Council renews Oakley Country Club lease for one year amid free-water concerns

The Oakley City Council voted Dec. 15 to renew its lease with the Oakley Country Club for one year, ending Dec. 31, 2026. Staff said the prior lease had expired at the end of the previous year and recommended updating the document to protect both parties; the existing arrangement provides either 8.1 million gallons or 6 million gallons of water (the smaller amount if tied to the new treatment plant) and currently charges a nominal fee ($10/year under the prior terms).

Council discussed the possibility of inserting automatic five-year renewal language to avoid annual renewals; the council chair cautioned that a free-water clause with automatic renewal could be risky given uncertainty about future aquifer conditions and municipal usable water supplies. Staff noted termination provisions exist and that the city could terminate the lease with written notice if the club failed to meet its obligations. After discussion, Russ moved and Trevor seconded a motion to renew the lease for a one-year term; the motion passed unanimously.

Staff said they would consider updated language and hoped to have a clearer sense of water-system needs by the end of the renewal period.