MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING

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CITY COUNCIL

CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

220 EAST MOUNTAIN VIEW STREET BARSTOW, CA 92311 SEPTEMBER 10, 2020 5:00 PM (HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE)

MINUTES

SPECIAL MEETING

PARTICIPATION IS INVITED: IF YOU WISH TO BE HEARD ON ANY ITEM ON THE AGENDA

INCLUDING ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR, PLEASE SO INDICATE BY FILLING OUT A “REQUEST TO SPEAK” FORM AND HAND TO THE CITY CLERK. IF SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS ARE REQUIRED, 48 HOURS NOTICE MUST BE GIVEN TO THE CITY CLERK.

CALL TO ORDER:

MAYOR HACKBARH-MCINTYRE called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:

MAYOR HACKBARH-MCINTYRE led the Pledge of Allegiance.

ROLL CALL:

Attendee Name Title Status Arrived

James M. Noble Council Member Present Carmen Hernandez Mayor Pro Tem Present Timothy Silva Council Member Present Julie Hackbarth-McIntyre Mayor Present Vacant Council Member Vacant

CODE OF ETHICS: AS YOUR ELECTED GOVERNING BOARD WE WILL REMEMBER THE "CODE OF

ETHICS" THAT WE VOLUNTARILY AND UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. DURING THIS MEETING WE WILL TREAT EACH OTHER AND THE PUBLIC WITH PATIENCE, CIVILITY AND COURTESY. THE DECISIONS MADE TONIGHT WILL BE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BARSTOW COMMUNITY AND NOT FOR

PERSONAL GAIN.

PRESENTATIONS:

1. MOJAVE WATER AGENCY PRESENTATION Recommended Action:

Presentation only.

MAYOR HACKBARH-MCINTYRE introduced Mojave Water Agency (MWA) Representative for Barstow JEANETTE HAYHURST.

- Gave an overview of what would be addressed in the presentation. - Discussed a prior lawsuit involving Barstow and other local agencies.

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- Noted that rate increases would not be discussed.

- Explained they just want to educate Barstow's residents and explained this was a complicated issue.

- Encouraged the public to ask any questions or state any concerns they might have. - Stated they are here to educate the public on what was fact and what was fiction. PRINCIPAL HYDROGEOLOGIST FOR MOJAVE WATER AGENCY TONY WINKEL - Introduced himself and explained his credentials.

- Explained where the water in the Mojave River comes from.

- Noted the watershed was based on topography, noting the direction of water flow defined the watershed.

- Stated the Mojave River watershed was on the northwest corner of the San Bernardino mountains to the east of the Cajon Pass and west of the Big Bear area. This was where most of the water on the Mojave River originates.

- Mentioned that approximately 2/3 of the water comes from the Deep Creek side and approximately 1/3 comes from the West Fork side of the watershed. Also noted that the other 1/3 was broken down in two parts and came from Silverwood Lake.

- Noted that Silverwood Lake was part of the California State Water Project.

- Explained that the State Water Project delivered water from Northern California to the Central Valley and Southern California, adding that Silverwood Lake was part of the system on the California Aqueduct.

- Mentioned this was significant because Silverwood Lake was not filled with natural inflow from the San Bernardino mountains and was filled with water from the State Water Project.

- Explained the function of the Mojave River Dam.

- Explained what groundwater was and how it recharges both naturally and artificially.

- Mentioned the Mojave River Pipeline was constructed from 1996 - 2006 for an approximate cost of $70million. The pipeline was almost entirely grant funded and delivers imported water to Barstow area aquifers.

QUESTIONS:

COUNCIL MEMBER SILVA

- Asked about the City's last major water flow build up in 2010 and if there are predictions on when the next one will occur.

PRINCIPAL HYDROGEOLOGIST FOR THE MOJAVE WATER AGENCY TONY WILKEL - Explained another water flow build up is due since they occur every 10 - 15 years.

- Discussed the water flow in 2019 stating it was a significant event, but not like prior years. - Explained that significant groundwater recharge events occur after experiencing water flow on the river for a couple of weeks.

MAYOR PRO TEM HERNANDEZ

- Asked what the City’s water usage was, where the water was coming from, and who was using it.

- Stated that based on MWA’s information, Hesperia was not using Barstow’s water.

- Noted the public was concerned that Hesperia was developing housing while Barstow was not and the City was concerned that Hesperia was using Barstow's water supply.

PRINCIPAL HYDROGEOLOGIST FOR MOJAVE WATER AGENCY TONY WINKEL

- Noted that once every five years, the MWA updates the Urban Water Management Plan which addresses water supply, how much water Barstow has and population projections.

- Mentioned they were required to show a 20-year planning horizon but they were trying to show a 50-year planning horizon on water supply.

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COUNCIL MEMBER NOBLE

- Noted he did not understand why the majority of the City's water supply comes from Northern California and instead of Southern California where there was significant rainfall.

PRINCIPAL HYDROGEOLOGIST FOR MOJAVE WATER AGENCY TONY WINKEL - Explained Northern California was where the imported supply came from.

- Mentioned that it rained more in other areas of Southern California compared to Barstow which was located in an area known as a rain shadow effect.

- Noted that Barstow’s natural water supply comes from rainfall in the San Bernardino mountains that flowed down the Mojave River. Also noted that part of Barstow’s water supply had already been exceeded by other High Desert populations.

- Stated that Barstow had two artificial water recharge sites.

SENIOR WATERMASTER SPECIALIST FOR THE MOJAVE BASIN AREA WATERMASTER EMMET CAMPBELL

- Explained the adjudication process regarding Barstow’s water supply. - Stated that adjudication was the process and the judgment was the result.

- Explained that the purpose of adjudication was to regulate the amount of water being pumped, assign water production rights, ensure fairness and transparency and maintain a certain water supply.

- Explained the reasons for adjudication of the Mojave Basin Area which has been overdraft since the 1950's

- Explained in the 1990's Barstow filed a lawsuit against all upstream pumpers.

- Noted the Barstow lawsuit claimed the development and pumping in the Victor Valley area had reduced their water supply, requested a guaranteed amount of flow from the upstream subarea, and requested that the Mojave Water Agency be required to import water.

- Mentioned that as a result, the Watermaster was formed and made up of five distinct subareas. The Watermaster assigned a water production right to pumpers, created a procedure to balance pumping with supplies, established downstream obligations, and created a water rights transfer market in all subareas.

- Explained the organizational roles for the Mojave Water Agency and the Mojave Basin Area Watermaster in the judgment.

- Mentioned the elements of water production rights, replacement, and make-up obligations.

QUESTIONS:

COUNCIL MEMBER SILVA

- Stated that the presentation was very educational. Asked who to contact if additional water needed to be purchased as a result of too much pumping.

- Asked if water that was once used from the Odessa Water District to irrigate the golf course could be sold if not being used.

- Explained that water transfers were typically done among people who know each other within the subareas. Transferred require board approval and were also recorded/reported.

- Noted that water not being pumped or used could be sold by the City.

- Also stated the preproduction allowance could be carried over for one year before being forfeited.

MAYOR PRO TEM HERNANDEZ - Requested a copy of the presentation.

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acre feet and their allowance was 10,000.

- Mentioned that Golden State Water’s total production allowance for this year was 10,806 acres. COUNCIL MEMBER NOBLE

- Asked if there was a fee associated with the replacement obligation and what would happen if this fee was not paid.

- Mentioned if more water was pumped than the preproduction allowed, there was an option to transfer un-pumped water from another party within the subarea that was willing to sell to another party that needs it.

- Mentioned that there was no charge to transfer since it was a private transaction between the two parties, but the cost was posted online.

- Stated that water could be imported through the aqueduct for a fee. - Explained that the court controls the Watermaster.

MAYOR HACKBARH-MCINTYRE

- Thanked MWA for the presentation. Also asked if Golden State Water sold any water the City did not use.

- Asked if the City was still charged the same amount even if residents did not use the water and how the process works.

- Asked about the status of the purple pipe project and grants available for the City.

- Responded that Golden State Water transferred the water Barstow did not use.

- Explained Golden State Water had production rights and they had a free production allowance. REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE MOJAVE WATER AGENCY JEANETTE HAYHURST

- Explained Golden State Water owned the water rights and the City could use those rights as a selling tool to bring in more manufacturing.

- Noted the Mojave Water Agency set the price of $600 per acre-foot.

- Addressed the purple pipe project stating that Barstow did not want water recycled by the Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority.

- She also encouraged the City to pursue feasible grant opportunities and encouraged the public to contact MWA for any questions or concerns regarding the water supply.

RESULT: PRESENTATION ONLY

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

NONE

REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA:

RESULT: APPROVED [4-0-1-0]

MOVER: Timothy Silva, Council Member SECONDER: Carmen Hernandez, Mayor Pro Tem

AYES: Noble, Hernandez, Silva, Hackbarth-McIntyre ABSENT/VACANT: One

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BUSINESS ACTION ITEMS:

2. PLACEMENT AND DEDICATION OF A PARK BENCH IN MEMORY OF SELENA WILLIAMS Recommended Action:

Authorize the placement and dedication of a park bench at Sturnacle Park in honor of Selena Williams.

RESULT: APPROVED [4-0-1-0]

MOVER: Carmen Hernandez, Mayor Pro Tem SECONDER: James M. Noble, Council Member

AYES: Noble, Hernandez, Silva, Hackbarth-McIntyre ABSENT/VACANT: One

COMMENTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL:

MAYOR PRO TEM HERNANDEZ

- Thanked Mr. Noble for bringing this item forward. MAYOR HACKBARTH-MCINTYRE

- Also thanked Mr. Noble for bringing this item forward to show the City's appreciation for Ms. Williams’ contributions to the community.

ADJOURNMENT:

By the consensus of the City Council and without objection, the meeting was adjourned at 6:21 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted: Approved:

________________________ _________________________ JoAnne V. Cousino Julie Hackbarth-McIntyre City Clerk Mayor