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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution - 3440 STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) RESOLUTION NO. 3440 COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss CITY OF SAN JACINTO ) A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN JACINTO OPPOSING SAN DIEGO COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY'S COST-SHIFT WHEREAS, the City of San Jacinto ("City") is a member agency of the Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG); and WHEREAS, the City supports a regional cooperative approach to water supply reliability coupled with an open and transparent rate setting process, as has been demonstrated by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD), whereby the rates are adopted by a vote of the MWD Board of Directors, representing every region within MWD's service area; and WHEREAS, San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA) filed a lawsuit in June 2010 challenging MWD's water rates and charges and claiming that SDCWA is over-charged, despite their own declaration that they pay 25 percent of MWD's revenue and receive 25 percent of the water supply; and WHEREAS, Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) and Western Municipal Water District (WMWD), both of which are WRCOG member agencies, have joined a lawsuit to support MWD's rate structure and protect their rate payers; and WHEREAS, an outside report from the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation has found that SDCWA investments in water independence and declining water sales are significantly impacting water rates to SDCWA rate payers; and WHEREAS, the City in conjunction with WRCOG supports efforts by water agencies in Western Riverside County to establish local investments that increase regional water supply reliability such as those undertaken by SDCWA, to the extent those costs are not borne disproportionately by ratepayers outside of their local service area; and WHEREAS, SDCWA has launched a negative public relations campaign associated with their lawsuit to divert attention from their water supply decisions and the increasing opposition to the $3 billion cost- shift that would be forced on MWD Member Agencies and their ratepayers in Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, Los Angeles and Ventura Counties if SDCWA is successful; and WHEREAS, if there is legislation introduced that threatens MWD as a regional water supplier the City would oppose such legislative activity; and WHEREAS, EMWD and WMWD have expressed a responsibility to protect their customer agencies, residents, businesses and communities in Western Riverside County from this unfair and unjust cost- shift that provides no new water supplies or benefits. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City also strongly opposes the SDCWA lawsuit against MWD and resolve to continue to protect ratepayers in the City from this unfair cost shift which would dramatically increase water rates with no additional benefits. 24438.0000OV584354.1 PASSED APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of San Jacinto held this 18th of September, 2012 by the following vote: AYES: Bartel, Di Memmo, Ledezma, Miller, Kotyuk NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None CITY OF SAN JACINTO v i Andrew Kotyuk, Mayor ATTEST: vjt�' Richard Miller, City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: Best, Best & Krieger, LLC. Jefffby allinger, y Attorney 24438.00000\7584354.1