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Cloverdale Council Signs On to LAFCO Comment Letter, Seeks Protections on Alexander Valley Water District
Summary
After extensive discussion, the Cloverdale City Council approved a revised comment letter to LAFCO on the proposed Alexander Valley Water District, asking that Cloverdale be excluded from the district, supporting LAFCO conditions on groundwater sustainability and encouraging metering and data transparency. Councilmember Marquez will represent the city on Aug. 5.
The Cloverdale City Council voted on July 22 to approve a revised comment letter to Sonoma County LAFCO regarding the proposed Alexander Valley Water District (AVWD) and authorized Councilmember Andreas Marquez to present the city’s concerns at LAFCO’s reconsideration hearing on Aug. 5.
City staff summarized four primary points recommended for the letter: (1) confirm the AVWD does not include the City of Cloverdale, (2) support LAFCO’s proposed condition requiring support for a groundwater sustainability agency rather than immediate district authority to act as a GSA, (3) urge that the district not serve properties outside its territory without further LAFCO review, and (4) encourage the district to adopt data transparency and metering protocols similar to those used by municipalities.
Council debate focused on water rights, how enforcement would work, and whether mandatory metering should be a condition of approval. Councilmember Lasky and others raised concerns about protecting Cloverdale’s municipal supplies and asked who would enforce curtailments if they occurred; staff and speakers noted the State Water Board administers water rights and that litigation can be the enforcement avenue. Staff and council ultimately retained the letter’s language encouraging metering and adjusted the map language to explicitly exclude Cloverdale’s municipal boundaries.
Speakers representing rural property owners—who are backing the AVWD petition—addressed the council and said a district would provide an organized partner for regional solutions, while other residents urged the council to safeguard municipal water supplies. After amendments were made on the dais, the council approved the letter and authorized Councilmember Marquez to speak for the city at LAFCO’s hearing.
