[1:39] This travel. Green.

[3:33] >> Good afternoon. Like to

[3:33] call a meeting of the Board of

[3:34] Public Utilities for the city

[3:37] of Santa Rosa to order. We MAY

[3:40] have a roll call, please.

[3:42] >> Board member right here.

[3:48] Board Eisler. Board member do

[3:48] it. PRESIDENT Board member

[3:51] been fort here, Vice chair

[3:53] Noni here and check out Let

[3:54] the record reflect all board

[3:57] members are present. Thank

[3:58] you.

[3:58] >> Any statements of

[4:03] abstention by board members?

[4:04] Okay. We have a new study

[4:05] session. We have minutes for

[4:09] the AUGUST 6th meeting. So at

[4:10] this time last the board with

[4:11] the have any changes they wish

[4:15] to make to the minutes. Seeing

[4:16] none. We'll open it up for

[4:17] public comment on the approval

[4:20] of the minutes used to make a

[4:21] public comment. Please move to

[4:25] the podium. Seeing no one

[4:26] rise. The minutes will be

[4:26] approved in and did it and

[4:29] submitted.

[4:31] >> Please show that I was not

[4:31] in attendance for that

[4:33] meetings. Thank you. Thank

[4:37] you. We have to staff

[4:43] briefings after Bourke. Thank

[4:43] you. Chair Gavin and members

[4:46] of the board are first.

[4:47] >> Staff briefing is our water

[4:51] recycle water supply update.

[4:52] And Deputy Director Peter

[4:54] Martin, deputy director water

[4:56] resources. Peter Martin and

[4:57] deputy director regional water

[4:58] reuse operations. Mike will be

[5:00] making the presentation.

[5:09] >> Good afternoon, gentleman.

[5:09] All right. Good afternoon.

[5:14] Members of the board here with

[5:14] a brief water and recycle

[5:18] water supply update for you.

[5:22] in terms of stories and Lake

[5:24] Pillsbury on the River storage

[5:28] is currently at about 41,700

[5:30] Acre Feet representing about

[5:31] 20,000 acre feet below the

[5:32] Target stores curve for this

[5:34] time of year. If you recall

[5:38] that 20,000 acre feet, he's

[5:38] lost as a result of them not

[5:41] being able to operate the

[5:43] slide. Gates and like

[5:44] Pillsbury a really it's a

[5:44] seismic issues on the part

[5:49] about project. They have taken

[5:50] some proactive measures in

[5:54] terms of requests for relief

[5:54] in the form of productions and

[5:58] flow and delivery through the

[6:02] project to the upper Russian

[6:04] River that will allow them to

[6:08] manage storage adequately and

[6:10] their goal for the target is

[6:12] to retain at least 20,000 to

[6:12] 30,000 acre feet of water body

[6:18] into the water year. And I say

[6:23] they I mean, so. And just to

[6:27] And Lake Mendocino again, just

[6:28] mostly good news in terms of

[6:32] storage on the Russian River.

[6:33] They are operating under what

[6:35] is termed to dry conditions

[6:41] for water rights the required

[6:42] fish flows. As of today,

[6:43] there's about 68,000 acre feet

[6:46] of Water. Lake Mendocino.

[6:47] Which is about 61% of

[6:50] available water supply for

[6:51] that reservoir. They

[6:52] anticipate based on their

[6:54] modeling that there will be

[6:56] approximately 55,000 acre feet

[7:00] of water in that reservoir by

[7:01] OCTOBER one, leaving decent

[7:02] amount of water through carry

[7:07] over through the winter. In

[7:08] terms of storage and Lake

[7:10] summit where we get our

[7:13] contractual supplies very full

[7:17] at about 242,000 acre feet. Of

[7:18] today, those levels are

[7:20] dropping about 2000 acre feet

[7:22] per week. I think the last

[7:25] update we gave you, we let you

[7:28] know you know, there's a time

[7:32] when the Army Corps operating

[7:33] the releases of that reservoir

[7:35] when it is above gray line and

[7:36] they're operating in what's

[7:38] considered the flood control

[7:40] storage pool that was handed

[7:43] over to water for

[7:44] decision-making and releases

[7:45] are, you know, basically last

[7:48] month. And this is the latest

[7:50] time in the year that that's

[7:51] ever occurred and its

[7:57] operations since 93. And then

[8:00] just a real brief You have

[8:01] been hearing from my colleague

[8:06] Lisa Quayle r about outreach

[8:07] to the community that's being

[8:08] affected by the state's

[8:10] non-functional turf

[8:14] regulation. Just so, you

[8:15] letters will be going out to

[8:17] the community for all the

[8:18] identified accounts over the

[8:21] next course of the next couple

[8:23] months. Well, but now out in

[8:24] batches about 100 letters will

[8:27] be going out this week. So

[8:29] with that, we have putting

[8:32] together additional resources

[8:33] for those customers who MAY be

[8:36] affected by the regulation.

[8:39] And we will be redacted to

[8:39] directing folks to the city's

[8:41] web page, which is sr City Dot

[8:45] org, slash in Ft and also have

[8:47] a special e-mail inbox for

[8:47] those inquiries at ft at sr

[8:50] City Dot Org. So again, just

[8:53] trying to support our

[8:54] customers throughout this new

[8:57] regulation requirements around

[8:58] than on irrigation of

[9:06] non-functional turf. That

[9:15] concludes my portion of

[9:16] afternoon. Chair gala members

[9:17] aboard Mike Prinz deputy

[9:18] director regional water reuse

[9:20] operations for a quick.

[9:22] >> Update on recycle water

[9:24] storage. This is a chart

[9:25] you've seen many versions of

[9:26] in the past. I would draw your

[9:29] attention to the red plot,

[9:30] which is the current water

[9:30] years. Recycle water storage

[9:34] trend. Focusing on the right

[9:38] hand half of the plot. You can

[9:39] see the red trend relative to

[9:40] last year's trend, which is

[9:44] black there are some changes

[9:47] mostly attributable to the

[9:51] geysers, a maintenance

[9:52] shutdown last year. The trend

[9:55] during the shutdown was

[9:57] basically level this year. We

[9:58] notice, as you can see in the

[9:58] red trend, an increase in

[10:03] storage. That I would

[10:04] attribute most likely to a

[10:08] relatively mild summer and

[10:09] associated lower irrigation

[10:12] demand during the shutdown.

[10:13] Nonetheless, the systems back

[10:15] online and store it is coming

[10:17] down mostly due to geysers

[10:18] flow. But there is some

[10:23] irrigation happening as well.

[10:25] Moving on. I want to highlight

[10:25] something that came to light

[10:26] during the guys are shut down.

[10:30] We were notified by Vineyard

[10:33] owner of recycled water. The

[10:35] leak did not reach any waters

[10:36] of the state. It's soaked into

[10:39] the ground, but it was at an

[10:39] air release valve and the

[10:43] Alexander Valley area. This

[10:45] map just shows the top end of

[10:47] the geysers system north of

[10:49] Healdsburg and the red acts as

[10:49] you would expect is where the

[10:54] leak was detected. And this

[10:56] image shows the entire

[10:58] high-pressure length of the

[10:59] pipeline Pine Flat Road up to

[11:05] the terminal tank. Riviere

[11:06] released found that was

[11:07] leaking was not in the

[11:08] high-pressure part of the

[11:09] pipeline. It's in the

[11:12] relatively flat section before

[11:17] Bear Canyon. And this is a

[11:19] picture of actually, I believe

[11:21] it's in isolation valve Hall,

[11:22] which is the rectangular

[11:24] concrete surface. There. And

[11:27] then release valves in the

[11:29] circular. All right. Next to

[11:30] it. You can see some of water

[11:33] that had leaked out on the

[11:35] ground and it actually had

[11:36] floated short distance over

[11:37] land and soaked into the

[11:39] ground slightly down gradient

[11:42] from where this picture was

[11:43] taken inside the valve. All

[11:47] you can see on the left-hand

[11:47] side, the spray coming out

[11:51] from air released out the leak

[11:52] actually was occurring in the

[11:54] riser or the pipe that comes

[11:57] up from the flan The plant is

[12:01] actually part of the pipeline

[12:02] and the leak was in a really

[12:04] problematic location in that

[12:06] it was right next to a

[12:08] Flanders. So we could easily

[12:09] put what's referred to as a

[12:11] full circle clamp on the riser

[12:15] to seal off the leak things

[12:18] were a little more complicated

[12:19] because room we attempted to

[12:20] stop the leak so repair could

[12:23] be put into effect isolation

[12:26] to isolation valves. We're not

[12:27] ceding properly. That's what

[12:28] we've been able to determine

[12:30] so far. Anyway. And so we

[12:31] couldn't pressurize that

[12:34] section of the pipeline. So

[12:35] fortunately, during the course

[12:36] of the shutdown, we had our on

[12:39] call contractor come out and

[12:43] weld essentially Cannes over

[12:44] the air b and effectively

[12:48] temporarily abandon it era

[12:49] least 1000, allow air to leave

[12:51] the pipeline because you do

[12:53] get certain amounts of air

[12:56] inside a pipeline and air bees

[12:58] allow that to be purged

[12:59] essentially automatically. So

[13:00] we are going to have to come

[13:03] back and fix this permanently.

[13:04] In order to do that. We are

[13:07] engaging a contractor to help

[13:08] us diagnose what MAY need to

[13:12] happen to tune the isolation

[13:12] valves and get them to see

[13:13] properly so that we can

[13:16] disassemble that equipment and

[13:17] replace it. Essentially 2 d

[13:19] pressurize that section the

[13:21] pipeline. So obviously on the

[13:22] left-hand side, that's the

[13:23] leak. When discovered in on

[13:24] the right hand side, that's

[13:26] the temporary repair

[13:29] afterwards. The green hose in

[13:30] the photograph on the left is

[13:32] just a section line for a

[13:33] pump, 2 d water so he could

[13:36] get down to the equipment and

[13:42] investigate what was going on.

[13:43] With that. That's all I have

[13:43] for today. And Peter and I are

[13:45] available for questions.

[13:47] >> Thank you both, gentlemen.

[13:50] Board member do it. Yes, sir.

[13:50] Thank you for that report on

[13:52] the temporary patch. How long

[13:54] do you think it will take for

[13:57] this to be resolved? You think

[13:58] there's any kind of a price

[13:59] estimate because we're using

[14:03] an outside source.

[14:04] >> I was asked to me, it MAY

[14:05] take between 2 and 3 months. I

[14:06] don't I don't think that's

[14:09] going to be a problem.

[14:11] >> I don't yet what the

[14:12] conclusion is going to be

[14:13] about the isolation valves. So

[14:14] that's a little up in the air.

[14:18] >> In terms of cost, I think

[14:19] fixing the air via itself is

[14:20] going to be pretty

[14:21] straightforward because we'll

[14:22] just remove the Flanders and

[14:25] rv from the pipeline have a

[14:26] new one ready to go in. I

[14:28] estimate that that's going to

[14:32] be less than $10,000. Ballpark

[14:35] figure in terms the isolation

[14:36] valves. I'm hoping that it MAY

[14:38] just be an adjustment on the

[14:41] bout stop to get the valve to

[14:42] were completely. I would

[14:43] expect that to be very

[14:46] expensive at all. I'm hoping

[14:46] that's what the issue is. But

[14:47] right now, we don't know for

[14:49] sure.

[14:50] >> Thank you, sir. Good to

[14:53] have hope. Other board member

[14:55] questions or comments. Board

[14:59] member of Fort.

[15:01] >> Thank you both for deputy

[15:03] director Martin. I'm maybe 15

[15:05] 72 on the non-functional turf,

[15:07] which is our entire life what

[15:13] seems like one, thank you for

[15:15] the deliberate and thoughtful

[15:15] outreach to customers. I think

[15:17] it will be very, very, very

[15:19] helpful and useful because I

[15:19] think it is just by nature,

[15:22] not the clearest definition in

[15:23] the world. And there's a lot

[15:28] of exemptions. You mention

[15:29] you're going to do kind of

[15:32] like a a staggered outreach of

[15:34] letters that 100 per week are

[15:35] going. Do we know about how

[15:36] many accounts are going to be

[15:39] affected by this?

[15:40] >> Yeah. As of now the list of

[15:44] Miller's is just center 1000

[15:45] is my understanding. You know

[15:46] that accounts for the fact

[15:50] that there are people who are,

[15:52] you know, Leaseholders are,

[15:53] you actually on site. And

[15:54] then, of course, you know, the

[15:55] business owners that MAY be

[15:57] perhaps out of state as well.

[15:59] So there are some duplicate of

[16:03] reporting for maybe some, you

[16:04] there was a lot of ground

[16:05] writhing in that to make sure

[16:09] we tried to assign you know,

[16:10] it's through imagery and

[16:11] different things. Of course,

[16:15] too, as well are, you And so

[16:16] there was actually some ground

[16:18] writhing to go look and But if

[16:19] there is a possibility that,

[16:21] you know, somebody MAY get

[16:22] notified and accurately, it's

[16:24] hard to tell, you know. And

[16:25] which side is attached to

[16:27] which meter. But, you know, we

[16:27] did definitely do everything

[16:30] we could to try to cast a

[16:31] broad net, not regard so.

[16:33] >> Testing. I think it

[16:37] actually to have notification

[16:37] going out to maybe multiple

[16:41] contacts on the account might

[16:42] actually be helpful because I

[16:43] think one situation we might

[16:45] run into is

[16:48] >> potentially that that. The

[16:50] person, the customer that we

[16:51] have might not have any

[16:52] control over what actually

[16:53] happens on site with that

[16:55] landscaping. And so I think

[16:57] the more information, the

[16:59] better the department has done

[17:01] a tremendous job preparing for

[17:03] will be interested to here

[17:05] back how it's going. So

[17:06] appreciate everything you guys

[17:07] have done to prep and rule

[17:11] out. Thank you.

[17:14] >> Remember, do it? Yes. Thank

[17:15] you for those comments. And

[17:16] I'd like to follow up a member

[17:20] of that subcommittee. Also,

[17:21] school districts basically can

[17:24] about under themselves and

[17:26] ours. Roseland Wastewater.

[17:29] Basically they've got

[17:29] non-functional turf in front

[17:33] of the schools. 2 or 3 of them

[17:34] water runs out onto the

[17:35] sidewalk. A lot all kind of

[17:39] stuff like that. So I do hope

[17:40] you can reaffirmed to school

[17:41] districts should be nice if

[17:41] they help with the state law.

[17:46] Thank you. Other board member

[17:49] questions or comments. Wright

[17:50] will open up for public

[17:53] comment on

[17:54] >> item 6.1 2, which makes a

[17:57] comment. I see someone at the

[17:59] podium. If you give us your

[17:59] name, please and wait for the

[18:02] timer to start. Good

[18:05] afternoon. My name is Fred.

[18:06] All regarding the before and

[18:08] after pictures of the air

[18:11] release Valve would like to

[18:12] >> compliment the photographer

[18:14] on the after picture. It's

[18:18] particularly well framed.

[18:20] Well, composed. That's a great

[18:21] picture that could go on. The

[18:23] wall of some buddies office.

[18:24] So whoever took that picture,

[18:27] my compliments.

[18:28] >> I have a feeling it was

[18:32] Deputy Director Prince. It was

[18:34] not but I will ask the of

[18:35] though. I agree. It's a great

[18:37] picture. Thanks. Any other

[18:40] public comments. Very good.

[18:44] That'll take care our staff

[18:46] briefing. 6.1 will now move to

[18:46] 6.2.

[18:51] >> Director Burke. Thank you.

[18:54] Chair governor members of the

[18:55] board item 6.2 is our

[18:57] efficient fixtures, direct

[19:00] installation program update.

[19:01] And Lisa Queen Laura

[19:02] sustainability coordinator for

[19:03] water use efficiency. We'll

[19:06] make the presentation. Welcome

[19:11] to square.

[19:12] >> Thank you. Good afternoon,

[19:13] chair Galvin and members of

[19:13] the

[19:14] >> Ford.

[19:17] >> And you'll see on this. A

[19:21] title slide that Joan of who

[19:24] is a warning sufficiency

[19:24] civics park follow is supposed

[19:26] to be here Co presenting with

[19:29] me today. Unfortunately, she

[19:30] is ill and couldn't be here.

[19:33] And if I MAY, I just want to

[19:34] pause and acknowledge Gianna

[19:36] and the work, the significant

[19:37] work she contributed to the

[19:38] program. I'm about to share

[19:41] with you all. If you're not

[19:43] familiar, the Civics Park

[19:45] fellowship is a competitive

[19:48] fellowship sponsored by us.

[19:49] AmeriCorps and the police's

[19:51] recent college graduates at

[19:54] civic institutions or

[19:55] nonprofits to further their

[19:57] planning initiatives and

[19:59] resiliency initiatives. It

[20:00] also is a great opportunity

[20:03] for career development and

[20:04] local workforce development

[20:06] and me want to really

[20:08] acknowledge the work Gianna

[20:11] put into contributing to this

[20:13] program. She helped it move

[20:15] along very seamlessly and

[20:16] offered excellent customer

[20:18] service for. Customers

[20:24] throughout our service area.

[20:26] Okay. So to jump into the

[20:27] specifics, the U.S. Bureau of

[20:29] Reclamation, Water, Smart

[20:30] Water and Energy efficiency

[20:34] Grant program provided funding

[20:35] for projects that result in

[20:39] quantifiable, water savings

[20:40] plummet renewable energy

[20:42] components and support fraud

[20:46] or sustainability initiatives.

[20:47] And on FEBRUARY 16th of 2024,

[20:49] reclamation and Sonoma Water

[20:50] executed a grant agreement and

[20:51] the amount of 2 million

[20:55] dollars. And Sonoma water

[20:58] acting as a pastor entity

[20:59] administered the grant for 11

[21:01] participating agencies. Those

[21:03] are 11 water contractors of

[21:03] Sonoma water that included the

[21:09] city of Santa Rosa. Sonoma

[21:10] Water and the participating

[21:12] agencies contributed an

[21:12] additional 2.4 million

[21:13] dollars. So bringing the

[21:17] total. Project cost to 4.4

[21:24] million. In JULY of 2014, the

[21:25] Board of Public Utilities did

[21:27] approve a funding agreement

[21:28] between Sonoma Water and the

[21:30] city of Santa Rosa. And the

[21:33] amount of 1.8 million dollars

[21:35] to fund what we refer to as

[21:37] the efficient fixture direct

[21:40] installation program in Santa

[21:41] Rosa's. 55% match was just

[21:45] under a million dollars. The

[21:47] grant was from FEBRUARY of

[21:48] 2024. And it terminates at the

[21:54] end of next month. The

[21:55] efficient fixture direct

[21:58] insulation program essentially

[22:00] utilized contracted plumbers

[22:01] to install ultra-high aficion

[22:05] toilets at qualifying homes

[22:07] and where feasible they would

[22:10] also install low-flow

[22:10] showerheads, bathroom and

[22:13] kitchen readers. This was a

[22:16] completely free service

[22:17] offered to our custom

[22:18] customers, things to the

[22:20] bureau funding and are 55%

[22:21] match. It was available to

[22:23] single family and multifamily

[22:27] water, sewer customers. And

[22:29] any old toilets that were

[22:35] replaced were recycled. The

[22:37] program. Include the

[22:38] following. So to qualify, the

[22:39] toilet have to flush that 1.6

[22:43] gallons or greater and they

[22:46] were those high flush toilets

[22:47] were replaced the Niagara

[22:48] Stealth toilet, which is an

[22:51] ultra high efficient model

[22:52] that flushes that 0.8 gallons

[22:55] per flush. It is. Those models

[22:56] are indeed epa water cents

[23:01] certified. And then the low

[23:02] flow fixtures that went in the

[23:03] shower heads, you know, the

[23:04] flow rate was 1.5 gallons per

[23:06] minute and the readers range

[23:06] from one to 1.5 gallons per

[23:14] minute. So Santa Rosa water,

[23:18] the water sufficiency team

[23:19] selected 3 contracted

[23:20] plumbers. They went through a

[23:23] pretty rigorous screening

[23:26] process. These they were

[23:27] dispatched to approved

[23:28] applications came through to

[23:31] do the installations, our

[23:32] water use efficiency team

[23:34] would review the application

[23:36] and of evaluate each

[23:38] individually either through

[23:40] pictures, some medals and

[23:41] sometimes they had to go and

[23:41] do actual in-person site

[23:44] visits. And then following

[23:47] approval of the selected.

[23:49] Palmer would go in and do the

[23:50] installation approximately

[23:51] within 2 weeks of the

[23:54] application being approved. I

[23:57] do know that some board

[23:58] members participated in that

[23:59] program had heard some

[24:01] positive feedback. I'm glad.

[24:02] You were able to it. Take

[24:10] advantage of that benefit. We

[24:11] did engage in a pretty robust

[24:15] customer outreach efforts that

[24:16] included distribution of water

[24:17] bill inserts to all accounts

[24:21] approximately 54,000 water

[24:22] customer counts are at the

[24:23] service area, were notified of

[24:25] the opportunity. We send post

[24:26] cards to targeted

[24:30] neighborhoods, posters and

[24:31] information were left at

[24:32] libraries and community

[24:35] centers our City Connection

[24:36] Online newsletter, which has

[24:38] over 100,000 subscribers, ran

[24:39] promotional materials a few

[24:43] times we have targeted Adams

[24:46] to direct outreach to

[24:49] multi-family residential

[24:49] properties, tabled several

[24:50] city-sponsored and local

[24:51] events like the Saint Patty's

[24:54] 5 k. Ron Earth Day event.

[24:56] Watersmart Expo and then we

[24:59] did top are community

[25:00] engagement manager to

[25:01] distribute promotional

[25:02] materials. Many community

[25:07] events. This is just an

[25:09] example. The latest postcard

[25:10] that was sent out to customers

[25:11] English from one side Spanish

[25:13] on the other. A quick scan of

[25:15] the qr code would take you to

[25:17] the application. You can see

[25:19] we're really trying to impress

[25:20] upon folks supplies are

[25:22] running out and to take

[25:28] advantage while they can.

[25:29] Regarding the additional

[25:30] targeted neighborhood

[25:31] outreach. We did focus on

[25:33] neighborhoods that have

[25:33] historically low water use

[25:35] efficiency program,

[25:36] participation or neighborhoods

[25:38] with older homes where the

[25:41] toilets were likely to be

[25:42] those higher flush toilets

[25:43] with significant water saving

[25:43] potential once they were

[25:49] replaced. So all in all the

[25:52] slide was completed before it

[25:55] got the recent totals. We've

[25:57] actually met our quota. We

[25:58] have assigned all 2,500

[26:02] toilets for installation. So

[26:03] the the applications actually

[26:05] close this week as we do want

[26:06] to short waiting list. And in

[26:09] case a few folks to drop out.

[26:12] So 2,500 toilets gone by the

[26:13] end of SEPTEMBER, they will

[26:16] all be in and over

[26:18] one-thousand low-flow fixtures

[26:19] were installed at

[26:20] approximately 1200 residential

[26:21] accounts across our service

[26:24] area. The water savings are

[26:26] pretty significant on an

[26:26] annual basis. 5.8 million

[26:30] gallons of water per year. The

[26:31] life of the toilets are

[26:34] estimated to be about 15

[26:35] years. So again, significant

[26:37] water savings. For this

[26:42] program. And that concludes my

[26:43] staff briefing. I'm happy

[26:44] field any questions from the

[26:50] board. Thank Great program.

[26:51] >> I participated in it was

[26:52] very, very seamless. Very

[26:55] smooth. Board member questions

[26:59] or comments. Remember, do it?

[27:00] >> Yes, thank you for the good

[27:02] presentation and thank you for

[27:03] the information. The overhead

[27:05] photo of that additional

[27:09] neighborhood that has problem.

[27:10] It's right next to a county

[27:12] island Clover Drive. Their

[27:17] homes are all also. Is there a

[27:17] opportunities where people in

[27:19] the county islands that MAY be

[27:20] annexed into the city in the

[27:22] future can participate in a

[27:25] Santa Rosa program like this

[27:26] this things done now and just

[27:27] have to wait to the county

[27:31] comes up with something.

[27:33] >> As of this program is we as

[27:34] a noted, all toilets have been

[27:35] assigned to program about to

[27:38] sunset our programs typically

[27:42] require that you be a Santa

[27:44] Rosa water, water sewer

[27:45] customer to qualify. But

[27:47] usually the bass requirements.

[27:51] So as long as somebody meets

[27:52] those requirements and then in

[27:52] the case of toilets, you had

[27:55] to have a high flush toilet.

[27:56] All programs are different,

[27:57] have different qualifying

[28:00] criteria, but as long as you

[28:01] have a service account with

[28:04] the city water sewer, you can

[28:04] participate.

[28:05] >> Thank you for that.

[28:06] Clarification is because many

[28:08] of these people have wells and

[28:08] to hear that you can do if you

[28:09] have sewer connection with the

[28:10] city. I appreciate that might

[28:14] not. The board member

[28:18] questions or comments. All

[28:19] right. We'll open up for

[28:22] public comment on item 6.2

[28:23] viewers to make a public

[28:23] comment. Please move to the

[28:27] podium. Seeing no one rise

[28:29] that will take care 6.2. We

[28:32] have. One item on the consent

[28:36] calendar. I move adoption of

[28:44] the consent items a second. A

[28:45] motion by vice chair and only

[28:48] seconded by board member right

[28:49] this time will open up for

[28:51] public comments on item number

[28:56] 7.1. Seeing no one rise. Have

[29:01] a roll call vote. Please.

[29:01] >> Remember, right? Remember

[29:06] my slur. Board member do it.

[29:11] Yes. Board member Ben Fort. I

[29:12] Vice Chair Tony, I and Chair

[29:13] Gavin, I let the record

[29:14] reflect that the consent

[29:15] calendar passes unanimously.

[29:19] Thank you.

[29:20] >> We have a couple report.

[29:22] Items will take item 8.1 0st

[29:27] Director Burke.

[29:29] >> Thank you. Chair Gavin and

[29:29] members of the board. Our

[29:33] first item is our clean water

[29:36] state revolving fund

[29:37] application and water,

[29:39] infrastructure Finance and

[29:39] Innovation Act letter of

[29:42] interest and loan application

[29:44] for the Fulton Road Sewer Lift

[29:50] Station relocation, Project. I

[29:51] think it's our longest title

[29:54] making the presentation will

[29:57] be Katie Robinson, our

[29:57] administrative analyst with

[29:59] our Administrative Division.

[30:09] Welcome MISS Robinson. Thank

[30:12] you. Director Burke. Good

[30:12] afternoon. Chair Galvin

[30:16] members of the board. My name

[30:18] is Katie Robinson and I am and

[30:19] administrative analysts with

[30:19] Santa Rosa Water's budget and

[30:22] finance team.

[30:24] >> I'm here today to present

[30:26] Santa Rosa water's financing

[30:27] applications for the Fulton

[30:27] Rose Sewer Lift Station

[30:31] relocation project. Including

[30:32] an application to the Clean

[30:34] water state revolving funds to

[30:35] the state water Resources

[30:38] Control board. As well as a

[30:40] letter of interest and loan

[30:42] application for the water,

[30:43] infrastructure, Finance and

[30:45] Innovation Act program through

[30:45] the U.S. Environmental

[30:52] Protection Agency. So they all

[30:54] provide some background on the

[30:55] funding programs. Give a brief

[30:57] overview of the project,

[31:00] discuss the financing. Details

[31:01] and then conclude with staff's

[31:07] recommendation. The Clean

[31:10] water State revolving funds or

[31:14] cw srf is a federally funded

[31:14] program and ministered in

[31:15] California by the state Water

[31:18] Resources Control Board. It

[31:19] was created through the 1987

[31:20] amendments to the Clean Water

[31:23] Act. As a low interest

[31:24] financing program for water

[31:28] infrastructure projects. Since

[31:29] then, it has helped

[31:31] communities from the

[31:31] construction and improvement

[31:32] of wastewater treatment

[31:33] facilities through long-term

[31:37] below market rate loans. The

[31:39] cw sr of programs operate much

[31:41] like thinks federal and state

[31:43] funding is used to capitalize

[31:46] the programs which then

[31:46] provide low-interest loans for

[31:47] important water, quality

[31:50] projects. As those loans are

[31:53] repaid over terms of up to 30

[31:55] years, the funds are recycled

[31:56] back into the program to

[31:56] support future water, quality

[31:57] and public health

[32:01] improvements. In addition to

[32:05] the cws rf program, the epa

[32:07] and ministers, the water,

[32:07] infrastructure, finance.

[32:08] Finance and Innovation Act or

[32:13] with program. Established in

[32:16] 2014 with provide supplemental

[32:18] flexible low-cost financing

[32:18] for lower large water

[32:21] infrastructure projects. With

[32:23] the loans can cover up to 49%

[32:24] of eligible project costs and

[32:26] can be paired with other

[32:27] funding sources, including

[32:28] state revolving fund

[32:35] assistance. For this project.

[32:37] Those financing programs

[32:37] provide an opportunity to

[32:39] address some significant

[32:40] challenges with the existing

[32:40] Fulton Road Sewer Lift

[32:45] Station. The Fulton Road Sewer

[32:46] Lift Station has reached the

[32:47] end of its useful service life

[32:48] and needs to be relocated and

[32:52] rebuilt. This project is a key

[32:53] part of improving reliability

[32:55] and reducing the risk of sewer

[32:56] overflows during emergencies

[33:00] and severe weather events. The

[33:01] station conveys a large

[33:03] portion of the city sewer flow

[33:04] between major sewer trunk. So

[33:05] taking it offline for

[33:06] demolition and reconstruction

[33:09] would create operational

[33:09] challenges and require

[33:13] extensive bypass pumping.

[33:14] Rebuilding on the existing

[33:16] site would also require

[33:16] construction of a new store

[33:17] force. Main been the center is

[33:21] a creek. In addition, the

[33:22] current site is too small to

[33:23] adequately support regular

[33:23] operation and maintenance

[33:27] activities. The upgraded

[33:28] station will improve

[33:29] resilience to future

[33:31] challenges, including power

[33:33] outages, flooding and seismic

[33:35] activity while also supporting

[33:36] increased system capacity and

[33:42] overall system performance.

[33:44] The total estimated cost of

[33:45] the project. It's

[33:47] approximately 35 million

[33:49] dollars to fund the project.

[33:51] Santa Rosa Water is seeking a

[33:52] combination of financing

[33:52] through to water

[33:55] infrastructure loan programs.

[33:57] A 17.1 5 million dollar with

[33:59] the loan and a 17.0.

[34:01] 85 million Dollar cw, srf

[34:02] loan, both to be repaid over

[34:07] 30 years. The with program

[34:08] provides flexible low-cost

[34:09] financing that helps reduce

[34:10] the need for cash funding up

[34:14] front. One of the major

[34:14] benefits is that repayment

[34:16] terms can be customized to

[34:17] align with projected revenue

[34:18] revenues for up to 30 years

[34:22] after project completion. And

[34:22] payments can even be deferred

[34:23] for up to 5 years after

[34:27] completion. The with interest

[34:28] rate is based on the U.S.

[34:30] Treasury rate at the time of

[34:31] closing and is calculated

[34:32] using the weighted average

[34:34] life or wall of the loan

[34:35] rather than the final maturity

[34:39] date. Because the wall is

[34:40] generally shorter than the

[34:41] full long-term. This remote

[34:42] result in a lower overall

[34:46] interest rate. The cw srf

[34:47] program also offers long-term

[34:50] financing of up to 30 years

[34:51] with no maximum funding cap

[34:52] and highly competitive

[34:54] interest rates. The current

[34:57] rate is calculated. Half of

[34:59] the average general obligation

[35:01] bond rate with the current job

[35:05] and re at 4.71%. The resulting

[35:06] cw srf interest rate would be

[35:11] approximately 2.3, 5, 5%. For

[35:12] loans. Interest rates are

[35:15] locked in at closing and

[35:16] interest does not begin

[35:16] accruing until funds are

[35:17] actually drawn for the

[35:19] project. This means the city

[35:20] does not pay interest on funds

[35:24] that have not yet been drawn.

[35:26] Together. These programs

[35:27] provide a long-term financing.

[35:29] Protests that supports the

[35:30] pride's project. Well,

[35:31] minimizing the need for

[35:33] upfront cash. One thing to

[35:35] note is that the with the loan

[35:38] program includes federal equal

[35:39] employment opportunity

[35:40] requirements that contain some

[35:41] terms requiring further

[35:44] review. The city attorney's

[35:45] office will review those

[35:46] requirements in detail prior

[35:46] to final applications and that

[35:53] all. So based on that, it is

[35:54] recommended by Santa Rosa

[35:55] water that the board of Public

[35:58] Utilities by motion recommend

[36:01] that the City council

[36:02] authorize the submission of a

[36:03] financial assistance

[36:05] application. So the state

[36:06] Water Resources Control Board

[36:06] for Clean Water State

[36:10] revolving fund financing and a

[36:11] letter of interest and loan

[36:12] application to the U.S.

[36:14] Environmental Protection

[36:15] Agency for Water,

[36:16] Infrastructure, Finance and

[36:20] Innovation Act financing and

[36:20] authorize the city manager or

[36:22] designee to represent the city

[36:23] in connection with the

[36:24] financing agreements,

[36:27] including taking all necessary

[36:28] actions to execute and

[36:29] administer the agreements and

[36:31] any amendments there, too.

[36:32] Thank you for your time be

[36:36] happy to answer any questions.

[36:37] Thank you very much. Very

[36:38] complete presentation board

[36:40] member questions or comments.

[36:44] >> Vice Chair Tony. This is

[36:45] just take comment that I want

[36:47] express my appreciation for

[36:47] the fact

[36:48] >> that you did not write down

[36:53] all the tax that you spoke.

[36:54] Because I think that's what at

[36:56] this hour presentation is

[36:58] supposed to structured so that

[36:58] its not just a matter of

[36:59] reading the tax and you did a

[37:02] very good job separating the

[37:02] titles from the text. And I

[37:03] just want express my

[37:07] appreciation. Thank you. The

[37:08] board member questions or

[37:12] comments.

[37:13] >> All right. We'll open up

[37:18] for public comment on. Item.

[37:20] Number 8.2 Any public

[37:23] comments. If not, we'll

[37:28] entertain a motion.

[37:29] >> Okay. We have another long

[37:32] one

[37:35] >> I will move that the board

[37:36] of Public recommend that the

[37:39] City Council authorized the

[37:40] submission of a financial

[37:41] assistance application. The

[37:43] state Water Resources Control

[37:45] Board for Clean water State

[37:46] revolving fund financing and a

[37:50] letter of interest. And loan

[37:53] application to the U.S.

[37:54] Environmental Protections,

[37:56] Protection Agency for Water,

[37:57] Infrastructure, Finance and

[38:00] Innovation Act financing. And

[38:01] now author eyes the city

[38:02] manager or designee to

[38:04] represent the city in connect

[38:07] shun with financing

[38:08] agreements, including taking

[38:12] all actions necessary to

[38:12] execute and administer the

[38:13] agreements and any amendments

[38:21] there, too. A rush for the

[38:25] second. We have a motion by

[38:25] board member, right? Seconded

[38:28] by board member bad in Fort.

[38:28] We have a roll call vote.

[38:32] Please.

[38:35] >> Board member right eye.

[38:41] Board Eisler. Board member do

[38:42] it. Yes. Board member Ben

[38:44] Fort. I Vice Chair Tony. I

[38:45] check of an eye. Let the

[38:48] record reflect that motion

[38:51] passes unanimously. Thank you

[38:55] again for the presentation.

[38:57] We'll move to item 8.2.

[39:01] Director Burke.

[39:02] >> Thank you. Chair governor

[39:04] members of the board item 8.2

[39:05] is an update to the joint

[39:07] exercise of Powers Agreement.

[39:09] First, Santa Rosa, Plain

[39:09] groundwater sustainability

[39:13] agency. And Peter Martin,

[39:14] deputy director water

[39:14] resources will be making a

[39:22] presentation. Come back. Yeah,

[39:22] thank you.

[39:24] >> Chair governor members of

[39:27] the board a brief but very

[39:31] important item for you today

[39:34] to just a little background

[39:39] Ifill. Let me the And 2014,

[39:40] the state legislature passed a

[39:44] suite of bills which are known

[39:45] as the Sustainable Groundwater

[39:45] Management Act are

[39:52] colloquially as Sigma and it

[39:53] was in response to declining

[39:54] groundwater levels. Water,

[39:57] quality issues, subsidence

[39:58] throughout various groundwater

[39:59] basins in the is particularly

[40:01] in the Central Valley of

[40:06] concern. There was risk of

[40:07] irreparable damage to some of

[40:07] the groundwater basins

[40:08] throughout the state. So

[40:12] something had to be done. This

[40:14] regulation was created and one

[40:15] of the important pieces that

[40:18] made it unique was that they

[40:20] require the formation of what

[40:23] was called groundwater

[40:24] sustainability agencies and

[40:27] the intent of that was to give

[40:30] local control to the entities

[40:34] and a chart out future in

[40:34] terms of achieving

[40:35] sustainability for all these

[40:36] groundwater basins throughout

[40:40] the state. And so, you know,

[40:43] empowered folks with land use

[40:45] jurisdiction, water

[40:47] authorities to form these

[40:49] entities and they had to be

[40:51] formed by 2017, which was no

[40:54] small undertaking. I Director

[40:56] Burke spent years point

[40:57] together. This train Powers

[40:58] Authority agreement to which

[41:02] you are evaluating today. So

[41:04] yes, the Santa Rosa Plain

[41:05] Groner stimulation see was a

[41:06] joint powers authority formed

[41:11] in 2017 pursuant to Sigma.

[41:15] They manage over 78,000 acres

[41:18] of area with about 5,000

[41:20] wells. If you're looking for

[41:22] trivia fact for your next

[41:24] dinner party, I recently found

[41:25] out that there are over 45,000

[41:27] wells in Sonoma County making

[41:29] it the most well as per capita

[41:30] of any county in California.

[41:41] So the governance of ground

[41:42] are saying the agency is

[41:43] comprised of a board of

[41:47] directors of the. You know,

[41:50] initial members of the Joint

[41:50] Powers Authority with

[41:51] representatives from the

[41:54] various cities and the town of

[41:55] Windsor, as well as the county

[41:59] of Sonoma and water. And also

[42:01] there is a seat for event in

[42:02] water systems. Those being

[42:03] entities that are not

[42:09] privately water companies.

[42:10] There is a administration

[42:12] comprised of staff and

[42:14] consultants who are carrying

[42:15] out the various activities of

[42:16] the groundwater Stanley

[42:19] Agency, as well as an advisory

[42:22] committee comprised not only

[42:23] the entities and that are and

[42:25] comprise the board, but also

[42:29] special interests, including

[42:30] agricultural community Rove,

[42:31] residential areas, business

[42:32] and enter environmental

[42:34] interests as well table for

[42:34] the tribal interest in the

[42:37] basin as well. Your

[42:38] representatives for the city

[42:40] are listed on the left,

[42:48] including myself. So just the

[42:49] authorities of a groundwater

[42:49] Stanley agency, really a hard

[42:52] look. 2 things. It's a

[42:53] quantity and quality of the

[42:57] activities in the basin. So

[43:00] making sure that the quantity

[43:01] of water does not diminish

[43:02] over the horizon of the 20

[43:05] year planning period as well

[43:05] as making sure the activities

[43:08] to not result in any

[43:10] deleterious water. Quality

[43:14] effects. So there gsa is are

[43:15] empowered to conduct studies

[43:17] register and monitor various

[43:21] wells can require groundwater

[43:24] extraction reports regulate

[43:25] groundwater extraction and

[43:26] assess fees to cover the costs

[43:32] for operating the agency. So

[43:34] we're in the 3rd phase of the

[43:35] steps to sustainability by the

[43:41] year 2040. Step 1, 1, of

[43:42] course, was to form the going

[43:45] or sustainably agency. A plan

[43:48] was adopted to and 20 to. 22

[43:49] and we are off and

[43:51] implementing and trying to

[43:51] achieve a long-term

[43:56] sustainability for the base.

[43:58] So a little background on the

[44:00] Joint Powers Authority

[44:01] Agreement has not been

[44:02] modified since it first became

[44:05] infected in 27 teen with the

[44:06] exception of adding this a

[44:09] basketball in 2019, the board

[44:13] of directors, as you know.

[44:16] Time progresses. Things evolve

[44:17] has identified various

[44:20] efficiencies and needs to

[44:22] conduct business for the

[44:23] agency and a more efficient

[44:24] given that they are collecting

[44:27] fees from different next

[44:29] tractors and gave direction to

[44:31] the administrative staff to

[44:32] facilitate amendments to the

[44:34] jpa agreement. And the by a

[44:40] loss. The 2017 agreement does

[44:40] require that all the governing

[44:44] bodies of the respective joint

[44:46] powers authority agencies

[44:46] unanimously approved any

[44:48] amendments to that agreement.

[44:49] So that is the reason why I'm

[44:54] here before you today. I will

[44:59] just briefly tried to some of

[45:00] the proposed changes to the

[45:02] Joint Powers Authority

[45:06] agreement that being allowing

[45:07] Section 6.0 2 allows for each

[45:11] member agency point the second

[45:12] alternate director who MAY

[45:16] exercise the rights and duties

[45:17] of the primary directors when

[45:20] they're absent are recused. It

[45:21] does have limitations and that

[45:25] those can only. So it's going

[45:26] to be limited no more than 2

[45:30] meetings a year. And then

[45:34] there are some changes to the

[45:36] majority voting requirements

[45:37] clarifies that a super

[45:38] majority is required to only

[45:38] change the tone. Number

[45:41] advisory committee seats. Is

[45:41] not required for individual

[45:44] appointments. There's a

[45:46] rotating cast groups you know,

[45:49] filling those seats has become

[45:50] challenging and also getting

[45:51] the super majority vote to

[45:55] team that as well. And then

[45:56] require us is this a majority

[45:58] vote for contracts and member

[46:01] agencies for technical and

[46:02] outreach services. For

[46:04] instance, water provides

[46:05] various technical services and

[46:08] also outreach services. Super

[46:09] majority vote not be required

[46:11] to contract with them, which

[46:15] is in the best interest of the

[46:16] And then just some clarifying

[46:16] language allowing the annual

[46:20] budget to be approved any time

[46:21] before the beginning of the

[46:22] applicable fiscal year. There

[46:26] was some time constraints that

[46:27] made it so that it had to be

[46:28] presented a around time of

[46:31] APRIL. And, you know, they are

[46:34] trying their best to reduce

[46:38] the number of meetings every

[46:41] year you know, save money. Of

[46:42] course. So being able to have

[46:44] a flex play to present that

[46:46] budget earlier and get by an

[46:51] earlier would be advantageous.

[46:54] Then also some minor

[46:57] administration that to them

[46:59] month to be approved by 3

[47:03] force majority of board while

[47:07] continuing to be acquired an

[47:08] unanimous approval. So these

[47:10] are just kind of some cleanup

[47:13] related to the composition and

[47:16] voting requirements. And then

[47:16] there are other minor

[47:19] revisions to degree. Mont,

[47:20] outdated requirements,

[47:23] projects that are no longer

[47:23] relevant and applicable that

[47:31] are in there as well. So with

[47:32] that, the red line and clean

[47:34] version of the proposed

[47:35] amended and restated Joint

[47:37] Powers Authority Agreement was

[47:43] part of the back of today. So

[47:43] its staff are seeking. They

[47:44] are recommending that board of

[47:47] Public Utilities by motion

[47:48] recommend that the city

[47:51] Council approved the amended

[47:52] and restated joint exercises

[47:53] powers Agreement for the Santa

[47:54] Rosa Plain groundwater

[47:57] sustainability agency so thank

[47:58] you with that. I have and can

[48:01] take any questions you MAY

[48:02] Thank you. Deputy Director

[48:04] Martin opened up for board

[48:05] member questions or comments.

[48:06] Portman for do it.

[48:10] >> Yes, thank you for that.

[48:11] There are some questions in

[48:14] community of well, owners.

[48:14] That see themselves as

[48:17] farmers.

[48:19] >> And they're concerned the

[48:24] ag typically.

[48:24] >> Enlarge organizations such

[48:25] as this groundwater management

[48:28] agency.

[48:29] >> Is kind of influenced

[48:33] heavily Biden, wind industry

[48:33] more than any of these other

[48:37] folks. So someone actually

[48:37] even got in contact with me

[48:41] because they see some people

[48:42] come here and speak about this

[48:45] groundwater. Management system

[48:48] approach. The question I have

[48:51] is. You talk about the

[48:52] stakeholders and community

[48:55] environmental, et cetera.

[48:55] Could you explain to the

[48:57] public that MAY be watching

[48:58] this, who those are

[49:03] specifically?

[49:04] >> So I don't have the roster

[49:08] before me, but MR. Laubach

[49:12] representing some of the users

[49:14] as well. But it's a comprised

[49:18] of different folks. And I

[49:21] could, of course it's

[49:23] available on the website as

[49:25] well. But I I'm I am

[49:25] fortunate. Don't have that

[49:28] roster for me. But there are

[49:29] varied interests, folks who

[49:33] have expertise and represent

[49:34] these individual. Thank you

[49:36] kindly for that explanation.

[49:37] The fallback always. It's on

[49:39] the Web. But there's a lot of

[49:42] folks, especially older folks

[49:42] with wells.

[49:43] >> That occasionally watch

[49:46] this type of thing. Having

[49:48] that information available

[49:49] helps them. I in no way, shape

[49:52] or form tried to represent

[49:53] myself as representative of

[49:55] the city in any of this stuff.

[49:56] All right. But people contact

[49:58] me because they know that I'm

[50:00] coming to meetings, cetera. So

[50:03] one last thing. And this is

[50:06] really important. Well, owners

[50:10] that I know out there, some of

[50:10] them are frightened. Still

[50:13] that think in the future.

[50:14] They're well as going to be

[50:16] required to be monitored and

[50:19] they feel they use water much

[50:20] more conscientiously and the

[50:22] big users like the wine

[50:25] industry. So if you can maybe

[50:26] talk with this agency and have

[50:29] them put stuff out to allay

[50:30] those fears of those small

[50:30] well, owners who are careful

[50:35] with their water and point out

[50:37] that you're working with the

[50:40] wine industry to help them

[50:41] conserve more. There was

[50:41] actually talk at the Board of

[50:44] Supervisors on Tuesday about

[50:45] ag issues and these kinds of

[50:46] things would be helpful. Thank

[50:52] you, sir. Thank The board

[50:56] member questions or comments.

[50:56] All right. We'll open it up

[51:00] for pub public comment on

[51:00] item. A point make public

[51:04] comment. Please identify

[51:04] yourself and wait for the

[51:08] timer.

[51:11] >> Hi, my name is Fred. All

[51:12] the Sonoma Water appointee to

[51:15] the Santa Rosa Plain gsa

[51:16] Advisory Committee. I wasn't

[51:20] planning to speak, since some

[51:22] things came up that are that

[51:23] are interest to me that answer

[51:25] MAY be some of twain's

[51:28] questions that that among the

[51:32] basins stakeholders.

[51:33] Agriculture is is one of the

[51:36] largest users of groundwater.

[51:38] But I believe that municipal

[51:40] use an aggregate is even

[51:41] larger than groundwater

[51:42] stakeholder. So there's a

[51:46] commercial. Municipal, a small

[51:47] public system. Small private

[51:51] systems industrial use. So

[51:52] those are the people are at

[51:57] the table and these people

[52:00] have wells and they're in the

[52:01] in the jpa there in the gsa.

[52:04] >> Because their players and

[52:07] ag is a big player as a big

[52:08] fish. And you and you just got

[52:09] to deal with them. So that's

[52:10] who that that that there

[52:14] there. And as far as the small

[52:15] all users that for any any

[52:19] small.

[52:20] >> Rural residential property

[52:21] that uses less than 2 acre

[52:23] feet a year. What is not

[52:28] required to be metered. So if

[52:29] they have a small orchard or

[52:30] whatever, if if they use less

[52:33] than 2 a graffiti year, never

[52:35] be metered. So those are more

[52:37] like Hobby Ag Hobby Vineyards,

[52:38] but there, but they're not all

[52:41] under ag per se.

[52:42] >> And also, Sonoma County is

[52:43] full of lot of rural

[52:47] residential properties. I

[52:48] don't know. There's a lot to

[52:50] say about all of all of the

[52:54] basin. I had thought that, you

[52:55] know, I would just give you

[52:56] quick synopsis of of that. The

[52:59] basin comes from Matanzas

[53:03] Creek. Laguna de Santa Rosa,

[53:05] Santa Rosa Creek, more west

[53:07] inflows west towards Laguna

[53:08] runs up against the Mendocino

[53:09] Mountains Pools there and then

[53:13] runs north out to to the

[53:14] Russian River. And the basin

[53:16] is basically stable on surface

[53:21] and deep aquifers. And dot

[53:22] there doesn't look like

[53:23] there's any current problems

[53:25] in the future. There could

[53:26] possibly be some hundreds of

[53:31] acre feet, less storage per

[53:34] year because of drying climate

[53:35] population growth. But I don't

[53:36] know if the ag growth is going

[53:37] keep up with those

[53:40] projections. One time I think

[53:42] that the basin really looks

[53:43] pretty good. And there's

[53:45] projects and management

[53:46] actions should that. That off

[53:49] hundreds of acre feet. All

[53:52] potential loss. So I think

[53:54] that gsa is well-managed

[53:54] Sonoma, water's particularly

[53:58] professional. It's kind of a

[54:00] slow dance. It's a little

[54:00] frustrating but I think

[54:04] they're doing a good job.

[54:08] >> Thank you very comments.

[54:08] Other public comments on this

[54:12] matter. Not all entertain a

[54:24] motion.

[54:29] >> I got right Move that Board

[54:30] of Public Utilities by motion

[54:30] recommended the city council

[54:34] approved the amendment. We

[54:35] started joint exercise of

[54:37] Powers Agreement up for the

[54:37] Santa Rosa, Plain groundwater,

[54:45] sustainable agency. We have a

[54:46] motion by board member, right?

[54:48] Seconded by board member. My

[54:51] >> And we have a roll call

[54:51] vote. Please.

[54:52] >> Board member, right?

[54:54] Remember my slur. I remember

[54:58] to it. Yes. Board member been

[55:01] Fort. I vice chair know, knee

[55:02] high and check out of an eye.

[55:03] But the record reflect that

[55:05] that motion passes unanimously

[55:08] thank you again.

[55:13] >> We'll move now to item.

[55:14] 9.1, which is a public

[55:21] hearing. So I will Director

[55:21] Bert to introduce the

[55:24] presenter.

[55:26] >> Thank you. Chair governor

[55:29] members of the board our

[55:31] public hearing is to consider

[55:31] revising this schedule of

[55:35] miscellaneous fees and charges

[55:38] for water and wastewater

[55:38] Related Services and m#

[55:39] #

[55:40] Harvey, our deputy director of

[55:41] Water administration will be

[55:43] presenting.

[55:44] >> Welcome Deputy Director

[55:52] Harvey. Thank you, Director

[55:53] Burke and good afternoon

[55:55] Golden members of the board.

[55:55] Harvey, deputy director of

[55:57] administration with Santa Rosa

[56:00] Water. And we're here today to

[56:01] discuss a possible adoption of

[56:01] the increase, miscellaneous

[56:06] fees and charges. So the

[56:07] background, whenever we bring

[56:09] miscellaneous fees to the

[56:11] board, we liked always define

[56:12] what a miscellaneous fee is

[56:15] and how that differs from the

[56:15] ordinary rates that we collect

[56:18] from or repairs. So the

[56:20] difference is that fees and

[56:21] charges, miscellaneous fees or

[56:22] other fees and charges for

[56:24] reimburse enters the water for

[56:26] specific services. And they're

[56:27] only charge those customers

[56:28] who received the service in or

[56:29] not spread to the entire

[56:31] repair base. So think things

[56:35] like eateries sets

[56:37] construction meter locks meter

[56:41] locks for delinquent accounts.

[56:43] Again, this is an important

[56:44] distinction that they're only

[56:45] charged to the customers for

[56:47] whom the services are

[56:49] performed. And that's an

[56:50] important distinction to be

[56:51] made with regard to Santa

[56:53] Rosa, Water's ongoing prop to

[56:56] 18 compliance. Calculated

[56:59] considering all costs,

[57:00] including our labor rates and

[57:02] vehicle in material rates. If

[57:06] applicable. And again, the the

[57:07] motive here, it's not a profit

[57:09] motive. It's strictly a cost

[57:10] recovery motive with regard to

[57:10] miscellaneous fees. That's

[57:12] another important distinction.

[57:16] And of course, the fees are

[57:17] adopted by the board at a

[57:20] public hearing in the last

[57:22] public hearing, you MAY recall

[57:24] was back in OCTOBER 2024, when

[57:25] our last miscellaneous rate

[57:26] schedule was adopted by the

[57:31] board. Our only proposed fee

[57:32] modifications. This go-around

[57:32] is for the trucks, waste

[57:37] tipping fee schedule the truck

[57:40] to waste fees were truck phase

[57:40] waste recommendations that

[57:44] we're making today or other

[57:44] were informed by the Truck

[57:45] Ways Program Evaluation report

[57:49] that was Published and

[57:50] performed by Brown. In

[57:50] Caldwell, I'm an outside

[57:54] consultant in 2022. And that

[57:55] report is, I believe, attached

[57:56] the agenda as exhibit b to the

[57:59] proposed resolution on this

[58:00] item. There was an overall

[58:03] evaluation of operating cost

[58:07] revenues, staffing capital

[58:08] needs overall market

[58:08] conditions to make

[58:10] recommendations on the amount

[58:12] and timing of tipping fee

[58:13] increases to ensure. This is

[58:14] the financial sustainability

[58:17] that program going forward.

[58:18] The tipping fees were not

[58:19] increase when the schedules

[58:22] last adopted in OCTOBER 2024.

[58:23] Public hearing the reason

[58:25] there are several reasons for

[58:27] that, mainly that at that time

[58:31] we had staffing needs in

[58:32] particular. We had proposed

[58:34] the position of truck to waste

[58:37] coordinator and the plant

[58:40] wanted that manpower to

[58:41] specifically manages program.

[58:41] And that was not something

[58:42] that was yet in place at the

[58:45] last public hearing. And so we

[58:46] wanted to err on the side of

[58:47] conservatism with regard to

[58:49] any increases. And we've since

[58:53] fill that position and they

[58:55] will be doing ongoing

[58:56] evaluation of the program as

[58:57] we move forward and their

[58:59] input will be valuable in

[59:00] future proposed increases to

[59:03] this program and its rates. So

[59:07] should the proposed fee for

[59:08] the updated tipping fees? The

[59:11] updated schedule be adopted

[59:13] today. The rates that are

[59:15] charged per 1000 gallons of

[59:18] waste delivered for each of

[59:21] the categories as stated in

[59:22] the table would take effect in

[59:22] JULY one of each respective

[59:24] year in the table through JULY

[59:31] one, 2030. And just to serve

[59:33] as a reminder with regard to

[59:34] our other miscellaneous fees.

[59:35] Order last public hearing

[59:37] October 2024, the board

[59:39] adopted resolution. Number 13,

[59:41] 32, which authorized the

[59:43] director to adjust all fees,

[59:44] not escalated on a separate

[59:45] basis annually by the change

[59:49] in the Bay area. Cpi as of

[59:50] JULY one, the with the first

[59:52] increase was authorized as of

[59:54] JULY one 2026 and further made

[59:55] that authorization effective

[59:57] for each JULY. One thereafter.

[59:59] The fees have been escalated

[1:00:00] for the first time under that

[1:00:02] authorization. You MAY recall

[1:00:03] a few weeks back. I circulated

[1:00:05] a memo demonstrating that

[1:00:07] calculation in the methodology

[1:00:12] there, too. And because it was

[1:00:13] authorized. That methodology

[1:00:14] was specifically authorized by

[1:00:16] that resolution. The public

[1:00:18] hearing is not required for

[1:00:21] those escalations. And again,

[1:00:22] certain fees were not

[1:00:23] escalated in those fees.

[1:00:25] Specifically would be since

[1:00:28] this is a cost recovery

[1:00:29] mechanism, those fees that at

[1:00:31] our cost of not appreciably

[1:00:33] increased have not been

[1:00:34] escalated by this methodology.

[1:00:35] Think non sufficient fund

[1:00:38] charges and returned checks.

[1:00:39] Collection agency percentages

[1:00:43] withheld things of that nature

[1:00:45] and again fees. It did not.

[1:00:47] Charge by the whole dollar

[1:00:50] increment Sophie's. It

[1:00:51] escalate id by less than a

[1:00:51] dollar under the approve

[1:00:52] methodology. We're also not

[1:00:56] escalated. In terms of public

[1:00:58] outreach. We did send letters

[1:01:01] to targeted audiences, namely

[1:01:02] the waste haulers the Laguna

[1:01:03] treatment plant. I worked with

[1:01:06] the aforementioned truck waste

[1:01:07] coordinator, the circulate

[1:01:08] letters to the waste haulers.

[1:01:12] And we also, I believe, posted

[1:01:13] notices at waist receiving

[1:01:14] station to Laguna treatment

[1:01:19] plant. Bp Budget Review

[1:01:19] subcommittee. Met a few weeks

[1:01:24] back. And this updated fee

[1:01:24] schedule was recommended by

[1:01:26] that subcommittee. For

[1:01:29] adoption by the full board and

[1:01:30] pursuant to state law around

[1:01:34] public hearing. We did publish

[1:01:37] twice in the press. Democrat

[1:01:38] wants on AUGUST 5th and AUGUST

[1:01:41] 10th informing the public of

[1:01:42] this public hearing today and

[1:01:43] their opportunity to provide

[1:01:46] input. So again, in terms of

[1:01:49] the overall schedule, we

[1:01:51] published a AUGUST 5th intense

[1:01:55] of this year. We're obviously

[1:01:56] here today and the 20th

[1:01:57] holding a public hearing. And

[1:01:59] should you adopt the

[1:02:00] recommendations today? Again,

[1:02:01] pursuant to state law, those

[1:02:03] fees would take legal effect

[1:02:07] 60 days after adoption. So in

[1:02:08] this case that would OCTOBER

[1:02:13] 19 to 2026. And just a

[1:02:17] reminder. So as the previously

[1:02:18] mentioned, resolution 13, 32

[1:02:19] authorized. We will continue

[1:02:22] to escalate fees each year by

[1:02:25] the increase in the Bay Area.

[1:02:26] Cpi. But in the event that

[1:02:29] that is not sufficient to

[1:02:29] cover our costs and achieve

[1:02:32] full cost recovery for those

[1:02:33] line items, we would bring

[1:02:34] them separately as we've done

[1:02:37] today with these fees as a

[1:02:37] separate public hearing item

[1:02:38] in the future for your

[1:02:43] consideration. And with that,

[1:02:44] it is recommended by center is

[1:02:46] the water that the Board of

[1:02:47] Public Utilities by

[1:02:49] resolution, one adopt revised

[1:02:50] truck to waste program,

[1:02:52] tipping fees. Effective

[1:02:54] 10/19/2026 to approve the

[1:02:56] additional tipping fee

[1:02:57] adjustments shown in the

[1:02:58] adopted schedule for JULY one

[1:03:00] of each year from 2027 through

[1:03:02] 2030, and 3 authorize the

[1:03:04] director of Santa Rosa Water

[1:03:04] to implement the board

[1:03:05] approved adjustments on their

[1:03:07] respective effective dates.

[1:03:09] All other miscellaneous fees

[1:03:10] and charges adopted by

[1:03:11] resolution. Number 13, 32

[1:03:15] would remain unchanged. And

[1:03:16] happy to take any board member

[1:03:20] questions. If Thank you for

[1:03:21] the presentation will open up

[1:03:21] now for a board member

[1:03:28] questions or comments.

[1:03:30] Remember rent and small

[1:03:32] question them. In end, the

[1:03:34] outreach we did to our

[1:03:34] customers. Did we get any

[1:03:35] responses or was it pretty

[1:03:38] much nothing?

[1:03:40] >> I will defer to our truck

[1:03:41] to waste coordinator doesn't

[1:03:43] appear that we did receive any

[1:03:46] responses. So no, and that's

[1:03:48] not atypical. Given our prior

[1:03:48] experience with us with public

[1:03:50] outreach. But we still.

[1:03:55] >> 10 such nonetheless. The

[1:03:56] board member questions.

[1:04:00] Remember my son?

[1:04:01] >> I'm just curious who who is

[1:04:02] impacted by these fees? Who

[1:04:04] pays them is that people,

[1:04:04] individuals with septic

[1:04:09] systems or is it larger users?

[1:04:10] >> I would invite our deputy

[1:04:13] director my Environmental

[1:04:14] Services, Sean McNeil to come

[1:04:15] down answer that question is

[1:04:15] this program is run by his

[1:04:24] team.

[1:04:24] >> Good afternoon, chair

[1:04:28] Galvin members of the board.

[1:04:28] >> Thank you for the question.

[1:04:32] The users of this program, our

[1:04:34] entities that are unable to

[1:04:37] treat the waste on 2

[1:04:37] completions. So yes, septa

[1:04:40] callers is one of our customer

[1:04:45] types. We've an increase in

[1:04:46] customer types then You're

[1:04:47] Inc. Has the regulations

[1:04:48] changed and how they manage

[1:04:51] their waste? Water? They found

[1:04:52] a in a beneficial service to

[1:04:55] be able to bring some of their

[1:04:56] waste to our facilities. We

[1:04:58] also have other types of

[1:05:02] material that can't just go

[1:05:04] into the sewer like oils and

[1:05:06] greases. And so those can come

[1:05:08] to us by pumper truck and we

[1:05:09] can pump that into our system.

[1:05:10] There that way. We don't clog

[1:05:13] their pipes. So it is a it's

[1:05:15] an important service to our

[1:05:15] community that we've learned

[1:05:18] through this project and

[1:05:21] having these this program and

[1:05:24] we'll be coming to you with a

[1:05:26] greater update on our program.

[1:05:28] Metric Cordinator will give a

[1:05:29] presentation to you on

[1:05:30] SEPTEMBER. 3rd, going over the

[1:05:35] entire program. So continuing

[1:05:37] on my question.

[1:05:39] >> Is this so if you for

[1:05:40] example, our septic user and

[1:05:44] individual. You know,

[1:05:45] residential septic user that

[1:05:47] cannot comply with. Kirk

[1:05:48] requirements or whatever it

[1:05:52] is. How often does the pumping

[1:05:53] occur? I'm what I'm getting at

[1:05:56] is how impactful are these

[1:05:57] increases in cost over time to

[1:06:02] individual? Yeah. So it's my

[1:06:03] understanding. Well, I must

[1:06:06] have a septic system.

[1:06:08] >> The tipping fees is a small

[1:06:09] percentage of the overall cost

[1:06:12] of the service. The actual

[1:06:14] pumping and the hauling of the

[1:06:15] material is a much greater

[1:06:21] part of the expense. So you've

[1:06:24] heard in this presentation

[1:06:25] We're just we're covering our

[1:06:27] costs for that treatment. So

[1:06:28] it is relatively inexpensive.

[1:06:30] And when you compare our

[1:06:32] costs, too other wastewater

[1:06:35] treatment plants, we are a

[1:06:36] little bit cheaper. And most

[1:06:39] of our waste types compared to

[1:06:43] our our other competitors. I

[1:06:44] wouldn't say competitors

[1:06:48] service office offer for

[1:06:52] curious if the death.

[1:06:52] >> Other board member

[1:06:57] questions or comments. All

[1:06:57] right. I'll Open up the public

[1:07:01] hearing on item 9.1.

[1:07:02] Consideration of the revised

[1:07:03] into the schedule of

[1:07:05] miscellaneous fees and charges

[1:07:08] for water and wastewater

[1:07:09] related services. If you would

[1:07:10] like to make a comment, please

[1:07:14] move to the podium. Seeing no

[1:07:18] one rise. Will that now close

[1:07:19] the public hearing and asked

[1:07:22] for a motion?

[1:07:23] >> I move adoption of the

[1:07:24] resolution of the Board of

[1:07:25] Public Utilities of the city

[1:07:27] of Santa Rosa adopting changed

[1:07:27] miscellaneous fees and

[1:07:33] charges.

[1:07:34] >> Motion by vice-chair Arnone

[1:07:35] seconded by board member do

[1:07:36] it. We have a roll call vote.

[1:07:46] Please.

[1:07:48] >> Remember, eye. Board

[1:07:53] Eisler. Remember do it? Yes.

[1:07:55] Board member about in Fort.

[1:07:58] Vice chair. No knee. I and

[1:08:01] check out eye. Let the record

[1:08:01] reflect that passes

[1:08:06] unanimously. Thank you again.

[1:08:08] >> Next item on our agenda is

[1:08:11] public comment on non agenda

[1:08:11] matters viewers to make a

[1:08:12] public comment on the

[1:08:15] non-agenda matter. Go ahead.

[1:08:18] State your name again for the

[1:08:19] record. Please.

[1:08:20] >> My name is Fred. All Buck

[1:08:22] and I have an important

[1:08:24] question. I want to know where

[1:08:26] I can get one of those nice

[1:08:27] blue water bottles in certain

[1:08:29] for me and my wife.

[1:08:32] >> Thank

[1:08:33] >> But if you ask the

[1:08:34] director, you might be able to

[1:08:37] come get them. Get a couple.

[1:08:48] And the other public comments.

[1:08:50] We have no referrals. We have

[1:08:51] no written communications. I

[1:08:52] believe we have a subcommittee

[1:08:54] report from.

[1:09:00] >> Board member right?

[1:09:02] >> Thank Yes, the budget

[1:09:03] subcommittee met on Monday,

[1:09:05] AUGUST 10th to review and

[1:09:07] consider the proposed changes

[1:09:09] to the miscellaneous fees and

[1:09:10] charges which the board

[1:09:14] considered at today's meeting

[1:09:15] that the subcommittee

[1:09:15] unanimously recommended

[1:09:19] approval. And I'd also like to

[1:09:22] point that Vice Chair Arnone

[1:09:23] was PRESIDENT And he pointed

[1:09:26] out that the meeting took 18

[1:09:27] minutes.

[1:09:32] >> So think. That's a record

[1:09:37] even for a full board Any

[1:09:38] comments or questions on that

[1:09:42] report. If not, we'll open it

[1:09:43] up for public comment on item

[1:09:44] 13. If you wish to make a

[1:09:45] public comment, please move to

[1:09:47] the podium. Seeing no one rise

[1:09:51] that will take care of our

[1:09:52] board members subcommittee

[1:09:52] report. Any board member

[1:09:54] reports.

[1:10:02] >> Remember, do it?

[1:10:03] >> I wanted to talk about this

[1:10:04] morning. I was with a group of

[1:10:05] people along Roseland Creek,

[1:10:06] area we call the Roseland

[1:10:12] neighborhood. Creek. Stuart

[1:10:13] Volunteer. And there were

[1:10:14] people there from different

[1:10:18] parts of the community. Plus,

[1:10:19] some trends in a big run to

[1:10:20] habitat in the community.

[1:10:24] There I wanted to make sure

[1:10:26] everybody here understands

[1:10:27] whatever I'm doing this

[1:10:27] volunteering. I do not in any

[1:10:30] way, shape or form trying to

[1:10:30] pretend that I represent the

[1:10:32] city of Santa Rosa. I have a

[1:10:34] nice shirt today. A treasure,

[1:10:38] if you will. It's given to me

[1:10:41] because I am a creek volunteer

[1:10:42] and it's kind of messed up now

[1:10:44] from doing so much out there.

[1:10:45] But the whole thing that's

[1:10:49] really important is. When

[1:10:50] people approach me about my

[1:10:51] involvement with any of these

[1:10:53] things I do here. I'm very

[1:10:58] careful to point out that. I

[1:10:59] am not representing the city

[1:11:00] and I don't have a point of

[1:11:02] view. That is the city's I

[1:11:06] speak for myself. Only never

[1:11:07] saying that. I work for the

[1:11:09] city when I speak it any other

[1:11:11] meeting or any other place.

[1:11:12] This is important because one

[1:11:15] of the people that came today.

[1:11:16] Was under the impression that

[1:11:19] somehow I could influence some

[1:11:19] city stuff. And I was like not

[1:11:22] doesn't work that way. This is

[1:11:25] really important because we

[1:11:26] need to get better

[1:11:26] communication, if you will,

[1:11:29] from the Santa Rosa water to

[1:11:31] the people out in the

[1:11:31] community. All the different

[1:11:32] stuff that goes on. And I

[1:11:33] understand it's a very

[1:11:36] difficult job. So I'm always

[1:11:37] making get on the same page of

[1:11:40] a Caliph Oaks last but not

[1:11:41] least. Also want to ask for

[1:11:44] some patients to talk to some

[1:11:46] city employees. I've been

[1:11:48] given permission to speak with

[1:11:51] Mr. McNeill and Claire Myers

[1:11:54] and I didn't realize if I have

[1:11:56] that position and that

[1:11:58] permission to speak with them

[1:11:59] more than once, because

[1:12:00] there's some things I like to

[1:12:02] follow up on. And then there's

[1:12:04] the employee. Brian Wallace.

[1:12:09] And Nick, should I know these

[1:12:10] involving matters about creek,

[1:12:11] water, improvement ball, kind

[1:12:13] of stuff like that. So it's

[1:12:15] relative to the work you're of

[1:12:16] the board. But I want to make

[1:12:19] sure I have the permission

[1:12:20] from the director of the

[1:12:21] enterprise Agency to speak

[1:12:28] with those employees. Please.

[1:12:29] >> I'm sure. Just sent me an

[1:12:30] e-mail content, Shannon,

[1:12:31] myself and well will get you

[1:12:34] what you need.

[1:12:35] >> You can't just say yes or

[1:12:38] no. Right now. If you can. If

[1:12:39] you work through Shannon

[1:12:40] myself, that would be great.

[1:12:41] Thank you. All right. Thank

[1:12:45] you. Kindly.

[1:12:45] >> Any other board member

[1:12:51] reports? Now take public

[1:12:52] comment on item number 14, if

[1:12:53] you wish to make public

[1:12:54] comment, this move to the

[1:12:58] podium. Seeing no one rise.

[1:13:01] Directors report.

[1:13:02] >> Thank you. Chair Gavin

[1:13:04] members of the board only have

[1:13:06] one quick item today and that

[1:13:09] is I wanted to share some good

[1:13:11] news. 2 of our stormwater and

[1:13:13] creeks staff members have been

[1:13:15] invited to present at the

[1:13:15] California Storm. Water

[1:13:16] Quality Association annual

[1:13:19] conference in OCTOBER Yes, our

[1:13:24] environmental specialist chew.

[1:13:27] He's been asked to present on

[1:13:27] a multi-year research project

[1:13:29] into the pathogens and

[1:13:30] sediment reduction that we

[1:13:31] have achieved through the

[1:13:35] Lower Colgan Creek Restoration

[1:13:36] Project and next to Don or

[1:13:38] senior environmental says

[1:13:39] nationalist has been asked to

[1:13:43] present on the city's pilot

[1:13:44] trash reduction project that

[1:13:46] focused on reducing trash on

[1:13:48] streets and storm drain

[1:13:50] infrastructure. So just wanted

[1:13:52] to share that good news. So

[1:13:57] it's great to have other

[1:13:59] agencies and associations asks

[1:14:00] our team to present at various

[1:14:01] conferences. And that's my

[1:14:02] report. I'm happy to answer

[1:14:03] any questions.

[1:14:05] >> Congratulations to both of

[1:14:08] them. That's very good board

[1:14:08] member questions for the

[1:14:13] director. Kaye open up for

[1:14:14] public comment on item number

[1:14:18] 15. Seeing no one right is

[1:14:21] that concludes our agenda for

[1:14:22] today. So we are adjourned.

[1:14:37] Thank

Board of Public Utilities

Agenda

Transcript