HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 11c - Authorize Council Member Amundson as the City's Representative for Water Inspection Trip
DATE: September 3, 2019
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Dominic Lazzaretto, City Manager
By: Michael Bruckner, Assistant to the City Manager
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZE COUNCIL MEMBER AMUNDSON AS THE CITY’S OFFICIAL
REPRESENTATIVE TO ATTEND AN INSPECTION TRIP OF THE
COLORADO RIVER AQUEDUCT AND HOOVER DAM HOSTED BY THE
UPPER SAN GABRIEL VALLEY MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT AND
METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Recommendation: Approve
SUMMARY
The Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District (“MWD”) and Metropolitan Water
District of Southern California (“Metropolitan”) are hosting a no-cost, three-day inspection
trip of the Colorado River Aqueduct and Hoover Dam scheduled for October 18-20, 2019.
All City Council Members were invited to attend and Council Member Amundson has
expressed interest. Although no City Council Members are assigned to either agency’s
board, Council Member Amundson has represented the City in several meetings with
state and congressional delegations in furtherance of the City’s water goals. In addition,
it is generally beneficial for any City Council Member to better understand the state’s
water systems and how water is conveyed to Arcadia. Therefore, it is recommended the
City Council authorize Council Member Amundson as the City’s official representative to
attend the three-day inspection trip of the Colorado River Aqueduct and Hoover Dam
hosted by the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District and Metropolitan Water
District of Southern California scheduled for October 18-20, 2019.
DISCUSSION
This inspection trip will provide an overview of Southern California’s water supply system
and the challenges in bringing this vital resource to our region. The inspection trip will
follow along a section of the aqueduct’s course; visiting treatment facilities, reservoirs,
pumping plants, and dams, which altogether deliver water to meet the needs of over 16
million Southern Californians. Metropolitan will provide all meals, lodging, and air and
Authorize Council Member Amundson
as the City’s Representative for Inspection Trip
September 3, 2019
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ground transportation for any City Council Member attending at no cost to the City. Guests
are not allowed to attend.
With the City Council authorizing Council Member Amundson’s attendance as its
representative on behalf of the City, the travel is deemed to be official City business.
While travel expenses paid by a third party such as this may normally be reportable to the
California Fair Political Practices Commission, the City attorney has opined that this
particular event would qualify as being exempt from such reporting.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The proposed action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental
Quality Act (“CEQA”), and it can be seen with certainty that it will have no impact on the
environment. Therefore, this matter is exempt under CEQA.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the General Fund as all expenses are paid by the Metropolitan
Water District of Southern California.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended the City Council approve Council Member Amundson as the City’s
official representative to attend an inspection to the Colorado River Aqueduct and Hoover
Dam hosted by the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District and Metropolitan
Water District of Southern California.
Attachments: Invitation to MWD Water Inspection Trip
Draft Itinerary to MWD Water Inspection Trip