| | | | | | | | Agenda Item - 4.d.
City of Garden Grove
INTER-DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM
| To: | Lisa L. Kim
| From: | William E. Murray
| | Dept.: | City Manager
| Dept.: | Public Works
| | Subject: | Consideration and Approval to submit a letter in response to the Grand Jury Report, "Historic Rain, Yet Drought Remains." (Action Item) | Date: | 8/22/2023 |
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| | | | | | | | OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this report is for the City Council to consider and approve the attached response to the 2022-2023 Grand Jury Report, “Historic Rain, Yet Drought Remains”, and authorize submittal to the Orange County Superior Court presiding judge. |
| | | | | | | | BACKGROUND
On June 5, 2023, the Orange County Grand Jury released its 2022-2023 Grand Jury Report, “Historic Rain, Yet Drought Remains” (see Attachment 1). The purpose of the report was to study how the climate changes will affect long-term water supplies and reliability. The report explores the potential challenges if the U.S. Department of the Interior decide to impose water use restrictions on the Colorado River. The report recommends the County of Orange take a leadership role in planning for an emergency moratorium plan to address these anticipated water restrictions. The report recommended expediting a new source of water for desalination and streamlining the permitting processes, along with enhancing public education for water conservation if desalination does not take place in the near future.
Based on its investigation, the Orange County Grand Jury arrived at twelve (12) findings and four (4) recommendations. In compliance with Penal Code 933.05 (a) and (b), the City is recommended to provide a response to the findings and recommendations directed to the City Council by September 5, 2023. |
| | | | | | | | DISCUSSION
The City has responded to the findings and recommendations of the Grand Jury Report (see Attachment 2). In summary, the City agrees with six (6) of the findings (F2, F4, F7 F8, F10, F11), agrees partially with two (2) of the findings (F3, F12) and disagrees with four (4) of the findings (F1, F5, F6, F9). In response to the recommendations, The City will not be implementing R2 on the recommendation for expediting a new source of water for desalination due to the City’s existing, sufficient water portfolio. The City partially supports the recommendation R3 for the need to prepare an emergency moratorium plan to address the anticipated water restrictions from the Colorado River. The City opts to forgo the County of Orange’s involvement for this type of plan and have this plan be developed by existing water suppliers, Orange County Water District and the Municipal Water District of Orange, who possess the expert technical knowledge of water supply reliability. The City is fully committed to implementing R4 on the recommendation for developing public outreach plans to inform the public of lifestyle changes needed for water conservation to help sustain long term water supplies. |
| | | | | | | | RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council:
- Approve the attached response and authorize submittal to the Orange County Grand Jury.
By: Samuel Kim, P.E.
Deputy Public Works Director/Water Services Manager
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