REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on the Appointment of Councilmember Debi Davis 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.
At the January 29, 2019 City Council meeting, the Council appointed Councilmember Debi Davis to serve the remainder of former Councilmember Patrick Kolstad’s term on the Board of Directors for BAWSCA and RFA, which expires on June 30, 2019.
Section 81336 of Assembly Bill No. 2058 (Attachment 1) allows the City of Santa Clara 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 beginning July 1, 2019 and ending on June 30, 2023. Per the attached letter from BAWSCA (Attachment 2), the appointee must be a resident of, and a registered voter in, the City of Santa Clara and he or she may, but need not, be a member of the City Council.
DISCUSSION
Councilmember Davis is well positioned to understand current water related issues with her holding the positions of Chair on the Santa Clara Valley Water Commission, Vice Chair on San Jose/Santa Clara Treatment Plant Advisory Committee (TPAC), Member on the San Jose/Santa Clara Clean Water Financing Authority; 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 Davis to the BAWSCA Board and the RFA Board effective July 1, 2019, so that a quorum of both boards can be ensured and the City of Santa Clara is continuously represented.
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 additional cost to the City other than administrative time and expense.
COORDINATION
This report was coordinated with the City Manager’s Office and the Water and Sewer Utilities Department.
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 Debi Davis 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)
Staff
Reviewed by: Walter C. Rossmann, Chief Operating Officer
Approved by: Deanna J. Santana, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Assembly Bill No. 2058
2. April 16, 2019 Letter from BAWSCA