Hesperia Council to discuss purchasing water rights, traffic signal agreement
The Hesperia City Council on Tuesday will discuss several agenda items, including the consideration to purchase nearly $2.3 million worth of water rights.
As the Hesperia Water District Board of Directors, the council will consider authorizing the purchase of 360 acre-feet (AF)of permanent Bass Annual Production water rights in the Alto Subarea from Vanhoops Holdings, LP.
The Alto Subarea encompasses most of the populous Victor Valley and its waters serve Summit Valley, Hesperia, Victorville, Adelanto, Apple Valley, Oak Hills, Phelan, and Helendale, according to the Mojave Water Agency.
The price would be at $6,060 per AF for just more than $2.1 million. Additionally, 234 AF of carryover rights at $500 per AF totaling $117,000.
Also, 198 AF of Free Production Allowance at $500 per AF totaling $99,000, for a total transaction amount of just over $2.3 million for the permanent and temporary assignment of water rights.
The FPA is the maximum amount of water a producer may pump in one year without incurring a replacement or make-up obligation.
When multiple parties or agencies withdraw water from the same aquifer, groundwater pumpers can request the court to adjudicate or hear arguments for and against, to better define the rights that various entities have to use groundwater resources. This is known as groundwater adjudication.
The adjudication (City of Barstow et al, v. City of Adelanto et al) is intended to remediate overdraft in the Mojave Basin Area by limiting the amount of water produced in specific subareas.
As a result of the judgment, the Hesperia Water District incurs replacement water obligations in the Alto Subarea when verified production amounts exceed the FPA for the water year.
Traffic signals
The City Council will consider entering into a 5-year agreement —at a cost not to exceed $250,000—with the City of Victorville for the shared maintenance cost of 13 traffic signals and striping/pavement marking maintenance on Bear Valley Road.
Over the past 12 years, Victorville has provided traffic signal maintenance and striping/pavement services to Hesperia for the traffic signals shared by both cities along Bear Valley Road.
Also, Victorville provides preventative and corrective maintenance to the 13 shared traffic signals along Bear Valley Road.
Victorville has reliably provided these services to Hesperia and staff recommends continuing this service with Victorville.
The proactive and reactive maintenance cost is shared 50/50 except for the intersection at Fish Hatchery Road, where Hesperia covers one 100%, which is based on the cost of time and materials.
Based on the historical trend of this service, the staff estimates $50,000 per fiscal year will be sufficient for the agreement period.
Budget workshop
The City Council will conduct its first budget workshop for the 2022-23 fiscal year and receive and file a budget staff report.
This budget workshop will provide a brief overview of the city’s and water district’s operating budget, which includes planned ongoing revenues and expenditures for the upcoming fiscal year, as well as revisions to the FY 2021-22 budget.
The Hesperia City Council meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in council chambers at Hesperia City Hall, 9700 Seventh Ave. The meeting will also be streamed live online at cityofhesperia.us.
Public comments can be made in person or by telephone by calling ahead and recording a message with the City Clerk’s office at 760-947-1007.
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Hesperia Council to discuss traffic signals, purchasing water rights,
