On March 15, 2000, the Roseville City Council agreed to the Water Forum comprehensive plan through approving a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Roseville agreed to support the Successor Effort through the life of the agreement.

The Water Forum process established two co-equal objectives:

• Provide a reliable and safe water supply for the region’s economic health and planned development through the year 2030; and

• Preserve the fishery, wildlife, recreational, and aesthetic values of the Lower American River.

To accomplish these objectives, an integrated package of actions was developed. This action plan contained seven elements:

1. Increased surface water diversion.

2. Alternative water supplies to meet customers’ needs while reducing diversion impacts on the Lower American River in drier years.

3. An improved pattern of fishery flow releases from Folsom Reservoir.

4. Lower American River Habitat Mitigation Element.

5. Water Conservation commitments.

6. Groundwater Management Element.

7. Water Forum Successor Effort.

Approval of the FY 2020-21 interagency cost-sharing agreement will allow the City to maintain its commitment to the Water Forum and its mission.

Additionally, the interagency cost sharing agreements have not changed in form and substance over the many years except for the dollar amount obligation for the City and changes in the fiscal year date.  Given the routine nature of this annual Water Forum cost-sharing agreement, staff is requesting City Council authorize the City Manager to approve future Water Forum cost-sharing agreements if:  (1) there are no substantive changes to the content of the interagency cost-sharing agreement, as verified by the City Attorney; (2) the annual cost share agreement does not exceed the following not-to-exceed amounts below; and (3) sufficient budget has been appropriated to cover the amounts specified in each fiscal year’s cost-sharing agreement.

Proposed Future Water Forum Cost-Sharing Agreements – Not-to-Exceed Amounts

If any of the three above conditions cannot be met, staff will return to the City Council to obtain the appropriate authorizations as it pertains to the annual Water Forum cost-sharing agreement.

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) does not apply to activities that will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, or is otherwise not considered a project as defined by CEQA Statute §21065 and CEQA State Guidelines §15060(c)(3) and §15378.  The Cost Sharing Agreement meets the above criteria and is not subject to CEQA. No additional environmental review is required.

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Dominick Casey, City Manager