HEALDSBURG, CA — Healdsburg could claim a seat in a widening North County water debate Monday night as communities, farmers, and water agencies prepare for a future with less water historically diverted from the Eel River into the Russian River.
At the meeting tonight, Healdsburg City Council will consider appointing one of its members to regional water-resiliency discussions involving a proposed Alexander Valley Water District, or AVWD.
Cloverdale Councilmember Andrés Marquez asked Healdsburg to participate, arguing that neighboring communities should exchange information and understand one another's interests as the region confronts long-term water challenges.
The discussion comes as the proposed decommissioning of PG&E's Potter Valley Project could reduce a longtime source of water for the upper Russian River system.
The project historically moves Eel River water into the Russian River watershed, and Healdsburg has already identified the loss of those diversions as a long-term water-supply challenge.
The city has been planning additional groundwater storage, Dry Creek supplies, conservation, and other alternatives as it prepares for that change.
The Alexander Valley Water District proposal represents one response to that uncertain future.
Landowners proposed creating AVWD as a California Water District covering territory over the Alexander Valley Groundwater Basin. Healdsburg and Cloverdale would remain outside its boundaries, along with certain publicly owned lands, tribal trust lands, and other excluded areas.
Supporters want the district to give Alexander Valley landowners a public agency capable of coordinating water-sharing programs, groundwater studies and recharge, conservation, infrastructure financing, and participation in a potential new Eel River-to-Russian River diversion project. Property owners within the district could face assessments or special taxes to support its operations.
But the proposal has generated substantial controversy.
Sonoma County's Local Agency Formation Commission, or LAFCO, voted May 6 to deny formation of the district. The commission's resolution stopped the formation proceedings and generally barred proponents from submitting a substantially similar proposal involving the same territory for one year, while noting that a voter-based district would be considered different.
District proponents then asked LAFCO to reconsider.
The proponents argue that a landowner-governed district is the only viable model for the proposed territory and dispute the commission's concerns about its governance structure. They have proposed changes intended to address concerns about representation while asking LAFCO to rescind its May denial.
LAFCO staff has remained sharply critical. In an Aug. 5 report, staff recommended denying reconsideration, saying the proposal still presents unresolved questions involving governance, financing, boundaries, groundwater management, and potential water-rights conflicts.
LAFCO considered the reconsideration request Aug. 5 but continued the public hearing until Sept. 2. At that hearing, commissioners can approve the reconsideration request wholly, partially, conditionally, or with amendments, or reject it. That unresolved proceeding helps explain why Cloverdale wants Healdsburg involved now.
Cloverdale has not taken a blanket position against creating AVWD. Instead, the city says a special district could give agricultural landowners a mechanism to collectively finance infrastructure, manage water shortages, and participate in regional solutions as the Potter Valley Project disappears. At the same time, Cloverdale says the district could affect communities beyond its boundaries and wants protections attached to any approval.
Cloverdale specifically wants its territory clearly excluded from AVWD, supports prohibiting the district from independently serving as a Groundwater Sustainability Agency, and opposes allowing AVWD to serve properties outside its boundaries without additional LAFCO review.
Groundwater adds another layer to the dispute. Cloverdale argues that political boundaries cannot isolate communities from one another hydrologically. Its municipal wells draw from the Cloverdale Area Subbasin, and the city says pumping and groundwater recharge elsewhere in the basin can affect water tables on its side of a district boundary. Cloverdale has urged any new district to adopt strong water-use monitoring and data-transparency standards.
Healdsburg's connection is different but significant. The city would not become part of AVWD under the current proposal. The council also is not being asked Monday to endorse or oppose formation of the district.
Instead, Healdsburg is being asked whether it wants a council member at the table while neighboring jurisdictions discuss the larger water problem and the proposed district's place in addressing it. The city's agenda describes the item as consideration of appointing a council member to participate in regional water-resiliency dialogue and conversations surrounding AVWD.
Marquez said the discussions are not intended to persuade participating governments to support or oppose AVWD. He described their purpose as improving communication, exchanging information, and understanding neighboring communities' perspectives so they can find solutions and develop an understanding of future needs.
Cloverdale authorized Marquez in June to officially represent the city in regional water-resiliency discussions with organizations including Sonoma Water, the Russian River Property Owners Association, and the Mendocino County Inland Water and Power Commission.
Marquez has suggested those conversations could remain informal or eventually develop into a more formal regional collaboration. He told Healdsburg that participating from the beginning would ensure the city's interests are represented as those discussions evolve.
As the Potter Valley Project winds down, Healdsburg, Cloverdale, Alexander Valley agricultural users, Sonoma Water, and other regional interests must confront how less-reliable Russian River supplies, groundwater pumping, new infrastructure, water rights, conservation, and replacement water projects will fit together.
Council members will also consider expanding Healdsburg's "When the Time Comes" program, which helps residents navigate death, grief, end-of-life planning, and future-care decisions.
City staff recommends increasing consultant Taya Levine's contract as the program's Compassion Coordinator by $42,500, bringing the agreement to a maximum of $52,500, and amending the city's adopted budget.
The program grew from Senior Center staff's experience helping residents with difficult end-of-life and future-care questions. Healdsburg developed the concept with Levine, a community member and death doula, before the City Council directed staff in December 2025 to launch the pilot program.
The program has received $103,750 through foundation support, grants, donations, and endowments. Costs to date, including remaining contract commitments, total $61,181. Staff says approving Levine's additional $42,500 would leave approximately $69 of currently available program funding for other operational expenses, making continued fundraising and grant-seeking necessary.
The council will also receive a report on the controversial Hudson housing development that made its way out of the Healdsburg Planning Commission on Aug. 11.
Commissioners voted 5-0, with two members absent, to approve The Hudson at 359 Hudson St. with few major changes.
The commission also postponed consideration of an extension of time for a tasting room at 430 Foss St. until Aug. 25. At that meeting, commissioners are expected to consider the Foss Street matter, a live/work development at 444 Healdsburg Ave., and a major conditional-use permit revision at 700 Grove St.
The Aug. 17 agenda also includes an informational report on the city's 2025 electric transportation programs and charging-station fee structure, acceptance of public improvements for the North Village Project, a public hearing on weed abatement, and a council discussion of electric bicycle vouchers.
The Healdsburg City Council meets at 6 p.m. tonight, Aug. 17, in the City Hall Council Chamber, 401 Grove St.
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