South Fork Kings groundwater agency will add two at-large directors after county approves JPA amendment

The Kings County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to approve a first amendment to the joint powers agreement (JPA) for the South Fork Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) to add two at‑large landowner positions to the GSA governing body.

The amendment responds to concerns that the five member public agencies that formed the JPA directly represent only about 26% of the roughly 65,000‑acre GSA. Deputy County Administrative Officer Matthew Boyette told the board the change would allow “at large representatives … from outside of the jurisdiction of the 5 member agencies” to be nominated by the GSA’s grower advisory committee and appointed by the five member agencies, and that the two at‑large directors would serve three‑year terms.

The board approved the amendment by roll call vote; all five supervisors voted in favor.

Why it matters: The South Fork Kings GSA was formed in 2017 to implement sustainable groundwater management under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. Boyette and others described the amendment as a way to provide representation for landowners and growers whose parcels lie inside the GSA boundary but outside the public agencies that originally composed the JPA.

Details of the amendment and limits on authority

Boyette and managers explained the two at‑large seats would be nominated by the GSA grower advisory committee, appointed by the five public member agencies, and would have alternates. Importantly, the at‑large representatives would not have voting rights for appointments of land within the five member agencies’ jurisdictions; appointment authority for those seats remains with the five member agencies, Boyette said. The at‑large seats are intended to broaden input from landowners in parts of the GSA that previously lacked direct board representation.

Johnny Galey, who identified himself as manager of the South Fork Kings GSA, told the board the grower advisory committee had recommended adding seats because “there was a significant area of the GSA that was not represented by board members from those areas.” Galey said the GSA boundary includes former dairy parcels and other agricultural lands that are adjacent to existing trust lands and that the advisory committee sought more balanced representation.

Next steps and approvals required

County staff and Galey noted the JPA amendment must be approved by each of the five member agencies — the city of Lemoore (referred to in the transcript as Lamar), Empire Westside Irrigation District, Stratford Irrigation District, Stratford Public Utility District and Kings County — for the change to take effect. Galey said each member board must approve the amendment; the change requires action by all member agencies.

What the board said

Supervisors thanked staff and counsel for work on the amendment during multiple rounds of review. The board’s motion to approve the first amendment passed unanimously in the recorded roll call.

Provenance: The presentation and discussion began when Matthew Boyette introduced the JPA amendment and provided acreage and representation figures; public comment from Johnny Galey followed; the board made and voted on the motion during the same agenda item.