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to the ratepayers resulting from combining the two entities into one new
water entity, including, but not limited to, economies of scale such that the
new water entity’s expenses will be less than the total expenses of the
individual entities.
(l) The two agencies further concluded that, given the importance of
watershed-based water resource management and local regional planning,
a single entity would build on and lead to greater success in water
conservation, groundwater management, including conjunctive management
of groundwater and surface water supplies, formation and participation in
a groundwater sustainability agency, and future recycled water expansion
across the Santa Clarita Valley.
(m) A single entity would also facilitate greater cooperation between the
new water entity, the Santa Clarita Valley Sanitation District, and the Los
Angeles County Waterworks Districts to better manage all water resources,
including stormwater, and promote stewardship of natural resources in the
Santa Clarita Valley.
(n) It is the intent of the Legislature that, following the enactment of this
act, Valencia Water Company will be dissolved and integrated into the
entity.
SEC. 1.5. Section 57114.5 of the Government Code is repealed.
SEC. 2. Section 21530 of the Public Contract Code is amended to read:
21530. The provisions of this article shall apply to contracts by the Santa
Clarita Valley Water Agency.
SEC. 3. Section 21531 of the Public Contract Code is amended to read:
21531. (a) The Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency shall have power to
prescribe methods for the construction of works and for the letting of
contracts for the construction of works, structures, or equipment, or the
performance or furnishing of labor, materials, or supplies, necessary or
convenient for carrying out any of the purposes of this act or for the
acquisition or disposal of any real or personal property; provided, that all
contracts for any improvement or unit of work, when the cost according to
the estimate of the engineer will exceed thirty thousand dollars ($30,000),
shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder or bidders as provided in this
article. The board shall first determine whether the contract shall be let as
a single unit or divided into severable parts. The board shall advertise for
bids by three insertions in a daily newspaper of general circulation published
in the agency or by two insertions in a nondaily newspaper of general
circulation published in the agency or, if no newspaper is published in the
agency, in any newspaper of general circulation distributed in the agency,
inviting sealed proposals for the construction or performance of the
improvement or work. The call for bids shall state whether the work shall
be performed in one unit or divided into parts. The work may be let under
a single contract or several contracts, as stated in the call. The board shall
require the successful bidders to file with the board good and sufficient
bonds to be approved by the board conditioned upon the faithful performance
of the contract and upon the payment of their claims for labor and material.

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