ITEM:		ACTION ITEMS
16.	Consider Adoption of Board Public Outreach Committee’s Recommendation Regarding Formation of an Ad Hoc Community Advisory Committee (CONTINUED FROM OCTOBER 16, 2006 BOARD MEETING)
Meeting Date:			December 11, 2006	Budgeted:	N/A
From:			David A. Berger,	Program/	N/A
			General Manager	Line Item No.:
Prepared By:			Arlene Tavani	Cost Estimate:	N/A
General Counsel Approval: N/A
Committee Recommendation (9/28/06 Public Outreach Committee meeting): On a vote of 3 – 0, the Public Outreach Committee recommended that the Board establish an ad hoc Community Advisory Committee charged to review the seven water supply projects listed on the Matrix of Water Supply Alternatives, Parts I and II and submit a report to the Board documenting comments expressed by committee members on those projects. The CAC would not recommend a position of support or disapproval for any project or any aspect of a project.
CEQA Compliance: N/A

SUMMARY: At the November 20, 2006 Board meeting, the directors considered the recommendation of the Public Outreach Committee (POC) regarding formation of an ad hoc Community Advisory Committee (CAC). The outcome of the Board’s November 20, 2006 deliberations was to defer the item to the December 11, 2006 meeting to allow time for public interest groups to submit comments on the proposed charge to the CAC.

The proposed charge (Exhibit 16-A) envisions that the CAC would review the seven water supply projects listed on the Matrix of Water Supply Alternatives, Parts I and II and submit a report to the Board documenting comments expressed by committee members on those projects. The CAC would not recommend a position of support or disapproval for any project or any aspect of a project. The CAC as proposed would assist the Board in future decision making by increasing the Directors’ awareness of opinions held by members of the public and community groups regarding proposed water supply projects.

In November 2006, a letter soliciting comments on the proposed charge was mailed to community groups that had expressed an interest in participating on the committee. Attached as Exhibit 16-B is an email from Robert Greenwood of the Carmel Valley Association expressing an opinion on the proposed CAC charge. Also attached as Exhibit 16-C is a letter from Elizabeth Vitarisi-Suro of the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce requesting to be considered for membership on the proposed CAC.

RECOMMENDATION: The Board should consider formation of the CAC and adoption of the draft charge for the committee attached as Exhibit 16-A. If the charge is adopted, each Director should proceed to select appointees to the committee and submit the list of appointees to the General Manager by January 5, 2007. The list of appointees would then be presented for ratification at the January 25, 2007 Board meeting.

BACKGROUND: The POC recommendation proposes that the Board authorize the formation of an ad hoc CAC with a single purpose: to utilize the information presented in the Comparative Matrix of Water Supply Alternatives, Parts I and II, as a basis for a discussion on the advantages and disadvantages of the seven projects listed on the Matrix. The CAC would meet monthly beginning in February 2007 and present to the Board in September 2007 a written report documenting the comments expressed by committee members on each project. The CAC would not recommend a position of support or disapproval for any project or any aspect of a project.

The CAC would be comprised of 14 persons who reside within the boundaries of the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District. Seven of the committee members would be representatives of community groups. Each Director would appoint two persons to the CAC. One appointee would represent a community group. A list of community groups that expressed interest in participating on the CAC is available for Directors as a reference (Exhibit 16-D); however, it is not required that committee members be chosen from the list. No requirement is placed on selection of the second appointee. That person might be a member of one or more community groups, but would not serve on the committee as a representative of any organization. All members of the community may participate on the committee, military personnel and persons associated with governmental agencies would not be excluded.

Any organization that would like to be added to the list of community groups that are interested in participating on the committee (Exhibit 16-D), will be added to the list upon request. This list could be used in the future, should the Board decide to establish another ad hoc committee.

The committee would be chaired by General Manager Berger for the purpose of facilitating the meetings. District staff would provide administrate support to the committee. Each month the committee could review one of the seven projects on the Matrix, utilizing that document as the basis for discussion. The District Engineer, Andy Bell, would be assigned to answer questions and serve as a resource for information on the water supply projects. The meetings would be open to the public and time would be set aside at each meeting to receive oral or written comments from the public. The report documenting the CAC comments could be prepared by District staff under the direction of the CAC. At the final meeting of the CAC, the committee would review the report and refer it to the Board for receipt at the September 17, 2007 meeting.

IMPACT TO STAFF/RESOURCES: Significant staff effort and modest additional expense will be required to support the CAC. This will impact existing Planning & Engineering Division staff assigned to support this new committee, as well as the General Manager's office, resulting in workload adjustments that could adversely affect existing project priorities and other management or administrative functions. 

EXHIBITS

16-A Draft Charge to the Community Advisory Committee

16-B Email from Robert Greenwood, Carmel Valley Association

16-C Letter from Elizabeth Vitarisi-Suro, Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce

16-D List of Organizations Interested in Participating on the Community Advisory Committee

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