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F, A/D
<br />FACT SHEET FOR SENATE BILL 1870
<br />(San Francisco Bay Area Regional Water System Financing Authority Act)
<br />Authored by Senator Speler
<br />(Coauthors: Assembly Members Alquist, Corbett and Keeley)
<br />As Passed by Legislature on August 30, 2002
<br />The Act adds Division 31.7 (commencing with Section 81600) to the Water Code.
<br />The Leaislature finds and declares among other things that:
<br />• The City and County of San Francisco's regional water system provides water to 2.4
<br />million Californians who live in Alameda, San Mateo, Santa Clara counties, and San
<br />Francisco (the City). More than two- thirds of them live outside the City. A substantial
<br />majority of industrial, commercial, institutional, and governmental users of the system
<br />are also located outside of San Francisco.
<br />• The regional water system is of vital importance to the health, welfare, safety and
<br />economy of the region and to the entire State of California.
<br />• The regional water system is old, designed to outdated seismic standards and is at risk
<br />of catastrophic failure in a major earthquake.
<br />• In the event of a major earthquake, many areas in all four counties face possible loss of
<br />water from the regional system for up to 60 days. Interruptions of this magnitude could
<br />be disastrous for public health and safety and for the regional and state economy. In
<br />addition, there could be severe flood damage and environmental harm.
<br />• The state's concerns for the safety, health and economic strength of the region require
<br />the City to safeguard all Californians who live in the areas dependent on the regional
<br />water system.
<br />• It is the intent of the Legislature to enable the City and the public entities in Alameda,
<br />San Mateo and Santa Clara counties that rely on the regional water system to secure
<br />funds to fix the system and make those funds available to the City for projects designed
<br />and intended to improve the reliability of the system.
<br />• It is not the intent of the Legislature to change the governance structure, operational
<br />control, or existing ownership of the regional water system.
<br />Creation of a new authority The San Francisco Bay Area Regional Water system Financing
<br />Authority (authority) is created. Authority members include the City, Stanford University, Cali-
<br />fornia Water Service Company, and the 26 public entities in Alameda, San Mateo, and Santa
<br />Clara counties that buy water from San Francisco pursuant to the Master Sales Contract.
<br />The 26 Public entities Alameda County Water District, City of Brisbane, City of Burlingame,
<br />Coastside County Water District, City of Daly City, City of East Palo Alto, Estero Municipal Im-
<br />provement District, Guadalupe Valley Municipal Improvement District, City of Hayward, Town
<br />of Hillsborough, Los Trancos County Water District, City of Menlo Park, Mid - Peninsula Water
<br />District, City of Millbrae, City of Milpitas, City of Mountain View, North Coast County Water Dis-
<br />trict, City of Palo Alto, Purissima Hills Water District, City of Redwood City, City of San Bruno,
<br />City of San Jose, City of Santa Clara, Skyline County Water District, City of Sunnyvale, and
<br />Westborough Water District.
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