County’s appointments were given two-year terms, expiring on June 30, 2019. These Directors positions are two Agricultural Directors and the Public Member Director. The positions were filled again for terms commencing on July 1, 2019 and expiring on June 30, 2022, and, as mentioned, the Board of Supervisors previously made appointments to the Agricultural Director positions. Although the terms of the Public Member positions have expired, the JPA agreement provides that Directors serve until their successor is appointed.
The JPA agreement sets forth general qualifications for Directors:
1. General education and/or knowledge, interest in and experience relating to the control, storage, and beneficial use of groundwater;
2. General understanding and knowledge of the Basin and all its beneficial users;
3. Working knowledge and understanding of how to develop strategic plans, policies, programs, and financing/funding mechanisms;
4. Genuine commitment to collaboratively work together to (a) achieve groundwater sustainability through the adoption and implementation of a Groundwater Sustainability Plan for the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin, and all its beneficial users; and (b) provide for the ongoing sustainable management of the basin;
5. General knowledge and understanding of one or more of the different facets (administration, financial, legal, organizational, personnel, etc.) needed for a successful and productive organization;
6. Ability to commit the time necessary, estimated at a minimum 15 - 20 hours per month, to responsibly fulfill their commitment to the organization. This includes, but is not limited to: (a) Board meetings, (b) Board training, (c) analyzing financial statements and technical reports, (d) reviewing Board documents before Board meetings, (e) attending Board meetings, and (f) serving on committees to which they are assigned; and
7. A permanent resident within the Basin, or a representative of an agency with jurisdiction, or a business or organization with a presence, within the Basin.
Each of the Director positions has specific qualifications; the Public Member must be: i) a rural residential well owner; ii) an industrial processor; iii) a Local Small or State Small Water System (public water systems with more than 1 but less than 15 connections); or iv) a mutual water company serving residential or agricultural connections, or both.
The Public Member Director position is an application process, with the application made to the SVBGSA, whose Board of Directors considers the applicants and forwards qualified applicants to the Board of Supervisors for consideration. The SVBGSA Board may include recommendations in its transmission.
The SVBGSA received 5 applications by the close of the application process (August 26, 2022), and the SVBGSA Board of Directors considered them at its meeting of September 8, 2022. The SVBGSA Board has forwarded the following nominations for consideration by the Board of Supervisors - Ms. Caroline Chapin for the Primary Director, and Mr. Robert Rodoni for the Alternate. Ms. Chapin is the current Primary Director and has continued to serve until a successor is chosen; Mr. Rodoni indicated that he was only interested in the Alternate Director Position. Therefore, the SVBGSA Board recommends Ms. Chapin for the Primary Director and Mr. Rodoni as the Alternate.
Copies of the nominees’ applications are enclosed, with personal information redacted.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None.
FINANCING:
There is no impact to the General Fund with the appointments.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
__Economic Development
X Administration
__Health & Human Services
X Infrastructure
__Public Safety
Prepared and Approved by:
______________________________________
Leslie J. Girard, County Counsel Ext. 5365
Attachments:
Board Report
Applications (2)
Draft Resolution