PURPOSE

We are asking the City Council, by Resolution, to approve and authorize the General Manager of Burbank Water and Power to execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Coordination of Water Resources Planning Relating to Proposition 50 Grant Funding and Implementation between the City of Burbank and various other governmental agencies (collectively �Parties�) of the Greater Los Angeles County Region. 

Under the MOU, the Parties agree to coordinate, share information, and have open communication concerning water resources management planning programs and projects and other information for Proposition 50 grant funding and implementation.  The coordination and information sharing among the Parties, including the preparation and adoption of a Greater Los Angeles County Region Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRMWP), will assist all stakeholders in Los Angeles County in achieving their respective missions in a cost-effective and environmentally responsive manner and is necessary in order to compete for state funding under Proposition 50.  In addition, the Parties agree to form a Regional Water Management Group for the Greater Los Angeles County Region, and to prepare and adopt a Greater Los Angeles County Region IRWMP in accordance with the Integrated Regional Water Management Planning Act of 2002, including Section 10541 of the California Water Code. 

The purpose of the IRWMP is to address water supply, water quality, and open space needs in the Los Angeles County Region in an integrated fashion, and is consistent with the objectives of the City of Burbank and Burbank Water and Power (BWP) for the development of water resources, use of recycled water, improvements to the water reclamation plant and conservation.

BACKGROUND

Proposition 50, the Water Supply - Water Security, Clean Drinking Water, Coastal and Beach Protection Act (�the Act�), a statewide ballot approved by the voters in 2002, added Division 26.5 to the state Water Code.  Chapter 8 of the Act established the Integrated Regional Water Management Grant Program (Program) that is jointly administered by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB).  The intent of the Program is to encourage the development of integrated regional water resource management plans to provide funding, through competitive grants, for integrated projects that protect communities from drought, protect and improve water quality, and improve local water security by reducing dependence on imported water. 

Under Proposition 50 Chapter 8, approximately $380 million of funding is available on a competitive basis.  Of the total funding, approximately $12 million is available for the development of Integrated Regional Water Management Plans (IRWMPs), and $368 million is available (in two funding rounds) for regional projects that integrate water supply, water conservation, water quality, habitat restoration/protection and recreation/open space. 

In response to the release of the Program guidelines in 2004, six groups within Los Angeles County submitted grant applications in May 2005 for the development of an IRWMP.  The six groups include: 1) Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission; 2) City of Los Angeles; 3) Watershed Conservation Authority; 4) Upper San Gabriel Basin Municipal Water District; 5) West Basin Municipal Water District; and, 6) City of Downey.  Based on review of the applications, DWR recommended funding only one application in the amount of $500,000 � the Watershed Conservation Authority�s.  In response, representatives from the other groups worked together with DWR and the SWRCB and suggested to expand the funding pool in order to provide funds for additional applications.  DWR responded by proposing a single grant of $1.5 million, on the condition that the six original applicants prepare a single consolidated plan for the entire area. 

The six applicants accepted DWR�s proposal and formed the Greater Los Angeles County Region (Region), comprised of the following five sub-regions: 1) South Bay Watersheds; 2) North Santa Monica Bay Watersheds; 3) Upper Los Angeles River Watershed; 4) Lower San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers Watersheds; and,

5) Upper San Gabriel River and Rio Hondo Watersheds.  Spanning from Ventura County to Orange County, the Region encompasses 92 cities representing over 9 million people and 2,200 square miles.  In November 2005, the Region hired Brown & Caldwell, a consulting firm, along with sub-consultants, to develop the Greater Los Angeles County Region IRWMP. 

An interim governance structure has been formed consisting of a Steering Committee for each sub-region, and a Leadership Committee that serves as the overarching decision-making body for the entire Region.  LADWP serves as the Chair for the Upper Los Angeles River Watershed sub-region and also holds a seat on the Leadership Committee.  The Los Angeles County Flood Control District currently serves as the Chair for the Leadership Committee.  BWP also serves on the Steering Committee and combined with Glendale Water and Power share a vote.  

Many meetings and workshops have taken place during 2006 to plan and develop the IRWMP and to prepare an implementation grant application for the first round of Proposition 50 Chapter 8 funding.  All cities and pertinent stakeholders in the Region have been invited to participate and provide input on the development of the IRWMP.  Because of the size and complexity of the Region, an important goal has been to develop a transparent process that fosters open communication, collaboration, and trust among the many stakeholders. 

In July 2006, the Region submitted an implementation grant application for the first round of project funding in the amount of $25 million.  The first round projects have been competitively selected from the projects originally proposed in 2004 by the agencies previously mentioned.  Burbank did not have any project applications submitted in 2004.   DWR expects to announce preliminary funding recommendations in November 2006.  Proposition 50, Chapter 8 guidelines require that regions adopt a final IRWMP by January 1, 2007 to be eligible for round one funding.  The second round of project funding is tentatively scheduled for mid-2007. 

Through a collaborative process with input from the five sub-regional Steering Committees and participants at the various stakeholder workshops, the Leadership Committee developed the following mission statement for the IRWMP: 

The Mission of this IRWMP is �to address the water resources needs of the Region in an integrated and collaborative manner.�

Consistent with the requirements of Proposition 50, the purpose of the IRWMP is to improve water supplies, enhance water supply reliability, improve surface water quality, preserve flood protection, conserve habitat, and expand recreational access in the Region. 

In order to prepare and adopt the IRWMP, Proposition 50 requires the formation of a Regional Water Management Group for the Region.  This MOU fulfills the requirement of forming a Regional Water Management Group and commits BWP to working cooperatively with the other stakeholders in the Region as the IRWMP is developed and ultimately adopted. 

ANALYSIS

BWP did not participate in the Proposition 50 round one funding. However, BWP has participated in the IRWMP process in 2006 and has submitted six projects to be considered for round two funding. A short description of the BWP projects are attached (Appendix A).

In order to be eligible to receive funding from Proposition 50 or other Propositions on the November Ballot, BWP needs to participate in regional projects that integrate water supply, water conservation, water quality, habitat restoration/protection and recreation/open space. The state is increasingly looking at collaboration and integration when awarding funds, without this there is very little chance of successfully receiving state funds through Proposition 50 or other initiatives.  

FISCAL IMPACT

There is no fiscal impact to BWP or the City of Burbank.

RECOMMENDATION

BWP staff recommends that the City Council adopt the proposed Resolution approving and authorizing execution of the MOU.  If the Council concurs, the appropriate action would be a motion to adopt the Resolution entitled �A Resolution of the Council of the City of Burbank Approving and Authorizing Execution of a Memorandum of Understanding for Coordination of Water Resources Planning Relating to Proposition 50 Grant Funding and Implementation between the City of Burbank and various other governmental agencies.�

Attachment

WOM:ll

M:\Clerical\advisory board\staff reports\Prop 50\Water Resource Planning - Prop 50 11-21-06.doc

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