WHEREAS, AB 1986 (Pajaro River Watershed Flood Prevention Authority Act) proposes to create, by joint powers agreement, the Pajaro River Watershed Flood Prevention Authority consisting of local agencies in San Benito, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties for the purpose of addressing flood control issues in the Pajaro River Watershed; and

WHEREAS, the San Benito County Water District is required to be included as a member of the authority; and

WHEREAS, the San Benito County Water District is a water conservation and flood control district created pursuant to a special act of the California Legislature (Section 70-1 et. seq. California Water Code Appendix). The District’s jurisdictional boundaries are coterminous with the boundaries of the County of San Benito; and

WHEREAS, some of the objects and purposes of the San Benito County Water District are to control the flood and storm waters of the district, to conserve such waters for beneficial and useful purposes, and to protect from such flood and storm waters the public highways, life and property in the District; and

WHEREAS, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties each has water conservation and flood control agencies with powers similar to the District’s powers; and

WHEREAS, the San Benito County Water District presently conducts water conservation activities within San Benito County which ultimately benefit the Pajaro River Watershed area; and

WHEREAS, AB 1986 imposes an additional and duplicative level of government which is isolated and remote from the voters and not accountable to these voters; and

WHEREAS, AB 1986 grants powers to the regional Authority many of which currently exist and are being exercised by governmental agencies in each county; and

WHEREAS, governmental agencies within the Pajaro River Watershed already have a legal mechanism available to create a joint powers agency to address flooding issues in the Pajaro and Watsonville areas; and

WHEREAS, AB 1986 imposes unique and ill-defined environmental restoration, maintenance and enhancement obligations without consent of the effected landowners and voters:

NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved: THAT THE SAN BENITO COUNTY WATER DISTRICT HEREBY OPPOSES THE ENACTMENT OF AB 1986.

THE FOREGOING RESOLUTION was adopted at a regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the San Benito County Water District held on April 29, 1998, by the following vote:

AYES: DIRECTORS: Rupert, Gonzales, Buzzetta, Perry, Swanson

NOES: DIRECTORS: None

ABSENT: DIRECTORS: None

Robert Swanson, President

ATTEST:

DENISE R. THOME,

Administrative Services Officer