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Home My WebLink About02/21/24 WATER BOARD SPECIALMb BAKERSFIELD THE SOUND OF 5w4evli+ty �13e0ey MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE WATER BOARD - CITY OF BAKERSFIELD Wednesday, February 21, 2024 - 10:00 a.m. Water Resources Conference Room 1000 Buena Vista Rd., Bakersfield, CA 93311 CALL TO ORDER Chairman Smith called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. 2. ROLL CALL Present: Chairman Smith, Member Freeman, Absent: Member Gonzales 3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS — Non -agenda item: Dennis Fox spoke briefly regarding a northern California reservoir issue. 4. MINUTES A. Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of August 16, 2023. Motion by Member Freeman to approve the Minutes of August 16, 2023. APPROVED WITH MEMBER GONZALES ABSENT 5. KERN RIVER LEVEE DISTRICT - None 6. REPORTS A. Water Resources Monthly Report — December 2023 Kristina Budak, Water Resources Director, displayed Water Resources Monthly Newsletter on the conference room screen. Ms. Budak highlighted work completed by Water Resources staff on the Carrier Canal, Mill Creek annual maintenance, Engineering division projects, and Domestic division conservation numbers. Member Freeman asked for clarification on the domestic water graphs and requested more data regarding per capita, showing growth, and problem areas. Bakersfield, California, February 21, 2024 — Page 2 REPORTS (continued) B. 2023 Kern River Recap and 2024 Kern River & Isabella Reservoir Operations Report Solomon Sackett, Water Planner, and Joshua Tristian, Engineering Technician, presented on behalf of Hydrographic Supervisor, Miguel Chavez who was unable to attend. Mr. Sackett covered two comparisons for 2023 water year runoff and impact for the City of Bakersfield. Displaying graphs on the screen, first comparison of last year's historic water -year and 4 other wettest water years dating back to 1894. Last year resulted in the fourth wettest year on record with a total runoff from October 2022 to September 2023 of approximately 2.3 million acre feet (acft) or 320% of the historical average with 100% average runoff which is approximately 740,000 acft. The second comparison was shared of the last 5 years which showed going into water year 2022-2023 the prior three years were dry including the second driest year on record in 2020- 2021. Displaying a third graph, Mr. Sackett explained the impact to the City of Bakersfield to have a historic water year. During water year 2022-2023, the city accrued approximately 491,000 acft, the most ever for the city since its acquisition of Kern River rights in 1976. A large majority of city water was utilized for ground water recharge. Approximately 43% of the city's supply was recharged either in the Kern River or in the City's 2800 Acres. In addition, the City recharged 13,000 acft in City facilities such as Park at Riverwalk, Truxtun Lake and Aera Park. The City also delivered 12,000 acft of water to treatment plants, sold 186,000 acft of water to long term contractors and carried over approximately 53,000 acft into the winter season. Mr. Tristian explained the status of the watershed and current Kern River operations. The first graph representing the watershed is a graph of eight - sensor index for the year as well as last year's snow sensor index. Included in the graph was the wettest year on record 1982-1983 with 339% April -July period and last year's 2022-2023 with a 344% April -July. Also shown on the chart was 100% of April -July average, the driest year on record 2014-2015 with 13%, and 2023-2024. Started out the year below average with minimal snow activity. January saw storms but the pattern was still trending towards a dry year. February has boosted the outlook for the year as atmospheric rivers have made an impact on the watershed. An early February storm increased snow water content by almost 5 inches. Shortly after the storm, DWR released its Bulletin 120 report and are forecasting 89% normal runoff for the April -July period. Since that last report, another storm has increased snow water content by 2 inches. DWR will be publishing their next report in 2 '/2 weeks. Mr. Tristan displayed a second graph representing Kern River and Isabella Reservoir operations for water year 2023-2024. The water year starts in October 2023 and ends September 2024. Included in the chart was the gross capacity of Lake Isabella of 589,075 acft and outflow form Lake Isabella of 413 CFS. The start of the water year has shown above normal runoff operations due to some of the high -altitude snow form last year has Bakersfield, California, February 21, 2024 — Page 3 REPORTS (continued) kept the Kern River Inflow above the historical average. Current inflow to Isabella is 1,741 CFS and storage level at Isabella is 223,111 acft. As the snow starts to melt and irrigation demands increase, we anticipate seeing an increase to all three components. Chairman Smith inquired to the frequency of DWR's Bulletin 120 release. to which staff responded. Motion by Member Freeman to Receive and File Report. APPROVED WITH MEMBER GONZALES ABSENT C. Report on Turf Replacement Daniel Maldonado, Water Resources Assistant Director, stated 2022 was the third consecutive dry year. June 2022, Governor Newsome issued an executive order prohibiting the watering of non-functional turf in commercial, industrial, and government sites. As a result, the City of Bakersfield expanded its existing residential turf replacement rebate program to include commercial and industrial customers. Mr. Maldonado highlighted turf replacement projects, Rosedale Hwy project, Stockdale Hwy project, and Water Resources Building project. Completed Parks and Recreation Rosedale Hwy project removed 44,000 square feet (sq ft) of turf and replaced it with drought tolerant landscape. Completed Parks and Recreation Stockdale Hwy project of 8 select medians along Stockdale Hwy removed 9,352 sq ft of turf and replaced it with drought tolerant landscape. Member Freeman inquired about future maintenance. Staff informed the board members Parks and Recreation would continue to maintain the medians. The current Water Resources Building project will remove 28,500 sq ft of non-functional turf and replace it will drought tolerant landscape. The goal of Water Resources is to show multiple designs of xeriscape and drought tolerant landscapes and utilize as an educational tool for the public. Member Freeman inquired about the funding of the project, to which Mr. Maldonado responded the project would be funded by Water Resources operations budget, rebates, and ARPA grant funds. In addition to the landscape around the Water Resources building, Parks and Recreation identified 89,000 sq ft of medians in the surrounding area to include in the project as well. Projects are designed to promote drought tolerant landscapes to residents and businesses in hopes they will take advantage of rebate programs being offered. Anticipated completion date is Spring 2024. Motion by Member Freeman to Receive and File Report. APPROVED WITH MEMBER GONZALES ABSENT 7. HEARINGS — None 1 E.*: Bakersfield, California, February 21, 2024 — Page 4 NEW BUSINESS A. Resolution setting Domestic Water Availability Fee for service areas of the City of Bakersfield Domestic Water system Daniel Maldonado, Assistant Water Resources Director, presented a proposed resolution to increase the Water Availability Fee within the City of Bakersfield Domestic Water system. Mr. Maldonado explained that Water Availability Fees are a one-time fee charged to new connections to pay for their proportional share water service facilities that are a requirement to enable the continued growth and development of areas serviced by the City of Bakersfield Domestic Water system. Fees are used to compensate the City for the expense incurred in furnishing source, storage and water distribution facilities, and related capital project expenses. Mr. Madonado shared the fee's history which began in 1982 with the basis of the fee recalculated in 2006 and has since been escalated utilizing the Engineering News Report Annual Construction Cost Index for the Los Angeles region in accordance with the Bakersfield Municipal Code Section 15.84.030. The latest increase was approved by the City Council in October 2021. Referencing Exhibit A of the draft resolution, Mr. Maldonado explained how the fee was calculated. The current Water Availability Fee is $6,543 per gross acre. The new proposed free to be set at $7,334 per gross acre which is a 12.09% increase. Staff requests the Water Board approve the resolution to be forwarded to the full City Council for adoption at the public hearing scheduled on March 27, 2024. Member Freeman confirmed usage of the Los Angeles cost index not actual costs in the calculation of the new fee and asked for clarification to which growth projects are paid with Water Availability Fees. Mr. Maldonado, with the assistance of Tylor Hester, Domestic Water Superintendent, explained the types of projects included. Member Freeman asked for a comparison of similar cites nearby to see how the City compares in cost prior to going before the full City Council. Motion by Member Freeman to approve the resolution be forwarded to the full City Council for adoption at the public hearing scheduled on March 27, 2024. APPROVED WITH MEMBER GONZALES ABSENT B. Proposed 2024 Water Board Meeting Calendar Kristina Budak, Water Resources Director, reviewed proposed calendar of six total meetings, every other month of 2024. Ms. Budak also indicated that Member Gonzales had expressed a desire to have the meetings at noon instead of 10 a.m. Chairman Smith and Member Freeman agreed to the change of time. Motion by Member Freeman to approve the 2024 Water Board Meeting Calendar with the changes discussed. APPROVED WITH CHANGES AS DISCUSSED. 9. WATER BOARD STATEMENTS — None Bakersfield, California, February 21, 2024 — Page 5 10. CLOSED SESSION —None 11. CLOSED SESSION ACTION — None 12. ADJOURNMENT Chairman Smith adjourned the meeting at 10:42 a.m. Bob Smith, Chairman City of Bakersfield Water Board Kiniberly Alemaln, Secretary City of Bakersfield Water Board 1 1