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CC Resolution 2018-057 Salton Sea MOU RESOLUTION NO. 2018 - 057 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, IN SUPPORT OF THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF IMPERIAL AND THE COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE CONCERNING THE SALTON SEA WHEREAS, on June 26, 2018, the County of Imperial, a political subdivision of the State of California, and the County of Riverside, a political subdivision of the State of California (“Counties”) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding representing a mutual good faith commitment and common goals made in the spirit of cooperation and collaboration to benefit the Salton Sea; and WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Counties to work together with other local agencies in a collaborative manner and support common goals to further Salton Sea restoration and management efforts as well as the development potential of the Salton Sea; and WHEREAS, the Counties encourage outreach to the surrounding communities and seek supportive resolutions from all cities and other agencies. The Counties welcome cities and other agencies to join and assist them in efforts that are supportive of the Salton Sea; and WHEREAS, the inflow of water to the Salton Sea has decreased and pursuant to the Quantification Settlement Agreement, mitigation water inflows ended on December 31, 2017, and without restoration or stabilization measures, the Salton Sea will rapidly decline; and WHEREAS, the State of California (“State”) has developed the Salton Sea Management Program (“SSMP”) through departments within the California Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Agencies and is obligated to pay for certain costs related to habitat, air and water quality issues at the Salton Sea; and WHEREAS, the State has developed the 10-year SSMP plan and identified a phased series of projects, the State has not appropriated all the necessary SSMP funding. The Salton Sea is at substantial risk of irreversible damage and threatens wildlife and public health; and Resolution No. 2018-057 Support of MOU between Counties of Imperial and Riverside – Unified Support for the Salton Sea Adopted: November 20, 2018 Page 2 of 4 WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Counties to take coordinated and cooperative action with other agencies to further stabilize the Salton Sea on such restoration efforts which would protect and improve public health, air quality, and wildlife habitat; and WHEREAS, it is the desire and intent of the Counties to work together with local agencies on agreed projects and financing mechanisms such as an Enhanced Infrastructure Finance District (“EIFD”) that would support projects and stimulate economic development around the Salton Sea; and WHEREAS, the Counties recognize and support the immense value of working together with other local agencies to enhance opportunities for renewable energy and geothermal development to the region by providing reliable, affordable energy in furtherance of the State’s Renewable Portfolio Standard and Greenhouse Gas Reduction goals and could provide funding for Salton Sea infrastructure; and WHEREAS, the benefits of said integrated projects would include economic development, recreational activity, and reduction in air quality impacts, as well as optimize the potential opportunities at the Salton Sea; and WHEREAS, California law requires the California Natural Resources Agency to develop a Salton Sea plan in cooperation and consultation with local agencies; and WHEREAS, the Salton Sea Authority supports the common goal of a locally managed and more efficient process to expedite projects at the Salton Sea to avert a further decline at the Salton Sea; and WHEREAS, the Salton Sea Authority is in support of the North Lake vision which would complement the State’s SSMP plan by providing an in-sea barrier around the contours of the north shoreline with a deep lake and respectfully request the State’s support and recognition in the SSMP as an important integrated project; and WHEREAS, the Salton Sea Authority is supportive of the Perimeter Lake concept which would also include a South Lake component and resemble a flowing river with a system of low-profile levees bordering the Salton Sea shoreline. The Counties respectfully request to have the Perimeter Lake incorporated into the State’s SSMP long-term plan; and MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF IMPERIAL AND THE COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE CONCERNING UNIFIED SUPPORT ON THE SALTON SEA THIS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (“MOU”) is entered into on this 26th day of June, 2018, by and between the County of Imperial, a political subdivision of the State of California, and the County of Riverside, a political subdivision of the State of California. Both counties may be referred to herein collectively as the “Parties”. This MOU represents good faith commitments and common goals which are being made in the spirit of cooperation and collaboration to benefit the Salton Sea. WHEREAS, it is the desire of the County of Imperial and the County of Riverside to work together in a collaborative manner and support common goals to further Salton Sea restoration and management efforts as well as the development potential of the Salton Sea; and WHEREAS, the inflow of water to the Salton Sea has decreased and pursuant to the Quantification Settlement Agreement, mitigation water inflows ended on December 31, 2017, and without restoration or stabilization measures, the Salton Sea will rapidly decline; and WHEREAS, the State of California (“State”) has developed the Salton Sea Management Program (“SSMP) through departments within the California Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Agencies and is obligated to pay for certain costs related to habitat, air and water quality issues at the Salton Sea; and WHEREAS, the state has developed the 10-year SSMP plan and identified a phased series of projects, the state has not appropriated all the necessary SSMP funding. The Salton Sea is at substantial risk of irreversible damage and threatens wildlife and public health; and WHEREAS, it is the intent of both Parties to take coordinated and cooperative action to further stabilize the Salton Sea on such restoration efforts which would protect and improve public health, air quality, and wildlife habitat; and WHEREAS, the Salton Sea is located within both counties and the Parties have land-use authority and land-use control; and WHEREAS, it is the desire and intent of both Parties to work together on agreed projects and financing mechanisms such as an Enhanced Infrastructure Finance District (“EIFD”) that would support projects and stimulate economic development around the Sea; and WHEREAS, both Parties recognize and support the immense value of working together to enhance opportunities for renewable energy and geothermal development to the region by providing reliable, affordable energy in furtherance of the State’s Renewable Portfolio Standard and Greenhouse Gas Reduction goals and could provide funding for Salton Sea infrastructure; and WHEREAS, the benefits of said integrated projects would include economic development, recreational activity, and reduction in air quality impacts as well as optimize the potential opportunities at the Salton Sea; and WHEREAS, it is the desire of both Parties to support the Salton Sea Author ity (“SSA”), the SSA as a Joint Power Authority with common power of directing and coordinating actions relating to the improvement of the Salton Sea; and WHEREAS, both Parties desire recognition of Imperial and Riverside Counties as the local land use authorities with an enhanced role in implementing projects. California law requires the California Natural Resources Agency to develop a Salton Sea plan in cooperation and consultation with local agencies; and WHEREAS, the Parties support the common goal of a locally managed and more efficient process to expedite projects at the Salton Sea to avert a further decline at the Salton Sea. WHEREAS, it is the desire of both Parties to respectfully request a State Legislative amendment to clarify the state’s legislative directive to consult and cooperate with Imperial and Riverside Counties; and WHEREAS, the Salton Sea Authority recently achieved historic progress and completed the first phase Wetland project located on the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indian Tribe reservation. The Wetland project was carried out and accomplished by the leadership of the Salton Sea Authority and its member agencies; and WHEREAS, the Parties are in support of the North Lake vision which would complement the state’s SSMP plan by providing an in-sea barrier around the contours of the north shoreline with a deep lake and respectfully request the state’s support and recognition in the SSMP as an important integrated project; and WHEREAS, the Parties are supportive of the Perimeter Lake concept which would also include a South Lake component and resemble a flowing river with a system of low profile levees bordering the Salton Sea shoreline. The Parties respectfully request to have the Perimeter Lake incorporated into the state’s SSMP long-term plan; and WHEREAS, the Parties will encourage outreach to the surrounding communities and seek supportive resolutions from all cities. The Parties welcome other agencies to join and assist them in efforts that are supportive of the Salton Sea; and WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Parties to improve the public health, economic opportunity and overall quality of life of the disadvantaged communities around the Salton Sea; and WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Parties to support public-private partnerships and will assist private entities to define and develop projects around the Salton Sea; and NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the County of Imperial and the County of Riverside hereby adopt this Memorandum of Understanding and agree to a collaborative partnership and a unified strategy to support common goals which would stabilize and restore the Salton Sea.