Approve written report required by Government Code section 65858(d) for review and discussion at the October 7, 2025, public hearing on the temporary moratorium on new agricultural well permits in the YSGA-designated Focus Areas. (No general fund impact) (Fieseler/Meneghetti)

Approve written report required by Government Code section 65858(d) for review and discussion at the October 7, 2025, public hearing on the temporary moratorium on new agricultural well permits in the YSGA-designated Focus Areas.

On August 26, 2025, the Board of Supervisors adopted Urgency Ordinance No. 1576 establishing a temporary 45-day moratorium on the approval of new agricultural well permits in the Yolo Subbasin Groundwater Management Agency’s (YSGA) Focus Areas with specified exemptions, pending the County’s study and consideration of well permit and crop conversion regulations. The Board found that the approval of additional well permits for agricultural uses without any additional review of conversions to perennial crops on agriculturally-zoned properties within the Focus Areas would result in a threat to public health, safety, or welfare. The purpose of the urgency ordinance is to further study the impacts of land use changes in the Focus Areas to ensure continued protection of groundwater sustainability.

Under Government Code section 65858, the initial term of an interim urgency ordinance is 45 days. After notice pursuant to Government Code section 65090 and a public hearing, the legislative body (in this case, the Board of Supervisors) may extend the interim urgency ordinance for up to an additional ten months and fifteen days, and subsequently for an additional twelve months. The action to extend the temporary moratorium on the approval of new agricultural well permits in the Focus Areas will be considered by the Board on October 7, 2025, prior to its expiration on October 10, 2025.

Government Code section 65858 further requires that at least 10 days prior to the expiration of an interim urgency ordinance, that the legislative body (i.e., the Board of Supervisors) issue a written report describing the measures being taken to alleviate the condition which led to the adoption of the interim urgency ordinance.  The purpose of this agenda item is to issue this written report in accordance with the Government Code.  This does not supersede or supplant the public hearing which is scheduled for the October 7, 2025 Board meeting.

Since Urgency Ordinance No. 1576 was enacted on August 26, 2025, staff have worked diligently to research and develop recommendations which will be presented to the Board at the public hearing on October 7, 2025.  The following actions have been taken thus far:

Staff has collaborated with the Yolo Subbasin Groundwater Agency, the Office of County Counsel, and the County Administrator's Office.