R 5244 RESOLUTION NO. 5244
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ARROYO GRANDE APPROVING PARTICIPATION IN THE
DESALINATION EXECUTABLE SOLUTION LOGISTICS
(DESAL) PLAN
WHEREAS, adequate water for the people, economy and environment in San Luis
Obispo County is needed in perpetuity; and
WHEREAS, conflicts surrounding use of the limited existing water supplies are
increasing, including limitations on groundwater use and transfers, limitations on surface
water diversion and State policies that lead to water system consolidation mandates; and
WHEREAS, despite conservation efforts which have reduced per capita consumption
from 190 gallons per day to 117 gallons per day over the last 25 years, the City of Arroyo
Grande remains highly vulnerable to water shortages due to its isolated location and
dependence on rainfall; and
WHEREAS, the future reliability of existing water supplies and infrastructure that depend
on rainfall, such as groundwater and surface water reservoirs and streams, is uncertain
due to changing hydrologic patterns, land use, environmental regulations, population
growth and aging infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, water-purveying agencies are best positioned to develop and utilize water
supply projects that will reduce dependence on groundwater and surface water and can
thereby relieve competition with individual well owners and the environment for those
water supplies; and
WHEREAS, the City of Arroyo Grande is participating in the Central Coast Blue project,
a regional recycled water project, in partnership with the Cities of Grover Beach and
Pismo Beach, to treat wastewater from the Pismo Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant in
Phase 1 to an advanced level and inject it into the groundwater basin to provide additional
potable water to the participating cities and to reduce the potential for seawater intrusion;
WHEREAS, the Central Coast Blue project will provide a renewable and drought-resistant
water source to the participating cities and help meet the State's articulated goal of
increasing the availability of recycled water to provide greater resiliency to communities
that are otherwise dependent on surface or groundwater resources; and
RESOLUTION NO. 5244
PAGE 2
WHEREAS, as the Central Coast Blue project has progressed significantly toward
construction and is anticipated to begin supplying water to participating cities in the year
2026 and, as such, is a near-term, high-priority water resiliency project for the City; and
WHEREAS, due to proximity to the ocean, and future water supply quantity, quality and
reliability needs, the 2019 San Luis Obispo County Integrated Regional Water
Management Plan and 2012 Countywide Master Water Report identify desalination as a
water resource management strategy to pursue; and
WHEREAS, while desalination can provide a local, reliable, and sustainable water supply
for decades to come, desalination projects take a long time to plan for, permit and
construct; and
WHEREAS, the San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District
intends to develop the DESAL Plan over the next several years via a public process that,
when complete, will ultimately contain balanced recommendations related to responsibly
advancing the implementation of a regional desalination project that will benefit the
people, economy and environment in the County; and
WHEREAS, the San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District
will be the lead agency and contract administrator for the DESAL Plan and is requesting
that water-purveying agencies that wish to be evaluated during the development of the
DESAL Plan adopt resolutions approving participation; and
WHEREAS, the City of Arroyo Grande would like to participate in Phase 1, the initial,
nonobligatory, and exploratory phase, of the DESAL Plan with the County of San Luis
Obispo and will consider participating in Phase 2 of the DESAL Plan (the Development
Phase) following an update to the City Council of Arroyo Grande regarding the progress
of Phase 1.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Arroyo Grande
as follows:
1. The City of Arroyo Grande wishes to be included in the development of Phase 1
of the DESAL Plan and to be evaluated as a potential partner in such a regional
desalination project in the future in order to inform our decision makers and
constituents.
2. The Public Works Director of the City of Arroyo Grande or designee is hereby
authorized and directed to participate in the development of the DESAL Plan,
Phase 1, and to bring forward related recommendations.
•
RESOLUTION NO. 5244
PAGE 3
On motion of Council Member Storton, seconded by Council Member Paulding, and
on the following roll call vote, to wit:
AYES: Council Members Storton, Paulding, Barneich, and George
NOES: None
ABSENT: Mayor Ray Russom
the foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted this 22nd day of November, 2022.
RESOLUTION NO. 5'?•4'k
PAGE 4
AAted:
CAREN RAY R S;OM, MAYOR
ATTEST:
JESSICA MATSON, CITY CLERK
APPROVED AS TO CONTENT:
if fW
WHITNEY MilyONALD, ITY MANAGER
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
)4A.,
TIMOTHY J. CARMEL, CITY ATTORNEY
OFFICIAL CERTIFICATION
I, JESSICA MATSON, City Clerk of the City of Arroyo Grande, County of San Luis
Obispo, State of California, do hereby certify under penalty of perjury, that the attached
Resolution No. 5244 was passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council
of the City of Arroyo Grande on the 22nd day of November, 2022.
WITNESS my hand and the Seal of the City of Arroyo Grande affixed this 5th day of
December, 2022.
JESSICA MATSON, CITY CLERK