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Redlands council votes to withdraw from Yucaipa groundwater agency, citing limited local extraction
Summary
The Redlands City Council adopted Resolution 8587 to withdraw from the Yucaipa Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA), with staff saying Redlands no longer extracts groundwater from that subbasin and participation requires staff time; the measure passed 3-2 after public comment urging continued participation.
The council voted to adopt Resolution 8587 to withdraw the City of Redlands from the Yucaipa Groundwater Sustainability Agency (Yucaipa GSA).
Director Harris explained Redlands joined the basin-wide effort in 2017 to help regulate groundwater extraction and develop a Groundwater Sustainability Plan. He told the council that the City of Redlands does not currently extract water from the Yucaipa subbasin and that much of the area that overlies the basin is served by other water agencies or is within conservation easements. Harris said participation required staff time, monthly or quarterly meetings and document review, and that projected costs to the city were modest (on the order of several thousand dollars per year).
Public commenters, including David Armstrong, urged the city to remain in the GSA to retain a seat at regional planning tables and to maintain land-use influence. "I think Redlands has a responsibility to be a part of it," Armstrong said, citing the city's historic role as a land-use agency in basin governance.
Councilmembers debated the tradeoff between retaining representation in basin decision-making and the staff time and modest costs of participation. On roll call the council adopted Resolution 8587 by a 3-2 vote (Yes: Guzman Lowery, Salcedo, Mayor Tejeda; No: Davis, Mayor Pro Tem Berridge). Staff said the city will remain informed of basin activities and coordinate with stakeholders despite withdrawal.
The resolution directs staff to proceed with withdrawal from the Yucaipa GSA; the effective process and any follow-up reporting were left to staff action.
