LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council on Tuesday decided to move ahead with the next steps in the process to form a groundwater sustainability agency for a portion of the Scotts Valley groundwater basin.
After taking a brief amount of community input, the council voted unanimously to set a public hearing for its June 2 meeting to consider establishing the groundwater sustainability agency.
Community Development Director Kevin Ingram explained that the council had directed staff at its Jan. 17 meeting to take the necessary steps to form a groundwater sustainability agency in keeping with the requirements of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, which the California Legislature passed in 2014.
Based on Ingram’s written report to the council, that act requires the formation of groundwater sustainability agencies, which will develop groundwater sustainability plans “which will study conditions and plan for management of groundwater extractions through monitoring, regulation, and fines for enforcement.”
The California Department of Water Resources designated the Scotts Valley Basin as a medium-priority basin, which means that a groundwater sustainability agency must be formed for it by June 30 and a groundwater sustainability plan for it adopted by Jan. 31, 2022, Ingram said.
Ingram told the council that city staff had completed much of the work necessary to submit the groundwater sustainability agency application to the state.
He said the proposed groundwater sustainability agency consists of all of the land within the city’s boundaries as well as 380 acres of unincorporated lands located west of the city limits along Scotts Valley and Riggs roads where the city provides water service. That area also encompasses the location of Lakeport’s groundwater wells.
Ingram said the city initially had been working with the county on a joint powers authority to manage the basin, but the county has since submitted an alternative plan, the primary purpose of which is to get Scotts Valley bumped out of being medium priority.
The city is moving forward on forming its own agency as a placeholder to retain the ability to have a say in the basin's future, Ingram said.
Councilman Kenny Parlet said it was imperative that the city move forward with creating its own agency, as it had a lot to lose if the county’s alternative plan isn’t accepted.
“They have nothing to lose,” Parlet said of the county. “We have everything to lose.”
Ingram said it’s the city’s intention to work with the county. He explained that if the county’s alternative plan to have the basin reduced to low priority isn’t accepted, the city would be left in only a technical advisory position if it didn’t form its own groundwater sustainability agency.
Brian Martin, speaking not as the county’s sheriff but as a resident of the area included in the basin plan, asked about the role of the agency and if it would set rates or use. He also asked if its formation would lead to a sphere of influence, and the eventual installation of water meters for residential and agricultural use.
City Attorney David Ruderman said he didn’t believe the agency will have a sphere of influence. He said the agencies must cover the groundwater basins as they are delineated by the state.
With respect to the agency’s power, Ruderman said it’s supposed to create a groundwater sustainability plan and maintain the basin’s “sustainable yield” – a new term developed with 2014 state law – in order to ensure that the basin isn't suffering from chronic subsidence.
Once there is a plan in place, Ruderman said it is supposed to guide the community on how to maintain sustainable yield.
He said groundwater sustainability agencies can levy fees on pumping, will have the power to permit new wells and could limit pumping if there is a finding that it's necessary.
Martin asked if the jurisdiction of the agency the city proposes to form would be limited to its boundaries.
Ruderman said it would be, and that outside of that area the county’s groundwater sustainability agency would have authority. He added that all of those particulars would be covered in the city’s groundwater sustainability plan.
He said all groundwater sustainability agencies need to coordinate efforts to create the plans, using the same data.
Margaret Silveira emphasized that the city will work with the county on the basin’s issues.
Ingram said that the groundwater sustainability plan’s development will be a public process.
Mayor Stacey Mattina expected members of the public would be concerned about losing rights, but said that the process hasn’t gotten to a point where it’s looking at controlling water use.
Parlet moved to set a public hearing on the groundwater sustainability agency’s formation for June 2, which Councilwoman Mireya Turner seconded and the council approved unanimously.
Council discusses mural project
On Tuesday the council also approved in concept a mural that is being designed for the side of a building located at 270 N. Main St.
Ingram said the Lakeport Main Street Association is working with property owner Roy Mulhauser to locate a mural there that will feature a shoreline view from Lakeport looking toward Mount Konocti with a ferry boat and a sailboat.
The association also drafted an agreement with Mulhauser for the mural’s long-term maintenance, Ingram said.
Artist Gloria De La Cruz designed the mural. She’s done murals on the side of water tanks along Highway 20 in Clearlake Oaks and one of the Lucerne Castle on one of the buildings at Lucerne Harbor Park.
Ingram said the matter was brought before the council due to there being no processes in place for approval of murals. Staff requested a discussion on murals in general, this one in particular and how to deal with future murals.
“Our general plan wants to promote art in public places,” Ingram said, adding that study after study shows that art in public places contributes to placemaking, and has many positive effects on the community’s well-being.
Parlet agreed that public artwork – like the other murals around the county and the quilt trail – is a positive addition to the community that holds up well. He said he loved the proposed design.
The council held a brief discussion on establishing a framework for approving murals, including size and locations. Ruderman said the city can regulate certain aspects of murals but not content when paid for by private citizens.
City planning commissioner Michael Green said his hometown of Fresno has a mural district that has helped transform a blighted area of the city. He suggested using Fresno’s rules as a model, noting that the city has the arts council handle mural applications and guidelines.
Councilman George Spurr supported the Lakeport mural, noting that murals are a popular draw on Vancouver Island. He also referred to one in the Colusa County city of Williams that has proved popular with people.
At Ingram’s suggestion, Turner moved to approve the mural and direct staff to look at potential design guidelines for future mural projects, with Spurr seconding and the council approving the motion 5-0.
In other business, the council heard a presentation from Susan Jen of the Health Leadership Network about the Lake County Wellness Roadmap project, an effort to improve the county’s health outcomes.
The council also approved Turner as the voting delegate, Councilman Tim Barnes as the first alternate and Mattina as the second alternate for the League of California Cities Annual Conference, which will take place in Sacramento in September.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Lakeport City Council votes to move ahead on forming groundwater sustainability agency
- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On