FOX CANYON GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT AGENCY A STAU Of CALIfORNIA WAHR AGENCY

Transcription

1 FOX CANYON GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT AGENCY A STAU Of CALIfORNIA WAHR AGENCY BOARD OF DIRECTORS Lynn E. Maulbardt, Cbair, Director. United Water Conservation District David Borcbard, Farmer, Agricultural Representative Cbarlotte Craven, Vice Cbair, Council person. City o/camarillo Steve Bennett, Supervisor, County o/ventura Dr. Micbael Kelley, Director, Zone Mutual Water Company EXECUTIVE OFFICER Jeff Pratt, P.E. MINUTES Minutes of the Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency's (FCGMA) regular Board meeting held Wednesday, in the Lower Plaza Assembly Room at the Ventura County Government Center, Hall of Administration, 800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventura, California. A. Call to Order Chair Maulhardt called meeting to order at 1 :35 p.m. B. Pledge of Allegiance Director Borchard led the Pledge of Allegiance. C. Roll Call Attending Board members, alternates, and staff will be recorded by the Board Clerk. Chair Lynn Maulhardt Director Charlotte Craven Director Michael Kelley Director David Borchard Alternate Directors Sam Mcintyre and David Schwabauer were in the audience. Agency Staff Jeff Pratt, Executive Officer Alberto Boada, Agency Counsel Gerhardt Hubner, WPD, Deputy Director Gerard Kapuscik, WPD, Special Projects Manager Bryan Bondy, FCGMA-UWCD Associate Hydrogeologist Rick Viergutz, Groundwater Resources Manager David Panaro, WPD, Staff Geologist Miranda Nobriga, Clerk of the Board D. Agenda Review Mr. Jeff Pratt, Executive Officer, stated there were no changes to the agenda. 800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventura, CA (805) or FAX: (805) or Websites: or Item 1 - Page 1 of 6 F:\gma\GMA Shared\2011\Agenda 1-11\1tem 1 - Minutes docx

2 Page 2 of 6 E. Public Comments Mr. Andy Waters, Ventura County Farmer, recommended the Board extend Emergency Ordinance D. Chair Maulhardt explained the issue was on the agenda and suggested Mr. Waters share his comments at that time. F. Board Member Comments There were no Board Member comments. CONSENT ITEMS: 1. Approval of Minutes Director Craven made the motion to move approval of the consent items. Director Kelley seconded the 2. Las Posas Basin-Specific Groundwater Management Plan Status Director Craven made the motion to move approval of the consent items. Director Kelley seconded the INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: 3. Fiscal Year First Quarter Work Plan Update Mr. Gerhardt Hubner, WPD, Deputy Director, offered to answer any questions the Board had regarding the Fiscal Year First Quarter Work Plan Update contained in the agenda packet. The Board had no questions. Director Craven made the motion to receive and file the report. Director Kelley seconded the 4. Fiscal Year First Quarter Budget Performance Report Mr. Gerard Kapuscik, WPD, Special Projects Manager. summarized the highlights of the Agency's budget performance for the first quarter of fiscal year Mr. Kapuscik stated that based on actual budget performance through September 30, 2010, Agency staff now projects a revised June 30, 2011 year-end fund balance (YEFB) of $1,764,449. If attained, the revised projected figure would represent 96% of the original FY YEFB projection target contained in the adopted budget. Chair Maulhardt noted in the past, there had been feedback from some stakeholders that the Agency should not get staff heavy. He asked if the 3.05 FTEs level of work task effort included in the FY budget was based on past history or future projections. Mr. Kapuscik replied that the 3.05 FTE annual figure was a budget projection based on FY Annual Work Plan costestimates. While the 3.68 FTE level of work effort actually reported during the 1 51 quarter reflected work tasks performed, including clean-up of legacy issues, in accordance with the Board adopted FY Annual Work Plan, as documented in quarterly performance reports to the Board. F:\gma\GMA Shared\2011\Agenda 1-11\ltem 1 - Minutes docx Item 1 - Page 2 of 6

3 Page 3 of 6 Director Craven made the motion to receive and file the report. Director Kelley seconded the 5. Report from Irrigation Training and Research Center on Evaluation of Strengths and Weaknesses of the Existing FCGMA Irrigation Efficiency Program and Specific Suggestions for Improvement Mr. Rick Viergutz, Groundwater Resources Manager, briefed the Board on the Irrigation and Training Research Center's research findings and stated Dr. Stuart Styles' presentation would include ITRC's systematic evaluation of: crop evapotranspiration for 24 crop types, salinity leaching, frost protection, and reasonable distribution uniformity. Dr. Styles outlined and discussed the strengths and weaknesses of the Agency's Irrigation Efficiency Program. He described the complications with the formula used by the Agency to calculate irrigation efficiency before proposing an irrigation allowance program. He continued to explain the details associated with the irrigation allowance program. Dr. Styles presented three options for the Agency to consider to proceed: Option No. 1 - Specific Annual Irrigation Allowance Amount (ITRC recommended solution) Most simplified- using precipitation data the Year Type is selected based on precipitation data. Method does not recalculate the "total irrigation water allowance" each year. Option No.2 - Use a Regional Allowance Coefficient (Kt) Also uses Year Type but also calculates the "total irrigation water allowance each year." Option NO.3 - Compute Annual Allowance Each Year Most complex, daily weather data utilized along with the ITRC soil water balance model. Requires oversight by an irrigation expert. Chair Maulhardt thanked Dr. Styles for his efforts. Director Kelley discussed weather station details while Director Borchard discussed wet and dry years in the County with Dr. Styles. Audience members Mr. Sam Mcintyre, Berylwood Mutual Water Company, and Ms. Dale Zurowski, Ventura County Farm Bureau, both inquired about details relating to the report presented. The Board continued to discuss the Cal Poly Irrigation Efficiency Report with Dr. Styles. Chair Maulhardt directed staff to outline a proposed outreach program to implement the protocol suggested and include the following key points at the January 2011 Board meeting: if the Agency should spend the money to address the elmis Stations, how many educational workshops the Agency should have, and the methodology staff feels the Board should follow. Director Craven made the motion to receive and file the report. Director Borchard seconded the Item 1 - Page 3 of 6 F:\gma\GMA Shared\2011\Agenda 1-11\1tem 1 - Minutes O.docx

4 Page 4 of 6 ACTION ITEMS: 6. Request by Grimes Rock to Transfer Credits to State Ready Mix Mr. Rick Viergutz, Groundwater Resources Manager, gave a presentation providing details regarding the transfer request by Grimes Rock to State Ready Mix to the Board. Mr. Viergutz stated staff did not find the proposed credit transfer would result in a net detriment, and it had a positive effect in the East Las Posas Basin by reducing credits. He concluded the proposed credit transfer was authorized by the Ordinance Code and if authorized, AF of credits would be transferred from Grimes Rock to State Ready Mix, and the outstanding surcharge would be set to zero. Director Kelley made the motion to approve the request by Grimes Rock to transfer credits to State Ready Mix. Director Craven seconded the 7. Proposed Resolution No Mr. Gerhardt Hubner, WPD, Deputy Director, gave a presentation regarding Resolution No a Resolution establishing tiered groundwater surcharge rates pursuant to the Ordinance Code. Mr. Hubner explained how Resolution No had been revised per the Board's direction at the October 27, 2010 Board meeting. He concluded with staff's recommendation that the Board adopt Resolution No Mr. Reddy Pakala, Ventura County Water and Sanitation Department, recommended the Agency tie their rates to Calleguas' Tier II rates. Mr. Frank Brommenshenkel, Rio Plaza Water Company, stated tiered rates imposed by various agencies were unfair and unjust to low-income customers in the Oxnard Forebay area. Mr. Jeff Pratt, Executive Officer, responded to Mr. Brommenshenkel's comments. Mr. David Souza, Nyeland Acres, provided his thoughts about the issue. The Board, Agency staff, and audience members continued to discuss the issue further as well as the implications of historical allocations. The Board discussed and deliberated various changes to Resolution details. Director Craven made the motion to adoption Resolution No with the removal of No.3 as presented (These Tiered Surcharge Rates shall become effective on January 1, 2011, and will remain in force until December 31, 2012) and insertion of No.4 of the previously proposed Resolution No that reads, "These groundwater extraction Tiered Surcharge Rates shall become effective on January 1, 2011 and will remain in force until changed by the Agency's Board of Directors, or by a change to the Agency's Ordinance Code." Director Kelley seconded the 8. Proposed Extension of Emergency Ordinance 0 for the Las Posas Groundwater Basins Mr. Bryan Bondy, UWCD-FCGMA Associate Hydrogeologist, gave a presentation on proposed extension of Emergency Ordinance D for the Las Posas Groundwater Basins. Mr. Bondy provided background information regarding the item as well as the latest developments before stating staff's recommendation to extend the Ordinance for three months. F:\gma\GMA Shared\2011\Agenda 1-11\ltem 1 - Minutes docx Item 1 - Page 4 of 6

5 Page 5 of 6 Mr. Alberto Boada, Agency Counsel, addressed the legal implications involved and stated the Board should not continue extending the Ordinance further beyond what was recommended today. He suggested there be additional findings to support any further extension. Board Members discussed the available options before the issue was opened to the audience for further discussion. Mr. Raymond Arouesty, Somis resident, stated his need to drill a well and urged the Board not to continue extending the Emergency Ordinance. Mr. Henry Graumlich, Calleguas Municipal Water District, stated groundwater was in overdraft despite the intent of the Agency's Ordinance Code to bring the basin safe yield by Mr. Graumlich stated Calleguas welcomed the three-month extension as well as revisions to the Agency's Ordinance Code in the future. The following people supported the three-month extension of Emergency Ordinance D: Mr. Sam Mcintyre, Berylwood Mutual Water Company; Mr. John Grether, Somis grower; Mr. David Schwabauer, a grower; Mr. Reddy Pakala, Ventura County Water & Sanitation; Mr. Andy Waters, grower; and Mr. Craig Underwood, Zone Mutual Water Company. Mr. Arouesty suggested a compromise of granting permits to those with pending applications. Director Kelley responded that Mr. Arouesty could spend in the area of $900,000 for a well to sustail'1 his avocados based on his location. Chair Maulhardt stated the Las Posas Users Group needed to speed up the process for the basinspecific management plan because as long as there was no plan they were going to be in the same position. The Board discussed the ideal use of Mr. Bondy's time and Mr. Bondy responded. Chair Maulhardt directed Mr. Bondy and Mr. Graumlich to present an accelerated management plan process at the January Board meeting and include specific key decisions facing the growers and Calleguas. Director Craven made the motion to extend Emergency Ordinance D by three months, and change Article 3, Item C, 4th line, from December 31, 2010 to March 31, Director Kelley seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously. 9. Amendment to Fiscal Year Agency Work Plan and Budget Director Craven made the motion to direct the Executive Officer to add a task to the fiscal year Agency Work Plan and revise the fiscal year Agency Budget to include $25,000 for updates to the Ventura Regional Groundwater Model. Director Kelley seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously. EXECUTIVE OFFICER'S REPORT: 10. Administrative Reports Director Craven made the motion to receive and file the Executive Officer's report. Director Kelley seconded the F :\gma\gma Shared\20 11 \Agenda 1-11 \Item 1 - Minutes docx Item 1 - Page 5 of 6

6 December 1,2010 Page 6 of Adjourn Regular Board Meeting Chair Maulhardt adjourned the meeting at 4:35 p.m. Submitted by: /~~. ~ Miranda Nobriga [) Clerk of the Board Item 1 - Page 6 of 6 F:\gma\GMA Shared\2011\Agenda 1-11\1tem 1 - Minutes docx