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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES NO 65-75RESOLUTION NO. . 65-75 A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAKERSFIELD CERTIFYING THE ADEQUACY, ACCURACY AND OBJECTIVITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT RE USE AND DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY AND WATER RIGHTS ACQUIRED BY THE CITY OF BAKERSFIELD FROM TENNECO WEST, INC. IN SETTLEMENT OF LITIGATION, THE EVALUATION OF SAID REPORT, FINDINGS THEREOF, AND THE APPROVAL OF THE PROJECT DESCRIBED THEREIN. WHEREAS, the City of Bakersfield, Tenneco West, Inc., Kern Island Water Company, and Kern River Canal and Irrigating Company have on July 30, 1973, agreed to settle an existing law- suit between the parties, said lawsuit being Kern County SUperior Court Case No. 111404, wherein the City of Bakersfield would acquire all of the assets and water rights owned or controlled by the said Tenneco Companies in return for a compromise payment of $17.9 million dollars; and WHEREAS, the City's Water and Growth Committee, City Staff, City's consultants, have proposed a project which would produce sufficient revenue to enable the City to liquidate the settlement compromise payment; and WHEREAS, a draft Environmental Impact Report for said project was prepared and submitted to the Planning Commission and published and circulated dated April 15, 1974; and WHEREAS, the plan for use and disposition of property and water rights as presented in the April 15, 1974, draft Environ- mental Impact Report has been substantially revised; and WHEREAS, a new draft Environmental Impact Report was prepared and circulated and published dated July 14, 1975; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission of the City of Bakers- field held a public hearing on August 18, 1975, for the purpose of reviewing and receiving coff~f~ents on the draft Environmental Impact Report; and WHEREAS, several public agencies requested additional time to submit comments to the Planning Commission at the Planning Commission public hearing; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission granted a time ex. tension to and including September 8, 1975, for the submission of additional comments concerning the draft Environmental Impact Report; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission at an adjourned regular meeting on October 3, 1975, accepted the final Environmental Impact Report dated September 29, 1975, containing all comments and responses thereto; and WHEREAS, Said"Planning Commission at said meeting recom- mended to the City Council that the final Environmental Impact Report be certified as being in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act and State Resources Guidelines thereof; and WHEREAS, the final Environmental Impact Report was schedu~ d to be heard and considered during the regular meeting-of the City Council on October 6, 1975. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAKERSFIELD AS FOLLOWS: 1. That the Final Environmental Impact Report dated September 29, 1975, prepared by Thomas M. Stetson, Civil and Consulting Engineer, has been completed in compliance with the Cali- 'fornia Environmental Quality Act, the State EIR Guidelines and City of Bakersfield Resolution No. 10-75 and this City Council has reviewed and considered the information contained in the Final Environmental Impact Report. 2. The Final Environmental Impact Report is an accurate and objective discussion of the proposed project and adequately discusses and describes all of the environmental considerations which need to be considered prior to the evaluation or approval of the proposed project. 3. The project is not anticipated to cause any change in the type of use of Kern River water, and there should not be any significant impact on the groundwater basin as a whole, however, locally there will be adverse impact in areas formerly served Kern River water and beneficial effects will accrue to the contracting districts that previously have not received Kern River water. 4. The project will not have an adverse salt balance impact on the groundwater basin of the Southern San Joaquin Valley and will be in conformance with the recommendations of the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. 5. The project will not have an immediate or intermediate effect on urban growth but will provide a long-term supply of water for the City if urban growth takes place. 6. The implementation of the City's project could create an adverse effect in certain portions-of the Southern San Joaquin Valley by causing increased groundwater extractions which will result in increased energy use in those areas and will aggravate an already adverse salt balance in those localized areas. 7. In general, the depth to groundwater in the areas of the four contracting districts is greater than in the areas which were formerly served Kern River water. Therefore, the project will produce a net savings in energy required for pumping groundwater. 8. The proposed project is environmentally more desir- able than the alternatives which were considered.. 9. The proposed project will provide long-termbenefits for the City by providing the City with a supply of water in order to meet its long-termneeds. 10. The project would provide water in the interim for agricultural production and will help achieve a more balanced water supply for the eastern side of the Southern San Joaquin Valley area. 11. The project will aid in reducing an adverse salt balance in the Eastern Southern San Joaquin Valley Area and will allow maximum re-use of natural Kern River water. 12. The proposed project will not have a significant effect on the environment of the Southern San Joaquin Valley. 13. The proposed project contains social, economic and environmental benefits which outweigh any environmental risk associated therewith as enumerated herein. In consideration of the above findings as determined by this body, the City Council approves the project described in the final Environmental Impact Report and authorizes the staff and consultants to begin preparation of all documents necessary to com- plete the project and to submit said documents to the City Council for further action. o0o I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted by the Council of the City of Bakersfield at a regular meeting thereof held on the 6th day of October, 1975, by the follow- ing vote: AYES: COUNCILMEN BARTON, BLEECKER, CHRISTENSEN, MEDDERS,-!II, SCEALES, STRONG NOES: COUNCILMEN: ABS~.NT COUNCILMEN: ^JSTA~.mG COUNCILMEN: APPROVED ~ this 6th .e 'City'-bf Bakersfield Council of the C~Bakerl~field the of October, 1975 APPROVED as t( form: k f CITY ATTORNEY of t~~ City of Ba ers ield