[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] #
[55:39] #
[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