REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on the Appointment of Councilmember Karen Hardy to the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) and the San Francisco Bay Area Regional Water System Financing Authority (RFA)
Report
BACKGROUND
Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) is a special district that provides regional water supply planning, resource development, and conservation program services for 26 cities, water districts, and private utilities in the Counties of Santa Clara, San Mateo, and Alameda. BAWSCA’s member agencies purchase water wholesale from the San Francisco regional water system and provide water service to 1.8 million residents and over 40,000 commercial, industrial, and institutional accounts.
The San Francisco Bay Area Regional Water System Financing Authority (RFA) is a regional organization that raises money to fund capital improvements to the San Francisco regional water system and to protect the health, safety and economic wellbeing of the residents, businesses, and community organizations that depend on the system.
DISCUSSION
At the January 31, 2023 Council meeting, Mayor Lisa Gillmor recommended the appointment of Councilmember Karen Hardy to serve the calendar year of 2023 for the Board of Directors for BAWSCA and RFA. The Council voted to approve the appointment for the calendar year.
The current four-year term of Councilmember Karen Hardy on the Board of Directors of the Bay Area Water Supply & Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) will end on June 30, 2023, as will her term on the Bay Area Regional Water System Financing Authority (RFA).
The enabling acts for both special districts allow the city to reappoint its director for an unlimited number of terms or to appoint a new director at the end of each term. The appointment will be for a four-year term. While BAWSCA and RFA are special districts, they are not a Joint Powers Authority (JPA); therefore, the term and duty is independent of the appointee’s home agency. The appointment will be for a four-year term beginning July 1, 2023 and ending on June 30, 2027. Per the attached letter from BAWSCA (Attachment 1), the appointee must be a resident of, and a registered voter in, the City of Santa Clara and may, but need not, be a member of the City Council.
Councilmember Hardy’s elected term for Councilmember is expected to end in December 2026, she could continue to serve in the BAWSCA appointment as a resident of Santa Clara. The Council may revisit this prior to her term end and consider options to appoint another representative under the BAWSCA appointment criteria.
Councilmember Hardy is well positioned to support and represent Santa Clara on water related issues by holding the current positions of Commission Chair on the Santa Clara Valley Water Commission, Member of the San Jose/Santa Clara Treatment Plant Advisory Committee (TPAC), Member on the Joint Recycled Water Policy Advisory Committee, and Director on both the BAWSCA and RFA Board of Directors.
It is recommended that the Council appoint Councilmember Hardy to the BAWSCA Board and the RFA Board effective July 1, 2023, so that a quorum of both boards can be ensured.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(a) as it has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the City other than staff time.
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the Mayor and Council Office and Water & Sewer Utilities.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov> or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Appoint Councilmember Karen Hardy to serve as representative on the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) and the San Francisco Bay Area Regional Water System Financing Authority (RFA) for a term beginning July 1, 2023 ending on June 30, 2027.
Staff
Reviewed by: Maria Le, Assistant to the City Manager, Mayor and Council Offices
Approved by: Office of the City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. January 26, 2023 Letter from BAWSCA