(CITRUS HEIGHTS, Calif.) -- Discussion during the Citrus Heights city council meeting on October 28 followed the proposed amendments to establish a new groundwater management agreement between Citrus Heights, the city of Folsom, and both the city and county of Sacramento.
The initial Sacramento Ground Authority (SGA) was first established in 1998 as the “Groundwater Management Authority.” The partnership continues to function through a Joint Powers Agreement which provides regulations, sustainability plans, and other protocols to inform the supply assessments and management measures used by the water districts of its members.
Jim Pfeifer, Executive Director of the SGA, introduced the four administrative amendments facing the council that evening. Among them was a revision to address previous time lags in appointing new representatives to an unexpectedly vacated board seat.
“One of the things that we did was allow for the member agency that’s on the board to immediately appoint someone,” Pfeifer shared. “Eventually the JPA [SGA] parties would have to confirm that appointment.”
Photo Credit: City of Citrus Heights / Jim Pfeifer offering clarity surrounding the proposed revisions to the Joint Powers Agreement
This particular amendment brought forth council questions on whether the authority held by Citrus Heights within the SGA remains fair. According to the SGA structure, Citrus Heights city council is only able to elect one representative to act on behalf of the city. Council apprehensions on membership status resulted from SGA specifications that Citrus Heights must choose their candidate specifically from its Water District and that there is a potential for appointee removal.
In response to a comment made by Pfeifer who confirmed that despite council board appointments, the county maintains veto power, Councilwoman Kapinski-Costa reflected the council's qualms.
“So that to me doesn’t make sense,” the councilwoman said.
Photo Credit: City of Citrus Heights / Councilwoman Kapinski-Costa expressing confusion over the city’s role in the SGA alliance
Kapinski-Costa continued on to explicitly question the limited authority Citrus Heights holds within the SGA as compared to its neighboring municipalities.
“I don’t know the city’s role is,” Kapinski-Costa questioned. “All we do is have a water district represent us.”
Uncertainty over the adequacy of Citrus Heights representation was reflected by the meeting’s second public comment.
Ted Costa, member of the SGA board of directors, argued the council hold out on approving the proposed amendments. Citing these structural SGA representation issues, Costa insinuated that renegotiations be prioritized before revisions to the JPA be made.
Photo Credit: City of Citrus Heights / Ted Costa contending against council approval of the JPA amendments
Costa furthered his statement by sharing that other SGA cities are allowed to appoint members of its other city agencies while Citrus Heights cannot.
“If you go to the city of Sacramento, [Councilwoman Lisa Kaplan] represents the city,” Costa said. “You should hold out [on amendment approval], it should be one of the five of you sitting at that table because we’re talking about billions of dollars of water.”
Acknowledging that he would likely vote “Yes” if he was in the city council’s position on Oct. 28, Costa ended his remark by once again highlighting the top priority of representation renegotiations.
As the discussion continued, other membership issues were voiced.
The council extended their worries over adequate power delegation in questioning who represents the half of the city not under jurisdiction of the Citrus Heights Water District.
Given these complications, Mayor MariJane Lopez-Taff expressed the council’s desire for a delay in making a movement regarding the SGA amendments. “I think the point is well taken that we have some questions that we’re still very interested in knowing more about,” Lopez-Taff said.
With only three council members present, the council voted to address the matter at a later date.
Photo Credit: City of Citrus Heights / Council moving to defer their decision on the proposed JPA amendments
The city of Folsom, and the city and county of Sacramento have all three approved the amended Joint Powers Agreement in the last two weeks.
When and if Citrus Heights takes the same action will likely become known during the next council meeting on Nov. 10. The agenda has not yet been published.
To add to or correct any information in this report, please contact me at piper.a@lead4earth.org.
1
0
Comments