Lake County Board renames drought group, creates ad hoc committee and shifts lead to Community Development to meet SB 552

The Lake County Board of Supervisors voted to reorganize its drought work group into the Lake County Drought and Water Shortage Task Force, establish an ad hoc advisory committee to draft a drought resiliency plan, and transfer lead agency responsibility from the Watershed Protection/Water Resources program to the Community Development Department to support compliance with Senate Bill 552.

Board members and county staff said the changes are intended to align the drought resiliency planning effort with ongoing long-range planning efforts such as Lake County 2050 and to use technical assistance from contractor Stantec to prepare a draft plan for public review and state certification. "We are comfortable with assuming the lead in this, and even more comfortable knowing that water resources won't desert me," said Maria Turner, Community Development Director.

Why it matters: Senate Bill 552, adopted in 2021, requires drought resilience planning for certain small water suppliers and domestic well communities. County staff said the reorganization and the ad hoc committee will structure the stakeholder process required under SB 552 and produce a draft plan for task force review and subsequent board action and state certification.

What the board approved - Reorganization and renaming: The Board approved renaming the existing drought work group to the Lake County Drought and Water Shortage Task Force and formalizing reporting to the Board of Supervisors. (Motion moved and seconded; voice vote: "Aye"; motion carries.) - Ad hoc advisory committee: The Board approved formation of a Drought Resiliency Plan Ad Hoc Advisory Committee and directed staff to return with proposed membership compositions for board approval. Staff said the ad hoc committee is expected to hold four meetings to draft the plan, though the state law does not specify a minimum number of meetings. (Motion moved and seconded; voice vote: "Aye"; motion carries.) - Transfer of lead agency: The Board approved transferring lead agency responsibility for the drought resiliency plan from Water Resources/Watershed Protection District to the Community Development Department. (Motion moved and seconded; voice vote: "Aye"; motion carries.)

Discussion and public input County staff said the state Department of Water Resources has provided technical assistance and that Stantec (contractor) would perform much of the technical work on the plan. Bridget Lowry of Stantec told the board the scoped contract originally assumed a one-year schedule from the start date and that state funding can continue for one year if the project start date is set soon.

Public commenter Margo Kambara urged keeping the lead with Water Resources, saying technical staff in Water Resources have the expertise to validate contractors' work and that Community Development Department (CDD) staff are already stretched supporting Lake County 2050 and other major projects. "Transference of lead agency responsibilities to CDD is not an action that sets up CDD for success," Kambara said.

Supervisors and staff discussed committee composition and oversight. County Counsel advised that the county's policies (chapter 1, section 6, rule 2) allow the board to approve formation of ad hoc committees and to direct staff to return with proposed membership compositions; the counsel also explained that, as a temporary ad hoc committee, it would not be a Brown Act standing committee. Staff said they would propose membership by role or category (for example, water purveyors, special districts, agriculture, fire districts, business representatives) and return to the board for approval of the composition.

Next steps and timeline Staff said the ad hoc committee will be asked to meet (the draft schedule identifies four meetings) and draft the drought resiliency plan for review by the task force, then the Board of Supervisors, and finally for state certification under SB 552. Staff acknowledged the project is behind the original schedule but said the state has granted an extension; Stantec indicated the funded scope supports one year of work from a prompt start date. County staff also said they will update the county drought planning web page and proceed with outreach.

Ending The board closed the item after the votes and instructed staff to return with proposed committee memberships for the board's approval and to proceed with the contracted timeline adjustments and public outreach required to complete the draft plan.