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County adopts water rates and begins transfer of Gunnar Ranch West and Valley Children's systems into CSA 22 Zone C
Summary
Supervisors approved a resolution setting water service rates for the new CSA 22 Zone C (Gunnar Ranch West), authorized a deposit agreement with Valley Children's Hospital to seed a new fund, and adopted a resolution to accept dedication of water system assets and related easements for the development's community water system.
MADERA COUNTY, Calif. ' The Board of Supervisors on Aug. 5 voted to establish water service rates for a newly created community water system covering Gunnar Ranch West (County Service Area 22, Zone C), approved a deposit agreement with Valley Children's Hospital to provide start-up cash flow for the new fund, and authorized county acceptance of water-system assets and easements associated with the development.
Public works staff explained the county will intertie Valley Children's existing water system with Gunnar Ranch West to create a single community water system. The resolution sets residential and commercial rates, structured as a fixed monthly charge plus a metered consumption component (per CCF, 100 cubic feet). Staff estimated typical residential bills will "hover around $100 a month," and said the rates are consistent with regional comparables. Property owners in the affected area signed waivers of Proposition 218 protest rights; the waivers were attached to staff materials.
The deposit agreement with Valley Children's will provide initial cash to seed the new water-system fund; the county will credit the deposit back to Valley Children's after the county meets its required fund reserves. Staff said a municipal advisory committee (MAC) for CSA 22 had unanimously recommended approval.
The second resolution authorizes staff to open escrow and accept the bill of sale, deeds and easements to transfer ownership and operational responsibility of the physical water infrastructure to the county. Staff said the long-term goal remains that a private utility could later purchase and assume ownership and operation of the system; for now the county will own and operate the asset as it does other CSA water systems.
Board action: Both motions (rate adoption and asset dedication) passed on roll call 5-0.
Why it matters: The actions create a county-operated water utility serving a new development and a major health-care campus (Valley Children's). Establishing rates and accepting infrastructure ensures continuity of service while allowing a later private purchase if one materializes.
What's next: County staff will open escrow on the transfer instruments, finalize the fund with the deposit, and begin operating the integrated system. The county noted it will continue to pursue private utility interest for a potential sale in the future.
