Westlands Water District

Fresno, CA

Board Meeting

PARTICIPATION EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH ZOOM 

Notice

Notice is hereby given that a regular meeting of the Board of Directors of Westlands Water District will be held on October 20, 2020 at 1:00 p.m.

In accordance with the Governor’s Executive Order N-29-20, issued pursuant to the Governor’s State of Emergency proclamation, and in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this meeting will occur exclusively through Zoom.

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Meeting ID: 944 8866 3409
Passcode: 3130

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If you have problems using the Zoom prior to the start of the meeting, please contact the District’s IT staff at 559-224-1523 or itstaff@wwd.ca.gov.  Requests for assistance made during the meeting may not be responded to timely.

At the beginning of the meeting, the President will provide instructions on how members of the public will be able to participate in the hearing and meeting.

Public Comment – Any member of the public may address the Board concerning any matter on the agenda before or during its consideration of that matter. Public comment is limited to three minutes per person and no more than fifteen minutes per topic. For good cause, the Board President may waive these limitations.

Agenda

  1. Call to Order
  2. Board of Directors to Consider Corrections or Additions to the Agenda of Items, as Authorized by Government Code Section 54950 et seq.
  3. Board of Directors to Consider Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting of September 15, 2020 and Special Board Meeting of October 1, 2020
  4. General Manager’s Report (Birmingham)
    1. Water Supply, Water Operations and Projected Water Supply and Use and Central Valley Project/ State Water Project Operations, drainage, energy, Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan-Voluntary Agreement Update, and other resources activities
    2. Federal & State Legislative Affairs
    3. Public Outreach
    4. Other District Activities
  5. Outside Agency Activities (Board) – Reports on activities of outside agencies (FFA, SLDMWA, ACWA and SFCWA, etc.) will be presented.
  6. Legal Affairs Committee (Coelho) – The Committee Chair will report on items within the Committee’s jurisdiction.
  7. Operations & Maintenance Committee (Coelho) – The Committee Chair will report on items within the Committee’s jurisdiction.
  8. Personnel Committee (Enos) – The Committee Chair will report on items within the Committee’s jurisdiction.
  9. Water Policy Committee (Neves) – The Committee Chair will report and the Board will act upon recommendations of the Committee, if any, regarding the following items:
    1. Resolution No.126-20, Placing in Nomination Director Ryan Ferguson as a Member of the Association of California Water Agencies Region 6
    2. Recieve an Update on the Initial Study and Negative Declaration for the 2020-2025 Westlands Water District Groundwater Pumping and Conveyance Project
    3. Consider Recommendation that the Board of Directors Authorizes Execution of a Water Transfer Agreement Between Westlands Water District and Panoche Water District
    4. Receive an update on the 2020-21 Groundwater Conditions
  10. Sustainable Groundwater Management Act – Serving as the Groundwater Sustainability Agency of the Westside Subbasin:
    1. Board of Directors to receive an update and/or provide input on Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) implementation/compliance activities, including actions to implement the Groundwater Sustainability Plan
  11. Finance & Administration Committee (Enos) – The Committee Chair will report and the Board will act upon recommendations of the Committee, if any, regarding the following items:
    1. Board of Directors to Consider Authorizing a 2020-2021 Budget Augmentation for Lateral 14-5.5 RPM Pipeline Replacement Project
    2. Board of Directors to Consider Authorizing a 2020-2021 Mid-Year Budget Transfer and Augmentation
    3. Consider Recommendation that the Board of Directors Approves Accounts Payable Reports
    4. Receive Report on Investments and Financial Reports
  12. Public Comment – Any member of the public may address the Board concerning any matter not on the Agenda but within the Board’s jurisdiction. Public comment is limited to three minutes per person and no more than fifteen minutes per topic. For good cause, the President may waive these limitations.
  13. Closed Session – The Board will meet in closed session pursuant to the Government Code sections noted to discuss the following:
    1. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS
      (Pursuant to Cal. Gov. Code section 54956.8)
      1. Property: Water Supply
        Agency Negotiator: General Manager or designee
        Negotiating Parties: 4S Ranch
        Under Negotiation: Price and terms of payment
      2. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION
        Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to paragraph (2) or (3) of subdivision (d) of Government Code Section 54956.9 – 5 potential cases
      3. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION
        Initiation of litigation pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) of Government Code Section 54956.9 – 2 potential cases
      4. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION
        Existing Litigation Pursuant to paragraph (1) of Subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9
        1. Firebaugh Canal Water District et al. v. United States of America et al., United States District Court, Eastern District of California, Case Nos. 1:88-cv-634-DAD/SKO, 1:91-cv-048-LJO/SKO
        2. Westlands Water District v. United States, United States Court of Appeal for the Federal Circuit, Case No. 13-5069
        3. San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority and Westlands Water District v. Delta Stewardship Council et al., Sacramento County Superior Court Case No. 34-2013-80001500 (Delta Plan Litigation). Appeals in Delta Plan Litigation:

          City of Stockton v. Delta Stewardship Council et al. (Sacramento County Superior Court JCCP No. 4758)(Third District Court of Appeal Case No. C082994); State Water Contractors, et al. v. Delta Stewardship Council et al. (Sacramento County Superior Court JCCP No. 4758) (Third District Court of Appeal Case No. C082944); California Water Impact Network, et al. v. Delta Stewardship Council et al. (Sacramento County Superior Court JCCP No. 4758) (Third District Court of Appeal Case No. C082994); Central Delta Water Agency, et al. v. Delta Stewardship Council et al. (Sacramento County Superior Court JCCP No. 4758) (Third District Court of Appeal Case No. C082994); North Coast Rivers Alliance, et al. v. Delta Stewardship Council et al. (Sacramento County Superior Court JCCP No. 4758) (Third District Court of Appeal Case No.C082994); San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Agency et al. v. Delta Stewardship Council et al. (Sacramento County Superior Court JCCP No. 4758) (Third District Court of Appeal Case No. C082994); Save the California Delta Alliance v. Delta Stewardship Council et al. (Sacramento County Superior Court JCCP No. 4758) (Third District Court of Appeal Case No. C082994)
        4. California Sportfishing Protection Alliance et al. vs. California State Water Resources Control Board, et al., Alameda County Superior Court, Case No. RG15780498 (State WQCP/TUCP) (2015 TUCP Orders)
        5. North Coast Rivers Alliance et al. v. U.S. Department of the Interior et al., United States District Court, Eastern District of California, Case No. 1:16-cv-00307-DAD-SKO (2016-2018 Interim Renewal Contract EA)
        6. Natural Resources Defense Council et al. v. Bernhardt et al., United States District Court, Eastern District of California, Case No. 1:05-cv-01207-DAD-EPG (2005 DMC Contract Renewals Litigation)
        7. City of Fresno, et al. v. United States, United States Court of Federal Claims, Case No. 1:16-cv-01276-EDK (Friant Takings Suit)
        8. North Coast Rivers Alliance v. Delta Stewardship Council, Sacramento County Superior Court, Case No. 34-2018-80002898; Central Delta Water Agency v. Delta Stewardship Council, Sacramento County Superior Court, Case No. 34-2018-80002900; Friends of the River v. Delta Stewardship Council, Sacramento County Superior Court, Case No. 34-2018-80002901; California Water Impact Network v. Delta Stewardship Council, Sacramento County Superior Court, Case No. 34-2018-80002904 (Delta Plan Amendment Litigation)
        9. State Water Board Cases, Sacramento County Superior Court Case No. JCCP 5013 (formally Westlands Water District v. State Water Resources Control Board, Fresno County Superior Court, Case No. 19CECG00165) (WQCP Phase 1 Litigation)
        10. North Coast Rivers Alliance et al. v. Department of Water Resources, Sacramento County Superior Court Case No. 34-2019-80003057 (COA Addendum-WaterFix No Harm Litigation)
        11. People of the State of California v. Westlands Water District, Shasta County Superior Court, Case No. 192487; on appeal in the Third Appellate District Case No. C091940 (Public Resources Code Section 5093.542)
        12. North Coast Rivers Alliance et al. v. Westlands Water District, Shasta County Superior Court, Case No. 192958; on appeal in the Third Appellate District (appellate case number pending) (Public Resources Code Section 5093.542)
        13. Westlands Water District v. All Persons Interested in the Matter of the Contract Between the United States and Westlands Water District Providing Project Water Service, San Luis Unit and Delta Division and Facilities Repayment, Fresno County Superior Court, Case No. 19CECG03887 (Validation Action). Related Appeals:

          Westlands Water District v. County of San Joaquin et al., Fifth Appellate District, Case No. F081181; Westlands Water District v. California Water Impact Network et al., Fifth Appellate District, Case No. F0801182; Westlands Water District v. North Coast Rivers Alliance et al., Fifth Appellate District, Case No. F081174
        14. Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Association et al. v. Ross et al., United States District Court, Eastern District of California, Case No. 1:20-CV-00431-DAD-EPG (2019 ROC on LTO NGO Litigation)
        15. California Natural Resources Agency et al. v. Ross et al., United States District Court, Eastern District of California, Case No. 1:20-cv-00426-DAD-EPG (2020 ROC on LTO AG Litigation)
        16. Mound Farms v. California Department of General Services et al., Yolo County Superior Court, Case No. PT19-2766 (Yolo Ranch CEQA Challenge)
        17. James Irrigation District v. Westlands Water District, Kern County Superior Court, Case No. BCV-20-101432 (Challenge to MPG 20-Year Exchange Program)
        18. Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Docket Nos. ER20-2878-000 et al. (PG&E Wholesale Distribution Tariff Proceedings)
  14. Report from Closed Session, if any, Required by Government Code Section 54957.1
  15. Adjournment

Order of Business

The order of business reflected in this Agenda is subject to change.

Accessibility

A person with a qualifying disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 may request the District provide a disability-related modification or accommodation in order to facilitate that person’s participation in any public meeting of the District.  Such assistance includes appropriate alternative formats for the agendas and agenda packets used for any public meetings of the District.  Requests for such assistance may be made in person at the District’s Fresno office, which is located at 3130 N. Fresno St., Fresno, California, by telephone (559-225-1523), facsimile (559-241-6277), or written correspondence addressed to Westlands Water District, Attn: Karen Clark, P.O. Box 6056, Fresno, California 93703.  Notifications of at least 48 hours prior to the meeting will assist staff in assuring that reasonable arrangements can be made.

Document Availability

Written material related to an item on this agenda that is distributed less than 72 hours prior to this meeting to at least a majority of the members of the legislative body will be available for inspection during normal business hours at the District’s Fresno office, which is located at 3130 N. Fresno Street, Fresno, California.

Written material distributed during a public meeting will be available for public inspection at the meeting, if prepared by the local agency or a member of its legislative body, or after the meeting if prepared by some other person.

“I, Original Signed by District Secretary, declare that the foregoing agenda for the October 20, 2020 regular meeting of the Westlands Water District Board of Directors was posted on October 16, 2020, at the District’s Fresno Office, 3130 N. Fresno Street, Fresno, CA 93703, at the District’s Five Points Field Office, 23050 W. Mt. Whitney Avenue, Five Points, CA 93624, and on the District’s website and was available for public inspection.”