1 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:13,100 Good morning. And welcome to Santa Clara Valley Water District Board of Directors Meeting. Tuesday, December 13, 2022. 2 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:30,380 Important notices and participation instruction, Santa Clara Valley Water District, Valley Water Board of Directors Board Committee meetings are held as a hybrid meetings conducted in person, as well as by telecommunication, and is compliant with the provisions of the Ralph M. Ronack. 3 00:00:30,380 --> 00:00:42,440 To maximize public safety, while still maintaining transparency in the public access, members of the public have an option to participate by teleconference slash video conference or attend in person. 4 00:00:43,020 --> 00:00:49,620 To observe and participate in the meeting by teleconference video conference, please see the link located at the top of the agenda. 5 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:54,120 If attending in person, you're required to comply with the ordinance 22-3. 6 00:00:54,120 --> 00:01:05,480 And ordinance of the Santa Clara Valley Water District Specifying Rules of Decorum for Participation in Board and Committee Meetings located at our website as indicated. 7 00:01:06,540 --> 00:01:07,720 So, good morning, everybody. 8 00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:09,580 The notice of the public. 9 00:01:10,740 --> 00:01:14,440 The Board of Directors meets in close session in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act. 10 00:01:14,900 --> 00:01:21,540 Following the conclusion of the close session, discussion, the Board will return for the remaining items on the regular meeting agenda. 11 00:01:22,060 --> 00:01:24,520 Before we get into that, do we have any public comments? 12 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:26,260 At this point? 13 00:01:29,290 --> 00:01:31,670 I'd like to share I do not, but I do need to take a roll. 14 00:01:31,990 --> 00:01:32,850 Wow, that's a good idea. 15 00:01:34,810 --> 00:01:35,990 A little mad in a procedural. 16 00:01:37,030 --> 00:01:37,970 Okay, please do. 17 00:01:38,390 --> 00:01:39,270 Director Bell. 18 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:42,800 Director Eisenberg. 19 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:43,720 President. 20 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:45,360 Director Estimera. 21 00:01:46,100 --> 00:01:46,600 Director Shua. 22 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:48,280 Director Keegan. 23 00:01:49,080 --> 00:01:49,840 Director Santos. 24 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:51,060 Chair Verella. 25 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:51,700 Here. 26 00:01:51,860 --> 00:01:52,960 We have all members present. 27 00:01:53,580 --> 00:01:53,880 Great. 28 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:58,320 You know that we've done that. There are two items on the close session agenda. 29 00:01:59,220 --> 00:02:03,940 Item pursuant code section four five four nine five six nine D one. 30 00:02:03,940 --> 00:02:07,380 Stop to take a damn project coalition in Santa Clara Valley Water District. 31 00:02:07,740 --> 00:02:08,880 Item two point two. 32 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:13,740 Pursuant to government code section five four nine five six nine D one. 33 00:02:13,860 --> 00:02:14,420 San Francisco. 34 00:02:14,820 --> 00:02:18,700 Bakekeeper for Santa Clara Valley Water to Santa Clara County Super Superior Court. 35 00:02:18,700 --> 00:02:22,840 Case number two two C V four zero three five two three. 36 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:25,700 Any comments from the board before we adjourn to closed session? 37 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:31,280 Okay, we will be returning here at one PM for a regular session. 38 00:02:31,420 --> 00:02:32,660 We are adjourned to close session. 39 00:08:09,010 --> 00:08:10,510 That you get a kick out of that. 40 00:08:37,640 --> 00:08:38,080 Wonderful. 41 00:08:50,020 --> 00:08:51,140 Thank you. 42 00:08:56,660 --> 00:08:57,540 Better coming from you. 43 00:08:59,470 --> 00:09:04,550 Why? It just, it just is. You know, you don't, you don't why? 44 00:09:45,490 --> 00:09:48,670 It's morning and by director Esfamera's son. 45 00:09:52,060 --> 00:09:53,980 I know, how exciting is that. 46 00:12:25,780 --> 00:12:31,620 Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Members of the board. Welcome back. We'll come in at a close session. 47 00:12:33,940 --> 00:12:35,640 Mr. Council, do we have anything to report? 48 00:12:36,360 --> 00:12:45,860 Thank you chair, President. Item is 2.1 and 2.2. The board met in close session with all directors present and no report will action was taken on either item. Thank you. 49 00:12:45,860 --> 00:12:47,040 Thank you. 50 00:12:47,680 --> 00:12:51,620 Next item on the agenda is the Pledge of Allegiance. 51 00:12:51,620 --> 00:12:53,080 Director Eisenberg, which are pleased 52 00:12:53,080 --> 00:12:54,820 leaders in the Pledge of Allegiance. 53 00:12:55,780 --> 00:12:57,640 The flag flag is right here. 54 00:13:11,300 --> 00:13:12,480 That's just this law. 55 00:13:19,640 --> 00:13:21,040 Orders of the day. 56 00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:24,420 I don't think we have anything to change as at this point. 57 00:13:27,160 --> 00:13:28,160 Time for public comment. 58 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:33,080 Anybody who wishes to speak on any item that's not on today's agenda, 59 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:36,500 please bring your speaker card to the clerk of the board for 60 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:47,120 And the next item on the agenda will be we're going to have a bit of a delay until everyone is present on the administration and it's ceremonial oath of office. 61 00:13:47,980 --> 00:14:02,920 But before that, I would like to welcome directors Jim Bell representing district four and director Rebecca Eisenfield representing district seven. 62 00:14:02,920 --> 00:14:10,460 We welcome them as our new board members, we're excited to have them with us, new energy, new direction, new ideas. 63 00:14:11,340 --> 00:14:14,680 So join me in a round of applause to welcome our new board members. 64 00:14:20,840 --> 00:14:23,920 Director Bell, I know you're a man of few words, so would you like to say something? 65 00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:30,340 Director Eisenberg, would you like to say something? 66 00:14:32,630 --> 00:14:38,170 I want to say thank you to everyone and the community is so important to all seven of us. 67 00:14:38,390 --> 00:14:42,750 So, speaker, I hope next time people talk at public comment because we want to hear what you have to say. 68 00:14:45,580 --> 00:14:46,300 Very good. 69 00:14:47,180 --> 00:14:51,460 We have any members of the public that would like to offer a comment. 70 00:14:55,540 --> 00:14:58,640 Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have no hands raised and no speaker cards at this time. 71 00:14:59,560 --> 00:14:59,860 Okay. 72 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:05,260 So our next is our ceremonial what do you want us to do? 73 00:15:05,660 --> 00:15:06,920 Okay, direct us. 74 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:13,620 Thank you. We have a special guest with us today. 75 00:15:13,740 --> 00:15:15,660 We let you in. 76 00:15:15,660 --> 00:15:20,980 And I will let Director Estomeran give a great introduction to our guest. 77 00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:22,340 We are honored. 78 00:15:23,700 --> 00:15:29,900 Well, my pleasure. I'm honored to introduce to you my son, the Honorable Mikhail Estomeran. 79 00:15:29,900 --> 00:15:37,080 I'm going to swear this afternoon, so I'll go down and take the oath. 80 00:15:37,520 --> 00:15:39,940 Can we go down with you? 81 00:15:40,080 --> 00:15:41,900 I guess each one who's going to... 82 00:15:42,500 --> 00:15:42,660 Yeah. 83 00:15:43,180 --> 00:15:43,500 Absolutely. 84 00:15:45,140 --> 00:15:45,980 Do you want us all down? 85 00:15:46,700 --> 00:15:47,340 One at a time? 86 00:15:50,890 --> 00:15:51,010 Okay? 87 00:15:55,410 --> 00:15:55,510 Okay. 88 00:16:06,990 --> 00:16:07,570 Right here. 89 00:16:22,860 --> 00:16:23,200 Test. 90 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:24,360 There you go. 91 00:16:24,620 --> 00:16:24,980 All right. 92 00:16:35,410 --> 00:16:36,470 Let's go land up over here. 93 00:16:39,750 --> 00:16:40,270 We 94 00:16:42,380 --> 00:16:47,740 don't usually have a judge of sort and sense or that's why. Trying to figure it out. 95 00:16:48,380 --> 00:16:51,880 Thank you for the invitation. May I have you raise your right hand. 96 00:16:52,080 --> 00:16:52,720 Yes sir. 97 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:56,460 I Antonio Tony Estromerra. 98 00:16:56,460 --> 00:16:58,280 I Antonio Tony Estromerra. 99 00:16:58,460 --> 00:17:00,520 Do solemnly swear or firm. 100 00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:04,660 Do solemnly swear and affirm that I will support and defend. 101 00:17:04,660 --> 00:17:11,560 that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California. 102 00:17:12,040 --> 00:17:15,940 The Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California. 103 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:18,380 Against all enemies foreign and domestic. 104 00:17:18,420 --> 00:17:20,340 Against all enemies foreign and domestic. 105 00:17:20,900 --> 00:17:25,560 That I will bear true faith and allegiance that I will bear true faith and allegiance. 106 00:17:27,380 --> 00:17:31,300 To the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California. 107 00:17:31,300 --> 00:17:35,480 to the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California. 108 00:17:35,920 --> 00:17:43,360 Then I take this obligation freely that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion. 109 00:17:43,560 --> 00:17:46,360 Without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion. 110 00:17:46,620 --> 00:17:48,360 And I will well and faithfully. 111 00:17:48,700 --> 00:17:50,240 And that I will well and faithfully. 112 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:53,480 This charge the duties upon which I am about to enter. 113 00:17:53,600 --> 00:17:56,800 This charge the duties upon which I am about to enter. 114 00:17:57,080 --> 00:17:57,680 Congratulations. 115 00:17:58,240 --> 00:17:58,920 Thank you. 116 00:18:06,310 --> 00:18:14,270 I'll just take a minute to say a few quick words, so I've introduced my son also my wife 117 00:18:14,270 --> 00:18:22,560 who's here in Yelanda and I invited him and of course my wife because I want to 118 00:18:22,560 --> 00:18:34,960 you know that public service is very important to me. It runs in my family. My son was the 119 00:18:34,960 --> 00:18:42,040 the Fender for number years. My wife was a public health nurse for number years. She served in 120 00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:48,500 any elected position as a trustee of San Jose Evergreen community college district. And so 121 00:18:48,760 --> 00:18:59,420 where family that's devoted to public service. And this is probably my last term and so I wanted 122 00:18:59,420 --> 00:19:28,800 to be shown in by my son, and many of you might know that in the old days, the county in Santa Clara, the Board of Supervisors and the county building was the old county building where the district attorney now has his offices, that used to be the county administration building, and up on the top floor was the county. 123 00:19:29,420 --> 00:19:30,380 uh... cafeteria 124 00:19:31,260 --> 00:19:31,960 where 125 00:19:31,960 --> 00:19:32,860 my 126 00:19:45,120 --> 00:19:45,660 father 127 00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:53,980 was the bus boy 128 00:20:02,900 --> 00:20:04,960 This is how far we've come. 129 00:20:07,830 --> 00:20:09,730 And I remember 130 00:20:11,840 --> 00:20:29,420 the comedian, the Russian comedian guy, when you say, what a country, what a country. So thank all of you for sharing with us today, especially for me and my family. 131 00:20:30,600 --> 00:20:31,660 Think, do 132 00:20:42,410 --> 00:20:43,870 you want to do the earth together? 133 00:20:44,110 --> 00:20:45,430 Oh, we could do it. 134 00:20:45,430 --> 00:20:45,890 You're going to take off. 135 00:20:46,390 --> 00:20:46,750 Sure. 136 00:20:47,190 --> 00:20:47,690 Thank you, do that. 137 00:20:47,930 --> 00:20:48,230 All right. 138 00:20:48,810 --> 00:20:52,250 Then we'll do the names individually. 139 00:20:52,530 --> 00:20:52,650 Yep. 140 00:20:52,850 --> 00:20:53,270 That's why. 141 00:20:53,590 --> 00:20:54,830 And then repeat the old. 142 00:20:55,130 --> 00:20:56,610 And then we'll repeat the earth together. 143 00:21:06,680 --> 00:21:09,340 So we'll do the names separately and then we'll do the earth together. 144 00:21:10,580 --> 00:21:11,880 So I'll begin with you. 145 00:21:12,520 --> 00:21:13,840 I, Rebecca Eisenberg. 146 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:15,180 I, Rebecca Eisenberg. 147 00:21:15,340 --> 00:21:16,220 Hi, Jim Bell. 148 00:21:16,380 --> 00:21:17,000 Hi, Jim Bell. 149 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:35,060 I, John Brella, I, John L, Burella, do solemnly swear or affirm that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California. 150 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:40,080 The Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of California. 151 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:47,760 against all enemies, foreign and domestic, against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will 152 00:21:47,760 --> 00:21:56,000 bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution 153 00:21:56,000 --> 00:22:02,100 of the State of California, and the Constitution of the State of California. 154 00:22:02,640 --> 00:22:09,880 Then I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or 155 00:22:09,880 --> 00:22:11,520 purpose of evasion. 156 00:22:15,300 --> 00:22:24,360 And then I will well and faithfully discharge the duties upon which I am about to enter. 157 00:22:27,760 --> 00:22:29,140 Thank you, congratulations. 158 00:22:29,280 --> 00:22:30,340 Thank you, gentlemen. 159 00:22:31,640 --> 00:22:32,360 Thank you. 160 00:22:33,220 --> 00:22:34,200 Thank you so much. 161 00:22:39,350 --> 00:22:39,790 Thank you. 162 00:22:40,790 --> 00:22:41,090 All right. 163 00:22:41,290 --> 00:22:44,510 I'll take just a brief momentous acknowledge. 164 00:22:45,930 --> 00:22:48,550 The ceremonial process that we've just 165 00:22:48,550 --> 00:22:49,870 I've completed here. 166 00:22:50,210 --> 00:22:53,530 This is my seventh sworn in process. 167 00:22:53,530 --> 00:22:58,290 started in the city of Morgan Hill being elected to the city council and then 168 00:22:58,290 --> 00:23:03,570 mayor and to where I am today. So this will be my 12th year of public service 169 00:23:03,570 --> 00:23:11,370 all told and it's an amazing opportunity to be a servant of the people, to be in 170 00:23:11,370 --> 00:23:17,010 front of you, providing you with the needs and services that you require. 171 00:23:21,050 --> 00:23:21,970 And from 172 00:23:21,970 --> 00:23:30,050 as a board, there are three tenants, water supply, protect the environment and flood protection. 173 00:23:31,090 --> 00:23:35,530 So those three things are so important, but when you look at water, also look at food, 174 00:23:36,130 --> 00:23:38,390 which we are involved in that as well through agriculture. 175 00:23:39,590 --> 00:23:45,510 In California feeds not only the state of California, but it feeds the world, and I am 176 00:23:45,510 --> 00:23:51,690 so honored and so privileged to be a part of the agriculture community statewide on all 177 00:23:51,690 --> 00:23:57,630 boards and committees that I represent and serve so thank you for the honor and the opportunity 178 00:23:57,630 --> 00:23:59,090 to represent you. 179 00:23:59,290 --> 00:24:00,250 Thank you. 180 00:24:07,430 --> 00:24:13,170 I too want to express my gratitude to this group, to the community, you know, to the voters, 181 00:24:14,610 --> 00:24:20,530 and I can't begin to tell you how much this means to me and I too am trying to cry and seeing the father 182 00:24:20,530 --> 00:24:25,890 in science, the situation, what we just thought, to me is everything. 183 00:24:26,790 --> 00:24:29,130 You know, public service is about you. 184 00:24:29,530 --> 00:24:35,650 The opportunity to serve you, to help you, starting with the most silenced, starting 185 00:24:35,650 --> 00:24:41,670 with the most vulnerable and the most underserved, is a blessing to be able to fill that 186 00:24:41,670 --> 00:24:41,950 role. 187 00:24:42,070 --> 00:24:46,710 And this morning, I was a little late in part because I was crying thinking about my grandmother, 188 00:24:47,350 --> 00:24:59,970 and what a role model she was for me, and you know, she two faced problems having to end school at age after eighth grade so work in the factory, you know at age 13 in Milwaukee, and that's 189 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:09,420 The story of immigration is the story for so many of us. She worked alongside the African Americans who had come up because of the great migration to find work in Milwaukee. 190 00:25:10,580 --> 00:25:25,640 And that is a world we cherish, is a world of people working with each other, not at age 13. But you know, a world where everyone has the opportunity to contribute, where everyone is treated with respect. 191 00:25:25,640 --> 00:25:32,600 And I've dreamed of having that opportunity and I especially wanted to have that opportunity 192 00:25:32,600 --> 00:25:35,620 amongst people with heart, with heart. 193 00:25:36,100 --> 00:25:43,140 And I believe I now have that opportunity because it is so clear to me that my colleagues 194 00:25:43,140 --> 00:25:49,960 have heart and we are going to use that heart in order to always work in the best interests 195 00:25:49,960 --> 00:25:50,980 of the community. 196 00:25:50,980 --> 00:25:59,980 And I think we ask you to participate, we ask you to speak your mind, let us know if we want to work together. 197 00:26:00,260 --> 00:26:02,600 So thank you so much for giving me this chance. 198 00:26:03,020 --> 00:26:04,880 I'm so honored and so proud. 199 00:26:12,920 --> 00:26:20,320 First I'd like to introduce my wife Pat and my grandson Jack right here. 200 00:26:24,140 --> 00:26:35,080 And this is my 41st year of elected office, and I'd appreciate the judge because I knew 201 00:26:35,080 --> 00:26:36,940 your parents before you were born, 202 00:26:41,080 --> 00:26:41,360 right? 203 00:26:43,500 --> 00:26:53,280 So to me, it's an honor to be here, and it's an honor to be selected by the people of the 204 00:26:53,280 --> 00:27:01,080 and all the staff to make us do all the beautiful things we want to do here, and that's my basic goal. 205 00:27:01,960 --> 00:27:09,760 We want to create this environment where we're being creative, we're excited about doing all the things we want to do, 206 00:27:10,260 --> 00:27:12,560 and enjoy ourselves as we do it. 207 00:27:13,260 --> 00:27:17,520 So those are my calling signs that I always have. 208 00:27:17,520 --> 00:27:25,560 And I invite the public to help us and participate in all the joyful work that we're going to be doing here. 209 00:27:25,840 --> 00:27:27,520 So thank you very much everybody. 210 00:27:28,560 --> 00:27:29,640 Appreciate it. 211 00:27:33,450 --> 00:27:35,170 All right, let's get to work everybody. 212 00:27:36,930 --> 00:27:37,850 Give us a 213 00:28:26,940 --> 00:28:29,860 few minutes to everybody get seated. 214 00:28:36,050 --> 00:28:37,010 Okay, thank you everybody. 215 00:28:38,190 --> 00:28:39,890 Appreciate the kind words. 216 00:28:41,090 --> 00:28:42,090 We're going to move on to the agenda. 217 00:28:43,090 --> 00:28:52,030 First item on the agenda, item 2.8, I'll re-throw it, adopt a resolution authorizing the execution 218 00:28:52,030 --> 00:28:59,610 and delivery of water infrastructure, finance and innovation act, wifya, installment purchase 219 00:28:59,610 --> 00:29:04,570 agreements, wifya master agreement, wifya loan agreements, and wifya term sheets and certain 220 00:29:04,570 --> 00:29:10,190 other documents, with respect to the water utility authorizing certain acts and connection, 221 00:29:10,790 --> 00:29:22,350 therewith to attain with the loans of up to $2,500,000 in parentheses, $2,500,000 for certain 222 00:29:22,350 --> 00:29:28,090 water utility and enterprise projects. There are two action items. This will be a roll call vote. 223 00:29:29,150 --> 00:29:31,610 Do we have any public speakers on this item at this point? 224 00:29:34,740 --> 00:29:42,320 Thank you, Mr. Chair. I do have a member of the public on Zoom that has raised her hand. Would you like to take the public comment now? 225 00:29:42,320 --> 00:29:43,000 Yeah, let's do that. 226 00:29:43,620 --> 00:29:43,640 Okay. 227 00:29:43,900 --> 00:29:44,740 Catch our urban. 228 00:29:45,860 --> 00:29:48,180 I have a second one after the survey. 229 00:29:48,640 --> 00:29:48,740 Okay. 230 00:29:49,360 --> 00:29:50,060 Catch you. 231 00:29:52,820 --> 00:29:54,120 Get your hearers. 232 00:29:56,740 --> 00:29:56,960 Hello. 233 00:29:57,280 --> 00:29:57,860 Can you hear me? 234 00:29:57,940 --> 00:29:58,560 Yes, we can. 235 00:29:59,860 --> 00:29:59,980 Bye. 236 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:04,880 Aye, congratulations to all the new board members. 237 00:30:07,700 --> 00:30:19,060 I want to, I'm I'm with the Sierra Cunlomer free at a chapter, and this with the alone will be a massive need debt for the district and to be carefully considered. 238 00:30:20,080 --> 00:30:25,780 Specifically, now is not the time to enter into Olympia, Master of Rement, Barrow, almost 239 00:30:25,780 --> 00:30:29,260 1.5 billion for them to take a reservoir project. 240 00:30:30,260 --> 00:30:34,500 The Sierra Club is concerned about the impacts of the particular reservoir project on 241 00:30:34,500 --> 00:30:38,340 valley waters capital improvement program, budget, and water rates. 242 00:30:39,560 --> 00:30:43,920 We see the project slamming down the work on other water supply projects, such as recycled 243 00:30:43,920 --> 00:30:51,660 water and retrofitting existing dams due to the lack of funding and staff resources. 244 00:30:52,360 --> 00:30:57,020 The Oligwater needs to seriously consider whether or not to move forward with this project 245 00:30:57,020 --> 00:31:02,200 during an upcoming capital improvement program five year plan update process. 246 00:31:03,880 --> 00:31:09,900 A comprehensive update on the status of the particular reservoir was due to the water storage 247 00:31:09,900 --> 00:31:14,440 for a Tory committee in November, but did not take place. Certainly in the board should not go 248 00:31:14,440 --> 00:31:18,820 forward with this agreement until you have an in-depth discussion about the project risks 249 00:31:18,820 --> 00:31:24,760 and benefits compared to other waters to fly and reservoir storage projects. For example, 250 00:31:25,020 --> 00:31:29,280 resources now go to Picheka, Picheka, Picheka, Picheka, Picheka, Picheka, Picheka, Picheka, 251 00:31:30,840 --> 00:31:39,860 Picheka, Picheka, Picheka, Picheka, Picheka, Picheka, Picheka, Picheka, Picheka, Picheka, 252 00:31:39,860 --> 00:31:44,340 and the project is still being feasible and cost effective and turning into funding that 253 00:31:44,340 --> 00:31:46,420 remains might make more sense. 254 00:31:46,680 --> 00:31:51,340 However, given the current state of the project, it is best not to be formed with this 255 00:31:51,340 --> 00:31:52,960 WIPI alone for potato reservoir. 256 00:31:54,240 --> 00:31:55,280 Thank you. 257 00:31:55,760 --> 00:31:56,420 Thank you, Mr. President. 258 00:31:56,420 --> 00:31:57,180 I appreciate your comments. 259 00:31:57,280 --> 00:31:57,980 Do we have another speaker? 260 00:31:59,020 --> 00:31:59,420 Yes. 261 00:31:59,420 --> 00:32:00,240 Thank you, Mr. Chair. 262 00:32:00,300 --> 00:32:05,220 I have two more Zoom hands raised and then I have a public card speaker card. 263 00:32:05,220 --> 00:32:09,020 Our next person on Zoom is Oshia Mazur. 264 00:32:13,750 --> 00:32:14,170 Good afternoon. 265 00:32:14,470 --> 00:32:14,830 More members. 266 00:32:15,210 --> 00:32:16,430 This is James Crowder. 267 00:32:17,130 --> 00:32:19,310 I'm an attorney at the Solarium Mazur. 268 00:32:19,770 --> 00:32:26,170 We represent the stop of Jacob Amco Listen, which is my group comprised of Marno 269 00:32:26,170 --> 00:32:31,350 groups, residents, and other concerns, others that are concerned about the Jacob Amco 270 00:32:31,350 --> 00:32:31,910 Project. 271 00:32:32,690 --> 00:32:38,310 Yesterday, we submitted a comment letter on this item, so that you all have a written 272 00:32:40,990 --> 00:32:54,770 I would first like to point out that although the forward data had a closed session regarding the lawsuit that the coalition has filed against valiant water regarding the chief of technical investigations. 273 00:32:55,790 --> 00:33:01,730 This lawsuit is not mentioned in the documents contained in the media materials for today. 274 00:33:01,730 --> 00:33:16,930 I think this is important because in order to obtain funding from the EPA, they request that you let them know about ongoing litigation in under scheduled 12th after the master agreement says that there's none. 275 00:33:16,930 --> 00:33:22,570 I would also like to note that the meeting material state that some of these loans would be issued under 276 00:33:22,570 --> 00:33:29,150 categorical exclusions from the national marginal policy act are just wayfully myelates me, 277 00:33:29,150 --> 00:33:35,850 but which are the peace meals project in separate phases, which the federal regulations do not allow. 278 00:33:36,650 --> 00:33:40,050 So therefore, no part of the ban should be excluded from me for review. 279 00:33:40,910 --> 00:33:46,210 There is also a large discrepancy between the project cost that has been provided to the public 280 00:33:46,210 --> 00:33:51,510 for the past 18 months or so, and the information contained in today's meeting materials. 281 00:33:52,770 --> 00:34:00,450 But for the checker ban, Bellywater is requesting roughly 1.235 billion dollars in order 282 00:34:00,450 --> 00:34:07,550 to fund that amount of money. It would cost closer to $3 billion dollars, and that would only 283 00:34:07,550 --> 00:34:14,370 fund 49% of the profit, therefore the cost. With financing included, appears to be closer to 284 00:34:14,370 --> 00:34:21,210 $4.5 billion, not the $2.5 billion that the public has been told recently. 285 00:34:22,190 --> 00:34:27,730 Given this intervention, we think there are other alternatives that could produce the 286 00:34:27,730 --> 00:34:34,610 $3600 acre foot of water per year that the feasibility reports in the EIR state to 287 00:34:34,610 --> 00:34:36,810 take a damn project would produce. 288 00:34:36,810 --> 00:34:42,570 And we request that to the Jacob Sam, be removed from the loan agreements entirely. 289 00:34:43,030 --> 00:34:45,910 This would allow less controversial projects. 290 00:34:45,950 --> 00:34:50,670 If Sam is in damn tired with free projects to proceed with with the funding, 291 00:34:51,270 --> 00:34:54,710 without being burdened by the uncertainty of the Jacob Sam project, 292 00:34:55,310 --> 00:34:57,330 thank you for your time and listening to my comments. 293 00:34:58,270 --> 00:34:59,770 Thank you, Mr. Croito, appreciate your comments. 294 00:35:00,780 --> 00:35:04,660 We have another speaker. Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Lawrence Abbott. 295 00:35:05,380 --> 00:35:05,840 Lawrence Abbott? 296 00:35:09,340 --> 00:35:18,540 Hi, thank you. My name is Lawrence and I'm an old retired wildlife biologist and ecologist. This lived in the 297 00:35:18,540 --> 00:35:27,460 Bay Area in my whole life and spends a lot of time out there. The all the local classes take 298 00:35:27,460 --> 00:35:38,000 students out to that area because of its unique and desert-like habitat. That's really great for studying rare plants and rare owls. 299 00:35:40,260 --> 00:35:52,000 So, I'm very familiar with that area and I just want to say that I think it's a very, very costly mistake if you, you know, go this route. 300 00:35:52,000 --> 00:35:58,420 This is a time-and-down where dams are coming down throughout the state and for good reason, 301 00:36:00,460 --> 00:36:00,480 when 302 00:36:01,120 --> 00:36:07,240 dams gore, you know, loses so much water to evaporation, especially in an area that is very 303 00:36:07,240 --> 00:36:11,780 desert-like, it actually has a lot of desert plants and desert animals. 304 00:36:12,940 --> 00:36:18,520 It gives you the feeling that you have plenty of water when the reservoirs are full, then all 305 00:36:18,520 --> 00:36:23,620 reservoirs go empty at the same time and you don't have water. So building 306 00:36:23,620 --> 00:36:27,720 extra reservoirs doesn't help when you need water, it's exactly when you 307 00:36:27,720 --> 00:36:33,300 don't have water. So that alone is probably the most important reason not to do 308 00:36:33,300 --> 00:36:40,900 this, but also the sense of nature of that area. It's a critically important 309 00:36:40,900 --> 00:36:47,380 environmental area and of course you'll see that in the environmental review and 310 00:36:47,380 --> 00:36:49,820 and all the lawsuits that will be happening. 311 00:36:51,100 --> 00:36:53,420 Also, the price tag is definitely rocks. 312 00:36:53,520 --> 00:36:55,340 Definitely going to be over four and a half billion 313 00:36:55,340 --> 00:36:56,680 for reasons you've just heard. 314 00:36:57,860 --> 00:37:00,380 It's descriptive and ignores climate impacts. 315 00:37:01,180 --> 00:37:04,380 Again, we're destroyed over 1,500 acres of 316 00:37:04,380 --> 00:37:08,660 sensitive natural communities, including greenhouse gas. 317 00:37:09,340 --> 00:37:12,200 Contribute to increasing greenhouse gases, 318 00:37:12,960 --> 00:37:15,740 emissions and only provide a small amount of water 319 00:37:15,740 --> 00:37:22,940 for the valiant water customers in any given year and of course only in those years when water is 320 00:37:22,940 --> 00:37:29,100 already abundant. So thank you so much for listening and I can have a feeling that I think 321 00:37:29,100 --> 00:37:33,300 your minds are already made up at this point. I know you guys always listen to public comments 322 00:37:33,300 --> 00:37:38,940 right at the end before you're going to vote and don't really tend to consider them, but please do 323 00:37:38,940 --> 00:37:44,800 because this is going to cost a lot of money and be able a lot of wasted money. Thanks so much 324 00:37:44,800 --> 00:37:47,060 Thank you, Mr. Abbott. 325 00:37:48,140 --> 00:37:48,660 We have another. 326 00:37:50,100 --> 00:37:50,960 Thank you, Mr. Chair. 327 00:37:51,260 --> 00:37:52,160 Ms. Molly Colton. 328 00:37:52,980 --> 00:37:53,340 Ms. Colton. 329 00:37:56,480 --> 00:37:57,460 I thank you. 330 00:37:57,720 --> 00:37:59,240 Good afternoon, Board members. 331 00:37:59,600 --> 00:38:03,520 My name is Molly Colton, and I'm speaking on behalf of Sierra Club, California. 332 00:38:04,280 --> 00:38:08,060 We are the legislative and regulatory branch of the Sierra Club in California. 333 00:38:08,980 --> 00:38:13,420 Sierra Club and other conservation groups opposed the Pacheco Reservoir Expansion Project. 334 00:38:13,420 --> 00:38:20,500 And we urge this project to be a move from the WIFIA loan program and violent water's investment portfolio entirely. 335 00:38:21,340 --> 00:38:29,500 The drug environmental impact report states that approximately of 5,600 acres and 28,000 acres of designated critical habitat 336 00:38:29,500 --> 00:38:33,320 or within the project's study area as well as the assessment area. 337 00:38:34,600 --> 00:38:40,880 The environmental impact of this project will be much greater than any supposed environmental benefits to fish 338 00:38:40,880 --> 00:38:45,340 on Pacheco Creek as well as rather wildlife refuges in San Joaquin Valley. 339 00:38:45,920 --> 00:38:49,980 The project was opened the loss of hundreds of acres of oak and sick and more forests 340 00:38:49,980 --> 00:38:55,240 and acres of red care and habitat as well as threatened federally protected species such as 341 00:38:55,240 --> 00:39:00,240 golden eagles. This project will introduce four water quality in the Central Valley water 342 00:39:00,240 --> 00:39:06,240 project into Pacheco Creek, the Pajaro River and the Monari Bay, which will likely harm water 343 00:39:06,240 --> 00:39:10,320 quality and therefore fish and other water-offended species in these ecosystems. 344 00:39:11,440 --> 00:39:15,680 Further, the cost of this project is outrageous and will only continue to get more expensive 345 00:39:15,680 --> 00:39:16,600 what's time. 346 00:39:17,080 --> 00:39:21,040 Valley Waters continued to assert that the project would only cost $2.5 billion. 347 00:39:21,840 --> 00:39:24,800 However, this figure that is out future financing costs. 348 00:39:25,180 --> 00:39:29,020 The real cost of this project is likely already more than $4.5 billion. 349 00:39:29,480 --> 00:39:34,000 This money would be much better spent on other local and regional projects that Valley Waters 350 00:39:34,000 --> 00:39:39,360 already doing such as water purification, water efficiency and recycling. Thank you for listening 351 00:39:39,360 --> 00:39:44,080 to these concerns and congrats to the new board members who look forward to working with you on these 352 00:39:44,080 --> 00:39:49,560 issues. Thank you, Ms. Colton. I appreciate your comments. Do we have any other virtual? 353 00:39:50,860 --> 00:39:56,040 Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have no other hands raised in zip. Okay, we have two speakers in house. 354 00:39:56,740 --> 00:39:58,100 First speaker is Meg Gibson. 355 00:40:04,020 --> 00:40:32,220 Good afternoon, board members. My name is Meg Giverson. Thank you for the opportunity to comment. I would urge that the Pecheca Reservoir Project be removed from your consideration, because the capacity, the cost, the end dollars and the cost to the environment and the climate do not cancel out. Those things would require that a person who looks at this project would say, no, no, no, no, let's look elsewhere. 356 00:40:32,220 --> 00:40:40,120 And the reasons are that, first of all, the surface water storage, such as reservoirs behind dams, 357 00:40:40,920 --> 00:40:43,040 are more expensive than groundwater storage. 358 00:40:44,380 --> 00:40:47,520 And the Santa Clara Valley Water District figures also show that. 359 00:40:47,760 --> 00:40:49,780 And who pays for these expensive projects? 360 00:40:50,300 --> 00:40:57,220 Well, 90% of the dollars in California for water utility projects come from the public, from the ratepayers. 361 00:40:57,220 --> 00:41:02,460 And unfortunately, that's especially hard on the one-third of the California rate pairs 362 00:41:02,460 --> 00:41:03,580 who are low-income. 363 00:41:04,140 --> 00:41:07,520 So please consider that when you're looking at these expensive projects. 364 00:41:07,600 --> 00:41:08,920 Excuse me, projects. 365 00:41:09,860 --> 00:41:17,700 Groundwater storage, as I mentioned, is more extensive and it's more extensive because 366 00:41:17,700 --> 00:41:23,780 it's eight times more of it for a new groundwater storage than there would be for new 367 00:41:23,780 --> 00:41:32,240 storage behind, storage behind dams. So Stanford, those are Stanford statistics, excuse me, I'm 368 00:41:32,240 --> 00:41:36,800 getting ahead of myself. So we have the cost of the storage, we have the fact that there's 369 00:41:36,800 --> 00:41:43,760 much more groundwater storage than there is behind dams. Additionally, as another speaker has already 370 00:41:43,760 --> 00:41:50,700 said, there is a huge problem with the evaporation. Surface storage in California loses about 371 00:41:50,700 --> 00:41:57,380 two million acre-feet a year, and that's almost a third of what California urban people use. 372 00:41:57,780 --> 00:42:03,220 That's a huge amount, building another yet another evaporative surface does not make sense. 373 00:42:04,220 --> 00:42:09,640 Further, the Pecheco Dam will be generating its own harmful algal blooms, which are toxic. 374 00:42:10,400 --> 00:42:15,280 It will also be taking algal bloom water from San Luis Reservoir. 375 00:42:16,460 --> 00:42:26,340 The carbon footprint is a similarly bad problem, GHG, greenhouse gases are known to be associated 376 00:42:26,340 --> 00:42:32,220 with the reservoirs because reservoirs generate methane, which is the worst of the gases. 377 00:42:33,400 --> 00:42:34,260 It doesn't make sense. 378 00:42:34,560 --> 00:42:36,880 The carbon footprint would be really bad for our climate. 379 00:42:37,880 --> 00:42:43,620 These state water resources board pointed out in 2013 that we now have an unparalleled 380 00:42:43,620 --> 00:42:48,660 opportunity in California to move aggressively toward a more sustainable water 381 00:42:48,660 --> 00:42:54,680 future. A strongly encouraged local and regional water agencies, and I would point out 382 00:42:54,680 --> 00:43:01,580 this is one of those, towards a sustainable water future. We are looking for sustainable 383 00:43:01,580 --> 00:43:09,020 water that will be clean, abundant, and local. This is achieved the state board said 384 00:43:09,020 --> 00:43:21,240 Through water recycling, water conservation in the use of storm water, which are job proof for liable and minimize our carbon footprint, and could be sustained over the long term, and I would add my plea to theirs. 385 00:43:21,460 --> 00:43:22,140 Thank you very much. 386 00:43:22,400 --> 00:43:23,800 Thank you, Ms. Caberson, for your comments. 387 00:43:24,840 --> 00:43:26,800 Ms. Vimi's Redberg. 388 00:43:27,780 --> 00:43:28,740 Good for not to die correctly. 389 00:43:30,540 --> 00:43:30,820 Thank you. 390 00:43:31,100 --> 00:43:31,420 Good for not. 391 00:43:31,900 --> 00:43:32,380 Okay. 392 00:43:36,300 --> 00:43:36,660 Hello. 393 00:43:38,460 --> 00:43:40,840 Thank you so much for the time for public comments. 394 00:43:40,840 --> 00:43:45,300 Good afternoon, Chair and Directors, especially New Sworn and Directors. 395 00:43:46,300 --> 00:43:48,980 My name is Mimi Spredri, my pronouns are she, her. 396 00:43:49,260 --> 00:43:54,520 I'm a member of Orchard City Indivisible Environmental Justice, as well as a colleague of 397 00:43:54,520 --> 00:43:59,220 divestile Acon Valley, which is a local and digitally led organization. 398 00:43:59,800 --> 00:44:05,240 The Pacheco Dam is too controversial and would put too big of a burden on county constituents. 399 00:44:05,240 --> 00:44:12,360 The money needs to be spent on other important projects, such as for the Lexington Dam, for 400 00:44:12,360 --> 00:44:18,560 example, I was an evacuee of the San Jose floods in 2018, and that has not been fully resolved. 401 00:44:19,120 --> 00:44:24,100 I now live in San Jose District 4, but this is still a danger to downtown San Jose. 402 00:44:24,740 --> 00:44:29,640 Not to mention the indigenous lands of the Amalutesan, which would be impacted. 403 00:44:29,640 --> 00:44:37,700 There are better and more sustainable ways to preserve water, less expensive as well in this time of great drought in California. 404 00:44:38,160 --> 00:44:42,780 And I am because of climate crisis, I'm truly afraid for our younger generations. 405 00:44:42,940 --> 00:44:45,140 And that's a big prerogative for us. 406 00:44:45,140 --> 00:44:48,760 I think I'm a little younger than most of you here on the board. 407 00:44:49,160 --> 00:44:56,220 But we need to think ahead for sustainability for our children and our grandchildren and the generations to come. 408 00:44:56,220 --> 00:44:59,960 Thank you so much for allowing public to comment, have a great 409 00:45:00,000 --> 00:45:10,100 Thank you, Mr. Speaker for your comments. So, that's the last of our public speakers at this particular time. So, we have a presentation, Darren Taylor, you're in charge. 410 00:45:13,110 --> 00:45:20,110 Good afternoon, Chair for Tim, for Farella and the members of the board. My name is Charlene Sun of the Treasury and Data Manager for Belly Water. 411 00:45:20,650 --> 00:45:27,770 And in the front here, we have our panel financing the financing team that's being involved in this project for the last year. 412 00:45:27,770 --> 00:45:35,750 We have Mr. Doug Brown, our Bond Council from Strabbling, Mr. Edson from Public Resources Advisory Group. 413 00:45:36,070 --> 00:45:41,810 Mr. Brian Hopper, who's our district council from District Council's office in CFO, Daren Taylor. 414 00:45:42,790 --> 00:45:48,050 We have a brief presentation. If the police is the board, we can proceed with the presentation. 415 00:45:49,230 --> 00:45:49,910 So 416 00:45:56,790 --> 00:46:12,190 staff will be going over our recommendations, the financing schedule and in the general description of the with your loan program and the master credit agreement key terms and the assumptions and legal covenants related to this program. 417 00:46:13,690 --> 00:46:30,470 The staff recommendation is for the board to approve up to $2.5 billion of the water utility master credit agreement to fund the water utility projects that are currently entertained. 418 00:46:32,030 --> 00:46:38,850 In terms of the financing schedule, we are here today December 13 for the board to consider this item. 419 00:46:38,850 --> 00:46:46,510 We actually, just five minutes ago, received the credit rating from Fitch for this particular 420 00:46:46,510 --> 00:46:52,710 with yellow and Fitch did assign us with a double A plus credit ratings. We are very pleased 421 00:46:52,710 --> 00:46:59,130 with that rating. If the board approves the item today, we would expect to be able to close 422 00:46:59,130 --> 00:47:07,690 on this master agreement by the end of January. So generally, the with yellow program is very flexible. 423 00:47:08,470 --> 00:47:12,690 It's administered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. 424 00:47:13,010 --> 00:47:16,290 It will fund up to 49 percent of the project costs. 425 00:47:18,490 --> 00:47:27,030 The mass-requetted agreements describes the terms and conditions under which the loan will be drawn 426 00:47:27,030 --> 00:47:30,410 in the terms and conditions under which interest will occur. 427 00:47:30,410 --> 00:47:37,930 and interest will not accrue to any of this loan until we actually do a draw-down. 428 00:47:38,630 --> 00:47:46,250 And for projects such as Pacheco, where perhaps the board still needs a little bit of time to make deliberations, 429 00:47:46,610 --> 00:47:54,410 of staff would have no plans to draw on that loan, and therefore no interest will accrue to the Pacheco portion of the with the loan. 430 00:47:54,410 --> 00:48:18,250 The lone repayment is very flexible and staff has negotiated with the EPA to allow us to defer interest and principle so that we can push out all that payment a little bit farther down the road to help smooth out our long-term rate projection without this mechanism our long-term rate projection would be materially impacted. 431 00:48:19,560 --> 00:48:24,300 The interest rate will be locked at the time of each loan execution. 432 00:48:25,220 --> 00:48:32,660 And right now, we're contemplating loan number one and loan number two to be funding 433 00:48:32,660 --> 00:48:34,440 planning and design costs only. 434 00:48:35,020 --> 00:48:39,680 And as of last week, that loan rate is right now 3.68%. 435 00:48:39,680 --> 00:48:46,860 It could change by the time we get to January and it could increase over time if we delay 436 00:48:46,860 --> 00:48:53,020 this particular financing. And this slide outlined some of the key terms. 437 00:48:55,240 --> 00:49:02,460 So right now, staff has negotiated for the loan to be available for us to draw down any time 438 00:49:02,460 --> 00:49:06,820 over the next eight years, over ten loans, up to ten loans. 439 00:49:11,660 --> 00:49:16,840 So, you know, 440 00:49:17,320 --> 00:49:23,100 right so think of this as a line of credit you set it up you draw on it if you need to but if you 441 00:49:23,100 --> 00:49:28,280 don't need to no one is forcing you to draw on it and therefore if you don't draw on it then there's no 442 00:49:28,280 --> 00:49:39,120 obligations created the with your loan is set up to be a subordinate lean so but if there is ever a 443 00:49:39,120 --> 00:49:46,040 an event of default we would spring to senior lean there is no pre-payment penalty there are additional 444 00:49:46,800 --> 00:49:48,940 Covenants, for example, the 1.25, 445 00:49:51,000 --> 00:49:53,960 rate covenant, and 1.1 times for a subordinate rate covenant. 446 00:49:54,860 --> 00:49:59,740 There are various reporting requirements and remedies. 447 00:50:00,000 --> 00:50:29,980 Our highlight in this table here. One thing that is a little bit different about with your loan is there is a concept of a development default. So that if the borrower does not achieve substantial completion within 24 months of the state of substantial completion, then it could be 448 00:50:29,980 --> 00:50:37,660 completion date would be the date that we have provided them with our final plans and steps prior to construction. 449 00:50:38,300 --> 00:50:45,320 So that would be the deliverable. As long as we are able to provide that deliverable then we will not be in development default. 450 00:50:49,130 --> 00:50:59,470 So some of the details of the longs are outlined here. So as I mentioned, low number one is set up for Anderson planning and design costs. 451 00:50:59,470 --> 00:51:07,390 right now it's budget at 73.9 million closing date, closing date is end of January 1st 452 00:51:07,390 --> 00:51:15,630 interest is December of 2029. 1st principle is June of 2049. Final principle is June of 2059 453 00:51:15,630 --> 00:51:21,670 and you can really see how we're able to push this out and the objective is to achieve this kind of 454 00:51:21,670 --> 00:51:27,410 debt service profile where over the very long term we're trying to achieve a level debt service 455 00:51:27,410 --> 00:51:33,470 over the very long term by pushing out all of that with your debt to the back end of this curve. 456 00:51:34,130 --> 00:51:38,350 Now, again, if the board ultimately decides not to continue any particular projects, 457 00:51:38,870 --> 00:51:44,590 we would not be drawing on that loan, and therefore this kind of like projection would decrease 458 00:51:44,590 --> 00:51:45,950 course one in length. 459 00:51:48,720 --> 00:51:52,940 So in terms of the legal structure, I mentioned that there is a rate 460 00:51:54,160 --> 00:52:10,800 which is outlined here, and this is what we call a flow funds to show you where the water utility rates and charges and water utility system revenues has to be utilized in accordance with our water utility master agreements. 461 00:52:12,380 --> 00:52:20,900 So in conclusion, we want to emphasize that staff's recommendation is for the board to approve the master credit agreement. 462 00:52:20,900 --> 00:52:27,700 we believe that it's to our benefits. It does not obligate the board to make any decisions about 463 00:52:28,280 --> 00:52:36,020 any projects at this time, whether it's Pacheco or Anderson. It does not limit the board's ability to make 464 00:52:36,620 --> 00:52:42,180 determinations later on in the project development process. In terms of the good faith estimate 465 00:52:42,740 --> 00:52:50,240 and mentioned that as of last week, the current interest rate is at 3.68% and this would generate a 466 00:52:50,240 --> 00:52:55,580 but over $2 billion in proceeds and total debt service payment over that very long period of 467 00:52:55,580 --> 00:52:57,600 time is 4.78 million. 468 00:52:58,060 --> 00:53:04,260 And this is a structure that will allow us to save up to $889 million over the life of 469 00:53:04,260 --> 00:53:06,640 the loan compared to other financing mechanisms. 470 00:53:07,680 --> 00:53:16,180 I did have a brief conversation with the EPA this morning and inquired about what if the 471 00:53:16,180 --> 00:53:24,020 board approves the master credit agreement today and what if later on the board decides not to continue with a project. 472 00:53:24,280 --> 00:53:26,780 Sorry, let me just flip back to that page. 473 00:53:28,160 --> 00:53:37,760 And based on that discussion, the EPA said that they would, you know, they would be willing to work with us to provide some kind of substitution 474 00:53:37,760 --> 00:53:46,260 if that were the case, because they don't want to be in the position of not being able to 475 00:53:46,260 --> 00:53:49,400 to help us finance our projects either. 476 00:53:50,260 --> 00:53:57,060 So they understand that there is some controversy with Pachekos specifically, and they're willing to work with us on that. 477 00:53:57,420 --> 00:54:03,880 By approving the master agreement today, it's really just setting the ceiling and setting up the financing mechanism 478 00:54:03,880 --> 00:54:08,200 that will allow the board to make the decision on the project leader on. 479 00:54:08,460 --> 00:54:17,420 And it will also help us set up the fiscal year 24 rate setting process by enabling us to 480 00:54:17,420 --> 00:54:20,440 embed those assumptions. Current rate projection as soon as possible. 481 00:54:20,440 --> 00:54:23,020 I'm going to interrupt you for a minute. We have a question from Board Member Rebecca. 482 00:54:23,180 --> 00:54:30,220 I'm sorry. I've done. Rebecca, I have I think you chair. I have questions 483 00:54:30,820 --> 00:54:36,100 comments later. But this is just a clarification question. What exactly did you say the size 484 00:54:36,100 --> 00:54:41,000 of our interest payments? That would be due because I thought you said million just right now, 485 00:54:41,140 --> 00:54:48,020 but I thought I had read billion. Okay. So the debt proceeds that would be generated from this package 486 00:54:48,020 --> 00:54:55,560 is a little bit over $2 billion. And total payment over time is $4.78 billion billion. 487 00:54:59,980 --> 00:54:59,980 Okay, 488 00:55:00,000 --> 00:55:04,520 Okay, thank you. Continue. That's it? Yes. 489 00:55:04,700 --> 00:55:07,900 Okay. Thank you. Any questions from the Board? Do you come out? 490 00:55:10,410 --> 00:55:10,870 Dr. Bell? 491 00:55:16,150 --> 00:55:16,370 Yes. 492 00:55:19,490 --> 00:55:26,910 The dollar amount for the loan is based on what criteria. 493 00:55:27,210 --> 00:55:28,750 Where did you come up with that number? 494 00:55:30,260 --> 00:55:36,720 So, the dollar amount of the loan is based on 49% of total eligible project costs for 495 00:55:36,720 --> 00:55:39,720 a Patechekle, Anderson, and the percolation dam. 496 00:55:40,320 --> 00:55:43,760 Okay, so then you have it broken up into 10 pieces. 497 00:55:44,940 --> 00:55:47,040 10 loans, 1 through 10. 498 00:55:47,680 --> 00:55:54,200 Not necessarily, so the way the loan will work as it's structured right now is there is a 499 00:55:54,200 --> 00:56:01,820 planning a design loan right now that the EPA can enter into, but in the future when we get 500 00:56:01,820 --> 00:56:06,220 to the construction, if the board approves the project for construction, then we have the 501 00:56:06,220 --> 00:56:11,820 opportunity then to take that construction loan over time. Instead of getting one giant construction 502 00:56:11,820 --> 00:56:19,320 loan, we have the option to break it up over time to meet then business needs, maybe there 503 00:56:19,320 --> 00:56:23,380 will be interest rate considerations. So it's an option that we have. We don't have to 504 00:56:23,380 --> 00:56:30,240 exercise all 10 or 10 dollars a month doesn't change. We'll have that dollar amount. It doesn't go 505 00:56:30,680 --> 00:56:38,540 bigger every year. Correct. It's locked in right now. The EPA's appropriation or funding allocation to 506 00:56:38,540 --> 00:56:46,300 value water is $2 billion. There's no ups. There's no going up. Okay, so in terms of this financing 507 00:56:47,520 --> 00:56:58,340 based on what you just said, the value of projects that are completed earlier is to 508 00:56:58,340 --> 00:57:03,560 are advantage to complete the projects earlier because you've got a fixed dollar amount 509 00:57:03,560 --> 00:57:11,140 that doesn't respond to inflation where a construction cost will go up a certain percent 510 00:57:11,140 --> 00:57:20,920 every year, is that correct? Over time, over ten years, construction cost index goes up 511 00:57:20,920 --> 00:57:24,560 and then your dollar amount that you got on this loan is at fixed amount. 512 00:57:25,040 --> 00:57:27,280 Certainly, that's generally the case, right? 513 00:57:27,520 --> 00:57:40,120 Okay, so then the advantage of getting projects that you can build, say in the next three or four or five years, 514 00:57:40,120 --> 00:57:48,220 using this vehicle is that the value of the projects you get better value for your money 515 00:57:48,220 --> 00:57:54,340 than say some projects that are going to take 10-15 years. Is that correct? 516 00:57:57,700 --> 00:58:02,500 I want to invite someone maybe see a full tailored to respond to that question. 517 00:58:05,450 --> 00:58:07,010 You, you off mic? 518 00:58:09,580 --> 00:58:13,980 So the advantage is to build projects faster, as what I'm saying. 519 00:58:14,400 --> 00:58:20,000 It's better to use this to build projects faster and using the whip alone process. 520 00:58:20,420 --> 00:58:25,700 Dr. Bell, that is true in general. One of the things to consider is the size of the projects. 521 00:58:26,160 --> 00:58:31,460 The biggest projects in front of Valley Water today are Pacheco, Anderson, and the Purified Water Program. 522 00:58:32,100 --> 00:58:35,620 There are other projects that pale in comparison to the size. 523 00:58:35,620 --> 00:58:40,400 So, that's another consideration when you think about overall value of moving forward or 524 00:58:40,400 --> 00:58:41,920 or 10-year project versus a three-year project. 525 00:58:41,920 --> 00:58:47,880 So, if we put a package of projects that told the same amount of money that the whip alone 526 00:58:50,100 --> 00:59:05,600 allows us to do with that fixed amount of money, if we put a package of projects as you 527 00:59:05,600 --> 00:59:14,040 would be to our advantage financially in projects that would take a longer period of time for the same amount of money in my correct? 528 00:59:14,120 --> 00:59:15,080 In theory, that's true. 529 00:59:15,440 --> 00:59:22,100 Okay, so I think that that's something to look at during the capital improvement budget workshop, 530 00:59:22,260 --> 00:59:32,420 and I'd like to refer to the capital project workshop to determine which projects we can complete faster due to the fact 531 00:59:32,420 --> 00:59:39,600 this would be a cost saving to the taxpayers by using and it would be the most advantage 532 00:59:39,600 --> 00:59:44,840 to us to complete projects that we can complete faster for the same amount of money. 533 00:59:45,280 --> 00:59:51,260 I'm not talking about particular projects, but I know we have a long list of projects. 534 00:59:52,160 --> 00:59:58,220 One of the things I found out is the Valley Water has a long list of projects folks, and 535 00:59:58,220 --> 00:59:59,960 And I think we have to figure out. 536 01:00:00,500 --> 01:00:12,860 How we can get bang for a buck here financially in building the projects that we can complete fast and and that's something to look at. 537 01:00:13,400 --> 01:00:24,120 I like to have that referred to the, I don't need to deal with it now, but I think it's something to analyze between now and January 10th of capital improvement workshop. 538 01:00:24,640 --> 01:00:29,760 Mr. Chairman, is that the schedule I'm I'm I'm I'm correct right so I think we ought 539 01:00:29,760 --> 01:00:37,500 to study that because I think financially it would be to our branch to to find projects 540 01:00:37,500 --> 01:00:43,720 we can expedite and complete faster the other the only other question I have is what's 541 01:00:43,720 --> 01:00:50,080 source of money can be used to pay back the loan can it could be used money from other governmental 542 01:00:50,080 --> 01:00:55,760 entities, local governments, state governments, regional governments to use money from any source 543 01:00:55,760 --> 01:01:02,640 to pay back the loans, or we restricted on what money we can use to pay these loans back. 544 01:01:03,220 --> 01:01:10,400 So, generally, the loan is secured by our water utility rating charges, however, to the extent 545 01:01:10,400 --> 01:01:16,640 that we have lined up partners who want to contribute to the project, they would certainly be 546 01:01:16,640 --> 01:01:20,000 be allocated their fair share of the debt service payments. 547 01:01:20,500 --> 01:01:27,660 So we get our people all over the state using these, this means correct, I think I'm 548 01:01:27,660 --> 01:01:28,340 correct, right? 549 01:01:29,120 --> 01:01:36,800 So what it be the advantage of the state to piggyback and try to do something to expedite 550 01:01:36,800 --> 01:01:42,520 financing and California for all the water projects to piggyback and have the state help 551 01:01:42,520 --> 01:01:50,000 local governments like the water district to complete as many California projects as possible. 552 01:01:50,900 --> 01:01:54,120 Now I can't help but folks I have to think like a state senator, 553 01:01:56,200 --> 01:01:57,120 this is just my first 554 01:01:57,120 --> 01:02:02,220 meeting so I'm thinking like a state senator financing projects in California and I think 555 01:02:02,220 --> 01:02:09,600 California needs to expedite and maximize its return on its dollar because we never get our fair 556 01:02:09,600 --> 01:02:23,700 from the federal government, and we ought to use every means we can to get our fair share of the dollars coming back to California, and specifically coming back to the Santa Clara Valley Water District in my opinion. 557 01:02:24,280 --> 01:02:38,420 So is that using the state looking at the state, can we understand that the state could help find the debt service on these loans? 558 01:02:38,420 --> 01:02:47,620 The state through the the whistle program proposition one has provided valley water with a little bit over 559 01:02:47,620 --> 01:02:55,580 $500 million in maximum eligibility for that grant that is available to fund the project cost. 560 01:02:56,460 --> 01:03:05,000 Okay, so can we have that issue looked at I'm going to bring it up again when it comes to the legislative program by the way. 561 01:03:05,000 --> 01:03:13,560 morning folks. But can we have that issue brought up again at the budget capital budget 562 01:03:13,560 --> 01:03:22,020 workshop as well and how we can maximize the state matching our big projects. I think 563 01:03:22,020 --> 01:03:29,280 the big projects, hopefully are the ones the state can match or if you want to put 564 01:03:29,280 --> 01:03:35,480 another way, they got to become one thing I know about the budget, I think the status 565 01:03:35,480 --> 01:03:42,880 and put enough money into water projects. I'll just say that flat out. They have to put 566 01:03:42,880 --> 01:03:50,420 up their monitor for sure. We got President Biden come through with this one and all the 567 01:03:50,420 --> 01:03:59,260 federal program, but we need the state to come through with a water project program this 568 01:03:59,260 --> 01:04:09,840 I mean, that's my opinion, so if that could come back again at January workshop, I don't think 569 01:04:09,840 --> 01:04:13,080 we're going to solve all the problems in January, by the way, I think we need concepts 570 01:04:13,080 --> 01:04:13,560 here. 571 01:04:14,240 --> 01:04:18,840 So we keep working, we've got to keep working on these things over time, so do you have any 572 01:04:18,840 --> 01:04:19,720 comments on that? 573 01:04:20,440 --> 01:04:28,720 The state of the state expressed interest in helping us other than the $500 million allocation 574 01:04:35,520 --> 01:04:36,080 Go ahead. 575 01:04:36,560 --> 01:04:37,240 Through the chair. 576 01:04:37,380 --> 01:04:38,040 Director Bell. 577 01:04:38,340 --> 01:04:39,380 The short answer is yes. 578 01:04:39,540 --> 01:04:44,400 In fact, we have Bart Brume, who in the audience have taken here who can speak more 579 01:04:44,400 --> 01:04:44,780 to that. 580 01:04:44,800 --> 01:04:45,700 But the short answer is yes. 581 01:04:45,820 --> 01:04:50,160 In fact, the state legislative team, that's one of their biggest priorities is I think 582 01:04:50,160 --> 01:04:54,180 the board will see actually in a future agenda item later on down this agenda. 583 01:04:54,700 --> 01:04:59,000 But yes, we actively advocate with the governor's office as you know with the state senate, 584 01:04:59,100 --> 01:04:59,960 the state, the entire state legislature. 585 01:05:00,000 --> 01:05:07,000 Legislature to make sure that our projects and our portfolio is well positioned to receive every dime of state funding that we can qualify for. 586 01:05:07,260 --> 01:05:15,060 And we do have legislative meetings with our board with the elected in the state and also at the federal level twice a year. 587 01:05:15,380 --> 01:05:19,940 So we'll have that opportunity to address our elected locally to raise those questions that you have. 588 01:05:19,940 --> 01:05:22,020 you're going to be involved in that yourself. 589 01:05:23,000 --> 01:05:24,300 Yes, sir's an aqua. 590 01:05:24,680 --> 01:05:26,560 No, that's the board of director. 591 01:05:26,740 --> 01:05:28,980 But aqua has its own negotiating agency as well. 592 01:05:29,500 --> 01:05:31,600 So, you know, we were multi-tasked with all that. 593 01:05:31,760 --> 01:05:32,560 Did you have any other comments? 594 01:05:32,620 --> 01:05:33,040 I'm done. 595 01:05:33,200 --> 01:05:33,460 OK. 596 01:05:34,000 --> 01:05:34,340 Director Kagan. 597 01:05:38,720 --> 01:05:39,680 Thank you. 598 01:05:41,620 --> 01:05:43,740 So, I have a couple of questions. 599 01:05:44,000 --> 01:05:49,280 And in some ways, they relate to director Bell's comments. 600 01:05:49,280 --> 01:05:59,540 My first is a question how and when we have two projects included in this application, and clearly, you know, Anderson is pretty straightforward. 601 01:05:59,820 --> 01:06:00,980 It's our number one priority. 602 01:06:02,420 --> 01:06:07,260 We're even in the middle of construction of one of the projects. 603 01:06:07,500 --> 01:06:09,140 So it makes sense that it was included. 604 01:06:10,440 --> 01:06:16,920 But how, what projects were considered, and when did the board check in with, 605 01:06:17,360 --> 01:06:20,260 It being Anderson and Pacheco. 606 01:06:25,940 --> 01:06:27,380 Anderson is pretty clear. 607 01:06:28,380 --> 01:06:33,520 With Pacheco, given it's the biggest project in front of us, and what in the past 608 01:06:33,520 --> 01:06:36,920 we've heard from the full board is it's the number two priority for the full board. 609 01:06:37,840 --> 01:06:40,440 And given the size of it, that's the reason why we looked at it. 610 01:06:40,440 --> 01:06:41,560 We did look at other projects. 611 01:06:41,620 --> 01:06:43,580 We looked at, for example, purified water. 612 01:06:44,580 --> 01:06:49,860 In fact, we do have plans to pursue wiffy alone for the purified water program. 613 01:06:49,860 --> 01:06:57,000 But we need to advance the project further until such that we would be ready to submit a 614 01:06:57,000 --> 01:06:57,500 yellow eye. 615 01:06:57,740 --> 01:07:02,280 There's a whole process that goes into place and seeking a WIFI alone. 616 01:07:02,620 --> 01:07:08,840 Those two projects were the projects that were ready, where we could involve the federal 617 01:07:08,840 --> 01:07:15,540 compliance aspects of it, into the contracts that were put in together for these two projects. 618 01:07:16,140 --> 01:07:21,160 looked at Rinkanata, just wasn't a project that was, it was already in construction, low 619 01:07:21,160 --> 01:07:23,700 dollar amounts at the time, relative to these two projects. 620 01:07:23,880 --> 01:07:27,640 So when you think about vang for the buck and where the boards, priorities were in terms 621 01:07:27,640 --> 01:07:32,500 of number one priority, Anderson number two, Pateco, that was why staff did what we did. 622 01:07:33,720 --> 01:07:37,700 I guess I would just suggest that I think it would have been a good idea to have check 623 01:07:37,700 --> 01:07:43,800 back in with the board because I don't think there was a unanimity of support for Pateco. 624 01:07:43,800 --> 01:07:48,660 So I personally was neutral, you know, I was willing to proceed with the environmental analysis 625 01:07:48,660 --> 01:07:54,040 and see where that led, but I always had some questions about it and I don't think 626 01:07:54,040 --> 01:07:59,580 I'm the only of the past board members that felt that way and certainly we have new board 627 01:07:59,580 --> 01:08:02,700 members coming in who may have a difference of opinion. 628 01:08:03,260 --> 01:08:13,120 I think it was maybe premature to decide not to include purified water because pretty consistently 629 01:08:13,120 --> 01:08:22,820 that's what I hear from the community as being their highest priority. They're very interested in recycled water and 630 01:08:22,820 --> 01:08:25,400 being able to treat 631 01:08:26,120 --> 01:08:29,380 waste water to drinking water standards. So 632 01:08:29,380 --> 01:08:34,040 maybe we could have had a little bit of a reality check. I would like to follow up though on 633 01:08:34,040 --> 01:08:37,280 Director Bell's comments, which is looking at a portfolio 634 01:08:37,280 --> 01:08:40,480 of projects that can be delivered more quickly 635 01:08:40,480 --> 01:08:47,820 is advantageous. I mean, we see even under normal conditions, the escalation costs for projects 636 01:08:47,820 --> 01:08:56,080 and right now, we see in our own bids, right, that there's a lot more volatility and we 637 01:08:56,080 --> 01:08:59,420 continue to pay higher and higher prices for projects. 638 01:09:03,440 --> 01:09:07,580 So, that's kind of my thought process. 639 01:09:08,400 --> 01:09:17,000 I did think could we apply for a part of it, you know, right now, can we, like, for example, 640 01:09:17,500 --> 01:09:22,840 if we were all in agreement that we wanted to pursue this for Anderson, could we just move 641 01:09:22,840 --> 01:09:28,360 forward with that component of it while taking a look at what other projects might be considered, 642 01:09:28,540 --> 01:09:33,460 something that could be delivered shorter term, something that might include purified water, 643 01:09:33,460 --> 01:09:39,040 or could we enter into an agreement and this last part is probably not, but where we have 644 01:09:39,040 --> 01:09:46,400 identified some of the projects, or we've identified Anderson, but had more loosely defined 645 01:09:46,400 --> 01:09:55,140 what the other funds could be for. And then lastly, when I was reading through this, I didn't 646 01:09:55,140 --> 01:09:59,980 really click until I'm a son, made the presentation and the whole... 647 01:10:00,000 --> 01:10:21,860 The issue of the development defaults problem. If we had an issue during construction or a claim or a contractor he defaulted, I think we're running a little bit of a risk there that I'm not used to on these kinds of projects and maybe that's just a lack of familiarity on my part. 648 01:10:21,860 --> 01:10:46,160 But I do think particularly for projects where we may have permitting issues, we could be finished with the design and I'm sorry with the design and ready to go to construction but we could have a lot of issues if somehow we aren't able to get the permits in time or if there are changes in permit requirements or things of that nature. 649 01:10:46,160 --> 01:10:56,060 So, to summarize, my thoughts, I agree with the idea of looking at other, more achievable 650 01:10:56,060 --> 01:11:01,460 projects in the near term to bring forward, and my higher priority, if we're just looking 651 01:11:01,460 --> 01:11:09,780 at the big projects, would be purified water, rather than Pachaco, given the fact that I don't 652 01:11:09,780 --> 01:11:13,240 think we know what to do with Pachaco at this time. 653 01:11:13,240 --> 01:11:21,480 I'm not, you know, hammering a nail in the coffin, but I also see that there's some issues 654 01:11:21,480 --> 01:11:23,940 and challenges associated with the library of that. 655 01:11:24,140 --> 01:11:25,960 So I'll leave it at that for now. 656 01:11:26,780 --> 01:11:27,940 Thank you, Director Kiki, can you do it, Chrysler? 657 01:11:30,960 --> 01:11:32,160 Thank you so much. 658 01:11:32,220 --> 01:11:33,520 First I want to thank the staff. 659 01:11:33,720 --> 01:11:39,580 I know that my legal nerd background actually is in secured loans. 660 01:11:40,300 --> 01:11:45,060 My dad has retired bankruptcy judge and my professor in mentor in law schools Elizabeth Warren, 661 01:11:45,060 --> 01:11:48,680 who really made her career start of her career with secured loans. 662 01:11:49,120 --> 01:11:50,480 And this is a secured loan. 663 01:11:50,660 --> 01:11:53,300 A secured loan is any loan as many people know 664 01:11:53,300 --> 01:11:55,880 that is backed by supported by collateral. 665 01:11:56,940 --> 01:11:59,640 And in the water, just given some legal background 666 01:11:59,640 --> 01:12:02,760 to general public for water projects, 667 01:12:02,920 --> 01:12:06,360 often what's unusual about these secured loans 668 01:12:06,360 --> 01:12:09,500 is that they're actually secured on many of them. 669 01:12:09,660 --> 01:12:12,000 Not just on the assets, the value of the assets 670 01:12:12,000 --> 01:12:14,700 that we're building, but actually on the projected 671 01:12:14,700 --> 01:12:24,400 revenues. So if it turns out that a project we're building ends out not having any revenues, 672 01:12:25,880 --> 01:12:30,800 it is in that I looked at the loan agreements, it's very similar to other loan agreements. 673 01:12:31,400 --> 01:12:37,000 I've drafted and negotiated. We could actually have our loan pulled and fully accelerated, 674 01:12:37,540 --> 01:12:44,260 meaning our loan is completely pulled and we owe all two billion immediately if we've taken out two 675 01:12:44,260 --> 01:12:51,860 billion because of the events of default, which includes the collateral not being as valuable 676 01:12:51,860 --> 01:12:54,800 as what we have stated, and collateral again needs future revenues. 677 01:12:56,220 --> 01:13:02,760 So we risk if it turns out we don't have these revenues from this dam and the reservoir, 678 01:13:03,320 --> 01:13:06,680 we risk having to pay two billion dollars immediately. 679 01:13:07,680 --> 01:13:13,760 So I think that is a huge risk that from a legal and risk perspective that I think we need 680 01:13:13,760 --> 01:13:19,200 consider, you know, additionally, I mean, I always focus on risk. That's really what lawyers do, right? 681 01:13:20,020 --> 01:13:24,340 And I mean, first I want to state everyone knows I'm opposed to this damn for social justice reasons, right? 682 01:13:24,340 --> 01:13:29,080 So you all know that my bias, I'm going to put it out there. I'm opposed to the damn, because I don't want 683 01:13:29,080 --> 01:13:35,300 the Amulet to try hurt and I don't want our environment hurt. And if impossible to do the damn without doing 684 01:13:35,300 --> 01:13:41,100 those two things. So I'm opposed to it, but here I'm just talking about financial terms, financial terms 685 01:13:41,100 --> 01:13:44,520 that would come to pass with a project I support, like water recycling. 686 01:13:45,660 --> 01:13:48,800 So anyway, so I believe we face significant risk 687 01:13:48,800 --> 01:13:52,640 due to this uncertain collateral, collateral that 688 01:13:52,640 --> 01:13:56,960 really truly hasn't yet been determined because we had a plan 689 01:13:56,960 --> 01:13:57,900 for a dam. 690 01:13:58,280 --> 01:13:59,960 We were told it was unfeasible. 691 01:14:00,540 --> 01:14:02,400 So truly, I think we're at the same stage 692 01:14:02,400 --> 01:14:04,920 with this dam project that we are with water recycling. 693 01:14:05,480 --> 01:14:08,980 We're no further ahead because with both projects, 694 01:14:09,060 --> 01:14:10,200 we don't even have a plan. 695 01:14:10,200 --> 01:14:17,900 So I think it's a little bit inaccurate to say that we're ahead in any way, but I want to talk about the risks of the loan. 696 01:14:18,460 --> 01:14:22,720 Also, I asked the question about, did we disclose the litigation? 697 01:14:23,220 --> 01:14:26,180 Because when I looked at the application, I didn't see it. 698 01:14:26,420 --> 01:14:34,340 Now I'm aware that they're probably aware of the litigation, but that is not how the legal process works. 699 01:14:34,340 --> 01:14:43,560 It could be considered a material misrepresentation that we don't include the litigation front 700 01:14:43,560 --> 01:14:44,260 in center. 701 01:14:44,800 --> 01:14:51,060 Now, I recognize that the legal costs of litigation may not be that high relatively speaking, 702 01:14:51,440 --> 01:14:59,380 low legal costs for this organization is like a million dollars, but that doesn't matter. 703 01:15:00,000 --> 01:15:07,680 It is, we are experiencing costs as Ms. Richardson explained the other day. We are experiencing costs due to delay. 704 01:15:08,780 --> 01:15:15,880 So, what I understand that the filing of this lawsuit has increased our cost by anywhere between $10 and $200 million. 705 01:15:16,580 --> 01:15:24,100 And that is a significant risk that we have, additionally, truly the only way to settle this lawsuit. 706 01:15:24,100 --> 01:15:27,160 And I'm not talking anything that's in the private session. 707 01:15:27,220 --> 01:15:29,580 This is stuff I said during my campaign. 708 01:15:29,940 --> 01:15:31,720 So you know, this is all based on my reading 709 01:15:31,720 --> 01:15:35,920 of publicly available documents, not saying anything. 710 01:15:36,240 --> 01:15:36,700 That's not public. 711 01:15:37,160 --> 01:15:39,380 My assessment of it is that really can't make this law 712 01:15:39,380 --> 01:15:40,960 to go away without giving up the damn. 713 01:15:41,520 --> 01:15:44,580 So in the private sector, we call it a bet the company case. 714 01:15:45,440 --> 01:15:47,220 So for sure, bet the company case. 715 01:15:47,620 --> 01:15:48,740 These are the front and center. 716 01:15:49,300 --> 01:15:52,740 Now why am I concerned that this application 717 01:15:52,740 --> 01:15:59,440 didn't have front and center of material risk. Well first because we could be considered unethical 718 01:15:59,940 --> 01:16:05,420 and unprincipled and I don't even want to risk the appearance of that. Even though it might 719 01:16:05,420 --> 01:16:11,040 be strictly legal, not to include it, I think we need to always err on the side of high integrity. 720 01:16:11,660 --> 01:16:21,000 So also because it puts our relationship at risk with the EPA. As does having a project, the biggest 721 01:16:21,000 --> 01:16:25,280 project in this loan application. I think that what I'm trying to get at is I think there's a risk. 722 01:16:25,280 --> 01:16:28,980 This is premature. It's what I'm trying to get through. There's a risk to filing an application 723 01:16:28,980 --> 01:16:35,620 with a project that the new board hasn't been briefed on. I had a project that so many circumstances 724 01:16:35,620 --> 01:16:40,560 have changed. Everything like interest rates have climbed significantly since it was first agreed 725 01:16:40,560 --> 01:16:50,620 upon to a continuing problem with importing matters from overseas to the higher cost of labor, 726 01:16:52,360 --> 01:16:58,240 So, I think we really need to understand the full totality of the risk, and again, I just 727 01:16:58,240 --> 01:17:01,900 can never agree to us filing an application for a project we don't know for doing. 728 01:17:02,480 --> 01:17:09,060 It will have cost, and we want to be, we want to be a squeaky clean, always as we can be. 729 01:17:09,740 --> 01:17:12,620 So I hope you can refusence and then re-bring this back up to us. 730 01:17:12,620 --> 01:17:17,940 Maybe we will agree, but swapping project for project is never as easy as described. 731 01:17:17,940 --> 01:17:21,720 It has different collateral, it'll take a different due diligence process. 732 01:17:22,640 --> 01:17:26,300 So I hope we can be brief fully before this is brought to us. 733 01:17:26,360 --> 01:17:27,300 Thank you. 734 01:17:28,040 --> 01:17:29,240 Thank you, Director Director, I swear. 735 01:17:34,250 --> 01:17:34,910 Thank you. 736 01:17:34,910 --> 01:17:35,750 Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 737 01:17:36,530 --> 01:17:39,310 Just tell me a quick comment, you know, these. 738 01:17:41,690 --> 01:17:48,310 I would say that, well, I'd say positively more than a majority of our projects into generational 739 01:17:48,310 --> 01:17:49,170 projects. 740 01:17:49,170 --> 01:17:55,950 They generally go from one board to the next and sometimes one board to five boards later 741 01:17:55,950 --> 01:17:59,810 Having been on here so many boards later. I can assure you that that's the case 742 01:18:00,330 --> 01:18:08,930 More than half of the projects in our CIP none of us here will ever see even though we'll still do them, but we won't see them 743 01:18:10,170 --> 01:18:15,350 It's all intergenerational. So that's what we're talking about and generally every year 744 01:18:15,350 --> 01:18:20,470 We go through this trying to figure out how we're going to finance our projects and again 745 01:18:20,470 --> 01:18:24,850 Finance our CIP and our CIP again. It's intergenerational 746 01:18:26,310 --> 01:18:28,570 Most of it is all planned 747 01:18:28,570 --> 01:18:35,090 Some of it is designed half of it is only proposed and 748 01:18:35,090 --> 01:18:37,370 Imagine and so 749 01:18:38,130 --> 01:18:45,190 We still have to do the real thing which is to figure out how to pay for things and this is the way that we pay for them 750 01:18:45,350 --> 01:19:10,530 you know, with borrow money. This is a simple credit line issue. And, you know, I'll read from the memo just for the record, says to the extent that any future board actions result in reduction in the wiffier loans, the deaf service payment schedules would be proposed to be adjusted in a corresponding manner. We don't borrow it, we don't pay for it. 751 01:19:10,530 --> 01:19:21,450 That valuable water would not draw on any of these loans for the construction of any projects and to laugh to the board has approved the construction projects for these projects. 752 01:19:22,350 --> 01:19:27,790 So, you know, we are making a proposal to get us a credit line. 753 01:19:28,470 --> 01:19:35,230 When we're ready to spend it, we get it, and then we decide how we're going to pay pay for it. 754 01:19:35,790 --> 01:19:38,190 That's the nature of the business. 755 01:19:39,250 --> 01:19:45,270 sure every year we look at our in fact our CIP capital improvement plan is 756 01:19:45,270 --> 01:19:52,090 is on the agenda today so every year we look at you know what our projects are 757 01:19:52,530 --> 01:19:59,810 what we're doing with our projects they're always there so we do that 758 01:20:00,000 --> 01:20:08,800 We look at our projects every year. We figure out whether we should add more and subtract them, give some up, move some over and so on and out of pay for them. 759 01:20:09,420 --> 01:20:16,400 So that's a process that goes on pretty often more than once, but we do it through our CIP. 760 01:20:18,480 --> 01:20:26,960 And we would respect the Pacheco, you know, I agree, my position on Pacheco has pretty clear 761 01:20:26,960 --> 01:20:28,640 I've expressed it many times. 762 01:20:29,340 --> 01:20:33,640 We don't have all the answers, and until we do, we can't make a final decision. 763 01:20:34,600 --> 01:20:36,180 So what's the prudent thing to do? 764 01:20:36,640 --> 01:20:41,620 I say the prudent thing is to continue to investigate, to look at it until we get to a point. 765 01:20:42,220 --> 01:20:46,260 What we know exactly what is going to cost, what we know what the challenges are, what 766 01:20:46,260 --> 01:20:50,840 we know where the real benefits and the determinants are, and then we make a decision, that's 767 01:20:50,840 --> 01:20:55,960 not going to be done by this board. It's an intergenerational project. It's going to be done 768 01:20:55,960 --> 01:21:00,440 by another board, because that's how long it's going to take. But does that mean that because 769 01:21:00,440 --> 01:21:07,320 all of our projects take a long time that we stop now? Then we never get anything done. If you look 770 01:21:07,320 --> 01:21:12,040 at all, again, half of the projects that we have, they're necessary, they're required. But 771 01:21:12,040 --> 01:21:17,100 some of them will not be done because at the end we decided that they cost too much, they 772 01:21:17,100 --> 01:21:21,860 didn't make any sense, they weren't necessary, they're not required, we shouldn't do 773 01:21:21,860 --> 01:21:22,320 them. 774 01:21:23,280 --> 01:21:25,840 So that's the way Pacheco is to me. 775 01:21:26,240 --> 01:21:30,820 We're not at a point where we can make a decision but we need to be prudent to preserve a future 776 01:21:31,240 --> 01:21:34,340 boards, ability to take advantage of an opportunity. 777 01:21:34,660 --> 01:21:37,880 If it is an opportunity, and if it isn't, to kill it then. 778 01:21:37,880 --> 01:21:50,960 And so I don't see the problem of the risk in approving a proposal to get a credit line that we won't use until we want to use it. 779 01:21:51,100 --> 01:21:52,540 It's a simple example. 780 01:21:53,820 --> 01:22:04,800 So I'm ready to make a motion to adopt the recommendation of staff whenever we were through without discussions. 781 01:22:05,780 --> 01:22:09,500 I've got a motion and a second to continue on the discussion. 782 01:22:09,920 --> 01:22:11,300 Thank you, Director Estomerra. 783 01:22:11,700 --> 01:22:12,020 Director Schwer. 784 01:22:15,390 --> 01:22:16,170 Thank you, Chair. 785 01:22:17,130 --> 01:22:21,950 I think my comment is similar to Director Estomerra's comment, 786 01:22:22,650 --> 01:22:24,270 but then I think it's important. 787 01:22:25,330 --> 01:22:27,110 I will either read maybe in different words, 788 01:22:28,010 --> 01:22:29,030 but it means the same. 789 01:22:29,690 --> 01:22:34,270 In my mind, I'm seeing this item that's that brought to us 790 01:22:35,190 --> 01:22:36,770 as a financing mechanism. 791 01:22:36,770 --> 01:22:51,210 This is not a project decision question that's in front of the sport and to be very clear that the board did make a decision. 792 01:22:51,830 --> 01:23:00,610 We found Anderson Damway actually awarded part of the Constitution contract with detailed plans and specifications. 793 01:23:00,610 --> 01:23:05,290 But then for Pachekor as a war, it's still being studied. 794 01:23:05,590 --> 01:23:09,850 This board has not made a decision on the project yet. 795 01:23:10,990 --> 01:23:14,930 And there's going to be many analysis coming before this board. 796 01:23:14,990 --> 01:23:17,750 You know, therefore, this board to make a decision on the project. 797 01:23:18,270 --> 01:23:19,770 And I agree with the Director Bill. 798 01:23:19,850 --> 01:23:22,010 I don't think on January 10th, 799 01:23:22,070 --> 01:23:25,610 even though we asked them to bring a detailing more in detail information. 800 01:23:25,610 --> 01:23:32,790 for Chaco, probably the sports bill will need more information to make, so just to be clear 801 01:23:32,790 --> 01:23:38,910 that the support has not made a decision to proceed with Chaco Reservoir project. 802 01:23:39,630 --> 01:23:45,410 And this item in front of us is not the item for us to make a decision on Chaco Reservoir. 803 01:23:45,610 --> 01:23:50,610 If we do that, it's pretty much going to be based on our gut feeling, it's not based on 804 01:23:50,610 --> 01:23:58,290 science and engineering environmental analysis and those are the analysis that we need in order to do that. 805 01:23:59,170 --> 01:24:06,270 So I see this very simply as a mechanism, just like staff indicated that quite a line. 806 01:24:07,270 --> 01:24:14,490 And by the time, if we actually decide to withdraw money for a particular reservoir, 807 01:24:14,490 --> 01:24:20,210 I think Ms. Sun has stated earlier that there will be the board 808 01:24:20,210 --> 01:24:25,650 designed to award a construction contract with approved plants and specifications. 809 01:24:27,590 --> 01:24:30,250 That's way down the road. 810 01:24:31,750 --> 01:24:39,750 And it's that kind of an action that will drive us to start with drawing money from this law. 811 01:24:39,750 --> 01:24:46,590 So, as of now, I see this is a cheap, not cheap as a bad word. 812 01:24:47,630 --> 01:24:57,490 Low interest rate, low interest rate money for us compared to go to the market and borrowing money. 813 01:24:58,130 --> 01:24:59,550 So, I... 814 01:25:00,000 --> 01:25:09,660 I applaud staff's initiative and then all this technical work, and together with the support of our consultant. 815 01:25:11,100 --> 01:25:21,600 So I will support this item and if you'd like to ask your model, make the motion I would like to ask in that. 816 01:25:21,680 --> 01:25:22,480 We did have a second. 817 01:25:22,480 --> 01:25:23,860 Okay, Ben, I'm sorry. 818 01:25:24,160 --> 01:25:26,620 We have a couple more board members that have the testimony. 819 01:25:27,240 --> 01:25:29,580 So thank you, Director Schwerier, for that Director's Santos. 820 01:25:38,020 --> 01:25:39,080 We're still learning. 821 01:25:43,180 --> 01:25:45,540 Good. Yeah, thank you, Mr. Chair, appreciate it. 822 01:25:45,720 --> 01:25:48,500 Yeah, when I looked at this, I wasn't just looking at Pacheco. 823 01:25:48,800 --> 01:25:52,140 I was looking at this opportunity to make sure we had reliable water supply. 824 01:25:52,680 --> 01:25:56,180 We got ours when we want to make sure the other generations had the same opportunity. 825 01:25:56,540 --> 01:25:58,480 This is an opportunity for credit. 826 01:25:58,480 --> 01:26:13,200 And the question I have learned, this is prevent us from also example being partnerships with what it be lost by carols or other places, or is it just because of projects we have by ourselves, is it limit us? 827 01:26:14,180 --> 01:26:19,660 There's no limitation here in terms of the board's participation in other projects like those for carols. 828 01:26:20,000 --> 01:26:24,020 What's before the board today is simply putting in place a financing mechanism. 829 01:26:24,020 --> 01:26:25,880 I just want to know the province. 830 01:26:26,280 --> 01:26:30,040 And for Bacheco and Anderson, and potentially even a substitution project in the future, 831 01:26:31,580 --> 01:26:32,700 it's a great loan. 832 01:26:32,840 --> 01:26:35,060 I have to say it's a low cost loan. 833 01:26:35,160 --> 01:26:36,280 Very flexible terms. 834 01:26:37,240 --> 01:26:38,580 It's a good thing. 835 01:26:39,240 --> 01:26:40,540 Yeah, and that's my point. 836 01:26:41,120 --> 01:26:42,800 Like, share of it just commenting on it. 837 01:26:43,240 --> 01:26:47,060 Yes, it doesn't prevent us from partnerships, which is John and I have talked about 838 01:26:47,060 --> 01:26:48,480 and other board members. 839 01:26:49,060 --> 01:26:51,140 This idea is to, the opportunity is now. 840 01:26:51,360 --> 01:26:53,940 I don't want to lose this opportunity with low interest rates. 841 01:26:53,940 --> 01:26:58,000 because we don't know the next president or whoever may be, things could change. 842 01:26:58,860 --> 01:27:01,600 So when you have that opportunity, you embrace it and do it. 843 01:27:01,780 --> 01:27:03,580 We all got homes, we've been through this. 844 01:27:03,800 --> 01:27:04,740 So it's the same situation. 845 01:27:05,320 --> 01:27:08,280 So as I second that I will be supporting this. 846 01:27:08,280 --> 01:27:09,140 Thank you, Directors. 847 01:27:10,080 --> 01:27:10,740 Something so. 848 01:27:11,300 --> 01:27:14,600 I have two more speakers, and then I want to wrap up this discussion, 849 01:27:15,180 --> 01:27:17,760 because we've been a little bit over an hour on this one agenda item. 850 01:27:17,760 --> 01:27:19,840 We've got a whole agenda in front of us. 851 01:27:20,280 --> 01:27:21,320 So Director Bell, 852 01:27:21,320 --> 01:27:26,340 And then director Eisenberg, you'll have the last word on this and then we're going to take the vote. 853 01:27:28,570 --> 01:27:39,150 I think it's that long one is Anderson only and then probably long two and three will be Anderson projects. 854 01:27:41,010 --> 01:27:49,730 And we're not going to get into any other projects for quite a bit of time. Is that correct? 855 01:27:50,290 --> 01:27:52,790 Am I looking at that? Am I thinking correctly? 856 01:27:53,850 --> 01:27:58,910 So we want to use this really to expedite the Anderson project. 857 01:27:59,290 --> 01:28:02,830 That's the primary reason I would support this. 858 01:28:03,830 --> 01:28:07,990 My other thought is that the motion with the understanding, 859 01:28:08,230 --> 01:28:09,890 I don't know, asked to make her the motion, 860 01:28:10,610 --> 01:28:19,610 that we would have a discussion at the CIP study session on the projects 861 01:28:19,610 --> 01:28:28,310 that could maximize the value of this loan process and projects that we can expedite. 862 01:28:29,450 --> 01:28:37,510 I sort of have a lot of questions about what about, you know, I'm always a fix it first kind of guy. 863 01:28:38,710 --> 01:28:40,290 You know, you don't, you don't let 864 01:28:42,720 --> 01:28:49,220 under maintain facilities catch up with you because then they end up costing more money. 865 01:28:49,220 --> 01:28:59,460 So I don't know what lists of those kinds are modernizations of the treatment plants, other kinds of things like that. 866 01:28:59,900 --> 01:29:02,120 Do I develop, I might interject for you? 867 01:29:02,600 --> 01:29:04,840 Yeah, I would like to have that understand. 868 01:29:04,920 --> 01:29:07,740 Sure, there's no need to amend the motion at all. 869 01:29:07,900 --> 01:29:12,260 What you could do is do a board member request for your discussion. 870 01:29:13,200 --> 01:29:14,000 That's a procedure. 871 01:29:14,280 --> 01:29:16,900 I want to know if everybody feels about that. 872 01:29:16,900 --> 01:29:19,020 Yeah, we all support. 873 01:29:20,260 --> 01:29:26,680 I'm glad we respond as a member of the member that made the motion and also, of course, 874 01:29:26,920 --> 01:29:32,200 as a member of the CIP committee, that's what is on the agenda is exactly what you're 875 01:29:32,200 --> 01:29:32,560 saying. 876 01:29:33,020 --> 01:29:36,460 Is a review of the projects that's what the CIP is about. 877 01:29:36,900 --> 01:29:42,860 And then we have our reports on the status of the projects that's so on, and then recommendations 878 01:29:42,860 --> 01:29:48,560 of what to do with them, and that's when we talk about what goes forward right away, what 879 01:29:48,560 --> 01:29:53,040 goes in two years, what goes in three and so on. So, you're absolutely right. We need to 880 01:29:53,040 --> 01:29:56,780 do that, and we're doing that. It's something that's what is on the agenda. 881 01:29:58,040 --> 01:29:58,580 Thank you, Director. 882 01:30:00,000 --> 01:30:09,080 You have the last word, but right now we have a majority in support of this. So please make your comments brief as possible at this point. 883 01:30:10,180 --> 01:30:20,220 Thank you chair. I think a missing piece here. So having this legal knowledge about commercial loans means that I actually read the whole packet. I read all the agreements. 884 01:30:20,220 --> 01:30:32,940 And I'm close to certain that I read that we are legally required only to apply for loans for projects that we agree we are going to do. 885 01:30:34,220 --> 01:30:44,360 We cannot apply for a loan for a project that we have not agreed that we have not agreed we're going to do that would violate our agreement out of the gate. 886 01:30:44,360 --> 01:30:53,740 So all of us, well, right now you know my opinion, I'm opposed to the damn, but everyone else has said they still need to think about it. 887 01:30:54,380 --> 01:30:58,240 We just publicly knowledge that we're in violation of these terms. 888 01:30:58,420 --> 01:31:06,020 So I want to state for the record because I'm a member of the bar that I do not want to violate the terms of this agreement out of the gate. 889 01:31:06,760 --> 01:31:12,940 And let me tell you why it makes sense that we need to be committed to a project before applying for a loan about it. 890 01:31:13,080 --> 01:31:16,040 I know it seems nice to keep our options open. 891 01:31:16,560 --> 01:31:23,440 But the EPA, who would be the funder of this loan, is a greatly under-resourced organization. 892 01:31:24,340 --> 01:31:31,440 If every single water district and other public entity just applied for loans to keep their options open, 893 01:31:31,440 --> 01:31:39,180 The EPA would be spending all of their time at a huge taxpayer expense, reviewing loans 894 01:31:39,180 --> 01:31:43,640 for to let public agencies keep their options open. 895 01:31:44,300 --> 01:31:51,920 I think we are legally prohibited from applying for this loan, given that the board is not in agreement yet, 896 01:31:52,180 --> 01:31:57,740 if ever, that we're going to do this, and that troubles me, and that's new information. 897 01:31:57,740 --> 01:32:04,240 Additionally, I totally get that loans are how we funded everything in the past, but thanks 898 01:32:04,240 --> 01:32:11,060 to President Biden, who signed into, you know, signed into law, the very recent inflation 899 01:32:11,060 --> 01:32:18,580 reduction act, and thanks to our Governor Gavin Newsom, who on August 10 announced his water 900 01:32:18,580 --> 01:32:26,600 policy, what we have is we have the promise of both federal and state funds in the form 901 01:32:26,600 --> 01:32:33,520 grants. Now that's because our grants are gifts of money that don't cost any interest. So while 902 01:32:33,520 --> 01:32:43,260 a $2.5 billion loan may over all cost our community $7.5 or $8 billion. A $2.5 billion 903 01:32:43,260 --> 01:32:50,860 grant cost the community nothing. So we're talking about an $8 billion next to difference between 904 01:32:50,860 --> 01:32:57,420 grants and alone for the same amount of money. I think if we want to keep our options open, 905 01:32:57,960 --> 01:33:04,200 we need to quickly urgently look into what projects grants are available for. I can promise you 906 01:33:04,200 --> 01:33:09,440 grants are not available for dams because grants are only available for sustainable projects 907 01:33:09,440 --> 01:33:16,580 and dams are known in a grid upon universally to be anti-sustainable, not just non-sustainable, 908 01:33:16,580 --> 01:33:25,840 But harmful, dams will never receive grants, but recycling and water treatment and so many other things on a list will. 909 01:33:26,580 --> 01:33:44,200 So here we are asked to whether we should actually agree to apply for a loan to receive funding, you know, a loan that based on a project that we are not in agreement yet that we want to do, which in my interpretation puts us into breach. 910 01:33:44,200 --> 01:33:51,620 In the context of a loan application that I believe is in breach, because it lacks the true assessment of our risk. 911 01:33:53,200 --> 01:34:01,200 And in order to obtain a project that will never, grants will never be available for, and that will cost our taxpayers even at today's rates, 912 01:34:01,760 --> 01:34:07,080 three times the amount, and actually what's the difference between zero and eight billion, 913 01:34:07,080 --> 01:34:10,540 and monumentally more than a project that we can do for free. 914 01:34:12,720 --> 01:34:16,120 I think it's unethical for us to approve this now. 915 01:34:16,480 --> 01:34:18,160 I'm really putting that out there. 916 01:34:18,680 --> 01:34:21,020 And I think it's lawyers disagree. 917 01:34:22,140 --> 01:34:25,280 I believe our inter-to-consult said this is fine. 918 01:34:26,400 --> 01:34:29,600 I have different, in my background with commercial loans, 919 01:34:29,800 --> 01:34:33,640 and my dad, the bankruptcy judge, I believe differently. 920 01:34:34,200 --> 01:34:41,760 And I believe that if there's even a risk that will be called that this application could be considered in 921 01:34:41,760 --> 01:34:45,720 Breach because we publicly acknowledge we haven't yet approved this. 922 01:34:46,080 --> 01:34:47,480 Do we really want another scandal? 923 01:34:47,960 --> 01:34:49,040 I think we need to wait. 924 01:34:49,720 --> 01:34:51,280 And obviously I'm going to vote no on this. 925 01:34:51,300 --> 01:34:52,700 I would vote an alternate. 926 01:34:53,040 --> 01:34:55,500 Can I make an alternate motion? 927 01:34:55,500 --> 01:34:59,980 And I mean, I'm moved that we found a group. 928 01:35:00,000 --> 01:35:09,360 A phone application that does not include Pachaco, but that includes the other projects. And that we consider 929 01:35:09,360 --> 01:35:14,520 the Pachaco loan at a later date. Does anyone second that? 930 01:35:16,920 --> 01:35:18,180 Okay, there are no fails for that. 931 01:35:18,520 --> 01:35:27,520 So, would you finish with your comment? Thank you. Thank you. Okay. So, Darren, would you respond to 932 01:35:27,520 --> 01:35:31,040 comments that were made in reference to the questions that were asked? 933 01:35:34,280 --> 01:35:41,880 I can respond to the legal questions, but in terms of the proposal to approve Anderson 934 01:35:41,880 --> 01:35:47,860 and other projects, there's a whole process that it takes to go through with the EPA to propose 935 01:35:47,860 --> 01:35:53,360 a project for which the EPA will loan us money. And so if we want to propose other projects, 936 01:35:53,560 --> 01:35:59,300 there's a process that we would have to submit a letter of interest. It takes months to prepare 937 01:35:59,300 --> 01:35:59,620 that. 938 01:36:03,350 --> 01:36:07,890 Okay, thank you very much, Director. Thank you for your comment. So we have a motion on the 939 01:36:07,890 --> 01:36:11,590 floor and I'm going to call for the vote. It's a roll call vote. 940 01:36:18,940 --> 01:36:20,220 Well, there's okay. We have 941 01:36:20,220 --> 01:36:25,740 a motion and we have a substitute motion and we have a first in a second. So I'm going to take 942 01:36:25,740 --> 01:36:28,780 direction from the board. Where do you want to go from here board? 943 01:36:31,270 --> 01:36:32,570 Okay, then the subsequent motion 944 01:36:32,570 --> 01:36:33,570 will commence. 945 01:36:36,520 --> 01:36:41,400 So I'm going to take a roll call on the second motion. Director Bell, 946 01:36:42,640 --> 01:36:43,920 Director Eisenberg, 947 01:36:46,130 --> 01:36:47,090 Director Estimera? 948 01:36:47,110 --> 01:36:47,730 No. 949 01:36:48,070 --> 01:36:48,810 Director Shua? 950 01:36:49,370 --> 01:36:49,490 No. 951 01:36:50,050 --> 01:36:50,610 Director Keegan? 952 01:36:51,450 --> 01:36:52,110 Director Santos? 953 01:36:53,450 --> 01:36:54,050 Chair Varrell? 954 01:36:54,150 --> 01:36:54,410 No. 955 01:36:54,710 --> 01:36:55,750 Motion fails? 956 01:36:59,090 --> 01:37:00,490 Okay, now the motion on the original? 957 01:37:00,710 --> 01:37:01,070 Okay. 958 01:37:01,350 --> 01:37:06,970 Now I will take a roll call on the original motion which is to adopt staff's recommendations 959 01:37:07,230 --> 01:37:07,790 A and B. 960 01:37:08,610 --> 01:37:09,070 Director Bell? 961 01:37:10,650 --> 01:37:11,330 Director Eisenberg? 962 01:37:11,550 --> 01:37:11,890 No. 963 01:37:12,490 --> 01:37:13,450 Director Estimera? 964 01:37:13,750 --> 01:37:14,090 All right. 965 01:37:14,090 --> 01:37:17,590 Dr. Shua? Yes. Dr. Keegan? Yes. 966 01:37:18,050 --> 01:37:18,950 Director Santos. 967 01:37:19,950 --> 01:37:22,170 Chair Verella? Yes. Motion passes. 968 01:37:22,370 --> 01:37:25,030 That motion passes. Thank you, Board. 969 01:37:25,870 --> 01:37:26,550 Good discussion. 970 01:37:27,710 --> 01:37:31,130 We're going to move on to the agenda item 2.9. 971 01:37:31,750 --> 01:37:35,230 This is a monthly drought emergency response in water supply update. 972 01:37:36,030 --> 01:37:37,830 And this is an information item only. 973 01:37:38,810 --> 01:37:39,330 Aaron Baker. 974 01:37:41,350 --> 01:37:41,990 Thank you, Chair Verella. 975 01:37:41,990 --> 01:37:46,410 Chief, in honor of board members, Mayor Baker, Chief Operating Officer of the Water 976 01:37:46,410 --> 01:37:50,270 Utility and Privacy. I'd like to introduce Assistant Officer Kirsten Strew to give a 977 01:37:50,270 --> 01:37:52,010 presentation if it pleases the board. 978 01:37:54,660 --> 01:37:55,960 Yeah, then. All right, Kirsten. 979 01:37:56,200 --> 01:38:00,560 Good afternoon. I'll be filling in today to get you out of the draft yet. 980 01:38:01,780 --> 01:38:07,160 Well, that's what I'll talk about. So, our recent rains, including this weekend rain, 981 01:38:07,160 --> 01:38:13,400 have been helpful and storage in our reservoirs increased from 15% to 19% over the last week. 982 01:38:13,400 --> 01:38:19,300 The snowpack in the Sierra has been improving and is currently above average for this time of year. 983 01:38:20,120 --> 01:38:26,460 But according to the US drought monitor, our county currently remains in severe drought with the eastern edge in extreme drought. 984 01:38:27,040 --> 01:38:28,460 And the same thing happened last year. 985 01:38:28,600 --> 01:38:33,080 We had some rains early in the wet season and then it was dry. 986 01:38:33,740 --> 01:38:35,680 And so we're preparing for another dry year. 987 01:38:35,940 --> 01:38:42,940 We would need above average local rainfall during the wet season and significant snowpack in the Sierra's to help us move out of drought. 988 01:38:45,510 --> 01:39:08,210 In October, our county was able to exceed valley waters conservation target with a savings of 16% compared to October 2019 and we very much appreciate our community's efforts to respond to the call and all our outreach efforts conservation programs and enforcement of water use restrictions have helped us achieve these savings and as you can see we've really shaped of the summer peak. 989 01:39:10,540 --> 01:39:15,960 We generally achieve higher savings than our state in most months in October. Our county 990 01:39:15,960 --> 01:39:22,340 continue to exceed our governance call by reducing 15% compared to 20 terrain. We actually 991 01:39:22,340 --> 01:39:30,100 got to 17% and we are also well above the state's cumulative savings at 13%. 992 01:39:32,860 --> 01:39:33,440 On December 993 01:39:33,440 --> 01:39:40,380 1, DWR announced we received an initial allocation for 2023 from the state water project of 5%. 994 01:39:40,380 --> 01:39:42,660 They also announced they intend to work with agencies. 995 01:39:43,520 --> 01:39:46,580 We're requesting human health and safety supplies to confirm their allocation. 996 01:39:47,440 --> 01:39:51,400 And we have submitted an initial health and safety request and will work with DWR 997 01:39:51,400 --> 01:39:54,180 to refine the request as the winter unfolds. 998 01:40:00,000 --> 01:40:05,160 While you want to reduce groundwater recharge, starting in November due to a pipeline rehab project expected 999 01:40:05,160 --> 01:40:10,860 to last three months, this will not impact our annual total recharge, which is projected to be 1000 01:40:10,860 --> 01:40:16,340 closed to normal by the end of this year. Groundwater levels have stabilized in much of the county. 1001 01:40:16,760 --> 01:40:21,560 They are increasing in many areas due to recharge and water conservation by the community, but 1002 01:40:21,560 --> 01:40:25,700 as the drug continues achieving the board's call is still very important. 1003 01:40:29,070 --> 01:40:29,930 We are seeing landscape 1004 01:40:29,930 --> 01:40:34,830 The rewrite participation waterways reports decreasing as we had into winter, which we would expect, 1005 01:40:35,790 --> 01:40:39,210 but participation is still very high compared to previous years. 1006 01:40:43,660 --> 01:40:48,660 We've had over 1,800 waterways complaints since our program was launched in June. 1007 01:40:49,180 --> 01:40:53,780 We've received seven repeat complaints showing that most waterways is addressed at the first 1008 01:40:53,780 --> 01:40:54,520 complaint. 1009 01:40:55,920 --> 01:41:00,720 And our last water conservation demand management committee, we were asked where most of our waterways 1010 01:41:00,720 --> 01:41:05,760 complaints are coming from and we looked into this and single family homes are the majority 1011 01:41:05,760 --> 01:41:06,860 of cases. 1012 01:41:09,580 --> 01:41:13,620 Oh, yes to saving water campaign continues on TV, radio, print, and online. 1013 01:41:14,580 --> 01:41:19,040 And we are continuing our conservation campaigns during the winter months, unlike previous 1014 01:41:19,040 --> 01:41:23,780 years where we typically don't continue conservation campaigns in the winter, staff launched 1015 01:41:23,780 --> 01:41:29,140 a winter water conservation campaign promoting our animation series, which includes animations 1016 01:41:29,140 --> 01:41:33,960 on gray water, the landscape, rebate, and dialing back on irrigation during winter months. 1017 01:41:34,700 --> 01:41:39,180 In the same S2 saving water public service announcements involving local professional sports 1018 01:41:39,180 --> 01:41:43,400 teams who are published on valley waters, social media channels, and with that, I'm 1019 01:41:43,400 --> 01:41:44,440 open for any questions. 1020 01:41:45,580 --> 01:41:50,160 Thank you very much, Kristen, and we have any public comment on this. 1021 01:41:50,640 --> 01:41:53,200 Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have no public comment at this time. 1022 01:41:53,960 --> 01:41:59,200 Okay, board members, I have a comment from the recreation book. 1023 01:42:00,200 --> 01:42:02,200 Is that correct? You're rather right. 1024 01:42:02,940 --> 01:42:03,100 Okay. 1025 01:42:04,020 --> 01:42:06,280 First, thank you so much for doing this work. 1026 01:42:06,880 --> 01:42:08,760 It's, you know, I recognize it takes a while. 1027 01:42:09,020 --> 01:42:13,700 Can you show that that slide again that had the bar graphs? 1028 01:42:16,580 --> 01:42:19,800 It was, you know, with the two, oh, I'm sorry, not a bar graph. 1029 01:42:19,980 --> 01:42:21,200 A line graph, my dad. 1030 01:42:21,820 --> 01:42:22,080 Okay. 1031 01:42:24,020 --> 01:42:25,240 I'm trying to get there. 1032 01:42:25,240 --> 01:42:26,200 Okay. 1033 01:42:26,860 --> 01:42:27,620 We're good. 1034 01:42:27,820 --> 01:42:28,220 That one? 1035 01:42:28,340 --> 01:42:29,080 That one. 1036 01:42:30,240 --> 01:42:30,400 Okay. 1037 01:42:31,160 --> 01:42:38,320 So I'm a bit confused because so this is 19, 2019 and this is 2022. 1038 01:42:39,520 --> 01:42:43,460 So this is showing just to make sure I understand the red is showing that. 1039 01:42:43,500 --> 01:42:47,580 We are using that sweater now than we were before. 1040 01:42:48,020 --> 01:42:52,660 So I remember watching a board meeting about this and this question was asked and I guess 1041 01:42:52,660 --> 01:43:10,660 really, there's been, I think it's hard to answer, but I just want to put on the record that I think we need to answer this, like urgently, is I asked the question, how much of this change do we know is due to conservation versus how much of this change might be due to, you know, 1042 01:43:10,660 --> 01:43:16,040 Um, engine people, nothing able to pay the water bills, how much of this change might be 1043 01:43:16,040 --> 01:43:21,960 due to our growing rates of, you know, growing unhoused population, how much of this change 1044 01:43:21,960 --> 01:43:27,240 might be due to, um, uh, businesses leaving the area, et cetera. 1045 01:43:27,500 --> 01:43:33,160 Like we, we don't really know what's causing the reduction in water use. 1046 01:43:33,420 --> 01:43:37,680 I was, what it was told, I was told last time or what the board and I assume that's the same 1047 01:43:37,680 --> 01:43:38,160 now. 1048 01:43:38,160 --> 01:43:46,400 So I guess I just want to put it out there that since I guess it's not in our retailer agreements that we need to do everything we can 1049 01:43:46,400 --> 01:43:51,120 to really understand what is led to this reduction. 1050 01:43:52,500 --> 01:44:04,260 And maybe it's just, maybe it is conservation as an indoor outdoor so that we can really be more focused in our policies to address the gaps. 1051 01:44:04,260 --> 01:44:07,500 So, and if I, if I said something wrong, please correct that. 1052 01:44:07,560 --> 01:44:08,540 Thank you. 1053 01:44:09,700 --> 01:44:11,120 Thank you, Director of Summer. 1054 01:44:11,580 --> 01:44:12,000 Excuse me. 1055 01:44:12,140 --> 01:44:12,540 Director Keegan. 1056 01:44:14,790 --> 01:44:15,570 Thank you. 1057 01:44:15,590 --> 01:44:20,710 I should have asked this question at the water conservation and demand management, but I didn't 1058 01:44:20,710 --> 01:44:21,490 and I apologize. 1059 01:44:23,410 --> 01:44:32,870 You know, are we still aggressively preaching the water conservation philosophy as part of our 1060 01:44:32,870 --> 01:44:33,970 education program? 1061 01:44:33,970 --> 01:44:39,690 I know in the past, the neighborhood children were like really excited about saving water and actually 1062 01:44:39,690 --> 01:44:41,710 were lecturing their parents on that. 1063 01:44:42,150 --> 01:44:47,210 So I just think it would be, I'm seeing people nodding so clearly we are doing that. 1064 01:44:47,710 --> 01:44:54,190 So maybe if we could just give a brief, a brief little blip about what we're doing and results 1065 01:44:54,190 --> 01:44:54,690 for seeing. 1066 01:44:54,690 --> 01:44:55,270 Miss Gibson. 1067 01:44:55,990 --> 01:44:56,550 You'd like to respond. 1068 01:44:57,290 --> 01:44:57,870 I think that's a blip. 1069 01:44:57,870 --> 01:44:58,510 Okay, please. 1070 01:44:59,030 --> 01:44:59,970 Yeah, so it's actually- 1071 01:45:00,000 --> 01:45:08,620 In the drought report, as a specific header to have our water conservation education. And in November, we supported 66 1072 01:45:08,620 --> 01:45:16,900 educators and 1,200 for students during 23 school presentations and three tours. We've also worked with the Youth Commission. 1073 01:45:18,560 --> 01:45:29,220 And yeah, so we do detail our efforts related to education in the drought report. And if you'd like to see it highlighted more in the presentation, we can do that. 1074 01:45:30,820 --> 01:45:41,980 That's fine, I just think we should take some credit for the fact that we're doing good work in that area and certainly children are amazing ambassadors for water conservation. 1075 01:45:42,260 --> 01:45:44,340 I mean, it's really exciting to see that. 1076 01:45:44,480 --> 01:45:45,520 So thank you. 1077 01:45:46,700 --> 01:45:47,340 Director Smare. 1078 01:45:48,500 --> 01:45:50,850 Thank you. 1079 01:45:50,850 --> 01:45:51,210 Thank you. 1080 01:45:55,410 --> 01:46:00,550 I want to respond to Director Eisenberg's question because, 1081 01:46:00,550 --> 01:46:10,790 I know we can't get these kind of data from the from probably from our retailers and I but I'm just as interested she is 1082 01:46:11,710 --> 01:46:19,570 When when we have our surveys, maybe we could add that as questions so when when's the next time we're going to have a we're going to do a survey 1083 01:46:20,730 --> 01:46:22,210 Hey Firter Aaron 1084 01:46:27,330 --> 01:46:28,370 Rachel 1085 01:46:29,610 --> 01:46:30,130 Thanks 1086 01:46:30,130 --> 01:46:31,130 Sorry 1087 01:46:34,430 --> 01:46:39,950 through the chair director's fire. Yes, we do, as you mentioned, conduct polling on a 1088 01:46:39,950 --> 01:46:42,990 pretty frequent basis to make sure that the messages that we're putting out in the community 1089 01:46:42,990 --> 01:46:47,370 resonate with the people that we serve. So we're looking at doing the next one I think in 1090 01:46:47,370 --> 01:46:52,270 another month-ish we want to try to get through a bulk of the rain of the winter rainy season first 1091 01:46:52,270 --> 01:46:56,610 because obviously people are thinking about rain right now and we want to make sure that we're 1092 01:46:56,610 --> 01:46:58,030 just in our messaging accordingly. 1093 01:46:58,450 --> 01:47:01,190 So Kirsten did mention that we have adjusted that already 1094 01:47:01,190 --> 01:47:03,770 in terms of the winner toolkit that's gone out 1095 01:47:03,770 --> 01:47:05,630 and that we're sharing with all of our retailers and partners. 1096 01:47:06,190 --> 01:47:09,470 And we'll be sure to include that additional question 1097 01:47:09,470 --> 01:47:10,070 in the next one. 1098 01:47:10,570 --> 01:47:13,030 The best way we can get it, because we can't do it through. 1099 01:47:13,070 --> 01:47:14,770 I don't think we could do it through a retailers 1100 01:47:14,770 --> 01:47:16,290 because they're there. 1101 01:47:17,130 --> 01:47:19,870 Their data isn't really good enough, but if we ask people 1102 01:47:19,870 --> 01:47:22,710 directly, we can find out a little bit better. 1103 01:47:22,950 --> 01:47:25,010 I think because we can include it on our survey, 1104 01:47:25,830 --> 01:47:27,470 We can start getting some answers. 1105 01:47:28,270 --> 01:47:28,310 Great. 1106 01:47:30,010 --> 01:47:30,430 Okay. 1107 01:47:31,230 --> 01:47:32,490 There was information only. 1108 01:47:32,850 --> 01:47:33,790 Anybody else to speak? 1109 01:47:33,970 --> 01:47:34,490 We have no public. 1110 01:47:35,190 --> 01:47:35,730 We have access. 1111 01:47:37,250 --> 01:47:37,950 Excuse me. 1112 01:47:38,750 --> 01:47:39,030 Yes. 1113 01:47:39,070 --> 01:47:39,770 Thank you, Mr. Sherman. 1114 01:47:39,890 --> 01:47:42,290 I take just a brief moment to kind of um, 1115 01:47:42,590 --> 01:47:47,490 so I've heard here about how we do in the water supply and the drought and so on. 1116 01:47:47,770 --> 01:47:52,010 And I want to take the time because Chief Baker and his staff is doing an extraordinary job. 1117 01:47:52,830 --> 01:47:57,270 It's called the Bulletin, the office magazine of Santa Clara County Medical Association. 1118 01:47:58,050 --> 01:47:59,210 It's going to be a raw work and that's... 1119 01:47:59,550 --> 01:48:04,150 I was just taken back because it talks about climate change, drought, and that less is a flint. 1120 01:48:04,770 --> 01:48:10,250 All kinds of articles and quotes here about Santa Clara Valley Water District, and then the water supply and recycling. 1121 01:48:10,790 --> 01:48:13,750 But I want to take the time to make sure you and everyone else knows, 1122 01:48:14,070 --> 01:48:20,050 mention some of the names of Kristen Strove, Dr. Samantha Green, Maddie Senake, 1123 01:48:20,050 --> 01:48:25,110 There's so many others that contributed to this, and I read this stuff, and I was so proud 1124 01:48:25,110 --> 01:48:28,690 because here it is, and I'm medical association, talking about what we're doing. 1125 01:48:29,170 --> 01:48:32,790 So, to answer all the questions, and I'm on the last statement, committee, with nice 1126 01:48:32,790 --> 01:48:36,010 you, director, and our last committee is Paramah. 1127 01:48:37,030 --> 01:48:38,550 Education is coming continually. 1128 01:48:39,190 --> 01:48:39,810 We go to schools. 1129 01:48:39,910 --> 01:48:40,750 We do everything. 1130 01:48:41,690 --> 01:48:43,350 I've just, last night, the virus activity. 1131 01:48:43,730 --> 01:48:45,410 Again, talking about the citizen training. 1132 01:48:45,410 --> 01:48:49,070 but we're sure it's a beer drop and people are, quote, thirsty for information. 1133 01:48:49,650 --> 01:48:52,010 You're taking the opportunity for the last statement. 1134 01:48:52,270 --> 01:48:55,290 They're doing it all. So we are really doing well and we've got to continue. 1135 01:48:56,290 --> 01:49:01,370 This rain is, you know, temporary. And we know that. So to all our staff, 1136 01:49:01,630 --> 01:49:03,770 Chief Baker, you're proof. Thank you. Thank you, Chair. 1137 01:49:04,470 --> 01:49:14,190 Yeah. Okay. Moving forward. We're next on the consent calendar item 3.1 through 3.6. 1138 01:49:14,190 --> 01:49:20,790 This is a roll call. I need a motion in a second. I have a motion in a second. This is a roll call any board 1139 01:49:21,710 --> 01:49:23,710 Leave this at this point 1140 01:49:23,710 --> 01:49:30,510 Okay, and no public comments. I have no public comment. Okay, take the vote, please. All right 1141 01:49:30,510 --> 01:49:31,430 Director Val 1142 01:49:33,550 --> 01:49:34,510 Director Eisenberg. 1143 01:49:37,460 --> 01:49:44,340 Okay. I'll circle back. Director Estimara. All right. Director Shua. Yes, Director Keegan. Yeah, Director Santos 1144 01:49:45,800 --> 01:49:46,200 Chevrolet. 1145 01:49:47,060 --> 01:49:47,260 All right. 1146 01:49:47,340 --> 01:49:48,460 Director Eisenberg, do you need? 1147 01:50:00,910 --> 01:50:13,750 What are we discussing? Thank you. Okay, so we have a unanimous seat. Yeah, I miss that vote on that. Thank you. Thank you board members appreciate that. So moving 1148 01:50:15,960 --> 01:50:29,280 on, we're going into Board of Directors 4.1, response to Santa Clara County civil grand jury October 7, 2022 final report, recommendation action. 1149 01:50:29,280 --> 01:50:31,840 So, we have Tina Yoke. 1150 01:50:35,470 --> 01:50:35,950 Good afternoon, Tina. 1151 01:50:36,330 --> 01:50:37,810 Good afternoon, Chair. 1152 01:50:38,130 --> 01:50:39,890 Members of the Board, Tina Yoke. 1153 01:50:40,150 --> 01:50:42,550 Chief Operating Officer for Administrative Services. 1154 01:50:43,290 --> 01:50:46,330 Just very briefly with your meeting packet. 1155 01:50:46,870 --> 01:50:51,250 There is staff's recommendation option one. 1156 01:50:51,770 --> 01:50:57,270 And then option one was in response to the Santa Clara County 1157 01:50:57,270 --> 01:51:05,210 grand jury letter and report that our agency received on October the 10th, that grand jury 1158 01:51:05,210 --> 01:51:13,590 letter and report had findings one, which with three recommendations for which our agency 1159 01:51:13,590 --> 01:51:20,930 is required to provide a response, no later than January 5th, our response has four options, 1160 01:51:20,930 --> 01:51:25,370 either indicate that the recommendations were implemented. 1161 01:51:26,670 --> 01:51:29,870 Second, is the recommendations that has not been implemented. 1162 01:51:30,050 --> 01:51:31,190 And we provide a timeline. 1163 01:51:32,230 --> 01:51:34,950 Third, was that analysis is pending. 1164 01:51:35,850 --> 01:51:39,830 And lastly, four options is the recommendation will not be implemented. 1165 01:51:41,270 --> 01:51:47,370 Because our agency believes that those recommendations are not warranted. 1166 01:51:47,370 --> 01:52:16,730 So, since I put forth with staff the original option one recommendation, there's a handout in front of the board today, which is a secondary option for the board's consideration, that second option is a recommendation to provide a response that indicates that staff would like to take this letter and the report to our BPPC. 1167 01:52:16,730 --> 01:52:23,430 no later than March 31st and then of course proceed from there. 1168 01:52:23,710 --> 01:52:29,690 And so I'd like to stand for questions on either of the two options or some other direction 1169 01:52:29,690 --> 01:52:31,590 at the board of the light. 1170 01:52:31,970 --> 01:52:32,630 Thank you. 1171 01:52:32,690 --> 01:52:33,570 The direction. 1172 01:52:34,450 --> 01:52:34,990 I have a motion. 1173 01:52:36,150 --> 01:52:37,490 Do you have a second on that? 1174 01:52:40,310 --> 01:52:40,350 Okay. 1175 01:52:41,410 --> 01:52:41,670 Okay. 1176 01:52:41,870 --> 01:52:42,030 Hang on. 1177 01:52:42,250 --> 01:52:42,810 Hang on. 1178 01:52:43,090 --> 01:52:43,610 Let's see your calendar. 1179 01:52:43,690 --> 01:52:44,810 Do you have a comment on this? 1180 01:52:47,630 --> 01:52:53,130 No, I just would be looking from in the board, which option you'd like for C, right? 1181 01:52:53,350 --> 01:52:54,350 I'm hopefully everyone's happy. 1182 01:52:54,590 --> 01:52:55,990 We'll have to see the point of option, too. 1183 01:52:56,490 --> 01:52:57,670 Okay, Director Schweyer. 1184 01:53:01,230 --> 01:53:01,890 Thank you, Chair. 1185 01:53:02,810 --> 01:53:07,390 I would support moving forward with option two. 1186 01:53:07,630 --> 01:53:12,570 I'm hoping that my colleague can support that. 1187 01:53:13,050 --> 01:53:18,310 I really believe this response is a board business. 1188 01:53:18,310 --> 01:53:28,610 I don't feel this is a staff business, so I think the board needs to talk about it either going through a committee or not going through a committee. 1189 01:53:29,650 --> 01:53:33,230 Either way it's fine with me, but I just feel like it's a board business. 1190 01:53:33,550 --> 01:53:39,470 The board needs to talk about it and then have an end thereafter to prepare the response. 1191 01:53:39,470 --> 01:53:42,110 So that will be my 1192 01:53:42,110 --> 01:53:43,230 I guess 1193 01:53:44,090 --> 01:53:46,330 Support for the option too. Okay. 1194 01:53:47,830 --> 01:53:49,210 Okay. Okay. I have a motion. 1195 01:53:49,510 --> 01:53:51,510 Did you make a motion on that? 1196 01:53:53,850 --> 01:53:55,470 She did not formally make a motion on that. 1197 01:53:55,490 --> 01:53:57,690 Should I make a motion on that? 1198 01:53:57,770 --> 01:53:58,010 I have a motion. 1199 01:53:58,350 --> 01:54:00,110 Director Santos, but 1200 01:54:00,110 --> 01:54:01,830 Director Santos, did you want to 1201 01:54:02,970 --> 01:54:04,790 Follow your motion on that? 1202 01:54:05,050 --> 01:54:06,950 Support about item two? 1203 01:54:07,670 --> 01:54:09,070 Okay. So I have motion in a second. 1204 01:54:10,790 --> 01:54:13,110 So it's a motion for option two. 1205 01:54:13,390 --> 01:54:14,110 Option two. 1206 01:54:14,130 --> 01:54:14,570 Directors. 1207 01:54:14,990 --> 01:54:15,090 Directors. 1208 01:54:16,790 --> 01:54:18,750 Well, it's right now we're just going to hear that. 1209 01:54:18,890 --> 01:54:20,150 We're just acknowledging the motion. 1210 01:54:21,190 --> 01:54:23,810 Okay, so Santos and Eisenberg. 1211 01:54:23,850 --> 01:54:24,910 Option two. 1212 01:54:26,750 --> 01:54:26,970 Okay. 1213 01:54:27,670 --> 01:54:32,270 So do we have any board members that have any comments on that? 1214 01:54:32,510 --> 01:54:33,390 Director of Stamara? 1215 01:54:34,350 --> 01:54:34,970 Right, I got you. 1216 01:54:35,350 --> 01:54:38,050 Yeah, I just quickly wanted to say that. 1217 01:54:38,050 --> 01:54:45,550 Yeah, I think it's appropriate for us to have take a little time to go through the report and have a discussion and 1218 01:54:46,130 --> 01:54:55,110 Have the ability of the new members to engage and we've got three three months that was adequate and you know, we have a committee so that it's so we could take advantage 1219 01:54:55,110 --> 01:54:59,970 I think of the committee to to be the forum and then we can all participate in that discussion 1220 01:55:00,000 --> 01:55:03,680 So, okay. Director Christopher? 1221 01:55:08,480 --> 01:55:17,460 Thanks. I think, you know, I really strongly agree with, you know, my colleagues in their recommendation for delay, and I just want to kind of say why. 1222 01:55:17,960 --> 01:55:26,620 I think it's so important that we are able to work together cohesively, you know, and this is such a charge to issue. 1223 01:55:26,620 --> 01:55:56,600 And, you know, I'm one of the newcomers, so I wasn't there during this, you know, and I feel like, you know, any discussion of this issue right now, maybe would put some of us in a position where maybe we would speak negatively about each other, and I hate that idea of, you know, really even having that conversation right now, because it's, I think it's so important that we really work together cohesively, you know, we may disagree. 1224 01:55:57,420 --> 01:56:05,380 But as I said in my earlier talk, I believe we really share mutual goals, and I really 1225 01:56:05,380 --> 01:56:12,520 want us to focus on what we agree with more, and I think it's really complicated whether 1226 01:56:12,520 --> 01:56:21,140 we want to say that our current colleagues maybe made a mistake or maybe that's what the board 1227 01:56:21,140 --> 01:56:28,720 would come to but I don't want to do that right now. I really trust my colleagues and I really want 1228 01:56:28,720 --> 01:56:33,500 to show them I really want to give everyone the benefit of the doubt and move together cohesively. 1229 01:56:34,040 --> 01:56:39,340 So that's why I wanted to lay. So thank you. Thank you, Director. So we have a motion in a second. 1230 01:56:41,020 --> 01:56:42,420 And do I have to bail? 1231 01:56:46,420 --> 01:56:49,560 The one I read this, the one issue that came to mind for me was having 1232 01:56:49,560 --> 01:56:53,120 I'm going to remember the County Board of Supervisors for 12 years. 1233 01:56:54,520 --> 01:56:58,260 The County Council is our lawyer as a County Supervisor. 1234 01:56:58,500 --> 01:57:03,320 They're not the lawyers of the Water District Board of Directors, and I can see, 1235 01:57:05,520 --> 01:57:06,560 or I feel 1236 01:57:06,560 --> 01:57:16,930 that there's a conflict of interest somewhat between the County Council office, you know, 1237 01:57:16,930 --> 01:57:28,090 the county board of supervisors lawyer and this entity. So I'm a little, I think it's kind of a 1238 01:57:28,090 --> 01:57:28,650 conflict. 1239 01:57:31,770 --> 01:57:39,630 And discussing how we do things better is fine, I think that's fine, but I think as, I don't 1240 01:57:39,630 --> 01:57:46,190 want somebody else's lawyer doing things to recommend to me when I have my own lawyer 1241 01:57:46,190 --> 01:57:53,450 to do it. And I prefer to have my own lawyer to do it quite frankly. So that's, I just wanted 1242 01:57:53,450 --> 01:57:59,390 to point that out. This conflict. If the Board of Supervisors doesn't like what we submit 1243 01:57:59,950 --> 01:58:08,850 and the county council is writing a opinion for us, that's to me. I don't know. I mean, 1244 01:58:08,850 --> 01:58:15,350 it looks like a conflict to me. I mean, thank you. So we have a motion in a second. So 1245 01:58:15,350 --> 01:58:21,390 The clerk of the board read, paid the motion, and what we're supporting on the vote. 1246 01:58:22,050 --> 01:58:22,250 Thank you. 1247 01:58:22,330 --> 01:58:23,330 This is not a roll call. 1248 01:58:23,570 --> 01:58:23,850 Yes. 1249 01:58:23,850 --> 01:58:24,550 Thank you, Mr. Chair. 1250 01:58:24,790 --> 01:58:30,570 So I have a motion by Director Santos, the second by Director Shua, to go with option 2 letter, 1251 01:58:30,990 --> 01:58:33,710 which is a distributed as a handout 4.18. 1252 01:58:34,930 --> 01:58:37,010 The motion second was on the right direction for the reaction. 1253 01:58:39,050 --> 01:58:41,210 The right direction for the second motion. 1254 01:58:41,730 --> 01:58:42,430 I will correct that. 1255 01:58:42,510 --> 01:58:42,750 Okay. 1256 01:58:42,750 --> 01:58:49,010 So, we'll hear that. All in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. All opposed? That motion passes. 1257 01:58:52,690 --> 01:58:57,650 Okay, we're moving on to item 4.2. Discuss the vacancy on the Santa Clara Valley War, 1258 01:58:57,770 --> 01:59:04,650 the Water District Public Facilities Financing Corp, Board Directors and provide direction on the process to fill the vacancy. 1259 01:59:05,210 --> 01:59:07,990 The recommendation as I just mentioned, Michelle King. 1260 01:59:08,690 --> 01:59:10,990 Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm talking to the board. 1261 01:59:10,990 --> 01:59:17,990 So I'm bringing this item back before the board today to get some additional input on filling 1262 01:59:17,990 --> 01:59:22,890 the vacancy for the Public Facilities Financing Corporation back in August the board authorized 1263 01:59:22,890 --> 01:59:29,890 me to contact prior PF, I'm going to abbreviate Public Facilities Financing Corporation as the 1264 01:59:29,890 --> 01:59:31,650 PFC, it's easier to say. 1265 01:59:32,050 --> 01:59:37,650 To do outreach to the prior applicants and to advertise vacancies on the local community papers, 1266 01:59:37,650 --> 01:59:45,410 perform outreach to our neighborhood associations and to our water ambassadors and that outreach was all performed 1267 01:59:45,410 --> 01:59:53,270 with a deadline of any applicants to submit letters of interest by October 31st of this year. 1268 01:59:54,110 --> 01:59:59,970 And that deadline approached and passed I received one application which I included in your 1269 02:00:00,700 --> 02:00:11,000 So, at this time, I stand up for the board to give me some additional input. If you want to, what options you have, we could move forward and schedule a time to interview the one applicant. 1270 02:00:11,740 --> 02:00:17,800 I can do some additional outreach. If that's what the board prefers or anything else that the board has suggested at this time. 1271 02:00:18,340 --> 02:00:19,200 Okay, board. 1272 02:00:19,960 --> 02:00:24,120 For discussion, recommendation, the request and bird. 1273 02:00:28,020 --> 02:00:29,660 First, thank you for your efforts with this. 1274 02:00:30,280 --> 02:00:34,720 I know it can be hard to find people to do this complicated and time-consuming work, 1275 02:00:34,840 --> 02:00:36,420 especially when they're doing it as a volunteer. 1276 02:00:37,240 --> 02:00:39,740 So it's not easy. I acknowledge that. 1277 02:00:39,740 --> 02:00:44,400 You know, that said, I believe in competition in the marketplace. 1278 02:00:45,160 --> 02:00:49,300 You know, and I feel like, you know, this is a new board. 1279 02:00:49,300 --> 02:01:02,900 You know, and we don't even know exactly how we're going to be, you know, but we're going to be different in some way and often people choose to participate in these volunteer positions based on with whom they'll be working. 1280 02:01:04,020 --> 02:01:10,840 Additionally, maybe I saw that, again, I barely even read this application and I saw 1281 02:01:10,840 --> 02:01:17,840 I mean no judgment about this person, but I just want to say, I saw the existing members 1282 02:01:17,840 --> 02:01:24,820 have names that, except for with one, whose name as I think Kim, they seem to be identified 1283 02:01:24,820 --> 02:01:31,080 as male, you know, and I'm not sure of their, you know, about their diversity in other 1284 02:01:32,080 --> 02:01:43,060 You know, I think that it's really, really important that we have a diverse and representative committee and as we all know, diversity and representation only come with effort. 1285 02:01:43,540 --> 02:01:45,640 It doesn't just happen, you know, organically. 1286 02:01:45,640 --> 02:01:51,540 And so I would say let's, I think it would be nice if, and I'll volunteer myself of all 1287 02:01:51,540 --> 02:01:57,100 but board members maybe could reach out to our communities, to maybe, you know, to 1288 02:01:57,100 --> 02:02:03,220 underrepresented, underrepresented groups that are in our communities, you know, if we have, you 1289 02:02:03,220 --> 02:02:08,600 know, vulnerable communities, immigrant communities, non-English speaking communities, et cetera. 1290 02:02:09,080 --> 02:02:14,920 This might be, you know, a really nice opportunity to show our commitment to representation 1291 02:02:14,920 --> 02:02:22,000 inclusion, inclusion, plus I really think any committee is better through when it's diverse. 1292 02:02:22,440 --> 02:02:23,420 So thank you. 1293 02:02:24,930 --> 02:02:26,270 Thank you, Director, for that. 1294 02:02:29,010 --> 02:02:30,210 So board. 1295 02:02:31,830 --> 02:02:36,290 So we'll just go back to the board to make that decision that director. 1296 02:02:36,910 --> 02:02:37,930 So that's fine. 1297 02:02:38,030 --> 02:02:39,810 If it's a board's pleasure, I will continue. 1298 02:02:39,950 --> 02:02:44,150 I will do some additional outreach, including providing some information or each director 1299 02:02:44,150 --> 02:02:49,050 can share with their communities, if you be whatever mechanisms we can use, I'm not sure 1300 02:02:49,050 --> 02:02:49,950 if next door allows that. 1301 02:02:49,950 --> 02:02:51,450 Two process were you previously? 1302 02:02:51,570 --> 02:02:56,230 Which we did previously, but we'll bump it up a little, see if I could bump it up a little 1303 02:02:56,230 --> 02:02:56,490 bit. 1304 02:02:57,530 --> 02:02:57,650 Okay. 1305 02:02:58,950 --> 02:03:00,510 I'll create another deadline. 1306 02:03:00,990 --> 02:03:06,550 The PFFC did just meet this year, so I think we have a little bit of time, and we had 1307 02:03:06,550 --> 02:03:12,050 a core each time, so I'll continue to outreach and bring it back to the board after I 1308 02:03:12,050 --> 02:03:14,410 that deadline passes and hopefully we'll get some more apple. 1309 02:03:14,490 --> 02:03:15,170 Okay, great. 1310 02:03:15,430 --> 02:03:16,110 Do I have to kick in? 1311 02:03:18,380 --> 02:03:24,940 I do agree that it's good to have more than one application but I would like to point out 1312 02:03:24,940 --> 02:03:32,380 that I do think highly of the applicant and he is a diverse candidate. 1313 02:03:32,860 --> 02:03:33,580 Okay, great. 1314 02:03:33,920 --> 02:03:35,540 Did we have any public comment on this slide? 1315 02:03:36,860 --> 02:03:37,740 That's for that. 1316 02:03:38,120 --> 02:03:39,640 I do not have any public comment at this. 1317 02:03:39,640 --> 02:03:42,540 Okay, so we're finished with item 4.2. 1318 02:03:42,540 --> 02:03:49,600 Moving on 4.3, consider the October 18th, 2022 Environmental Creek Cleanup Committee recommendation 1319 02:03:49,600 --> 02:03:55,820 to review and propose solutions-based proposals for addressing waterways, challenges posed 1320 02:03:55,820 --> 02:04:03,480 by unhoused in campus. This is an action item, Jennifer. Good afternoon members of the board. 1321 02:04:03,660 --> 02:04:09,480 Good afternoon. As discussed, this is an action item that the Environmental Creek Cleanup Committee 1322 02:04:09,480 --> 02:04:13,940 meeting had asked that we received feedback and direction from the board as a large. 1323 02:04:14,580 --> 02:04:21,500 There is eight proposed encampment-based solutions and I'm happy to discuss any one of them. 1324 02:04:21,840 --> 02:04:26,760 I think it's important to share that if you could so that our new members understand exactly what we're 1325 02:04:26,760 --> 02:04:27,660 referencing here. 1326 02:04:28,520 --> 02:04:34,320 So the first one was to continue discussions with the city of San Jose on the possibility 1327 02:04:34,320 --> 02:04:42,520 of no camping areas or buffers along the waterways. And we've really been concentrating on 1328 02:04:42,520 --> 02:04:47,820 the upcoming COD Creek flood measures project in regards to, you know, I don't know if we'll 1329 02:04:47,820 --> 02:04:54,380 decide to call it a camping band, but to basically ensure that unhoused are not camping in an 1330 02:04:54,380 --> 02:04:59,980 area along COD Creek that they would be subjected to life risk. And so that's ongoing discussion. 1331 02:05:00,000 --> 02:05:07,840 And we are currently hoping to see a draft MOA from the City of San Jose, possibly by the end of this week. 1332 02:05:11,100 --> 02:05:17,480 Number two was to pursue strength and renew local partnerships. And this is also something that is ongoing. 1333 02:05:17,860 --> 02:05:31,420 We will be creating two MOA agreements for the upcoming COD Creek flood measures project work, one with the City of San Jose, and that is really to assist us with providing outreach services, the possibility of housing. 1334 02:05:32,780 --> 02:05:38,480 and other actions to move forward with construction of that project. 1335 02:05:38,880 --> 02:05:53,840 Additionally, we will also be pursuing an MLA with the San Jose Police Department, and that's to assist us on what we know is going to need to occur for construction of that project, and that is the abatement of approximately 60 encampments just for Phase 1. 1336 02:05:56,240 --> 02:06:03,160 Number three was expanding cleanup crew staffing and that's something that we want to consider as we move forward. 1337 02:06:03,440 --> 02:06:09,600 However, with this upcoming large project that we need to begin work on for a coyote creek. 1338 02:06:09,960 --> 02:06:13,180 We're a little hesitant to expand the cleanup crew staffing at this point. 1339 02:06:13,180 --> 02:06:18,980 We want to see how much work this upcoming project is over the course of the next few years before we make that decision. 1340 02:06:19,480 --> 02:06:26,220 However, it is one solution that has been proposed and really that's been proposed because our cleanup crews are 1341 02:06:26,220 --> 02:06:32,520 only really able to clean these heavily-in-camped reaches of Creek on it two to three months 1342 02:06:32,520 --> 02:06:37,260 schedule, because there are so many reaches that need to be cleaned. So that discussion 1343 02:06:37,260 --> 02:06:43,560 of maybe, you know, increasing the clean up crew staffing and being able to clean these routine 1344 02:06:43,560 --> 02:06:50,460 areas on a more regular basis is something that we could consider. Number four, increase an 1345 02:06:50,460 --> 02:06:56,640 invest in increased police support. This is something that is currently in progress and that, again, 1346 02:06:56,680 --> 02:07:04,120 is part of the new MOA that will be put together for the San Jose Police Department to assist us 1347 02:07:04,120 --> 02:07:11,740 with the upcoming Hayote Creek flood measures project. And this is really to increase the amount 1348 02:07:11,740 --> 02:07:17,840 that we're able to pay them on our databases to encourage more of their staff to sign up for efforts 1349 02:07:17,840 --> 02:07:25,360 like this and that that currently is in progress and will be completed soon. So that's good news. 1350 02:07:25,500 --> 02:07:30,880 We'll be able to hire more officers to assist us on these and commit cleanup efforts and 1351 02:07:30,880 --> 02:07:32,600 to ensure that our staff are supported. 1352 02:07:34,740 --> 02:07:37,860 Number five and invest in an agreement contract to ensure 1353 02:07:37,860 --> 02:07:45,600 adequate outreach services. We did kind of try this a few ways and ultimately we decided that 1354 02:07:45,600 --> 02:07:49,320 This would be something best served by either the city or the county. 1355 02:07:49,940 --> 02:07:54,440 And so that is something, again, that we're currently working with the city of San Jose 1356 02:07:54,440 --> 02:08:00,700 for the MOI specific to the outreach services that we know will need on the CIAD Creek project. 1357 02:08:02,580 --> 02:08:05,380 Number six, increased use of expanded mental sensing. 1358 02:08:07,160 --> 02:08:11,800 That is something that was recommended by the committee and will most likely be moving forward 1359 02:08:11,800 --> 02:08:14,960 with that and increasing the funding that we have 1360 02:08:14,960 --> 02:08:16,440 for this expanded metal fencing. 1361 02:08:16,440 --> 02:08:19,560 What we're finding is that the typical fencing we use 1362 02:08:19,560 --> 02:08:21,460 in these secured breaches of Creek 1363 02:08:21,460 --> 02:08:25,240 is really easily damaged and it ends up costing a lot more 1364 02:08:25,240 --> 02:08:28,600 to repair the damage than it would to in some areas 1365 02:08:28,600 --> 02:08:31,300 construct this expanded metal fencing. 1366 02:08:36,220 --> 02:08:38,240 Okay, and number seven, 1367 02:08:38,460 --> 02:08:41,340 discuss expansion of a value water cash for trash program. 1368 02:08:41,840 --> 02:08:43,980 This is something that the committee's interested in 1369 02:08:43,980 --> 02:08:48,360 And I will be bringing back to the committee in the January meeting to discuss what that might 1370 02:08:48,360 --> 02:08:49,220 look like. 1371 02:08:49,760 --> 02:08:53,440 And so there will be continued discussions on that. 1372 02:08:53,580 --> 02:08:56,080 But basically, the idea is that we pay the city of Sen. 1373 02:08:56,080 --> 02:08:59,940 I was there right now through a grant fund to do their cash for trash program on Valley 1374 02:08:59,940 --> 02:09:00,900 Water Creek lands. 1375 02:09:01,640 --> 02:09:06,320 And while that is a very good program and effective, there are only visiting the sites once 1376 02:09:06,320 --> 02:09:06,760 a week. 1377 02:09:07,080 --> 02:09:12,200 And so it might be nice to supplement that with a Valley Water program where we can ensure a 1378 02:09:12,200 --> 02:09:17,520 consistent trash pick up on these areas that we know really need it. 1379 02:09:18,000 --> 02:09:20,140 And lastly, number eight was to permit the use of 1380 02:09:20,140 --> 02:09:21,840 Valleywater property for bridge housing. 1381 02:09:22,360 --> 02:09:25,940 This is something that we have proposed to the city, the Cherry 1382 02:09:25,940 --> 02:09:29,440 Ave site, an upland area on Guadalupe River, has been 1383 02:09:29,440 --> 02:09:32,760 proposed and it's my understanding that that site will go 1384 02:09:32,760 --> 02:09:35,740 to city council sometime this new year for consideration. 1385 02:09:37,620 --> 02:09:40,400 And that's all I have. So if there's any questions or any direction 1386 02:09:40,400 --> 02:09:41,980 and not the board would like to give? 1387 02:09:42,380 --> 02:09:46,420 Sure. Dr. Santos did you have any comments that you'd like to offer from? 1388 02:09:46,900 --> 02:09:49,640 Okay. So I have Dr. Bell. 1389 02:09:51,850 --> 02:09:52,350 Thank you. 1390 02:09:54,290 --> 02:09:59,830 One of the reasons I ran for the board here was to... 1391 02:10:00,080 --> 02:10:23,560 See if I can use my skills, if you want to say that way, having worked in the legislature, the city council, and the board of supervisors on housing and homeless issues, and I think the district act needs to be amended. 1392 02:10:24,660 --> 02:10:28,000 And we need to modernize the district act. 1393 02:10:30,440 --> 02:10:39,040 There are sections of the district act that could be modified, such as where it says abatement. 1394 02:10:39,900 --> 02:10:43,180 Talks about abatement in terms of people causing new senses. 1395 02:10:43,280 --> 02:10:46,900 It doesn't talk about using 1396 02:10:49,880 --> 02:10:50,760 a different phrase, 1397 02:10:53,980 --> 02:10:58,720 finding a home for people that don't have a home that happened to be living in our 1398 02:10:58,720 --> 02:11:06,960 creeks and it's not really abatement in terms of getting rid of a quote 1399 02:11:07,640 --> 02:11:08,160 nuisance. 1400 02:11:10,460 --> 02:11:13,960 It's dealing with human beings that are in the creeks that we need 1401 02:11:13,960 --> 02:11:23,540 help that are on our property, our property that we have, and finding ways of accommodating 1402 02:11:23,540 --> 02:11:32,460 the relocation of these people to safer better for the environment to cleaner and 1403 02:11:32,460 --> 02:11:34,020 more healthy locations. 1404 02:11:35,860 --> 02:11:42,810 And I think it's in our interest in terms of doing that because we are spending a lot 1405 02:11:42,810 --> 02:11:51,690 money on their traditional ways of cleaning up and relocating people and working with the city 1406 02:11:51,690 --> 02:11:57,290 in the camps and then people come back and then it goes over and over and over and over again 1407 02:11:57,290 --> 02:12:08,530 we're spending a lot of money. That to me is not the way to be proactive attacking a problem. 1408 02:12:08,530 --> 02:12:24,130 So I think that working in a more serious way a more deeper way to help people living in the creeks is the answer. 1409 02:12:24,210 --> 02:12:25,890 And we have to figure out how to do that. 1410 02:12:26,070 --> 02:12:31,870 I mean we don't know all the answers right now, but we have to figure out how to do that. 1411 02:12:31,870 --> 02:12:38,210 That remains one of my, Mr. Chairman, I know a lot of you are concerned about the same issues. 1412 02:12:38,810 --> 02:12:43,910 So that remains one of my primary things I would like to accomplish on the board. 1413 02:12:46,110 --> 02:12:46,630 So, 1414 02:12:49,300 --> 02:12:57,680 I think the first step is to look at the district gap to find out how we can amend it to make our agency serve the people of Santa Clara County better 1415 02:12:57,680 --> 02:13:05,380 regards to homeless people on the property and in the creeks in the 1416 02:13:05,380 --> 02:13:11,460 repairing quarters around the dams, around our other facilities, and how we can 1417 02:13:11,460 --> 02:13:21,180 work with other agencies in a proactive way to help solve the problems. Now we need 1418 02:13:21,180 --> 02:13:29,560 We also need to be taking a look at proposals, legislation, whether it's local or state 1419 02:13:29,560 --> 02:13:36,500 or federal that help people that are homeless and take active, active, straightforward, 1420 02:13:37,160 --> 02:13:45,320 priority positions on it so that we can be advocates for the governor and the president 1421 02:13:45,320 --> 02:13:49,560 and other people helping us solve this problem. 1422 02:13:49,560 --> 02:13:53,600 And we're part of the problem, we're not the whole problem because the homeless people 1423 02:13:53,600 --> 02:13:59,100 are not necessarily in our creeks, but what happens when there's, I notice when there 1424 02:14:00,480 --> 02:14:06,400 was an abatement, you want to call it that, it's the way I would describe it. 1425 02:14:06,400 --> 02:14:11,060 And Santa is the airport approach zone, there was a requirement that the city had to, and 1426 02:14:11,060 --> 02:14:19,540 I know this very well because I was involved in buying out all the properties under the 1427 02:14:20,900 --> 02:14:24,940 They are required by the federal government to relocate those people. 1428 02:14:26,140 --> 02:14:32,660 And it's requirement that was made when the city took grants to finance the building of 1429 02:14:32,660 --> 02:14:34,560 the airport in San Jose. 1430 02:14:35,440 --> 02:14:39,660 You can't receive this money unless you relocate these people and have no people living 1431 02:14:39,660 --> 02:14:41,140 under the airport of Procone. 1432 02:14:41,160 --> 02:14:45,540 That was the requirement of the grants back in the 80s and 90s. 1433 02:14:45,540 --> 02:14:48,300 So what happened was the city started to 1434 02:14:50,100 --> 02:14:59,980 Find places and they weren't able to find places for everybody and then people drifted down into the creeks next to the airport. I know that 1435 02:15:00,000 --> 02:15:10,460 That's the case because you can just go out there and you can see it. And they drifted, up and down, the Guadalukey River, and even the County Creek. 1436 02:15:12,560 --> 02:15:27,880 And so when there's an abatement in one area, whether it's the city, Cal Trans, or some other agency, oftentimes they just move to some other area, and oftentimes is the creeps. 1437 02:15:29,190 --> 02:15:43,980 So, I would like to have a redefinition of our role in looking at this from the district 1438 02:15:43,980 --> 02:15:49,940 Act of supporting legislation, actually maybe getting proactive grants to help people 1439 02:15:49,940 --> 02:15:50,680 find housing. 1440 02:15:51,320 --> 02:15:57,880 You know, the governor has his motel program, that would be the most obvious one, short-term 1441 02:15:57,880 --> 02:16:05,000 housing that we could apply for grants for the governor, we can say governor, we want 300 slots, 1442 02:16:05,300 --> 02:16:14,160 so we can rent some of your motel rooms and move people out of the creeks into the hotel rooms. 1443 02:16:15,200 --> 02:16:18,680 We can find the hotel rooms and relocate people. 1444 02:16:19,780 --> 02:16:21,220 So that would be an answer. 1445 02:16:21,340 --> 02:16:22,260 That's a kind of answer. 1446 02:16:22,720 --> 02:16:27,040 I'm sure there's other ideas from people that know how to deal with this better. 1447 02:16:28,940 --> 02:16:35,550 I'm the board, the board might know I might work on mental health and I've been chairman of the 1448 02:16:35,550 --> 02:16:36,610 mental health committee. 1449 02:16:36,850 --> 02:16:41,730 I was the chair for eight years and had many legislative successes in the area of mental 1450 02:16:41,730 --> 02:16:42,450 health funding. 1451 02:16:43,310 --> 02:16:54,190 And I think a large number of our homeless people in our creeks have developmental mental health 1452 02:16:54,190 --> 02:16:56,550 and substance abuse issues are all three. 1453 02:16:56,550 --> 02:17:01,690 There's a difference between a developmental issue and a mental health issue. 1454 02:17:02,550 --> 02:17:05,490 So I think working with nonprofit agencies, 1455 02:17:07,190 --> 02:17:13,050 a momentum for mental health is one, other destination home, other groups that have specific 1456 02:17:13,050 --> 02:17:21,620 wraparound services to help people that are going through traumatic experience of living 1457 02:17:21,620 --> 02:17:25,540 by definition, if you're homeless, you're going through a traumatic experience. 1458 02:17:27,140 --> 02:17:30,140 And you know why I know, because I was homeless at one point. 1459 02:17:32,630 --> 02:17:37,990 My house, when I was young, my parents lost their house to a fire, 1460 02:17:39,970 --> 02:17:43,730 and Director Santos knows the story, because he served it. 1461 02:17:44,590 --> 02:17:50,670 We lost our house, and we have place to live for about a year and a half. 1462 02:17:50,670 --> 02:17:59,350 for 12 people. I have nine brothers and sisters. So I went through that process. 1463 02:18:04,990 --> 02:18:06,050 And it appears 1464 02:18:06,050 --> 02:18:07,630 to me that 1465 02:18:09,650 --> 02:18:18,870 even if we take a more aggressive stand, it might make us better able to fulfill 1466 02:18:18,870 --> 02:18:28,250 our mission of keeping the creeks environmentally safe, clean, and repairing quarters, and all 1467 02:18:28,250 --> 02:18:32,550 that kind of, all the goals we have that are in the goal statement. That's what our goals 1468 02:18:32,550 --> 02:18:41,570 are. To have people live in the creeks with interaction, the garbage stuff. 1469 02:18:44,090 --> 02:18:45,210 I think in 1470 02:18:45,210 --> 02:18:54,770 other places that has caused a environmental health problem and not only for the 1471 02:18:54,770 --> 02:18:59,930 creeks around the creeks but for the bay and for the region. I wonder if algae 1472 02:18:59,930 --> 02:19:06,150 problems exist because of the bacteria counts going up all those kinds of issues. 1473 02:19:06,150 --> 02:19:10,830 of vermin, all that kind of thing. 1474 02:19:12,810 --> 02:19:22,680 So taking care of people who need help in taking care of themselves 1475 02:19:22,680 --> 02:19:24,640 is a top priority government. 1476 02:19:27,160 --> 02:19:28,780 We can't ignore it. 1477 02:19:29,400 --> 02:19:32,080 So I would like, I would like to more fuller discussion 1478 02:19:32,080 --> 02:19:36,000 with my colleagues, I'm initiating it today. 1479 02:19:36,000 --> 02:19:46,060 I have, as you understand, strong police about this, is the reason I decided to join you. 1480 02:19:47,520 --> 02:19:48,800 Thank you. 1481 02:19:49,820 --> 02:19:50,060 Yes. 1482 02:19:51,020 --> 02:19:51,740 Thank you. 1483 02:19:52,060 --> 02:19:54,020 Director Bell, that was an amazing. 1484 02:19:54,820 --> 02:19:55,880 Mr. Chair of the story. 1485 02:19:56,200 --> 02:19:56,220 Yes. 1486 02:19:57,340 --> 02:19:58,680 I want to... 1487 02:19:58,680 --> 02:19:59,960 Yeah, real quick. 1488 02:20:00,000 --> 02:20:07,280 I'm the chair of the House of Committee of the Environmental Creek Cleanup. It's very sensitive 1489 02:20:07,740 --> 02:20:12,600 to Jim Bell, director. We're really appreciate your comments. I know it comes from the heart 1490 02:20:12,600 --> 02:20:16,620 and it makes it even feel better. I want to assure you that we're doing all those things you 1491 02:20:16,620 --> 02:20:23,560 talked about, but with your help in terms of the District Act, potential legislation and those 1492 02:20:23,560 --> 02:20:29,900 other areas, these MOUs would put measureists together to something like 30 million dollars. 1493 02:20:30,120 --> 02:20:33,580 This is supposed to be going to county and social issues, but they have to do that part 1494 02:20:33,580 --> 02:20:35,340 of the job and we do ours. 1495 02:20:35,680 --> 02:20:39,460 And we need more partnerships and then even chair of a relis suggested on another last 1496 02:20:39,460 --> 02:20:39,760 meeting. 1497 02:20:40,240 --> 02:20:42,060 Let's get a GAPA in the county. 1498 02:20:42,440 --> 02:20:43,640 Those are good thoughts. 1499 02:20:44,140 --> 02:20:49,320 So along with your help and sensitivity, talking about the district gag and those words 1500 02:20:49,320 --> 02:20:52,460 that you use, I'm looking forward to your input, 1501 02:20:53,000 --> 02:20:54,460 and together we'll do a better job. 1502 02:20:54,920 --> 02:20:57,840 We do a good job, but we're always can do better. 1503 02:20:58,220 --> 02:21:00,940 Remember, I was around when you were around in 1976. 1504 02:21:02,020 --> 02:21:05,020 I was the firecamp and you were a city hall 1505 02:21:05,020 --> 02:21:07,280 when rigging through all the folks out in the creeks. 1506 02:21:07,700 --> 02:21:08,940 So I know another story. 1507 02:21:09,240 --> 02:21:12,020 My calls went for 150 a month, the 350 a month, 1508 02:21:12,100 --> 02:21:15,780 trying to get folks in veterans, which I am out of the creeks. 1509 02:21:15,940 --> 02:21:17,040 And they put them back in. 1510 02:21:17,320 --> 02:21:18,980 So I really appreciate what the said. 1511 02:21:18,980 --> 02:21:23,380 I'm looking for a chair of a relative when he makes his commitments to committees that we 1512 02:21:23,380 --> 02:21:24,420 all get together. 1513 02:21:24,980 --> 02:21:26,060 I look forward to working with you. 1514 02:21:26,600 --> 02:21:27,860 I really feel good about that. 1515 02:21:27,860 --> 02:21:28,400 Thank you. 1516 02:21:28,440 --> 02:21:28,780 Thank you. 1517 02:21:28,880 --> 02:21:33,360 And I think if somebody dies in the creeks, we should have a morning here. 1518 02:21:34,840 --> 02:21:35,220 You know? 1519 02:21:35,620 --> 02:21:35,780 Okay. 1520 02:21:36,080 --> 02:21:46,600 We should have if somebody passes because of the cold, because of the water, it's living in our 1521 02:21:48,080 --> 02:21:50,660 that's, we should have a zero tolerance. 1522 02:21:53,240 --> 02:21:55,700 That's our property that they're dying on. 1523 02:21:57,560 --> 02:22:00,460 We're the guardians of that property. 1524 02:22:01,500 --> 02:22:02,280 Thank you. 1525 02:22:02,600 --> 02:22:03,620 Okay, thank you. 1526 02:22:04,360 --> 02:22:04,780 CEO, calendar. 1527 02:22:07,550 --> 02:22:08,250 Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 1528 02:22:09,230 --> 02:22:12,730 Through the chair, first I want to say very well aware 1529 02:22:12,730 --> 02:22:17,070 and appreciate the Senator of Director Bell's long-held 1530 02:22:17,070 --> 02:22:21,990 a true belief in dealing with the issues of the unhoused mental health and the 1531 02:22:21,990 --> 02:22:22,350 creak. 1532 02:22:22,930 --> 02:22:27,850 We do have item 8.1 on the agenda, so I'm going to ask the staff to make sure that we 1533 02:22:28,750 --> 02:22:31,090 proactively address that in item 8.1. 1534 02:22:31,190 --> 02:22:37,610 We are looking at potential changes to the district, and the next legislative session, and 1535 02:22:37,610 --> 02:22:41,910 so I would hope that the staff would be prepared to be able to address what Senator 1536 02:22:41,910 --> 02:22:46,810 Bell has been talking about in terms of how to make sure that we're addressing unhoused and 1537 02:22:46,810 --> 02:22:53,750 the way that is not only takes an account on mission and our vision around the environment, 1538 02:22:54,130 --> 02:23:01,230 but in a way that is doing so and takes an account, the lives of the individuals ever in 1539 02:23:01,230 --> 02:23:01,430 the creek. 1540 02:23:01,610 --> 02:23:04,810 So we will be prepared to address that item 8.1. 1541 02:23:06,110 --> 02:23:06,610 Thank you, sir. 1542 02:23:12,960 --> 02:23:19,360 First of all, I want to thank the committee and staff for bringing this in front of the 1543 02:23:19,360 --> 02:23:26,360 a great work. I definitely support Steph's recommendation. I just have one question about 1544 02:23:27,500 --> 02:23:34,640 this proposal number two establishment of a joint power authority made up of local agencies 1545 02:23:34,640 --> 02:23:42,600 or municipalities to exercise powers. They have income to adjust income and issues along 1546 02:23:42,600 --> 02:23:44,800 other ways throughout the county. 1547 02:23:47,220 --> 02:23:51,720 I mean, this is something that I think in my first one on 1548 02:23:51,720 --> 02:23:57,240 one meeting with Mr. Calendar when he became the CEO. I said, why don't we look into this 1549 02:23:57,240 --> 02:24:06,700 having a JPA? Yeah. And so it's something that I definitely feel that this kind of structure 1550 02:24:06,700 --> 02:24:17,960 that can make a progress in this problem, not in the video agencies cannot make a good progress. 1551 02:24:18,480 --> 02:24:19,560 So definitely support that. 1552 02:24:19,680 --> 02:24:26,780 My question is that maybe there's discussion at the committee, do we need to say a long 1553 02:24:26,780 --> 02:24:27,760 waterways? 1554 02:24:28,180 --> 02:24:32,180 Do we need to limit the GPA to be along the waterways? 1555 02:24:32,180 --> 02:24:39,480 can we make it wider, just trying to think that only along the other ways is not going to 1556 02:24:39,480 --> 02:24:47,060 still go on that go on. So it's all connected. So it's all connected. So it's my question, 1557 02:24:47,340 --> 02:24:55,480 and then if it, if I hope we can take, remove this along the other ways and just 1558 02:24:55,480 --> 02:24:59,300 can then issue throughout the county. So that's my question in comment. 1559 02:25:01,800 --> 02:25:02,320 Okay, 1560 02:25:04,880 --> 02:25:07,680 so much my head is filled with so many things. Director Eisenberg? 1561 02:25:15,870 --> 02:25:21,230 There you go. This is a great conversation, and having met with the staff and having met with each 1562 02:25:21,230 --> 02:25:28,370 director over the past two weeks, I am positive that every single person working on this cares 1563 02:25:28,370 --> 02:25:35,070 deeply about this issue very much, and I am so grateful to work with people who care so deeply. 1564 02:25:35,070 --> 02:25:37,930 And I'm truly grateful. 1565 02:25:39,870 --> 02:25:42,690 So one legal thing and then a heart thing. 1566 02:25:43,330 --> 02:25:48,250 So the legal thing is, I'm really grateful also for our work's gym and net act. 1567 02:25:48,290 --> 02:25:49,790 And I think it's extremely important. 1568 02:25:50,390 --> 02:26:04,170 But I wonder whether the act as written actually does prohibit us from taking more, you know, 1569 02:26:04,170 --> 02:26:09,390 conversation for offline and I'm sure this conversation has been having had elsewhere, but the 1570 02:26:09,390 --> 02:26:14,210 way I read the act is really about provision of water, safe, clean water, taking care of our 1571 02:26:14,210 --> 02:26:26,210 riparian, protecting the natural environment. But it seems to have weakened, I think, that our 1572 02:26:26,210 --> 02:26:31,790 provision of water depends on certain actions that we take with regard to our unhoused 1573 02:26:31,790 --> 02:26:38,850 populations. Specifically, our on-house populations right now do not have safe, consistent, affordable 1574 02:26:38,850 --> 02:26:46,550 access to clean water. And we are not, we are actually not to do to any of the fall to the 1575 02:26:46,550 --> 02:26:52,090 board and maybe in part due to lawyers fall to interpret this act numerally, but we are actually 1576 02:26:52,090 --> 02:26:54,310 failing our on-house populations. 1577 02:26:56,330 --> 02:26:59,730 It's inappropriate and I know the board agrees because I've met with 1578 02:26:59,730 --> 02:27:04,050 And I know all of us care so much about on-house people and we recognize that that could 1579 02:27:04,050 --> 02:27:06,390 be us and that they are us. 1580 02:27:06,730 --> 02:27:14,050 It was a bad buck, very at most of the time that put someone into the unhoused side of 1581 02:27:14,050 --> 02:27:14,550 the equation. 1582 02:27:15,030 --> 02:27:16,150 It's just bad luck. 1583 02:27:16,750 --> 02:27:20,450 You know, Elizabeth Warren found, you know, me, it had a statistical study proving that, you 1584 02:27:20,450 --> 02:27:23,070 know, what makes a family enter bankruptcy. 1585 02:27:23,770 --> 02:27:27,150 Go, go, impoverished, often it's just a medical bill. 1586 02:27:27,650 --> 02:27:28,110 They can't afford. 1587 02:27:28,110 --> 02:27:35,890 So these are us, these are people who are us, and we are not providing them safe, consistent, clean water. 1588 02:27:36,830 --> 02:27:41,130 And when we fix that problem, then we will be fulfilling our goals. 1589 02:27:41,310 --> 02:27:43,990 So I actually think we're obligated to help them. 1590 02:27:44,330 --> 02:27:50,930 And whether you interpret an act broadly or narrowly, is really just a difference between lawyers and policymakers. 1591 02:27:51,650 --> 02:27:57,290 When we talked about that application for the loan, that the requirements of that loan were interpreted broadly. 1592 02:27:57,290 --> 02:27:59,470 And sometimes things are interpreted broadly. 1593 02:28:00,350 --> 02:28:04,450 But here we're interpreting an act that governs what we can do narrowly. 1594 02:28:04,850 --> 02:28:10,330 So I think it'd be valuable to take another look at that act and maybe we can be the first 1595 02:28:10,330 --> 02:28:16,010 water district to interpret our act in a way that obligates us to help the unhoused. 1596 02:28:16,410 --> 02:28:17,730 I'd be very proud of that. 1597 02:28:17,970 --> 02:28:18,890 I think it's worth discussing. 1598 02:28:20,070 --> 02:28:23,630 So I agree with all of your proposals, except for one. 1599 02:28:23,630 --> 02:28:30,810 And I do want to respond to, I didn't really understand why the hesitation over cleaning 1600 02:28:31,310 --> 02:28:31,790 up. 1601 02:28:31,790 --> 02:28:38,050 You know, the areas because I do think one of our required goals is to clean up, is to keep 1602 02:28:38,050 --> 02:28:38,890 keeping areas clean. 1603 02:28:39,750 --> 02:28:44,250 So I don't understand the hesitation other than possibly, and I'm not saying you believe 1604 02:28:44,250 --> 02:28:49,170 this, but I know that many in the general public have a belief that is an unproven belief 1605 02:28:49,170 --> 02:28:52,690 that when we fail to provide services, to populations, 1606 02:28:53,450 --> 02:28:55,910 that that somehow can make things better, 1607 02:28:55,990 --> 02:28:57,730 or have those populations go elsewhere. 1608 02:28:58,570 --> 02:29:01,430 And just as a little background, I'm from the city, 1609 02:29:01,610 --> 02:29:03,970 you know, in a place, you know, the Jewish population in Milwaukee, 1610 02:29:04,170 --> 02:29:06,070 and I think I referred to this when I, in the square, 1611 02:29:06,530 --> 02:29:10,510 like for the very few Jewish immigrants who could afford to buy a house 1612 02:29:10,510 --> 02:29:14,110 when they came over, you know, in between 1890 and 1910, 1613 02:29:14,170 --> 02:29:17,350 which is when most of the Jewish people in our country came over to this country, right? 1614 02:29:17,350 --> 02:29:25,550 So very few Jewish people like my family could afford to buy a home, even though in Milwaukee that was like a $300 thing to buy a home. 1615 02:29:26,570 --> 02:29:28,850 But my father's father could. 1616 02:29:30,670 --> 02:29:39,290 And no neighborhood allowed Jewish people to buy homes except for Bronzeville, which is where the African American middle class lived. 1617 02:29:39,510 --> 02:29:41,130 They weren't allowed to buy anywhere either. 1618 02:29:41,130 --> 02:29:49,950 So my father grew up in an embassment entirely African-American neighborhood and attended 1619 02:29:49,950 --> 02:29:53,690 African-mostly, entirely African-American schools. 1620 02:29:55,230 --> 02:29:59,290 And there's another bad part of this about the city knocking down their homes, but that's 1621 02:29:59,290 --> 02:29:59,970 not relevant. 1622 02:30:00,000 --> 02:30:09,040 But it's sad and upsetting. Anyway, my father and my family has been a witness to what happens when a city 1623 02:30:09,040 --> 02:30:19,000 when a government digests energy and resources in a neighborhood. And it results in slums. And these unhoused 1624 02:30:19,000 --> 02:30:27,640 And my grandmother stayed in her neighborhood as a police and others divested in it, just stopped serving it. 1625 02:30:28,320 --> 02:30:31,400 And, you know, there's white flight, but my grandparents refused to move. 1626 02:30:32,020 --> 02:30:37,800 And my grandfather died in that house, and my grandmother would have to, if my parents, if she weren't age 90 in my parents, 1627 02:30:38,280 --> 02:30:39,600 made her move closer to them. 1628 02:30:40,520 --> 02:30:43,180 So, and this is going to get to my other point too. 1629 02:30:43,180 --> 02:30:56,960 So the first point the story gets to is that under-serving are vulnerable populations only causes harm and not good and that we absolutely need to clean up the environment where the communities of on-house people live. 1630 02:30:57,240 --> 02:31:02,840 These are people as my colleagues have said. These are human beings, like us, and we need to serve them. 1631 02:31:03,360 --> 02:31:08,720 And we need to make sure they have access. The other point this brings up is my hesitation to work with the police. 1632 02:31:09,560 --> 02:31:15,660 So again, another experience you have when you are like a white Jewish family or you know any family living in a primarily 1633 02:31:16,340 --> 02:31:24,100 African-American neighborhood is the experience of in Milwaukee, this is for Jewish people, like around in the 50s and 40s, 1634 02:31:24,300 --> 02:31:26,380 is the experience of the police not being on your side. 1635 02:31:28,260 --> 02:31:33,900 So my grandfather wanted to stay in this neighborhood because it was the only neighborhood where he felt safe 1636 02:31:33,900 --> 02:31:37,560 And as we all monks, the African-American families there, 1637 02:31:37,560 --> 02:31:39,880 and his prize possession was the police scanner. 1638 02:31:41,260 --> 02:31:45,320 So he could don't wear to go away from. 1639 02:31:45,680 --> 02:31:47,800 And in Milwaukee specifically, in many cities, 1640 02:31:48,020 --> 02:31:50,640 Jewish people were actually at great risk. 1641 02:31:51,500 --> 02:31:53,180 And beating up his price killers, 1642 02:31:53,480 --> 02:31:56,000 and this doesn't happen now, they just watch. 1643 02:31:56,600 --> 02:31:59,520 And but it's something I'm always sensitive to. 1644 02:31:59,800 --> 02:32:02,980 Working with a police sometimes, even today, 1645 02:32:02,980 --> 02:32:06,920 because we saw so many police officers involved in January 6th. 1646 02:32:07,040 --> 02:32:10,220 Sometimes today, police don't keep everyone safe. 1647 02:32:10,980 --> 02:32:12,040 Sometimes they're the danger. 1648 02:32:12,440 --> 02:32:14,200 And this is a very controversial state, 1649 02:32:14,380 --> 02:32:16,760 but I'm just going to put it out there. 1650 02:32:17,140 --> 02:32:22,760 Because it's my reality, it's my lived experience and observation. 1651 02:32:23,620 --> 02:32:25,140 And I think it's worth thinking about. 1652 02:32:25,200 --> 02:32:27,200 The other reason I'm hesitant to work with a police 1653 02:32:27,200 --> 02:32:30,260 because it's because poverty in homelessness is not a crime. 1654 02:32:31,420 --> 02:32:36,580 And we could work with armed officers or we could work with social service professionals. 1655 02:32:37,880 --> 02:32:44,060 And I believe that armed officers have no place at all in addressing our unhoused population. 1656 02:32:44,560 --> 02:32:45,680 It's no place at all. 1657 02:32:46,020 --> 02:32:46,720 And quite frankly, 1658 02:32:49,240 --> 02:32:54,500 the only thing worse in my imagination and my research and my discussion with others, 1659 02:32:54,680 --> 02:32:58,120 the only thing worse than being unhoused, it's big unhoused with a police record. 1660 02:32:59,260 --> 02:33:07,540 So, I profoundly object to partnerships with police over this and request that we investigate 1661 02:33:07,540 --> 02:33:12,080 partnerships with social service agencies instead. 1662 02:33:13,380 --> 02:33:16,880 I also fear the guns near there. 1663 02:33:17,300 --> 02:33:24,440 I mean, so I hope we can explore that instead, because we're not here, I mean, on how 1664 02:33:24,440 --> 02:33:29,440 people offer, provide, I'm not dangerous, and we shouldn't treat them like the dangerous 1665 02:33:29,440 --> 02:33:30,040 or criminals. 1666 02:33:30,760 --> 02:33:31,760 They're all of us. 1667 02:33:32,060 --> 02:33:32,740 Thank you. 1668 02:33:33,140 --> 02:33:33,260 Okay. 1669 02:33:33,660 --> 02:33:37,480 I'd like to address your hesitation to clean up just to make it clear. 1670 02:33:38,120 --> 02:33:41,320 We do have an encampment cleanup crew that operates on a daily basis. 1671 02:33:41,920 --> 02:33:47,260 And so we are routinely cleaning these areas and removing almost 100 tons of encampment 1672 02:33:47,260 --> 02:33:49,740 generated trash and debris on a annual basis. 1673 02:33:50,180 --> 02:33:52,440 So it's not that there's a hesitation to clean up. 1674 02:33:52,440 --> 02:33:57,780 It's just that second crew, obviously, would be a whole additional crew that a supervisor 1675 02:33:57,780 --> 02:33:58,900 would need to take on. 1676 02:33:59,020 --> 02:34:03,920 And so there is kind of a commitment to agreeing to that, right? 1677 02:34:04,040 --> 02:34:06,260 So I think we just need to think more about that. 1678 02:34:07,140 --> 02:34:11,160 And then, you know, secondly, the police, the reason we do have the police to support us on 1679 02:34:11,160 --> 02:34:15,640 the cleanup events is because the outreach workers don't want to be present on the cleanup 1680 02:34:15,640 --> 02:34:22,860 of that. So, you know, and, and assaults do happen. I want to put that out there. We did just 1681 02:34:22,860 --> 02:34:28,100 have one of our staff members assaulted a couple of weeks ago. And luckily, the police were 1682 02:34:28,100 --> 02:34:35,160 on site and able to prevent him from being hit. This salt was with the baseball bat through 1683 02:34:35,160 --> 02:34:39,340 the window of the truck as staff were leaving the cleanup site, right? And so that's just one 1684 02:34:39,340 --> 02:34:44,840 example. We could get into many other examples. And so, while I agree with you, it would be 1685 02:34:44,840 --> 02:34:51,940 great to have something else available to support our staff. I'm just not aware of what that would be at this point. 1686 02:34:52,580 --> 02:34:56,120 Thank you. Thank you for those comments and there's responses. Director Estamara. 1687 02:34:56,960 --> 02:34:57,840 Thank you. 1688 02:34:58,540 --> 02:34:59,700 Thank you Mr. Chairman. 1689 02:35:01,500 --> 02:35:24,240 I think we've gotten far ahead of where we've been. And we have a committee that's very active in trying to coordinate all of the aspects that we as a district can and direct veils correct, that we have a number of restrictions, I think, on our act that we've got to deal with. 1690 02:35:24,240 --> 02:35:35,780 But my suggestion is that we either have a board workshop in January or I thought we should 1691 02:35:35,780 --> 02:35:42,040 refer this back to the committee, not necessarily the recommendations here, but I mean discussing 1692 02:35:42,660 --> 02:35:47,360 the questions that direct the bell raise with respect to the acted self. 1693 02:35:48,340 --> 02:35:52,400 And then some of the other issues that direct the Eisenberg and some of the rest of us direct 1694 02:35:52,400 --> 02:36:05,900 I think we need a forum to discuss this, I don't think the committee is good enough because, you know, we want to involve everybody on the board. 1695 02:36:06,180 --> 02:36:19,640 So I think if we set up a board study session in January where we can really dialogue and come out as we've done before with a comprehensive approach on this, 1696 02:36:20,780 --> 02:36:29,380 We have a lot of new mayors in the county. We've got two brand new members on the board of supervisors. 1697 02:36:30,060 --> 02:36:35,080 We've got all kinds of new mayors. As I mentioned, it sounds like they've not beat us any way or so on. 1698 02:36:35,680 --> 02:36:40,820 Mountain view, I mean, I go on and on and proud of also. And many new council people. 1699 02:36:40,820 --> 02:36:49,100 So I think we need to look at it, comprehensively, what our role would be, what others 1700 02:36:49,100 --> 02:36:56,000 role would be, so that then we can consider and a result of this study session could also 1701 02:36:56,000 --> 02:37:04,040 be, you know, what we'd like to see with respect to legislative relief of some sort, whether 1702 02:37:04,040 --> 02:37:10,340 it's, you know, amending our act or both, that and seeking funding and other other stuff. 1703 02:37:10,740 --> 02:37:17,280 But I think if we do that, I think, you know, we have some progress, because otherwise it's 1704 02:37:17,280 --> 02:37:18,040 too bifurcated. 1705 02:37:18,160 --> 02:37:22,540 The committee does one thing, the board wants to do another, you know, all the other say everybody 1706 02:37:22,540 --> 02:37:23,180 is involved. 1707 02:37:23,840 --> 02:37:29,300 So, I think if we do it that way, we will centralize our work, the staff will all be involved. 1708 02:37:29,300 --> 02:37:41,880 And then we can come out, I think, with a real good product, and from there, we'll have some action steps that both the board can take and staff can take. 1709 02:37:42,800 --> 02:37:57,480 And so I think we can accept the recommendation today, understanding that we're going to look at not only that, but, you know, a couple of densely, how we want to participate in finding solutions. 1710 02:37:57,480 --> 02:38:04,480 You know, this toward all of our members have always been dedicated to addressing these issues. 1711 02:38:05,220 --> 02:38:20,000 But, you know, we avoid the limited we feel and we felt by our act and by, you know, the reluctance of other public officials to, you know, to stand up and do what they should be doing on their part. 1712 02:38:20,000 --> 02:38:25,020 So I think this might, we might get a new license 1713 02:38:25,020 --> 02:38:28,300 I'm being able to approach the other public officials 1714 02:38:28,300 --> 02:38:33,060 that have to work with us, now that we have new public officials 1715 02:38:33,060 --> 02:38:36,640 that are probably dedicated to finding solutions 1716 02:38:36,640 --> 02:38:37,460 to these problems. 1717 02:38:38,700 --> 02:38:43,260 So I think I've ever just made a motion to adopt the recommendation 1718 02:38:43,260 --> 02:38:46,760 to staff the night second it, including, 1719 02:38:47,300 --> 02:38:49,460 I was going to say and you probably want to add 1720 02:38:49,460 --> 02:38:56,240 including that we should have this, yeah, I have, okay. 1721 02:38:57,120 --> 02:39:00,480 Well, I'm not allowed just along the waterways. 1722 02:39:00,700 --> 02:39:04,680 Well, no, as part of the motion, well, yeah, understood that, yeah, because, you know, 1723 02:39:04,820 --> 02:39:07,860 they're not just, you know, folks, they're going everywhere. 1724 02:39:08,300 --> 02:39:08,700 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 1725 02:39:08,700 --> 02:39:09,820 Okay, that's not. 1726 02:39:10,020 --> 02:39:17,140 It would not include you, but also that we have the board work study session in January 1727 02:39:18,340 --> 02:39:23,800 to look for comprehensive solutions that, you know, that we want to participate in. 1728 02:39:24,820 --> 02:39:25,260 Okay. 1729 02:39:26,660 --> 02:39:27,180 I direct a cake. 1730 02:39:29,740 --> 02:39:31,040 Thank you. 1731 02:39:32,240 --> 02:39:37,700 And I do support Director Estimera's suggestion for a workshop. 1732 02:39:37,920 --> 02:39:46,040 I think this is an issue that all the board members, as well as our community, are really interested in and think that it's important. 1733 02:39:46,040 --> 02:39:51,660 And one of the reasons that I've long been advocating for some kind of 1734 02:39:51,660 --> 02:39:59,980 jing powers authority or group of that nature is that we're spending a lot of time in 1735 02:40:00,000 --> 02:40:26,760 And when I say we, I'm talking about the larger community, but we are not seeing results. We are seeing the homeless population ever increasing. And we're also seeing an extreme level of frustration and upset on the part of the communities. And these are not people who are unkind. But these are people who, my fence was burnt down in the middle of the night. 1736 02:40:26,760 --> 02:40:33,620 or, you know, my catalytic converters have been stolen twice or, you know, a whole variety 1737 02:40:33,620 --> 02:40:40,640 of issues and or I don't feel safe walking down the trail system. I hear that all the time. 1738 02:40:41,220 --> 02:40:50,040 And so what we want to do is have a strategy with measurable results like more people being housed 1739 02:40:51,520 --> 02:40:59,460 that are recreation areas are safe for recreation again and that, you know, the, the unhoused 1740 02:40:59,460 --> 02:41:04,380 are not going to die in a flood or from the cold or anything like that. 1741 02:41:04,680 --> 02:41:11,620 You know, we, we want to get them housed again and we want to gain community acceptance 1742 02:41:11,620 --> 02:41:17,460 of our strategies because right now, you know, someone will say, well, people are living 1743 02:41:17,460 --> 02:41:21,760 under the freeway by your creek. I'm like, well, I think that might be a counter-ransition, 1744 02:41:22,060 --> 02:41:27,260 but I'll follow up on it. You know, it's like, they don't want to hear that. They don't want to hear us pointing fingers at someone else. 1745 02:41:27,680 --> 02:41:37,860 And I really think a big component of this is dealing with people who have untreated mental health conditions, 1746 02:41:37,980 --> 02:41:43,200 because I think that's driving some of the substance abuse and other issues that we're seeing. 1747 02:41:43,200 --> 02:41:51,500 It's people are self-medicating because they're in a lot of emotional and physical pain and we need to be able to help them with that. 1748 02:41:51,700 --> 02:42:01,400 And that may be including, you know, building new, in, in, in, in, in, in, in patients facilities to provide short-term mental health treatment, 1749 02:42:01,780 --> 02:42:08,310 rather than arresting people and putting them into jail, people need to, if, you know, they fall into that category of, 1750 02:42:08,310 --> 02:42:09,830 of meeting mental health services, 1751 02:42:10,030 --> 02:42:11,750 that there's something available for them. 1752 02:42:11,770 --> 02:42:13,990 And I think that would be a big win with the community. 1753 02:42:14,410 --> 02:42:16,430 But I could go on and on and on, 1754 02:42:16,530 --> 02:42:18,590 but we've kind of all gone on and on. 1755 02:42:18,910 --> 02:42:21,490 But I do think having a specific workshop 1756 02:42:21,490 --> 02:42:24,730 to talk about some identifiable strategies, 1757 02:42:24,930 --> 02:42:26,410 how we work with other people, 1758 02:42:26,510 --> 02:42:27,790 people that provide housing, 1759 02:42:28,030 --> 02:42:30,630 people that provide mental health treatment, 1760 02:42:30,870 --> 02:42:32,310 or physical health treatment, 1761 02:42:32,470 --> 02:42:35,790 or all those different things is really important. 1762 02:42:35,870 --> 02:42:37,670 So I look forward to having that discussion 1763 02:42:37,670 --> 02:42:38,830 and I'll support the motion. 1764 02:42:40,030 --> 02:42:40,830 Thank you. 1765 02:42:41,070 --> 02:42:43,370 So I have a motion in a second. 1766 02:42:44,070 --> 02:42:45,770 A motion from Director of Stamarin, 1767 02:42:45,930 --> 02:42:47,030 second by Director Schwer. 1768 02:42:47,970 --> 02:42:48,810 This is an action item. 1769 02:42:48,870 --> 02:42:50,990 Do you have any public speaking up with speakers on this? 1770 02:42:51,690 --> 02:42:52,550 Thank you, Mr. Chair. 1771 02:42:52,610 --> 02:42:54,110 I have no public comment at this time. 1772 02:42:54,570 --> 02:42:54,830 OK. 1773 02:42:55,050 --> 02:42:56,370 So we have an action item here. 1774 02:42:56,430 --> 02:42:58,270 All those in favor, signify by say aye. 1775 02:42:59,030 --> 02:42:59,690 All opposed? 1776 02:43:00,350 --> 02:43:01,530 The motion passes unanimously. 1777 02:43:01,930 --> 02:43:02,730 Thank you. 1778 02:43:03,490 --> 02:43:03,630 Yes. 1779 02:43:07,270 --> 02:43:09,910 What's your speaker on? 1780 02:43:12,270 --> 02:43:13,390 Let's see if I can get it right. 1781 02:43:14,570 --> 02:43:15,350 Yeah, I got it. 1782 02:43:15,950 --> 02:43:22,190 Because the staff mentioned that there was some kind of altercation. 1783 02:43:24,730 --> 02:43:26,290 There's been quite a few. 1784 02:43:27,310 --> 02:43:34,470 What I want to suggest is I will work with the director on connecting them with NAMI and other organizations 1785 02:43:34,470 --> 02:43:45,730 to do some training for the staff on working, interacting with people that have mental health issues. 1786 02:43:46,390 --> 02:43:55,650 I authored the both legislation with the help of the highway patrol and other law enforcement 1787 02:43:55,650 --> 02:44:02,910 agencies for police training for people, law enforcement training for people with mental 1788 02:44:02,910 --> 02:44:10,030 and we trained 80,000 police officers in California as a result of the bills we've got past 1789 02:44:10,030 --> 02:44:22,810 a two-fifth SB 10 and 29. I think that the training is available. So when we have staff that 1790 02:44:22,810 --> 02:44:31,370 will be working in those areas where they would have interactions, we should have a training 1791 02:44:31,370 --> 02:44:36,650 for them. And I work with you to make sure that happens. 1792 02:44:39,170 --> 02:44:40,490 We have been very involved in 1793 02:44:41,310 --> 02:44:48,390 NAMI, National Alliance for Mill Hill. I wife and I both are very involved in it. And they 1794 02:44:48,390 --> 02:44:55,790 have training for not only staff of agencies, but also family members that have another family 1795 02:44:55,790 --> 02:44:59,810 member that has a mental health issue so we have all those kinds of 1796 02:45:00,000 --> 02:45:07,340 Programs available to help people. And I will work with the directors and the staff on that. 1797 02:45:07,340 --> 02:45:07,920 Thank you. 1798 02:45:08,020 --> 02:45:10,420 Thank you, Director. I really appreciate it. 1799 02:45:10,440 --> 02:45:13,000 We're going to move on on the agenda item 4.4. 1800 02:45:14,300 --> 02:45:17,700 Lost the catalyst, reservoired, joint powers authority, appointment of interim, 1801 02:45:17,700 --> 02:45:23,000 an interim board member representation, representative, and alternate representative. 1802 02:45:23,920 --> 02:45:31,580 A appointment interim has indicated, so a way of notification, we needed to take action on 1803 02:45:31,580 --> 02:45:42,140 this relatively quickly, so we had a meeting recently with CEO and appointed director 1804 02:45:42,140 --> 02:45:46,020 as to Mara, as primary and director Baralla, as alternate. 1805 02:45:47,480 --> 02:45:49,260 So we can have board discussion on that. 1806 02:45:49,600 --> 02:45:54,340 At this point, we have a motion to approve. 1807 02:45:56,040 --> 02:45:57,900 Who gave me Mr. Bell? 1808 02:46:10,700 --> 02:46:11,080 Go ahead. 1809 02:46:13,600 --> 02:46:14,360 Thank you. 1810 02:46:14,660 --> 02:46:19,760 Well, I actually think that it's premature to make appointments. 1811 02:46:19,760 --> 02:46:27,260 You know, one of the things that I've noticed is that we have no women on our storage committee. 1812 02:46:27,800 --> 02:46:30,260 Committees either internally or externally. 1813 02:46:30,980 --> 02:46:33,900 And I think having gender priorities important. 1814 02:46:34,600 --> 02:46:41,680 Also, I would rather look at the assignments comprehensively in January or February. 1815 02:46:41,680 --> 02:46:50,420 And in the interim, we could have the board members who are replacing the prior representatives 1816 02:46:50,420 --> 02:46:51,560 to serve on that. 1817 02:46:51,680 --> 02:46:57,320 So that would mean Director Eisenberg as the representative. 1818 02:46:58,800 --> 02:47:05,500 And if we need an alternate to have Director Bell service the alternate. 1819 02:47:05,780 --> 02:47:09,140 Because I do think that we need to be equitable. 1820 02:47:09,140 --> 02:47:25,120 The other option would be, I looked at the agenda for tomorrow, I think the only thing that's important on it is there's a technical ad hoc committee that we would probably be interested in voting on but we could request that they defer that till their next meeting. 1821 02:47:25,640 --> 02:47:28,080 So, again, that would be my preference. 1822 02:47:28,500 --> 02:47:28,740 Thank you. 1823 02:47:28,840 --> 02:47:31,340 Director, I think 1824 02:47:36,620 --> 02:47:43,020 by colleague, Director Kigan and actually I agree. 1825 02:47:43,020 --> 02:48:00,180 I, with everything, first I think that it's premature, you know, because, at least I'll speak for myself, I, you know, I'm not sure which committees, the best fit for my skills and, you know, and I do think we should take a comprehensive look. 1826 02:48:00,180 --> 02:48:12,520 It makes the most sense, I agree that we need to look a lot harder and make a stronger commitment to gender equity that that is important. 1827 02:48:13,140 --> 02:48:23,280 And I think that's especially important in matters where women often are not, don't get a place at the table, which is the big stuff and the money stuff. 1828 02:48:23,880 --> 02:48:30,480 And, you know, I think that all the women here have really dealt, you know, have built careers, 1829 02:48:31,440 --> 02:48:34,220 you know, dedicated to big stuff and money stuff. 1830 02:48:34,500 --> 02:48:40,320 And, have a lot of experience working in rooms where almost everyone else or everyone else is male. 1831 02:48:41,320 --> 02:48:43,900 So, you can count on us to hold our own. 1832 02:48:44,440 --> 02:48:49,140 You know, and thinking of storage, that actually is something I'm extremely concerned about. 1833 02:48:49,140 --> 02:48:55,680 It was one of my biggest campaign promises is that, you know, I posed the dam because I think 1834 02:48:55,680 --> 02:49:00,120 there are better ways of storage and, you know, and that's why I also think it should 1835 02:49:00,120 --> 02:49:05,240 be fresh blood because a lot of these better ways of storage didn't become as clear that 1836 02:49:05,240 --> 02:49:10,520 they're better until they're recently based on science, you know, the things that we hear 1837 02:49:10,520 --> 02:49:16,640 about evaporation rates and this is excessive other counties are having at water recycling 1838 02:49:17,200 --> 02:49:19,040 and storm water capture. 1839 02:49:19,900 --> 02:49:22,580 So I think it's, you know, I believe in term limits, 1840 02:49:22,600 --> 02:49:24,000 by the way, for this reason, too. 1841 02:49:24,020 --> 02:49:26,720 I think it's really helpful to have, you know, 1842 02:49:27,120 --> 02:49:30,740 no offense or insult to my colleagues who've been here a long time. 1843 02:49:31,000 --> 02:49:33,000 I just think this helps the Democratic process 1844 02:49:33,000 --> 02:49:37,060 to have new ideas replaced for the older ideas regularly. 1845 02:49:37,680 --> 02:49:39,360 And so I would say on every committee, 1846 02:49:39,460 --> 02:49:41,460 there needs to be at least one of, I mean, 1847 02:49:41,560 --> 02:49:43,300 to the extent we move, whenever possible, 1848 02:49:43,440 --> 02:49:44,220 we should have a new person. 1849 02:49:44,440 --> 02:49:45,320 So for all those reasons, 1850 02:49:45,320 --> 02:49:51,800 I think we should delay. I'd be happy to take my predecessors role, you know, a part tomorrow, 1851 02:49:52,080 --> 02:49:58,580 especially since it's not a big agenda, and I think you can trust me for that agenda item. 1852 02:49:59,340 --> 02:49:59,940 And... 1853 02:50:00,000 --> 02:50:07,840 Yeah, because again, I think we share the same goal, the same overall goals. And that's all. Thank you. 1854 02:50:08,240 --> 02:50:16,140 Thank you, Director, Director Estimara. Thank you Mr. Chairman. Yeah, I have no problem with that suggestion. 1855 02:50:17,000 --> 02:50:25,420 I know you made the appointment because we have previously actually worked with Coco County, kind of number of issues. 1856 02:50:25,420 --> 02:50:28,460 So I have no problem with doing that. 1857 02:50:29,200 --> 02:50:31,840 I'm sure that right doesn't work and represent us adequately. 1858 02:50:34,110 --> 02:50:34,170 OK. 1859 02:50:35,150 --> 02:50:37,570 Any public comments on that? 1860 02:50:40,650 --> 02:50:43,010 The aim is to share and know I have no public comment at this time. 1861 02:50:43,790 --> 02:50:44,010 OK. 1862 02:50:45,410 --> 02:50:48,150 So from what I hear, the recommendation would 1863 02:50:48,150 --> 02:50:53,490 be to have Director Eisenberg of District 7 be the primary 1864 02:50:53,850 --> 02:50:57,730 and Director of the Director of Bell of District 4 be the alternate. 1865 02:50:57,730 --> 02:51:10,990 Is that what I understand on an interim basis until board appointed committees are done with the appointment of the chair and January? 1866 02:51:11,970 --> 02:51:13,830 So that's the motion director Santos. 1867 02:51:14,010 --> 02:51:15,930 Will you amend your motion to approve that? 1868 02:51:16,390 --> 02:51:18,090 And do I have a second on that? 1869 02:51:21,230 --> 02:51:22,210 Okay, Mr. Mayor. 1870 02:51:22,690 --> 02:51:25,390 Okay, so we all understand the action on that. 1871 02:51:25,530 --> 02:51:27,410 So all those in favor signify by saying aye. 1872 02:51:27,410 --> 02:51:31,870 All right, all those opposed, unanimous. Congratulations. 1873 02:51:32,730 --> 02:51:35,670 Meeting tomorrow at 9 o'clock, it's only 500 miles away, good luck. 1874 02:51:40,060 --> 02:51:43,320 And it's no zoom, beginning January, so have fun. 1875 02:51:47,220 --> 02:51:50,960 Well, that's key word, by the way. Okay, moving on to the agenda, 4.5. 1876 02:51:51,420 --> 02:51:55,500 Consider the February 16th, 2022 Board, Audit Committee, 1877 02:51:55,500 --> 02:52:02,340 Recommendation to approve revised clarifying language to the board audit committee audit charter 1878 02:52:03,600 --> 02:52:04,980 So during Taylor 1879 02:52:05,520 --> 02:52:10,000 Spotlights on you. Good afternoon. Chair for the members of the board during Taylor chief financial officer 1880 02:52:10,000 --> 02:52:14,260 This item 4.5 is a recommendation from the board audit committee to 1881 02:52:14,260 --> 02:52:17,560 Rebise the board audit committee's audit charter 1882 02:52:17,560 --> 02:52:21,400 What it does is adds language to ensure that the financial auditors 1883 02:52:21,400 --> 02:52:25,680 communities, communicate any issues or concerns that they may come across during their 1884 02:52:25,680 --> 02:52:30,140 audits, which may pose a risk to value water, that they communicate those to the 1885 02:52:30,140 --> 02:52:34,180 board out of committee in a timely manner, and it's added language with regard to 1886 02:52:34,180 --> 02:52:38,300 the frequency and intent of training provided by the independent auditor to the 1887 02:52:38,300 --> 02:52:39,340 board out of committee. 1888 02:52:43,240 --> 02:52:44,200 Director Schwerier? 1889 02:52:46,550 --> 02:52:51,290 And I'd like to make a motion to approve committee's recommendation. 1890 02:52:51,290 --> 02:52:53,310 We have a motion to have a second. 1891 02:52:53,830 --> 02:52:55,070 We have a motion in the second. 1892 02:52:55,150 --> 02:52:57,190 Do we have public comment on this item? 1893 02:52:57,950 --> 02:52:58,510 Thank you, Mr. Chair. 1894 02:52:58,550 --> 02:53:00,050 I have no public comment at this time. 1895 02:53:00,490 --> 02:53:00,550 Okay. 1896 02:53:01,810 --> 02:53:03,690 Any other board discussion on this item? 1897 02:53:09,590 --> 02:53:09,790 Okay. 1898 02:53:09,890 --> 02:53:10,950 Darren, you want to explain that? 1899 02:53:11,190 --> 02:53:12,850 As far as what we're approving. 1900 02:53:13,430 --> 02:53:13,670 Sure. 1901 02:53:14,030 --> 02:53:16,970 So one of the committees that the board has is the board audit committee. 1902 02:53:17,730 --> 02:53:19,790 And they are governed by a charter. 1903 02:53:21,790 --> 02:53:24,330 And so periodically we bring the charter in front of the board. 1904 02:53:24,330 --> 02:53:50,150 Today, we're bringing a couple of revisions to that charter, just language that would solidify that the financial auditors, as they're doing their audit work each year, for value water, if they come across any issues concerns, make sure they report that to the Board Audit Committee in a timely manner, and then there's another some revised language on with regard to training that the Board Audit Committee receives on an annual or buying your basis. 1905 02:53:50,910 --> 02:53:56,510 And so, that's, I guess, I'll stop there if that answers the question. 1906 02:53:58,590 --> 02:54:00,670 It does thank you for that explanation. 1907 02:54:01,990 --> 02:54:03,170 Okay, thank you, Director Keegan. 1908 02:54:03,830 --> 02:54:04,630 Oh, you're done. 1909 02:54:05,070 --> 02:54:10,550 Okay, so we have a motion and a second to approve the item on the agenda, all those by 1910 02:54:10,550 --> 02:54:16,830 in favor of signify by say aye, aye, all opposed, good job board, you guys are doing great. 1911 02:54:17,770 --> 02:54:17,870 Wow. 1912 02:54:17,870 --> 02:54:18,870 and pressed. 1913 02:54:19,110 --> 02:54:25,810 You're moving on the agenda 4.6 review the fiscal year 2023 board policy planning calendar. 1914 02:54:26,370 --> 02:54:30,330 Recommendation review the fiscal year as I just said information input only. 1915 02:54:32,750 --> 02:54:32,750 Yes? 1916 02:54:34,070 --> 02:54:35,090 Thank you, Mr. Chair. 1917 02:54:35,290 --> 02:54:36,170 I bet that was down. 1918 02:54:36,170 --> 02:54:37,070 King Clark of the board. 1919 02:54:37,590 --> 02:54:44,790 So this is your monthly reoccurring item or the board to review your fiscal year 23 board policy planning calendar. 1920 02:54:44,790 --> 02:54:59,970 A test to your packet, as a attachment one, is the updated calendar, which has been updated to include some additional committee items that are coming before the committee on drought response plan, delta-convance project, drought risk. 1921 02:55:00,580 --> 02:55:19,460 Let's see what else. I think that's it. So, very few updates. The looks like we are, you know, halfway through the year, and looks like we're making a new progress. So at this time, I stand up on for any changes, additions, or any additional information. 1922 02:55:21,900 --> 02:55:46,120 Thank you, Chair, just the request for CEO and Kirk of the board to discuss with the chair to include what this board discussed in today's meeting to add those items to the planning calendar and maybe come, maybe come, maybe come. 1923 02:55:47,760 --> 02:55:48,760 Dr. Kagan? 1924 02:55:52,290 --> 02:55:59,090 Thank you. Director Shua, I don't think you are explicit about the unhoused workshop. 1925 02:55:59,370 --> 02:56:00,890 Is that what you were referring to? 1926 02:56:01,310 --> 02:56:01,890 Okay, thank you. 1927 02:56:04,570 --> 02:56:05,170 See you, calendar. 1928 02:56:07,810 --> 02:56:10,690 Yes, for the, actually through the chair for the unhoused workshop, 1929 02:56:11,090 --> 02:56:17,410 I actually just sent off a message to Michelle King, the clerk, 1930 02:56:17,410 --> 02:56:21,510 That's a request of special meeting on the 17th that the Board 1931 02:56:21,510 --> 02:56:25,730 we pulled for a special meeting on the 17th for not only the unhoused workshop, 1932 02:56:26,010 --> 02:56:28,150 but potentially another item to be added. 1933 02:56:28,710 --> 02:56:32,650 But so we can have a large workshop on at least one item of not two. 1934 02:56:34,750 --> 02:56:35,350 Thank you. 1935 02:56:35,570 --> 02:56:36,510 Director Bell? 1936 02:56:39,310 --> 02:56:45,770 Just for everybody's information, I like to have opportunities in my district to do like 1937 02:56:45,770 --> 02:56:51,650 town hall meetings on water conservation and other activities. I don't know if I need to put it on the calendar, but 1938 02:56:51,650 --> 02:56:58,610 Okay, so I just point a point. I'll get somebody to help me with that. The other the other issue is 1939 02:57:00,450 --> 02:57:01,410 Earth Day 1940 02:57:02,890 --> 02:57:07,630 It might be a good idea that we start a planning committee to do a lot of activities on 1941 02:57:08,810 --> 02:57:13,790 April, Earth Day and do some kind of 1942 02:57:13,790 --> 02:57:15,650 This is just a thought that I have. 1943 02:57:16,090 --> 02:57:20,810 I think it's important that we, as a leading environmental 1944 02:57:20,810 --> 02:57:25,790 organization in Santa Clara County, to do a lead off on 1945 02:57:25,790 --> 02:57:29,410 Earth Day about water conservation, you know, tree 1946 02:57:29,410 --> 02:57:32,390 plannings, other kinds of activities that we can do 1947 02:57:32,390 --> 02:57:33,410 educating children. 1948 02:57:36,490 --> 02:57:39,390 I don't know if we have anybody that does education, 1949 02:57:39,390 --> 02:57:41,430 environmental education, 1950 02:57:43,790 --> 02:57:47,190 that kind of thing, but just a thought that Earth Day is coming 1951 02:57:47,190 --> 02:57:55,530 up in April. So maybe we can have a discussion of this at some point on our agenda, or maybe 1952 02:57:55,530 --> 02:57:57,510 I don't know what committee would work on that, so. 1953 02:57:57,650 --> 02:58:02,730 I know that we have done programs in the past year, so I think let's do a big one this 1954 02:58:02,730 --> 02:58:08,930 time. I think that would be good for us, good image, good, good, it's our job in my way 1955 02:58:08,930 --> 02:58:09,370 Thank you. 1956 02:58:09,730 --> 02:58:10,250 Thank you. 1957 02:58:11,330 --> 02:58:12,010 Thank you. 1958 02:58:13,490 --> 02:58:13,930 Rachel. 1959 02:58:14,910 --> 02:58:15,490 Thank you chair. 1960 02:58:15,650 --> 02:58:15,990 Pardon, brother. 1961 02:58:16,550 --> 02:58:19,670 Through the chair, Director Bell, I wanted to make sure that the board is also aware that 1962 02:58:19,670 --> 02:58:24,070 we do actively participate in a number of Earth Day events in our various partner cities. 1963 02:58:24,410 --> 02:58:25,490 All across Santa Clara County. 1964 02:58:25,990 --> 02:58:30,370 We have in fact a very robust community events program where we go out with water district 1965 02:58:30,370 --> 02:58:34,070 branded booths, with water district grade giveaways, and of course the literature. 1966 02:58:34,410 --> 02:58:37,610 We're going to be talking about the projects in those areas as well as the urgent need 1967 02:58:37,610 --> 02:58:38,330 for water conservation. 1968 02:58:38,330 --> 02:58:40,010 I just want to make sure the board was aware. 1969 02:58:40,810 --> 02:58:41,270 Thank you, Rachel. 1970 02:58:42,350 --> 02:58:42,610 Okay. 1971 02:58:43,250 --> 02:58:44,850 So that was information only. 1972 02:58:45,090 --> 02:58:46,510 Moving on to 4.7. 1973 02:58:47,110 --> 02:58:48,710 Board committee reports. 1974 02:58:49,630 --> 02:58:53,330 Any board members choose to give a report out at this particular time? 1975 02:58:56,420 --> 02:58:57,860 I'll give you a brief one. 1976 02:58:58,660 --> 02:59:06,520 We had the aqua fall conference last week, two weeks ago in Indian wells, which is next to 1977 02:59:06,520 --> 02:59:07,080 Palm Springs. 1978 02:59:07,080 --> 02:59:08,760 It's an amazing complex. 1979 02:59:10,540 --> 02:59:13,200 We were, we had a week of intense meetings. 1980 02:59:15,240 --> 02:59:18,940 I gave you a handout on the Aquaclamic Change Policy 1981 02:59:18,940 --> 02:59:21,140 Principles, that's for your pleasure to read. 1982 02:59:21,260 --> 02:59:23,520 That was adopted at the conference 1983 02:59:23,520 --> 02:59:26,360 with the Board of Directors, which I said on the Board 1984 02:59:26,360 --> 02:59:26,840 of Directors. 1985 02:59:26,840 --> 02:59:30,580 And also, California Farm Bureau issued a bulletin 1986 02:59:30,580 --> 02:59:34,820 and a memo on the problems that they're experiencing 1987 02:59:34,820 --> 02:59:41,420 up and down the state in water scarcity, and fascinating, and my wife and I were driving 1988 02:59:41,420 --> 02:59:48,200 down I-5 from Los Banners to Bakersville. It was like I was driving through the Mojave Desert. 1989 02:59:49,060 --> 02:59:57,320 It was absolutely bizarre. Nothing was growing. No crops. Brownscape dust, and it was actually 1990 02:59:57,900 --> 02:59:59,600 frightening to see that. 1991 03:00:00,000 --> 03:00:08,940 That is our major economy for the State of California's agriculture. We feed not only California, but we feed the world from that region, other region. 1992 03:00:08,940 --> 03:00:19,800 I'm fortunate enough to sit on several different agriculture from the committees and boards, from the central coast of the Central Valley, as director Estimera and now also director. 1993 03:00:19,800 --> 03:00:25,620 The Santos do with the San Luis Delta Medota Water Authority, but seeing that, it was a frightened 1994 03:00:25,620 --> 03:00:29,920 example of what is happening in the state and an entire west coast, on the entire 1995 03:00:29,920 --> 03:00:32,020 west coast, with water scarcity. 1996 03:00:33,840 --> 03:00:37,700 So, some of us are all about water storage, some of us are not about water storage. 1997 03:00:38,000 --> 03:00:42,600 The most important thing is we need to find the solutions that makes sense to everybody and 1998 03:00:42,600 --> 03:00:47,600 the cost parameters that don't impact all our repairs and all these collaborative meetings that 1999 03:00:47,600 --> 03:00:52,220 having and I keep talking about joint power authorities, several of them are in conversation 2000 03:00:52,220 --> 03:00:53,300 in the works. 2001 03:00:54,780 --> 03:01:02,620 So it was just a brief moment, and of course, that particular medium, the Oculus first-ever 2002 03:01:02,620 --> 03:01:09,440 foundation on diversity equity inclusion was formed approved, and yours truly was appointed 2003 03:01:09,440 --> 03:01:15,500 the Board Trustee's chair of that committee, and we have our first meeting in Sacramento 2004 03:01:15,500 --> 03:01:21,020 this Friday, and we have a myriad of ideas that we're going to be working toward what Mr. 2005 03:01:21,120 --> 03:01:26,020 Bell has been talking about, finding resources and funding for water career path education 2006 03:01:26,020 --> 03:01:32,220 to those young bright students that don't necessarily have a pathway because not who the 2007 03:01:32,220 --> 03:01:37,940 arts but where they live and what they represent, what the color their skin is, what language they speak, 2008 03:01:38,020 --> 03:01:42,760 you might have an accent but they're brilliant and they're smart. So these are going to be some of 2009 03:01:42,760 --> 03:01:45,040 targets that we're going to be looking at to educate. 2010 03:01:45,580 --> 03:01:52,140 Our board of trustees is amazing, the cross section of education, water of managers, women 2011 03:01:52,140 --> 03:01:55,080 and water, which is another advocate that we're going to be working toward. 2012 03:01:55,740 --> 03:02:01,140 And so I'm particularly proud to be part of this, and I will keep you post as we move forward. 2013 03:02:01,400 --> 03:02:02,440 So that's my report. 2014 03:02:03,140 --> 03:02:03,660 Chair? 2015 03:02:04,280 --> 03:02:04,340 Yes. 2016 03:02:04,340 --> 03:02:10,100 I have the CIP coming report, but I also related to that report. 2017 03:02:10,100 --> 03:02:13,720 I have to have more member requests, so I'll report it on the 12.1. 2018 03:02:14,960 --> 03:02:15,240 All right. 2019 03:02:15,400 --> 03:02:16,300 Anybody else? 2020 03:02:17,060 --> 03:02:17,260 Great. 2021 03:02:17,420 --> 03:02:18,420 Moving on? 2022 03:02:18,720 --> 03:02:18,880 Oh. 2023 03:02:19,260 --> 03:02:19,480 All right. 2024 03:02:20,040 --> 03:02:20,880 Mr. Dredgresenberg? 2025 03:02:21,400 --> 03:02:25,480 I just want to say congratulations to the chair for being appointed to that. 2026 03:02:26,680 --> 03:02:27,780 Well, thank you very much. 2027 03:02:28,660 --> 03:02:29,880 It's quite an honor, believe me. 2028 03:02:30,060 --> 03:02:36,060 And by the way, that's the first foundation of 501c3 ever from Aqua. 2029 03:02:37,280 --> 03:02:40,860 And the President and the Vice President are women. 2030 03:02:41,480 --> 03:02:42,880 That's another first. 2031 03:02:43,920 --> 03:02:48,700 So we're changing that organization to more reflect the communities 2032 03:02:48,700 --> 03:02:50,460 that we all come from. 2033 03:02:51,400 --> 03:02:53,620 And that our two new board members were alluding to today. 2034 03:02:54,100 --> 03:02:55,800 We want to look like who we represent. 2035 03:02:56,020 --> 03:02:59,840 And that's happening statewide through the representation and this foundation. 2036 03:03:01,040 --> 03:03:02,220 So I'll stop talking. 2037 03:03:02,700 --> 03:03:05,460 Okay, let's go move on to what do utility enterprise 5.1. 2038 03:03:05,460 --> 03:03:14,140 approved amendment number 1 to agreement number A4418A with Kaui, North America, and 2039 03:03:14,140 --> 03:03:20,560 corporated for construction management services for the Anderson Dan project number 9186406. 2040 03:03:20,720 --> 03:03:31,460 Case file number 5155 increasing fee by $8,584,817, dollars for total revised fee of $29,449,870. 2041 03:03:31,460 --> 03:03:39,200 in District 1. Hello, Morgan Hill. It's an action item. Do we have one to make a motion to 2042 03:03:39,200 --> 03:03:45,280 approve staff recommendation? A motion in a second. Any board discussion on this? 2043 03:03:49,830 --> 03:03:55,530 Director Eisenberg. Thank you. I'm just, again, newbie. I'm just showing for a quick overview 2044 03:03:55,530 --> 03:04:00,520 about what we're being asked to approve. Okay. The menu, are you? Would you like to give a brief 2045 03:04:00,520 --> 03:04:21,640 Good afternoon, sir. Good afternoon, Chair. Direct as a member of the public. This amendment is to add a scope of work to the construction management firm on the understand tunnel project that we're doing right now. 2046 03:04:21,640 --> 03:04:33,780 It's to enable us to do parameter quality monitoring, to meet the requirements of the Bay Area Quality Management District, 2047 03:04:34,400 --> 03:04:42,540 to be able to meet the permits and all the requirements that they've imposed on the tunnel project. 2048 03:04:45,050 --> 03:04:46,430 Okay, thank you. 2049 03:04:47,490 --> 03:04:48,650 Anderson, there, I'm the tunnel project. 2050 03:04:48,710 --> 03:04:51,850 I know this is definitely what are we intending to do specifically. 2051 03:04:53,710 --> 03:04:59,230 What you're doing is to read the requirements. 2052 03:05:00,000 --> 03:05:09,380 We do a quality monitoring, and we take else samples, which we have to do daily, and we take 14 samples 2053 03:05:09,380 --> 03:05:19,140 per 24 hour spans, and then we take it to the lab, and then the samples are tested at the lab, 2054 03:05:19,660 --> 03:05:27,740 and the results are then sent to the quality monitoring management district, for them to 2055 03:05:27,740 --> 03:05:33,480 see how they are doing the tunneling and mixed up the soil. 2056 03:05:34,000 --> 03:05:35,200 It's happening on the project. 2057 03:05:37,280 --> 03:05:38,660 So, okay, anybody else? 2058 03:05:38,900 --> 03:05:40,300 Any public comments on this? 2059 03:05:41,120 --> 03:05:42,020 I had a question. 2060 03:05:42,940 --> 03:05:43,920 Oh, Director Keegan, I didn't see you. 2061 03:05:44,640 --> 03:05:45,800 Thank you. 2062 03:05:46,960 --> 03:05:54,560 So, what we're doing here essentially is that we removed some work from the design consultant's 2063 03:05:54,560 --> 03:05:58,200 contract and put it with the construction management firm. 2064 03:05:58,460 --> 03:06:03,500 Why did we originally include it with the design consultant? 2065 03:06:04,560 --> 03:06:08,060 During the design phase and the permit acquisition, 2066 03:06:08,440 --> 03:06:12,820 we had to start with the whole process. 2067 03:06:13,460 --> 03:06:15,720 And the initial setup at that time, 2068 03:06:15,880 --> 03:06:18,200 the construction management firm was not on board, 2069 03:06:18,300 --> 03:06:19,760 because we were not in construction. 2070 03:06:19,760 --> 03:06:41,660 And so we started off with the design consultant, but then when we started construction and when we had a meeting with the Bay Area Quality Management District, it was agreed that this should be performed by the construction management fair. 2071 03:06:41,660 --> 03:06:48,780 And so we moved it from the design consultant from into the work for the construction management. 2072 03:06:49,400 --> 03:06:56,120 So did we have a limited scope of services for the design consultant? In other words, we didn't 2073 03:06:56,120 --> 03:07:06,680 cut whatever it is like $9 million from the design consultant and move it over to the construction consultant. 2074 03:07:06,680 --> 03:07:13,760 We just had a small or amount of money to essentially do that initial scoping so yeah, okay 2075 03:07:13,760 --> 03:07:17,540 So there is actually a net increase yes, in the 2076 03:07:19,220 --> 03:07:22,220 Okay, all right think that answers my question 2077 03:07:22,220 --> 03:07:24,890 Okay, got that any other comment from the board 2078 03:07:25,280 --> 03:07:27,780 Do we have public comments on this item? 2079 03:07:32,080 --> 03:07:38,760 Chair, thank you. We do not have any raised hands. Okay, so I have a motion in a second all those in favor signify by saying aye 2080 03:07:38,760 --> 03:07:48,060 I, I'll oppose the action passes unanimously moving on to water sheds item 6.1. 2081 03:07:48,060 --> 03:07:50,180 We have a series of these, by the way. 2082 03:07:51,100 --> 03:07:55,520 So authorized acquisition of real property interest from granite rock company for the 2083 03:07:55,520 --> 03:07:58,320 co-opocrine flood management measures project. 2084 03:07:58,560 --> 03:08:05,680 Anderson Dam Federal Energy Regulatory Commission order compliance number project 9186407 2085 03:08:05,680 --> 03:08:11,720 the APN-241-05-001-APN-241-05-001-05-001-05-001-05-001-071-05-001-05. 2086 03:08:14,620 --> 03:08:20,280 Okay, so this is an action item from the board, so we have the vanity. 2087 03:08:20,600 --> 03:08:21,900 Where are you? 2088 03:08:22,160 --> 03:08:25,680 Actually, it'll be Chief Black here reporting out. 2089 03:08:26,480 --> 03:08:29,200 Mr. Hates, you get the straw. 2090 03:08:30,060 --> 03:08:30,440 Well, sir. 2091 03:08:30,820 --> 03:08:33,660 But vanity is currently in India, so since this is Amberson, 2092 03:08:33,660 --> 03:08:37,400 related, I'll feel free to go to the step-up place, the cheap blank and also fill in some 2093 03:08:37,400 --> 03:08:37,680 legap. 2094 03:08:37,800 --> 03:08:43,300 So, this is an acquisition that's currently needed for the Coyote Creek Flood Mitigation 2095 03:08:43,300 --> 03:08:47,980 Measures Project, which is a component of the FERC Ordered Compliance Project, which is 2096 03:08:47,980 --> 03:08:53,340 our February 20th Ordered Project by the under emergency mandate by the Federal Energy 2097 03:08:53,340 --> 03:08:55,940 Regulatory Commission for any board members that may be unaware. 2098 03:08:56,300 --> 03:08:59,980 So, this is a property acquisition required in order to complete the project. 2099 03:09:00,740 --> 03:09:04,860 We do have staff available for specific questions about the negotiations if they are any. 2100 03:09:05,100 --> 03:09:06,880 Otherwise I won't leave it to the board for discussion. 2101 03:09:07,340 --> 03:09:07,640 Very good. 2102 03:09:07,680 --> 03:09:08,740 Thank you very much. 2103 03:09:09,460 --> 03:09:11,240 I have a motion and a second. 2104 03:09:12,320 --> 03:09:13,200 Board discussion. 2105 03:09:14,380 --> 03:09:15,180 Public comment. 2106 03:09:15,560 --> 03:09:16,280 On this item. 2107 03:09:16,460 --> 03:09:17,840 Go public comment at this time. 2108 03:09:18,140 --> 03:09:18,360 Okay. 2109 03:09:18,520 --> 03:09:20,460 So we have a motion and a second to move this forward. 2110 03:09:20,840 --> 03:09:22,680 All in favor signified by saying aye. 2111 03:09:23,380 --> 03:09:23,960 All opposed. 2112 03:09:24,480 --> 03:09:26,040 That passes again unanimously. 2113 03:09:26,380 --> 03:09:27,700 Well, you guys are on a roll. 2114 03:09:30,840 --> 03:09:31,140 Okay. 2115 03:09:33,440 --> 03:09:38,040 Moving on, somewhere here, 6.2. 2116 03:09:38,640 --> 03:09:42,220 All right, another, I'm not going to read it all, but it's to approve the amendment number 2117 03:09:42,220 --> 03:09:46,820 3b to agreement number 3, 4, 8, 4, 2, 3, 6, 3, with Klein-Feldir Inc. 2118 03:09:47,060 --> 03:09:51,600 for on called you technical engineering services to increase the not to exceed 2119 03:09:51,600 --> 03:09:56,360 fee of 1 million result in the total not to exceed fee of 2, made in 750,000 2120 03:09:56,360 --> 03:09:59,440 2,000 to items in action, who have a motion. 2121 03:10:00,560 --> 03:10:10,880 I have a motion and a second. Board discussion, direct a swerve or wait a minute. Do you just direct, I some very 2122 03:10:10,880 --> 03:10:11,140 curious. 2123 03:10:13,000 --> 03:10:20,720 My name is a question. So, you know, sometimes with the on-call services, sometimes we use third-party 2124 03:10:20,720 --> 03:10:26,620 services that aren't unionized. We do have a union, you know, a trade agreement, you know, clearly, 2125 03:10:26,620 --> 03:10:33,460 but sometimes there are exceptions to this, I just would like to know if this third party is 2126 03:10:33,460 --> 03:10:38,820 provides a unionized flavor, and if not if we start out unionized labor for that. 2127 03:10:39,200 --> 03:10:43,980 So the on-call agreement is actually with two separate consultant firms. So basically these are 2128 03:10:43,980 --> 03:10:50,440 designers in the private industry who are not unionized typically. It's something that we generally 2129 03:10:50,440 --> 03:10:56,300 don't run across if it's not a construction trade. So this is the augment staff's abilities to 2130 03:10:56,300 --> 03:11:01,220 work in a short basis, but I do not believe either a company is unionized. 2131 03:11:04,480 --> 03:11:06,120 Did we look for unionized labor? 2132 03:11:07,020 --> 03:11:11,060 We have our typical process, which we do a consultant selection where we reach out. 2133 03:11:11,400 --> 03:11:14,280 I do not believe that unionization is a requirement. 2134 03:11:14,940 --> 03:11:16,660 It may be something that is considered. 2135 03:11:17,320 --> 03:11:22,940 I would have to defer to Tina Yoke as to our selection process in the waiting of any unionization. 2136 03:11:24,100 --> 03:11:24,920 Thank you very much. 2137 03:11:24,920 --> 03:11:27,780 Tina Yoke, Chief Operating Officer, Administrative Services, 2138 03:11:28,260 --> 03:11:30,860 went through a competitive bid process initially. 2139 03:11:31,480 --> 03:11:35,900 And no, we do not require unions as part 2140 03:11:35,900 --> 03:11:39,540 of the selection criteria for a contract award. 2141 03:11:40,960 --> 03:11:43,420 That's not in our union contract. 2142 03:11:47,150 --> 03:11:52,030 For projects, for projects that fall under 2143 03:11:52,030 --> 03:11:55,770 are newly approved policy approved 2144 03:11:55,770 --> 03:12:01,530 project labor agreement of $2 million in above, you know, those are new projects under that 2145 03:12:01,530 --> 03:12:08,910 criteria that we'll have a project labor agreement component to that. We're talking about 2146 03:12:08,910 --> 03:12:12,130 a prior pre-existing contract. 2147 03:12:14,350 --> 03:12:19,510 Yes, take a proof something new. I have a comment to help answer your 2148 03:12:20,170 --> 03:12:22,690 assistant to CEO Melanie Richardson? 2149 03:12:26,420 --> 03:12:28,160 Yes, thank you, Chair Vorella. 2150 03:12:29,060 --> 03:12:32,040 I was just going to add that these are professional services, 2151 03:12:32,700 --> 03:12:34,100 engineering, professional services, 2152 03:12:34,960 --> 03:12:37,820 not in a labor type trades for construction, 2153 03:12:38,200 --> 03:12:42,520 and they require qualifications based selection 2154 03:12:42,520 --> 03:12:44,340 through our process that we have. 2155 03:12:44,640 --> 03:12:46,760 And so it's different than a construction trades. 2156 03:12:47,060 --> 03:12:50,040 And I think Miss Yoke would be willing to sit down 2157 03:12:50,040 --> 03:12:54,940 talk you through that? Yes. He would like more info, but yes, this is a typical process, not just 2158 03:12:54,940 --> 03:13:01,380 of our agencies, but all agencies that do this type of work. Yes, so. Okay. 2159 03:13:05,660 --> 03:13:07,660 I'll just concur with 2160 03:13:07,660 --> 03:13:15,440 what Ms. Richardson said. I've done lots of consulting contracts. Why did some here? City of 2161 03:13:15,440 --> 03:13:20,680 and these are not typically things where the workers are unionized. 2162 03:13:21,180 --> 03:13:23,580 And it is a different kind of situation. 2163 03:13:23,880 --> 03:13:28,980 And I will say that I think that our staff is very diligent in trying 2164 03:13:28,980 --> 03:13:34,000 to make sure that we hire unionized workers wherever and whenever it's appropriate. 2165 03:13:35,520 --> 03:13:36,500 We're very proud of you. 2166 03:13:36,500 --> 03:13:37,160 Great to hear. 2167 03:13:37,540 --> 03:13:39,840 So do I have a motion and a second to approve this item? 2168 03:13:40,120 --> 03:13:40,360 Item assembly? 2169 03:13:41,980 --> 03:13:42,360 I do. 2170 03:13:43,240 --> 03:13:43,680 We'll give it. 2171 03:13:43,860 --> 03:13:45,420 We'll give it. 2172 03:13:45,420 --> 03:13:49,920 You have Mr. Chair, you have a motion by Director Santos and a second by Dr. Shield. 2173 03:13:49,920 --> 03:13:52,280 I knew that. Thank you very much. 2174 03:13:52,840 --> 03:13:57,080 Okay, so all those in favor of signify by saying aye, aye, all opposed? 2175 03:13:57,820 --> 03:14:00,120 That motion passes again. 2176 03:14:03,180 --> 03:14:09,140 7.2 authorized acquisition of real property, the interest of Rebecca Grace Watkins at the 2177 03:14:09,140 --> 03:14:14,380 How Tann Lee Atal, for the Anderson Dam Tunnel Project, as part of the Federal Energy 2178 03:14:14,380 --> 03:14:18,700 regulatory commission order compliance project under the Anderson Dam 2179 03:14:18,700 --> 03:14:23,320 size of Metro Fit project with all those numbers. This is an action item. 2180 03:14:23,320 --> 03:14:28,140 I have a motion and a second. For discussion. 2181 03:14:30,590 --> 03:14:32,690 Mr. Chair, I'm sorry. I'm 2182 03:14:32,690 --> 03:14:36,750 you said 7.2. I want to make sure we're really on 7.1 correct. 2183 03:14:38,170 --> 03:14:40,310 I just am just the same name. It's different parts. 2184 03:14:40,610 --> 03:14:44,270 I just we just finished 7.1. I had 6.2. 2185 03:14:47,850 --> 03:14:55,750 We did, okay, I beg you for another one 7.1, okay same motion. Okay same motion 2186 03:14:55,750 --> 03:14:59,970 All those of you ever signify by saying aye aye aye that motion passes thank you 2187 03:15:00,000 --> 03:15:09,060 Thank you for corrected me. 7.2. I have a motion in the second board discussion. Public comment. 2188 03:15:10,160 --> 03:15:11,320 We have no public comment. 2189 03:15:11,960 --> 03:15:20,420 Okay, that's an action item. All those in favor signify by saying aye, aye, that motion also passes. Thank you very much. 2190 03:15:20,420 --> 03:15:22,980 Now we go to item 7.3. 2191 03:15:25,360 --> 03:15:26,960 I've got a motion and a second. 2192 03:15:28,020 --> 03:15:28,820 It's okay. 2193 03:15:29,240 --> 03:15:30,280 Any board discussion? 2194 03:15:32,240 --> 03:15:32,940 Public comment? 2195 03:15:33,340 --> 03:15:34,860 We have no public comment at this time. 2196 03:15:35,100 --> 03:15:35,960 Okay, action item. 2197 03:15:36,180 --> 03:15:36,640 All those in favor. 2198 03:15:36,800 --> 03:15:38,700 On 7.3, signify by saying aye. 2199 03:15:39,460 --> 03:15:40,040 All opposed. 2200 03:15:40,680 --> 03:15:41,980 That item passes also. 2201 03:15:42,160 --> 03:15:43,200 Thank you. 2202 03:15:43,380 --> 03:15:45,640 Moving on to 7.4. 2203 03:15:46,340 --> 03:15:47,800 Authorized acquisition of real property. 2204 03:15:47,800 --> 03:15:52,580 for guide to heal for the Anderson Dam project and federal energy regulatory commission everything 2205 03:15:52,580 --> 03:15:58,640 I said before. So this is a forward action. Do I have a motion? 2206 03:16:01,460 --> 03:16:03,580 Okay. Board discussion? 2207 03:16:04,560 --> 03:16:09,980 Public comment? We have no public comment at this time. Okay. Thank you. Board action. All those in favor 2208 03:16:09,980 --> 03:16:18,360 signify by saying aye. Aye. All opposed that I also pass. Thank you. Moving on to external affairs. 2209 03:16:18,360 --> 03:16:25,760 Item 8.1, approve recommended 2023 legislative policy proposals and guiding principles. 2210 03:16:26,680 --> 03:16:32,420 This is also a board action. Do you have a report out? Mr. Broom is in the house. 2211 03:16:33,120 --> 03:16:36,020 My God, did you write on your broom to get down here, by the way? 2212 03:16:36,240 --> 03:16:41,080 Oh, absolutely. I always bring it with me. This is our Sacramento representative for those of you 2213 03:16:41,080 --> 03:16:42,860 with new board members. Welcome. 2214 03:16:45,940 --> 03:16:47,520 Thank you, Chair Pro Ten members of the board. 2215 03:16:47,520 --> 03:16:52,940 Bart Brum is assistant officer in our Sacramento office is going to leave the presentation on this item if the board desires 2216 03:16:52,940 --> 03:16:58,520 Yeah, you got five minutes or less. Okay. You can keep it to that. I will talk fast 2217 03:16:59,420 --> 03:17:06,520 Before you are the proposed 2023 legislative policy proposals in guiding principles for the office of government relations 2218 03:17:06,520 --> 03:17:15,480 The board annually reviews and adopts proposals and principles that direct staff advocacy at the local state and federal levels 2219 03:17:15,480 --> 03:17:21,820 They are developed through a process that collects input from staff, senior management, and the board itself. 2220 03:17:23,080 --> 03:17:30,720 Attachment 1 begins with approximately 80 guiding principles, changes from last year's principles are highlighted in red. 2221 03:17:31,720 --> 03:17:38,400 We understand a concern was raised about a principle regarding endowments on page 4. 2222 03:17:38,400 --> 03:17:46,000 staff proposes that item C2 at the top of page 4 be deleted and restated as follows. 2223 03:17:47,080 --> 03:17:52,840 Support alternatives to endowments for public agency funding of mitigation site maintenance. 2224 03:17:54,240 --> 03:18:03,960 This would clarify that we seek alternatives only for public agency funding of mitigation sites and not to change private developer funded endowments. 2225 03:18:03,960 --> 03:18:08,340 Other changes to the principles are as noted in the document. 2226 03:18:09,440 --> 03:18:13,960 At the state level, staff recommends two proposals for 2227 03:18:14,560 --> 03:18:19,280 Valley Water Sponsored Legislation and three proposals for state bills 2228 03:18:19,280 --> 03:18:21,700 to be sponsored by statewide organizations. 2229 03:18:22,760 --> 03:18:27,400 On page 7, the attachment is a description of the first bill proposed 2230 03:18:27,400 --> 03:18:29,060 by Valley Water Sponsorship. 2231 03:18:29,060 --> 03:18:36,000 that's the District Act Reform legislation, which would update financing mechanisms to reduce 2232 03:18:36,000 --> 03:18:42,740 the cost of borrowing, modernized, antiquated language, and renew a sunsetting provision 2233 03:18:42,740 --> 03:18:44,740 related to board member Pradeem. 2234 03:18:46,180 --> 03:18:54,400 Staff has heard the board discussion, not only in our discussions with Director Bell prior 2235 03:18:54,400 --> 03:19:00,140 to this meeting about the interest in seeking changes to the District Act to allow us more 2236 03:19:00,140 --> 03:19:06,740 flexibility to address the human, the human and environmental disaster of unhousing 2237 03:19:06,740 --> 03:19:13,120 cabinets on our property. Government relations is already in discussions with District 2238 03:19:13,120 --> 03:19:21,840 Council on the issue. However, we face challenges in this effort. We may not have a lawful 2239 03:19:21,840 --> 03:19:25,200 funding source to expand into human services. 2240 03:19:26,220 --> 03:19:31,960 State funds aren't directed directly available to independent special districts, and that's 2241 03:19:31,960 --> 03:19:36,200 something that we're actually seeking to change through budget language, and I'll get 2242 03:19:36,200 --> 03:19:37,640 to that later in my presentation. 2243 03:19:38,940 --> 03:19:44,800 Also, in 2017, the Board approved and we pursued legislation that would actually modify 2244 03:19:44,800 --> 03:19:54,480 the Mission of the District Act to include an ability to address encampments, and it didn't 2245 03:19:54,480 --> 03:19:59,140 get out of its first committee, and the reason was that the committee raised concerns. 2246 03:20:00,000 --> 03:20:29,980 We're first, there was duplication of services. Mission creep, which is something that they've cited repeatedly, and then that we were seeking police powers that would be inappropriate for a special district. After that experience in looking back at that, my recommendation would be that if we pursue this, that we would pursue it in a very narrow scope of precisely what would we do in regard to this. 2247 03:20:30,000 --> 03:20:36,820 this and, you know, we're in discussions again with district council to talk about what might 2248 03:20:36,820 --> 03:20:42,040 possibly be viable in the legislature and at the same time provide real benefits in more 2249 03:20:42,040 --> 03:20:49,740 flexibility for what we can do to address the encampments of unhouse people. I'm going to proceed 2250 03:20:49,740 --> 03:20:58,780 with the rest of the description and then maybe we can take any questions. So also on page 7 is the second 2251 03:20:58,780 --> 03:21:03,920 bill proposed for Valley Water Sponsorship. It's the California Public Employees Retirement 2252 03:21:03,920 --> 03:21:10,660 System Classic Tier II Reform. The bill would allow the Valley Water Board to prospectively 2253 03:21:10,660 --> 03:21:18,080 apply the same pension benefit formula that applies to all Calpers Classic Employees. This 2254 03:21:18,080 --> 03:21:24,220 change will enable Valley Water to better retain experience Calpers Classic Employees and recruit 2255 03:21:24,220 --> 03:21:31,160 new classic employees by providing a benefit formula that is comparable to what is available 2256 03:21:31,160 --> 03:21:35,100 to most other public agencies in our region and across California. 2257 03:21:36,940 --> 03:21:42,260 In the agenda memo, you'll find three legislated proposals recommended for legislative 2258 03:21:42,260 --> 03:21:47,460 action through an external sponsor, so not sponsored by Valley Water, but by a membership 2259 03:21:47,460 --> 03:21:48,080 organization. 2260 03:21:48,080 --> 03:21:58,180 The first would streamline the permitting for water supply and flood risk reduction projects and will be sponsored by the association of California water agencies. 2261 03:21:59,080 --> 03:22:07,660 The second would make independent special districts eligible for grant funding through the Encampment Impact Resolution Program. 2262 03:22:07,660 --> 03:22:18,580 This is the funding for special districts that I had mentioned earlier, the California Special District's Association is seeking state budget language to do this. 2263 03:22:19,320 --> 03:22:27,080 And then the last one would be to renew local agency authorization to use design build project delivery. 2264 03:22:27,860 --> 03:22:31,240 Staff is still seeking an external sponsor for this effort. 2265 03:22:31,240 --> 03:22:55,760 At the local level, at the local level, on page six of the attachment, staff proposes to continue legislative efforts from 2022 to increase water use efficiency through updates to local ordinances and at the federal level on page 11 of the attachment there are three policy positions proposed for deletion because the issues have either been resolved or have been addressed by other needs. 2266 03:22:56,660 --> 03:23:03,100 You know, you can see there's a lot that the Office of Government Relations works on in a year. 2267 03:23:03,740 --> 03:23:12,520 We have representatives of our federal state and local program here to help answer any questions you have about any of the proposals for guiding principles. 2268 03:23:13,140 --> 03:23:15,100 And I'll ask for any questions. 2269 03:23:15,560 --> 03:23:16,340 Thank you, Mr. Bruno. 2270 03:23:16,520 --> 03:23:17,900 I was a very comprehensive report. 2271 03:23:18,480 --> 03:23:20,020 Directors have questions? 2272 03:23:23,470 --> 03:23:23,670 Aye. 2273 03:23:23,870 --> 03:23:24,350 Do I have to sway? 2274 03:23:26,570 --> 03:23:27,270 Thank you. 2275 03:23:27,270 --> 03:23:34,070 I just want to compliment staff for your foresight to include support efforts to reduce no 2276 03:23:34,070 --> 03:23:37,650 function or turn through building standards and other beats. 2277 03:23:38,010 --> 03:23:42,770 I think that's the next thing we need to focus on for the many years to come. 2278 03:23:43,590 --> 03:23:44,290 Thank you. 2279 03:23:44,330 --> 03:23:44,890 Thank you, Director. 2280 03:23:45,050 --> 03:23:46,350 Any other comments from the board? 2281 03:23:47,310 --> 03:23:47,570 Okay. 2282 03:23:47,590 --> 03:23:48,610 Any public comments? 2283 03:23:52,000 --> 03:23:53,600 I have no public comments. 2284 03:23:53,780 --> 03:23:54,020 Okay. 2285 03:23:54,260 --> 03:23:54,640 Board actually. 2286 03:23:54,660 --> 03:23:55,860 Do I have a motion to approve? 2287 03:23:56,960 --> 03:23:57,120 Pardon? 2288 03:23:57,920 --> 03:23:58,340 Oh. 2289 03:23:58,340 --> 03:24:00,800 I didn't see it there, do I care about 2290 03:24:09,990 --> 03:24:10,610 it? 2291 03:24:10,610 --> 03:24:13,790 In regards to the first of all, regards to the homeless, I don't agree with you. 2292 03:24:13,990 --> 03:24:16,250 Okay, I don't think we should be narrow. I think we should be broad. 2293 03:24:17,310 --> 03:24:20,430 I think you have to redefine what our role is on that. 2294 03:24:21,570 --> 03:24:27,710 And I think the public, my constituents, other people's constituents are saying we have to deal with that. 2295 03:24:28,710 --> 03:24:34,870 And therefore we should try to broaden our perspective and the responsive to them. 2296 03:24:34,870 --> 03:24:41,190 different things we can do. Joint powers authority is one of them. Other things we can 2297 03:24:41,190 --> 03:24:49,990 do is find other financing vehicles and we certainly should redefine and rewrite our 2298 03:24:49,990 --> 03:24:57,030 district gap that allows us to take all flexible actions we need to take. We should be 2299 03:24:57,030 --> 03:24:58,530 broader about our interpretation. 2300 03:25:00,000 --> 03:25:13,220 Because once we write the district act and is locked in, you know, the district act is our Bible that we operate under and, you know, I know how hard it is to write a chapter in the Bible. 2301 03:25:15,460 --> 03:25:27,540 So, you know, we need to write the right way as broadly as possible so that we, we have the ability to function in the way we want to function. 2302 03:25:27,540 --> 03:25:32,920 And I personally think that there's a lot of openness to that. 2303 03:25:33,000 --> 03:25:38,820 I mean, for example, the mayor of Los Angeles is declared a state of emergency on homelessness. 2304 03:25:40,060 --> 03:25:49,920 There's going to be a lot of discussion about interagency cooperation on it. 2305 03:25:49,920 --> 03:26:06,920 I already see legislation that allows housing financing and housing, and the legislation that's already written a draft, even if it's spot language, it says special districts actually, I saw that, so it actually refers to special districts. 2306 03:26:06,920 --> 03:26:07,320 So, 2307 03:26:10,330 --> 03:26:14,450 the other one I want to address is streamlining review. 2308 03:26:15,310 --> 03:26:21,430 I noticed that Senator Caballero has got a bill now. 2309 03:26:21,470 --> 03:26:22,370 It has to be 23. 2310 03:26:22,570 --> 03:26:23,430 I think it's called. 2311 03:26:23,430 --> 03:26:25,190 It's a spot bill now. 2312 03:26:25,830 --> 03:26:34,590 I would like to fill that vessel with some language that we need to maybe expedite our projects. 2313 03:26:34,670 --> 03:26:39,350 And if we can expedite projects just one or two years, 2314 03:26:39,350 --> 03:26:47,290 We're saving literally hundreds of millions of dollars for the taxpayer, so that's another 2315 03:26:47,290 --> 03:26:55,250 comment that I would like to make. I support working with the senator to achieve that. 2316 03:26:55,250 --> 03:26:58,850 I think Senator Dodd has some bills on water as well. 2317 03:27:01,670 --> 03:27:03,450 But I think the housing bills 2318 03:27:03,450 --> 03:27:06,230 should include special districts, 2319 03:27:08,430 --> 03:27:11,550 we should, we should, at the very minimum, include that 2320 03:27:11,550 --> 03:27:15,470 and then also support the bills. I mean, we should take state. We don't have a section 2321 03:27:15,470 --> 03:27:19,850 saying we should support the bills. We should, you know, there's going to be a proposal for 2322 03:27:19,850 --> 03:27:28,710 housing as Celia Aguilar Curie and Assembly has got a housing bill that mentioned special districts 2323 03:27:28,710 --> 03:27:31,170 that we should look at support. 2324 03:27:32,110 --> 03:27:38,810 There's other legislative efforts that we should support. 2325 03:27:38,810 --> 03:27:43,130 We should also support mental health bills and substance abuse bills. 2326 03:27:45,050 --> 03:27:47,230 Mr. Chairman, I think we talked about that. 2327 03:27:47,590 --> 03:27:49,950 Many of the board members may comments on that. 2328 03:27:50,330 --> 03:27:53,210 We should support increased services and 2329 03:27:56,550 --> 03:27:59,150 hospitalizations and other kinds of activities. 2330 03:27:59,150 --> 03:27:59,530 These, 2331 03:28:01,890 --> 03:28:07,510 if the board likes, I can show them my op-ed, I wrote last month in the Mercury News 2332 03:28:07,510 --> 03:28:15,550 on the deck of particular subject regarding federal and state legislation, there's a 2333 03:28:15,550 --> 03:28:22,910 federal law that says you can't have more than 16 people in a psychiatric hospital facilities 2334 03:28:22,910 --> 03:28:32,430 and receive federal Medicaid dollars, which stifles the ability of people to create these 2335 03:28:32,430 --> 03:28:40,430 medical facilities that we need desperately to put seriously mentally ill people in. 2336 03:28:40,430 --> 03:28:43,510 And I think we have to change those federal laws. 2337 03:28:45,610 --> 03:28:46,670 So those are my comments. 2338 03:28:46,670 --> 03:28:54,830 I want to see the district act change with housing included homeless actions and collaborating 2339 03:28:54,830 --> 03:28:58,710 with mental health and substance abuse programs. 2340 03:29:00,030 --> 03:29:01,910 That will achieve the goal that we have. 2341 03:29:02,310 --> 03:29:06,810 Our mission, it's not a mission creep, it's actually fulfilling our mission. 2342 03:29:06,870 --> 03:29:11,980 I don't call mission creep leaving the creeks the way they are filled with people in 2343 03:29:11,980 --> 03:29:13,480 I'm creating environmental hazard. 2344 03:29:13,740 --> 03:29:16,900 That's not our mission, permission is to deal with that problem. 2345 03:29:17,880 --> 03:29:24,820 So we need to deal with our problem, and I hope that we direct the staff to improve 2346 03:29:24,820 --> 03:29:28,760 this to correct that in the legislative report. 2347 03:29:28,900 --> 03:29:30,300 Thank you. 2348 03:29:30,580 --> 03:29:31,200 Thank you, Director. 2349 03:29:31,460 --> 03:29:32,160 We'll see you, calendar. 2350 03:29:36,390 --> 03:29:40,830 Yes, through the chair, what I did wanted to do is make sure that the policy principle 2351 03:29:40,830 --> 03:29:44,310 is, I think, dealing with housing, mental health and what you've addressed. 2352 03:29:45,050 --> 03:29:59,930 So that the board can consider what's in front of you today that we will make sure that we're prepared to bring those back on the mid January meeting which will now be either the 17th or the 18th for my understanding is so that you'll actually be able to see the language so that we're not 2353 03:30:00,000 --> 03:30:04,780 Do we get on the fly, but hopefully you'll be able to consider the policy principles today, and then we'll bring 2354 03:30:04,780 --> 03:30:07,280 them back, and less than a month for future consideration. 2355 03:30:07,880 --> 03:30:08,720 Thank you. 2356 03:30:14,640 --> 03:30:15,500 Before, right? 2357 03:30:16,520 --> 03:30:21,620 The Governor's budget is expected, and not the first week of January, but the beginning 2358 03:30:21,620 --> 03:30:22,660 of the second week. 2359 03:30:25,830 --> 03:30:33,950 A report on the Governor's budget is going to be a bad budget, so we have to get the fiscal 2360 03:30:33,950 --> 03:30:41,010 reality here. So it's going to be not fun looking at that budget. Not as bad as once we 2361 03:30:41,010 --> 03:30:50,170 had 10 years ago, but they were horrible. That was a 30% cut. Yeah, they take. Thank you. 2362 03:30:50,170 --> 03:30:57,160 Do I drive some for you? Thank you. Thank you for your work. I enjoyed the presentation the other 2363 03:30:57,160 --> 03:31:04,180 day last week. I recognize what a great job. There are certain things in here that I'm personally 2364 03:31:04,180 --> 03:31:09,000 very grateful for. Now they're not coming to me. I thought I have it. I saw it and it's like, 2365 03:31:09,100 --> 03:31:15,020 yeah, exactly. I just first I want to state my agreement, which each and every word 2366 03:31:15,020 --> 03:31:20,560 just stated by Director Bell and I'm not going to repeat any of that. So just everything is 2367 03:31:20,560 --> 03:31:28,600 that I agree with. So then just a couple other things is that as to, this is actually just kind of 2368 03:31:28,600 --> 03:31:32,540 going on a little bit about what he said. So I agree that we should have a broad interpretation, 2369 03:31:32,540 --> 03:31:37,140 And you know, under the act, and but specifically I said this earlier and I still really believe 2370 03:31:37,140 --> 03:31:41,780 it from the old point of view is that I don't see how we can fulfill our mission of ensuring 2371 03:31:41,780 --> 03:31:48,500 a reliable supply of healthy clean drinking water if we don't provide temporary housing to 2372 03:31:48,500 --> 03:31:53,780 the unhoused because the unhoused is not getting, it does not have a reliable supply of healthy 2373 03:31:53,780 --> 03:31:55,880 clean drinking water, they just don't. 2374 03:31:56,740 --> 03:32:01,480 So we cannot succeed in our mission without the freedom to do those things. 2375 03:32:01,920 --> 03:32:06,480 So, also a couple of other things I noticed in here, a couple, 2376 03:32:07,500 --> 03:32:10,660 some, oh, and also in terms of what we should should advocate for. 2377 03:32:10,780 --> 03:32:13,580 I agree with Dr. Bell, everything I think we need to join in, 2378 03:32:13,600 --> 03:32:14,740 and I want to add one more. 2379 03:32:15,120 --> 03:32:19,740 I think we need to also advocate for environmentalism 2380 03:32:20,340 --> 03:32:23,900 and against oil and gas and other abilities 2381 03:32:23,900 --> 03:32:26,700 to predict rights to pollute. 2382 03:32:27,100 --> 03:32:29,620 Because the pollution we have makes our job much harder, 2383 03:32:29,620 --> 03:32:36,680 having visited treatment facilities I see that it how greatly it increases our cost to clean up all that 2384 03:32:36,680 --> 03:32:42,300 pollution in addition to the fact that's the right thing to do. You know it pollution harms us 2385 03:32:42,300 --> 03:32:46,900 We it's so much more expensive when we have to clean up the stuff that is dumped. You know out there 2386 03:32:46,900 --> 03:32:48,240 I think we all agree with that 2387 03:32:48,800 --> 03:32:50,620 There are some there okay 2388 03:32:50,620 --> 03:32:54,560 But also there were some requests here about loosening regulations and again 2389 03:32:54,560 --> 03:32:58,760 I'm opposed to loosening regulations because they make our life harder 2390 03:33:01,300 --> 03:33:08,560 But one thing that kind of pinged out at me is something about expediting removal of trees, hazardous trees. 2391 03:33:09,940 --> 03:33:14,340 It's to me that's just to Lucy Goosey, often people will call it trees. Sometimes trees are hazardous. 2392 03:33:15,580 --> 03:33:19,080 But all the times they're just called hazardous. And they're removed. 2393 03:33:19,320 --> 03:33:25,040 And I know that all of us in science says that we cannot replace mature trees. 2394 03:33:25,040 --> 03:33:28,900 like mature trees are actually non-replaceable. 2395 03:33:29,140 --> 03:33:31,780 We could plant a million baby trees 2396 03:33:31,780 --> 03:33:33,660 if we take down an ancient tree, 2397 03:33:34,180 --> 03:33:37,420 but it will never serve the good within our lifetimes 2398 03:33:37,420 --> 03:33:39,720 or for a thousand years, 2399 03:33:40,080 --> 03:33:42,040 it won't do the job of an ancient tree. 2400 03:33:42,640 --> 03:33:45,480 So I think we need to be very clear 2401 03:33:45,480 --> 03:33:48,040 that we are not in favor of removing trees 2402 03:33:48,040 --> 03:33:49,980 unless we absolutely have to, 2403 03:33:50,280 --> 03:33:51,640 because when we remove trees, 2404 03:33:51,860 --> 03:33:53,560 we make it harder for us to succeed. 2405 03:33:53,560 --> 03:33:58,260 And we want to succeed, you know, I visit the treatment plants, they're cleaning up 2406 03:33:58,260 --> 03:34:05,360 yuck, trees, health, earth, and instead of loosening regulations, maybe we could ask for 2407 03:34:05,360 --> 03:34:05,700 funding. 2408 03:34:06,440 --> 03:34:12,560 I get that the budget is going to be difficult, but it used to be that we had read an $80 billion 2409 03:34:12,560 --> 03:34:16,760 surplus, and now we have like $20 billion in the red. 2410 03:34:16,920 --> 03:34:20,220 I mean, there is a lot of flexibility there. 2411 03:34:20,220 --> 03:34:25,440 You can't convince me otherwise, and we need how we need money, we need grants. 2412 03:34:25,800 --> 03:34:35,580 Loans are nice, grants are better, and I think we should be aggressive about money in grants to us, 2413 03:34:36,300 --> 03:34:43,180 so we can succeed in all of our missions, protecting our planet and providing water, and loosening regulations. 2414 03:34:43,800 --> 03:34:47,300 I fear that's going to really make things harder. Thank you. 2415 03:34:47,300 --> 03:34:51,060 Thank you. Thank you Director Dr. Smera. 2416 03:34:54,450 --> 03:34:59,970 Thank you. That was why I was talking about having our session. 2417 03:35:00,000 --> 03:35:10,060 So that we could talk a little bit more in detail about exactly what it is that we're trying to do with respect to homeless and how we can help and so on. 2418 03:35:11,060 --> 03:35:19,440 And so I think we could take care of the wording of some of this and we'll respect to the policy. 2419 03:35:19,940 --> 03:35:25,480 I think we're going to adopt what we have today with the understanding that we have our session. 2420 03:35:25,480 --> 03:35:31,620 and we're of course I'm gonna improve what we've got today I think what we've got today is it's pretty good 2421 03:35:32,240 --> 03:35:38,540 But I agree that you know we can we can certainly improve it when we when we meet in January 2422 03:35:39,160 --> 03:35:45,460 So I'd approve I'd move to approve it we have again with the understanding that in in 2423 03:35:45,460 --> 03:35:49,580 January after our session we'll have more more to add 2424 03:35:51,300 --> 03:35:54,900 Got a problem. That's worth that's how it works. Yeah. Thank you director 2425 03:35:55,480 --> 03:35:58,380 Director Keegan, you have the last words for the Board at this point? 2426 03:35:58,960 --> 03:36:04,900 Okay, just since we're being expansive and looking at stuff a little bit in the future, 2427 03:36:06,100 --> 03:36:10,580 some cities provide more than their fair share of housing and some cities do not, 2428 03:36:10,900 --> 03:36:18,360 and I really think that we should support legislation that helps to correct either the jobs, 2429 03:36:18,460 --> 03:36:24,120 housing imbalance or engage in regional sales tax sharing or other things of that nature, 2430 03:36:24,120 --> 03:36:28,280 because certain cities are not doing their fair share 2431 03:36:28,280 --> 03:36:31,480 and it exacerbates things like the homeless problem 2432 03:36:31,480 --> 03:36:39,220 or even the fact that more residential kinds of cities 2433 03:36:39,220 --> 03:36:42,560 aren't able to provide the services for their residents 2434 03:36:42,560 --> 03:36:45,300 as much as those cities that have a very large business 2435 03:36:45,300 --> 03:36:45,860 presence. 2436 03:36:46,180 --> 03:36:47,560 That's it. 2437 03:36:47,860 --> 03:36:48,460 Thank you, Director. 2438 03:36:48,580 --> 03:36:49,920 You're going to appreciate that. 2439 03:36:50,200 --> 03:36:51,340 That's all for discussion. 2440 03:36:51,460 --> 03:36:53,340 Do we have a public comment on that? 2441 03:36:54,800 --> 03:36:57,200 Thank you, Mr. Chair. We have no public common in these things. 2442 03:36:57,460 --> 03:36:58,980 Okay, so this is an action item. 2443 03:36:59,700 --> 03:37:01,540 I have a motion from Tony. 2444 03:37:01,780 --> 03:37:04,340 Director Estimera and a second by Director Eisenberg. 2445 03:37:05,340 --> 03:37:07,340 All those in favor signify by saying aye. 2446 03:37:07,700 --> 03:37:08,880 Aye. All the pose. 2447 03:37:09,520 --> 03:37:11,060 That motion passes. 2448 03:37:12,020 --> 03:37:13,040 Thank you very much. 2449 03:37:13,180 --> 03:37:14,160 Thank you very much. 2450 03:37:14,840 --> 03:37:18,480 And that's the last item that we're going to be voting on tonight. 2451 03:37:18,600 --> 03:37:20,940 So the next from Chief Executive Officer. 2452 03:37:22,000 --> 03:37:28,920 9.1, receive an overview of the fiscal year 2023-24 rolling by annual budget process. 2453 03:37:30,690 --> 03:37:33,850 Mr. Taylor, oh, 2454 03:37:42,300 --> 03:37:43,000 who is that, Mr. 2455 03:37:44,280 --> 03:37:49,140 Good afternoon, I'm going to take it down the budget manager for value water and now we 2456 03:37:49,140 --> 03:37:52,960 provide you with an overview of the fiscal year 2024 rolling by annual budget process. 2457 03:37:53,280 --> 03:37:56,980 The purpose of this presentation is for you the board to receive a high level overview 2458 03:37:56,980 --> 03:38:02,260 planning process and at the same time for you the board to provide any feedback as we work 2459 03:38:02,260 --> 03:38:08,760 through the process itself. I will be going over the financial process where I will touch 2460 03:38:08,760 --> 03:38:15,100 and governance policies, the financial planning process as we develop the by annual budget and 2461 03:38:15,100 --> 03:38:21,240 also highlight a few delivery key dates. Next I'll speak to the themes such as a drought, inflationary 2462 03:38:21,240 --> 03:38:26,020 pressures, and the possibility of a recession that may affect the financial development of the 2463 03:38:26,760 --> 03:38:32,180 This will be followed by a high-level review of the inputs that are assumed as part of the first stage, 2464 03:38:32,220 --> 03:38:39,680 as part of the first pass of the budget, and will review the boardwork, plans strategies that are considered as part of the budget development process. 2465 03:38:40,480 --> 03:38:43,400 I will include a presentation by reviewing what the next steps are. 2466 03:38:48,080 --> 03:38:55,100 So, until the next slide, the district develops the Bionneau budget in five-year capital improvement program to allocate public funds, 2467 03:38:55,100 --> 03:39:01,200 necessary to provide silicon valley with safe clean water. The development of the budget and the 2468 03:39:01,200 --> 03:39:06,660 capital improvement program are accomplished in an open and transparent process into the guidance 2469 03:39:06,660 --> 03:39:11,960 of the board, and we also provide opportunity for public input. The district's financial 2470 03:39:11,960 --> 03:39:18,040 processes are governed by the district that section 13 for taxation, section 20 for the adoption 2471 03:39:18,040 --> 03:39:23,960 of the budget, section 26 for the levee and collection of water charges, and the board of governance 2472 03:39:23,960 --> 03:39:30,400 policies EL4 guide the financial management, the planning, the budgeting, and ongoing financial 2473 03:39:30,400 --> 03:39:30,860 activities. 2474 03:39:32,020 --> 03:39:37,600 The district's financial processes comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and any 2475 03:39:37,600 --> 03:39:39,860 policies at state level. 2476 03:39:42,330 --> 03:39:48,010 In terms of high-level financial view of the planning process, it all begins back in the 2477 03:39:48,010 --> 03:39:50,290 month of August and it works its way through the month of June. 2478 03:39:50,910 --> 03:39:54,790 Over the past couple of months, staff has been very busy working on updating the long-term 2479 03:39:54,790 --> 03:39:59,970 forecast on the CIP. We're now in the middle of the budget and come to 2480 03:40:00,000 --> 03:40:14,360 January will be running three processes side by side. We'll have the budget groundwater production charges, the CIP process and also the budget process. And we think of all together to make sure that we don't develop any funding gaps as we put them all together to bring to the board. 2481 03:40:17,580 --> 03:40:28,980 In terms of proposed key dates that affect these processes, there's one on this slide. For the operating capital budget, on January 24th, we're scheduled to bring you the first possible budget update. 2482 03:40:28,980 --> 03:40:33,840 Of March 14th, we'll bring you the second pass, which will be more detailed in nature. 2483 03:40:34,800 --> 03:40:41,600 We'll include and provide you with any new positions or and or any input that you provide after the first pass budget. 2484 03:40:42,880 --> 03:40:53,540 Lastly, on April 26th, we will have our board budget or study sessions and those are very detailed in nature, so we'll review the decision by the decision. 2485 03:40:53,540 --> 03:41:10,380 On January 10th, we will bring forth a preliminary groundwater charge analysis and also the CIP so that the board may see and discuss the CIP and also the right analysis that is affected by all the funding decisions that you make. 2486 03:41:10,780 --> 03:41:15,620 On April 11th to the 25th, you'll have the public hearing schedule. 2487 03:41:15,620 --> 03:41:21,900 In terms of the CIP for February 21st, the draft CIP will be brought to the board for approval. 2488 03:41:22,820 --> 03:41:26,520 And then we kick off the 16-day review process with the local cities. 2489 03:41:27,340 --> 03:41:31,660 On April 11th, we have the public hearings on the CIP and that's when they begin. 2490 03:41:32,760 --> 03:41:39,880 Also, as part of each summary cycle, each summary cycle may be different as you may recall during the COVID-19 happened. 2491 03:41:39,880 --> 03:41:45,720 So we can obviously include more check-ins with the board or adjust the schedule as necessary. 2492 03:41:50,180 --> 03:41:55,360 And in terms of major budget themes, the continuing drought, increasing inflation, 2493 03:41:56,240 --> 03:41:59,360 and the possible recession are affecting the development of our budget. 2494 03:41:59,980 --> 03:42:05,100 On the water utility side, we expect short-term pressures on water rates due to the drought, 2495 03:42:05,940 --> 03:42:10,240 and long-term pressures due to increasing capital project causes we've discussed. 2496 03:42:10,240 --> 03:42:20,000 As planned, last fiscal year, we also plan to draw on the fiscal year 24 reserves to help us minimize the impact of the rate increases. 2497 03:42:20,880 --> 03:42:28,120 For the watershed's extreme stewardship fund, we anticipate the need to prioritize projects due to the inflation of capital projects. 2498 03:42:28,720 --> 03:42:35,840 While also being aware that we may have a potential recession that may affect property taxes, which is a primary source of revenue for this fund. 2499 03:42:36,600 --> 03:42:41,120 Lastly, for the safety and water fund, we also anticipate the need to prioritize capital 2500 03:42:41,120 --> 03:42:46,120 projects in order to address inflationary pressures or affecting the projects themselves. 2501 03:42:50,000 --> 03:42:54,840 So a high level overview of the major inputs to the budget, we are maintaining the fiscal 2502 03:42:54,840 --> 03:42:59,940 year 23 authorized positions in our budget, and also assuming the fiscal year 24 plan 2503 03:42:59,940 --> 03:43:00,440 positions. 2504 03:43:01,000 --> 03:43:04,820 That being said, the fiscal year 24 plan positions, if I'm going to be reviewed with 2505 03:43:04,820 --> 03:43:09,940 CEO and the final recommendation will be brought to the board in the second pass after the first 2506 03:43:09,940 --> 03:43:10,640 pass. 2507 03:43:11,180 --> 03:43:17,020 So I'll reason benefits assume the approved labor contracts and we're also ensuring that the 2508 03:43:17,020 --> 03:43:20,420 supplies and services requests are aligned with the board priorities. 2509 03:43:21,460 --> 03:43:27,300 Lastly, the proposed budget for capital projects will be based on the fiscal year 24 to 28 2510 03:43:27,300 --> 03:43:31,820 five year CIP program and those will be discussed on January 10th. 2511 03:43:34,700 --> 03:43:43,580 In terms of the board work plan strategies, we have the board strategies that were developed for fiscal year 23, including as part of the development of the first pass. 2512 03:43:44,160 --> 03:43:48,620 The second pass will reflect any new or revised strategies that board made the right. 2513 03:43:49,420 --> 03:43:54,580 Any new board direction before the end of January would be incorporated as part of the second pass budget. 2514 03:43:58,990 --> 03:44:05,430 In conclusion, the next test would be to incorporate any new board work plan strategies or direction that you provide to ourselves. 2515 03:44:05,430 --> 03:44:10,670 And we'll execute on the touch points or the touch point dates that I've highlighted on the prior slide. 2516 03:44:11,350 --> 03:44:16,950 And with that I'm ready to answer any questions that the board may have or address any direction that you do provide. 2517 03:44:17,630 --> 03:44:18,390 Thank you. 2518 03:44:18,510 --> 03:44:20,390 Thank you for your report, Director Eisenberg. 2519 03:44:22,190 --> 03:44:23,190 Thank you so much for this. 2520 03:44:23,190 --> 03:44:25,430 And I know that we're going to continue to discuss this. 2521 03:44:25,510 --> 03:44:29,090 So this isn't any sort of, you know, conclusion there or whatever. 2522 03:44:29,530 --> 03:44:32,710 And that we're going to work on this together, you know, as a group. 2523 03:44:32,710 --> 03:44:35,890 So my question is, I didn't really realize 2524 03:44:35,890 --> 03:44:40,230 that we have taxation power, which it looks like we have. 2525 03:44:41,350 --> 03:44:42,290 So exciting. 2526 03:44:43,610 --> 03:44:46,050 So my question is, do we have a working group 2527 03:44:46,050 --> 03:44:51,250 or a committee who can discuss appropriate uses of taxation? 2528 03:44:51,510 --> 03:44:56,810 And by that, I mean, passively taxing the biggest polluters 2529 03:44:56,810 --> 03:44:59,150 to the extent they, and else I mean 2530 03:44:59,150 --> 03:44:59,970 in a pro-gressive. 2531 03:45:00,000 --> 03:45:10,140 In a way, not a regressive way. You know, the biggest polluter is like Cisco. You know, they could be taxed differently from if it's neighborhood mom and pop shop. 2532 03:45:10,200 --> 03:45:28,460 You know, that kind of thing, as well as taxing water abusers, that kind of thing. So I think there might be some good ability to pay for the remediation of of the market externalities. That way. I love tax. Thank you. 2533 03:45:28,460 --> 03:45:30,160 when it's done right. 2534 03:45:30,160 --> 03:45:39,300 Question to be asked if there is a group called the financial sustainability working group 2535 03:45:39,300 --> 03:45:46,120 that does meet on an ad hoc basis to discuss issues like pursuing alternative revenue 2536 03:45:46,120 --> 03:45:51,380 sources and things like that and this could be a topic that the financial sustainability 2537 03:45:51,380 --> 03:45:56,440 working group could pursue and discuss at an upcoming meeting. 2538 03:45:57,480 --> 03:46:00,720 How do you fantastic and I love information about it? 2539 03:46:01,220 --> 03:46:02,860 Yeah, I mean more money is good. 2540 03:46:02,860 --> 03:46:04,440 Good, good, good, good. 2541 03:46:04,440 --> 03:46:04,920 You have to swear. 2542 03:46:06,980 --> 03:46:08,200 Thank you, Chair. 2543 03:46:10,660 --> 03:46:12,000 This is my answer. 2544 03:46:12,580 --> 03:46:13,420 It's so request. 2545 03:46:14,100 --> 03:46:16,920 I'm bringing everybody down to the implementation level. 2546 03:46:18,100 --> 03:46:23,620 So we're starting the second year of this two year rolling budget. 2547 03:46:23,620 --> 03:46:42,420 And the idea that our hat, we started a year ago, that for this two year budget, is so that it's a more efficient process that our planning for two years simultaneously instead of to plan one every year. 2548 03:46:42,420 --> 03:46:51,820 So, with what we're facing today, recession, inflation, and all the issues, and then likely 2549 03:46:52,420 --> 03:47:03,100 make your changes in CIP and then financial resources, reallocation to various projects. 2550 03:47:03,480 --> 03:47:07,960 And I don't even know what are the impact on the operations side. 2551 03:47:07,960 --> 03:47:15,140 So my request is that staff to come back to the board later. 2552 03:47:15,600 --> 03:47:16,960 All the process is complete. 2553 03:47:17,500 --> 03:47:19,800 Maybe July, August, time turned. 2554 03:47:20,120 --> 03:47:20,640 Not now. 2555 03:47:21,220 --> 03:47:22,180 Everybody's busy. 2556 03:47:22,860 --> 03:47:25,660 Maybe at the beginning of the next fiscal year. 2557 03:47:25,760 --> 03:47:31,100 Just lessons learned that just this two year planning process work. 2558 03:47:31,220 --> 03:47:35,760 Or it's basically the same thing as we're planning every year. 2559 03:47:35,760 --> 03:47:38,060 So, that's the request. 2560 03:47:38,880 --> 03:47:40,180 It's a good question, good comment. 2561 03:47:40,920 --> 03:47:41,520 Good to be all. 2562 03:47:45,340 --> 03:47:45,940 Budgeting? 2563 03:47:46,400 --> 03:47:47,000 Budgeting? 2564 03:47:47,020 --> 03:47:48,160 Can you hear me? 2565 03:47:49,220 --> 03:47:50,260 Okay, I'll turn that off. 2566 03:47:51,760 --> 03:47:53,020 With regard to capital budgeting, 2567 03:47:53,260 --> 03:47:57,100 I'd like to see total project cost. 2568 03:47:57,460 --> 03:47:59,880 Okay, what I mean is how much money was spent? 2569 03:48:00,060 --> 03:48:04,420 The previous year is how much money was spent in the current fiscal year 2570 03:48:04,420 --> 03:48:08,680 and then the five-year, during the five-year CIP, 2571 03:48:09,040 --> 03:48:11,400 and then beyond the five-year CIP. 2572 03:48:11,720 --> 03:48:17,380 So I get a good feel for how much money am I spending on this? 2573 03:48:17,660 --> 03:48:20,420 And what I mean by that also is the categories 2574 03:48:20,420 --> 03:48:25,760 of spending acquisition, planning, engineering, 2575 03:48:26,800 --> 03:48:27,340 construction. 2576 03:48:28,300 --> 03:48:31,820 So I get a real good idea of the total cost of a project. 2577 03:48:31,820 --> 03:48:37,540 Now I can get a handle on, you know, is this an effective investment, okay? 2578 03:48:39,380 --> 03:48:42,200 I'm interested in unfunded liabilities. 2579 03:48:43,440 --> 03:48:44,820 They can be personal liabilities. 2580 03:48:44,820 --> 03:48:56,640 So they could be equipment, physical facilities, you know, you know, what needs to be fixed. 2581 03:48:56,960 --> 03:49:00,280 I mean, what I'm always, I'm kind of a, 2582 03:49:00,280 --> 03:49:04,580 I've been, I've always traditionally affix it for a savacate. 2583 03:49:05,420 --> 03:49:08,240 I want to know what your liabilities are out there. 2584 03:49:09,920 --> 03:49:13,420 I don't know, this building looks nice, but I don't know. 2585 03:49:13,820 --> 03:49:19,540 I have some other buildings that need to be, you know, like it's time, 2586 03:49:20,280 --> 03:49:25,500 or any of the treatment facilities or other facilities that we have, 2587 03:49:26,100 --> 03:49:28,200 pipelines, other kinds of things. 2588 03:49:28,200 --> 03:49:35,820 what's on the list, what do you see down the road that we need to start planning on, 2589 03:49:35,840 --> 03:49:39,400 chopping away at the unfunded liabilities. 2590 03:49:41,440 --> 03:49:47,120 And then the last thing would be if you have 2591 03:49:47,120 --> 03:49:53,820 that list and other things, what are the unfunded list of things that we have on our list 2592 03:50:00,000 --> 03:50:07,420 Sometimes you got to look at what's not in the budget. You know, what's the unfunded stuff? 2593 03:50:10,200 --> 03:50:11,880 You know, in terms of our mission. 2594 03:50:12,220 --> 03:50:25,140 You know, what are we doing? So I'm interested in those are my informational kind of things that I use to make a judgment when I look at budgets. 2595 03:50:25,140 --> 03:50:32,640 I also mentioned earlier in the meeting that I'd like to do community forums and stuff like that. 2596 03:50:32,640 --> 03:50:37,380 I think I'd like to do one on the budget, just to see what kind of reaction I get. 2597 03:50:37,640 --> 03:50:49,280 Maybe go to a community center and invite public and have a discussion on the whole issue of the water district. 2598 03:50:49,280 --> 03:50:52,280 I think that's really good thing to do. 2599 03:50:53,200 --> 03:50:57,620 I used to annually do a pancake breakfast, 2600 03:50:58,580 --> 03:51:01,340 and I'd always invite like the superintendent of schools 2601 03:51:01,340 --> 03:51:03,480 or some other official. 2602 03:51:04,900 --> 03:51:08,220 We've had various legislators come and speak, 2603 03:51:08,640 --> 03:51:12,040 budget people, department heads, and so forth, 2604 03:51:12,140 --> 03:51:13,900 and they come and speak to the community 2605 03:51:13,900 --> 03:51:16,120 and give a little presentation, 2606 03:51:16,120 --> 03:51:22,800 and then people would enjoy it, sometimes most of people just want to hear what's going on. 2607 03:51:23,000 --> 03:51:25,340 You know, so they like to show up and hear what's going on. 2608 03:51:25,900 --> 03:51:35,380 And I think those kinds of efforts are very important for public agencies to do in terms of outreach on their budget. 2609 03:51:35,820 --> 03:51:35,820 Okay? 2610 03:51:38,360 --> 03:51:41,880 People like to be asked what they think of things. 2611 03:51:42,080 --> 03:51:46,920 You know, that's very important. They just like to be asked, maybe they don't want to have an opinion about it. 2612 03:51:47,640 --> 03:51:55,340 But, you know, you never know, you might have some 20-year-old come in, look at your 2613 03:51:55,340 --> 03:52:04,580 come to your meeting, and then 10, 15 years ago, later the 20-year-olds running the 2614 03:52:04,580 --> 03:52:05,420 water district. 2615 03:52:06,000 --> 03:52:13,920 You know, you know, I'm saying, I mean, that's literally true, it's actually happened when 2616 03:52:13,920 --> 03:52:23,280 And I had interns in my office from the university coming in as juniors at San Jose State 2617 03:52:23,280 --> 03:52:29,340 and coming in, and then later becoming the city manager of San Jose, for example, 2618 03:52:29,720 --> 03:52:31,780 Noberto Doña, so he'll give me his name. 2619 03:52:32,760 --> 03:52:38,460 So you know, you stimulate these people by going out, having the community meetings and 2620 03:52:38,460 --> 03:52:45,520 encouraging, you know, an interest in, you know, we always have to stimulate people's interest 2621 03:52:45,520 --> 03:52:51,540 in what the agency is doing because that's, you know, that's really our best recruitment 2622 03:52:51,540 --> 03:53:01,540 tool for staff. People that become interested in this and young people attending our meetings 2623 03:53:01,540 --> 03:53:07,300 is the way we get people interested in what we're doing and recruiting people. I love to, I love 2624 03:53:07,300 --> 03:53:10,740 to mentor young people in that way. 2625 03:53:12,700 --> 03:53:14,860 So thank you for your budget presentation. 2626 03:53:15,100 --> 03:53:16,760 Those are my comments, Mr. Chairman. 2627 03:53:18,820 --> 03:53:20,220 Thank you, Director Bell. 2628 03:53:20,300 --> 03:53:22,200 I'm very, very comprehensive comments indeed. 2629 03:53:22,580 --> 03:53:23,100 The Director Kigan. 2630 03:53:24,060 --> 03:53:24,520 Thank you. 2631 03:53:24,520 --> 03:53:26,740 This is actually through the chair just to clarify 2632 03:53:26,740 --> 03:53:29,940 a question for Director Bell. 2633 03:53:30,220 --> 03:53:32,800 I think what I heard you say is that you want to see 2634 03:53:32,800 --> 03:53:34,640 total project costs in the budget. 2635 03:53:34,640 --> 03:53:38,440 And that would include ongoing operations and maintenance, correct? 2636 03:53:39,220 --> 03:53:40,240 Absolutely, great. 2637 03:53:40,320 --> 03:53:41,140 Thank you, I agree. 2638 03:53:42,680 --> 03:53:43,400 Very good. 2639 03:53:44,020 --> 03:53:45,660 That was the last board member to speak. 2640 03:53:45,720 --> 03:53:48,300 Do we have any public comments at all? 2641 03:53:48,700 --> 03:53:49,000 I guess. 2642 03:53:49,600 --> 03:53:50,460 Thank you, Mr. Chair. 2643 03:53:50,460 --> 03:53:51,980 I have no public comment at this time. 2644 03:53:52,320 --> 03:53:53,960 OK, this item was informational. 2645 03:53:54,180 --> 03:53:55,640 Only thank you for that report. 2646 03:53:55,760 --> 03:53:56,620 I appreciate that. 2647 03:53:56,920 --> 03:54:00,660 And next item is 9.2 CEO and Chiefs Report. 2648 03:54:01,760 --> 03:54:02,040 All right. 2649 03:54:02,380 --> 03:54:03,340 Good afternoon. 2650 03:54:03,340 --> 03:54:06,720 Chair Pro Tembrella, members of the board, Rick Kalander. 2651 03:54:06,980 --> 03:54:09,120 A CEO today will have a few reports. 2652 03:54:09,660 --> 03:54:15,500 The first one we're going to be having, you actually do have a handout, which says local state federal grant update. 2653 03:54:15,840 --> 03:54:20,040 And I'm going to ask for CFO Taylor to make a presentation on that. 2654 03:54:21,740 --> 03:54:23,000 Then good afternoon again. 2655 03:54:23,600 --> 03:54:26,840 And yes, you do have before you a 2656 03:54:26,840 --> 03:54:35,840 The first grants update report, we plan to provide this report to the board on a regular basis going forward. 2657 03:54:36,300 --> 03:54:49,400 We have a proactive and aggressive grant seeking team, folks from all over Valley Water, get together regularly to discuss what's out there from the external affairs team to finance to the capital team. 2658 03:54:49,400 --> 03:54:53,280 And what we have before you on this is just kind of an update. 2659 03:54:54,020 --> 03:54:59,800 We flex some successes that we've had in 2023, fiscal year 2020. 2660 03:55:00,000 --> 03:55:10,500 We've been able to obtain $6.7 million with the grants, including a grant award, including 5.8 million for the cross-value pipeline extension. 2661 03:55:11,220 --> 03:55:28,140 We have pending grant applications, meaning either submitted or about to be submitted, totaling just under $30 million, including $14.9 million that we're seeking for the coyote percolation dam replacement project and another 5 million for the coyote creek flood protection project. 2662 03:55:28,140 --> 03:55:54,260 The report also highlights future grant opportunities that we're watching closely, including the large scale water recycling program created under the bipartisan infrastructure law, in which 450 million is available for eligible projects, which would include our own purified water project and the urban community drought relief program, which we're developing two proposals for 30 million dollars to support drought relief, and I'll pause there. 2663 03:55:58,960 --> 03:56:04,860 All right, unless there's any questions which I do here, why do I do it this way? 2664 03:56:05,800 --> 03:56:06,820 What about me? 2665 03:56:07,040 --> 03:56:08,320 Okay, do I go ask me? 2666 03:56:09,120 --> 03:56:15,380 This is just kind of a point of order really, and which is that the digital link, I should have said this before, 2667 03:56:15,620 --> 03:56:16,280 like, it wasn't working. 2668 03:56:16,580 --> 03:56:21,780 So can you can summarize this a little and I'll ask one of my colleagues to glance at their, 2669 03:56:21,780 --> 03:56:23,100 because I don't want to print out. 2670 03:56:28,960 --> 03:56:30,260 You want me to summarize the... 2671 03:56:30,260 --> 03:56:31,740 Yeah, it possibly would be nice to hear. 2672 03:56:32,160 --> 03:56:33,740 Or I can just look at it. It's up to you. 2673 03:56:33,740 --> 03:56:52,460 Sure. And I did provide a very high level summary. Oh, there it comes right there. With regard to it's basically divided into a couple of sections one being the grant awards in fiscal year 23. Then we've got pending value water grant applications and then details on future grant opportunities both on the federal level and the state level. 2674 03:56:57,570 --> 03:57:00,410 Thank you for your hard work and hopefully they'll be more coming. 2675 03:57:01,330 --> 03:57:06,510 Now I'd like to go to Chief Benike to talk about our storm report. 2676 03:57:06,910 --> 03:57:14,090 Sure, you have before you two sighted one page on the board, which reflects the storms up through yesterday afternoon. 2677 03:57:15,270 --> 03:57:24,670 Since December 1st, we've seen 3.43 inches increase and two date through December 12th. 2678 03:57:24,670 --> 03:57:27,530 in the Central San Jose storm gauge. 2679 03:57:27,990 --> 03:57:32,050 In addition, the reservoirs total unrestricted capacity 2680 03:57:32,050 --> 03:57:36,470 increased about 14% to 19% since December 1st. 2681 03:57:37,590 --> 03:57:39,250 This is a good start to our winter. 2682 03:57:39,890 --> 03:57:41,450 We hope to see additional rains. 2683 03:57:41,810 --> 03:57:44,150 And just want to remind everyone it's important 2684 03:57:44,150 --> 03:57:46,670 that community just continues to keep on conserving. 2685 03:57:47,530 --> 03:57:51,090 This past weekend, Valley Waters EOC opened 2686 03:57:51,090 --> 03:57:54,650 at the monitoring level three for the duration of the weekend. 2687 03:57:54,650 --> 03:58:01,350 We had crews out in the area looking at our what we call hotspots, which is a bridge pure 2688 03:58:01,350 --> 03:58:06,590 noses, et cetera, to ensure debris doesn't build up, and there was only minor flooding 2689 03:58:06,590 --> 03:58:12,630 reported in parts of South County, specifically Mark and Hill at Westville, Yagas, close to 2690 03:58:12,630 --> 03:58:17,810 Watsonville Road, and in Gilroy, a Malong Uvis Creek at Noir Avenue, 2691 03:58:19,890 --> 03:58:21,570 and on Saturday, the tenth, 2692 03:58:21,570 --> 03:58:28,530 Like I said, crews just spent their time cleaning racks, and that was I update if you have any questions that may not 2693 03:58:29,590 --> 03:58:35,470 Thank you. That was great. And we have a tour of it. We're now for Chief Gibson to talk about 2694 03:58:36,290 --> 03:58:41,970 Communications and the civic engagement activities. Okay. Thank you. See you calendar. Good afternoon. 2695 03:58:42,070 --> 03:58:49,870 Chair Poitemembers of the Board of Rachel Gibson. She fixed one of the fairs. You have before you the monthly one-pager from the Office of Communications and one to just highlight a couple of items off that 2696 03:58:49,870 --> 03:58:54,310 First of all, last month, we joined with Sacred Heart Community Service and the Chair 2697 03:58:54,310 --> 03:58:59,050 Pro Tem to host a joint press conference to promote the importance of the low-income water-rate 2698 03:58:59,050 --> 03:59:00,070 assistance program. 2699 03:59:00,530 --> 03:59:05,490 The media garnered much local media interest, including coverage by NBC Bay Area, ABC 7, 2700 03:59:05,810 --> 03:59:06,930 Delimundo, and Univision. 2701 03:59:07,870 --> 03:59:11,470 And then in our ongoing drought and our conservation campaign, we've again teamed up with the 2702 03:59:11,470 --> 03:59:12,110 San Jose Sharks. 2703 03:59:12,630 --> 03:59:16,770 This time, on a public service announcement, it's going to feature Logan Kature, you might 2704 03:59:16,770 --> 03:59:19,710 have already seen it actually on the television, continuing the important 2705 03:59:19,710 --> 03:59:22,090 message of saying yes to say in water. 2706 03:59:22,270 --> 03:59:26,310 To date, that video marks the third say yes public service announcement with a professional sports 2707 03:59:26,310 --> 03:59:28,210 team that staff is produced and distributed. 2708 03:59:28,870 --> 03:59:35,510 And then one quick set of engagement highlights applications for the fifth annual Water 101 Academy 2709 03:59:35,510 --> 03:59:40,630 will be opened this week on December 15th, so we'd encourage all residents of Santa Clara County 2710 03:59:40,630 --> 03:59:44,410 with an interest in learning about our agency and the three pillars of our mission to 2711 03:59:44,410 --> 03:59:44,850 apply. 2712 03:59:44,850 --> 03:59:52,410 Applications close on January 20th and the board will of course receive all applications for your district for appointment to the Academy 2713 03:59:52,410 --> 03:59:56,060 That concludes my report. Thank you. I suggest you reach out to pretty boy 2714 03:59:57,490 --> 03:59:58,710 Mr. irrelevant 2715 04:00:00,000 --> 04:00:02,080 We're talking about. Come on. 2716 04:00:03,440 --> 04:00:04,040 The 409. 2717 04:00:04,040 --> 04:00:06,500 The hottest NFL player in the nation. 2718 04:00:07,940 --> 04:00:12,120 We will definitely do that in a big, big, big, big, big, big. 2719 04:00:12,220 --> 04:00:12,460 Mr. Chair. 2720 04:00:12,460 --> 04:00:18,660 Mr. Chair, barring any other questions of me that will complete the CEO report. 2721 04:00:19,240 --> 04:00:22,880 Any questions from the board? On these comments? On these reports? 2722 04:00:24,600 --> 04:00:31,620 Well, that concludes our board meeting for today. 2723 04:00:33,340 --> 04:00:35,040 Oh, that, that, that, hang on. 2724 04:00:35,740 --> 04:00:36,260 Director Swail. 2725 04:00:36,880 --> 04:00:37,280 Thank you. 2726 04:00:37,360 --> 04:00:38,060 A bigger part. 2727 04:00:41,630 --> 04:00:42,350 We're on 12. 2728 04:00:42,810 --> 04:00:42,830 Yeah. 2729 04:00:42,930 --> 04:00:43,170 Administration. 2730 04:00:43,530 --> 04:00:43,830 There's nothing. 2731 04:00:44,810 --> 04:00:45,770 So, board reports. 2732 04:00:47,510 --> 04:00:48,190 Thank you, Chair. 2733 04:00:49,390 --> 04:00:49,610 No. 2734 04:00:49,770 --> 04:00:50,730 It's close to five o'clock. 2735 04:00:50,950 --> 04:00:52,670 I will be as brief as I can. 2736 04:00:52,670 --> 04:01:08,930 I'm reporting the CFP committee meeting this week and then our request for staff to bring to the 2737 04:01:08,930 --> 04:01:17,150 January 10th work study session specifically related to 2738 04:01:17,150 --> 04:01:23,390 a particular dam project. And I, in, in the discussion, I forgot 2739 04:01:23,930 --> 04:01:28,050 two areas that I'd like to bring it up and then make 2740 04:01:28,050 --> 04:01:32,090 test her board member request and add it on top of all the CFP 2741 04:01:32,090 --> 04:01:36,890 committee requests the staff for the January test. So, a little bit 2742 04:01:36,890 --> 04:01:39,970 background that what they say have become 2743 04:01:39,970 --> 04:01:42,030 media asked after, or bring back related 2744 04:01:42,030 --> 04:01:45,770 to a particular past, a particular reservoir. 2745 04:01:46,450 --> 04:01:50,390 The first area is the affordability of the project. 2746 04:01:51,350 --> 04:01:56,770 And then the second one is the, we call it, 2747 04:01:56,770 --> 04:01:58,030 we call it a committee called the operation 2748 04:01:58,030 --> 04:02:01,010 of efficiency and effectiveness that we know that 2749 04:02:01,010 --> 04:02:04,630 particular reservoir needs to be an integral part of 2750 04:02:04,630 --> 04:02:17,070 existing infrastructure and so are there any existing issues with the infrastructure that's 2751 04:02:17,070 --> 04:02:23,510 going to affect using the water from a particular reservoir. For example, that we know 2752 04:02:23,510 --> 04:02:30,430 Clara Reservoir is on the hub of our operation if we won't be able to do Clara Reservoir 2753 04:02:30,430 --> 04:02:39,230 continue under the restriction for another 20-30 years, the exact effect of Pachico's 2754 04:02:39,790 --> 04:02:45,330 operation or Elm of the Papp launch, same similar thing that the exact effect of Pachico's 2755 04:02:45,330 --> 04:02:45,910 operation. 2756 04:02:46,210 --> 04:02:53,230 So that's a second area that the committee asks staff to come back with. 2757 04:02:53,750 --> 04:03:00,410 And then the third one is the adequate humor resources, both in the number and also the 2758 04:03:00,410 --> 04:03:08,010 talent and then skills in managing our current capital improvement program. 2759 04:03:08,250 --> 04:03:16,190 It's already big and with particular reservoir, what kind of resource that staff is anticipating 2760 04:03:16,190 --> 04:03:17,530 is that feasible. 2761 04:03:18,350 --> 04:03:24,570 And what I was driving home, I forgot that the most important thing that every time I have 2762 04:03:24,570 --> 04:03:32,130 opportunity I would like to ask the same question is that how this this storage opportunity 2763 04:03:32,990 --> 04:03:38,290 it's connected to our water supply master plan. So in the water supply master plan that 2764 04:03:38,290 --> 04:03:43,690 how we're looking at other storage opportunities, how for example the groundwater banking 2765 04:03:43,690 --> 04:03:54,550 outside the county, there's sites where there's lots of local cameras in addition to 2766 04:03:54,550 --> 04:04:02,410 to both meeting the work study session for the annual map process staff proposed a decision 2767 04:04:02,410 --> 04:04:03,110 framework. 2768 04:04:04,250 --> 04:04:10,130 So I don't know whether it can be used for this annual tenure work study session to help 2769 04:04:10,130 --> 04:04:13,070 the board in that regard. 2770 04:04:13,370 --> 04:04:24,530 So that's one request to the second request is that under the affordability staff informed 2771 04:04:24,530 --> 04:04:28,790 from the CIP committee that there will be much longer term 2772 04:04:28,790 --> 04:04:31,850 but not our water rate projections for 10 years. 2773 04:04:32,250 --> 04:04:35,170 And then on January 10th, there will be the young 10 years 2774 04:04:35,170 --> 04:04:35,750 projection. 2775 04:04:37,010 --> 04:04:40,730 So I think it will be helpful to board members 2776 04:04:41,260 --> 04:04:48,130 to in that discussion to include that if we are supporting 2777 04:04:48,130 --> 04:04:52,890 the agriculture water rate at 10% of the NNI rate. 2778 04:04:52,890 --> 04:04:59,670 So we'll see one rate going this very steep slope that subs. 2779 04:05:00,210 --> 04:05:15,390 I know people hate that word, subsidy, but that number will just be bigger. So how does that work? And then for the money come from. So that's my tool request for the January 10 meeting. 2780 04:05:15,790 --> 04:05:16,690 All right. Thank you. 2781 04:05:17,970 --> 04:05:18,530 Director Keegan. 2782 04:05:22,330 --> 04:05:22,890 Oh, you don't have anything? 2783 04:05:23,310 --> 04:05:29,350 Okay. So I'm going to suggest that we postpone our reports until next year. 2784 04:05:29,350 --> 04:05:35,810 It's going to be fair to our two new board members, but we have nothing to report out, director Santos, what do you have to say? 2785 04:05:36,570 --> 04:05:43,250 Yeah, thank you for that. I do want to make a little exception here. I think you're going to chance to say goodbye to director Kremlin. 2786 04:05:43,850 --> 04:05:49,370 It had the opportunity to welcome Rebecca Eisenberg, our new director, and of course Jim Melod, known for years. 2787 04:05:49,790 --> 04:05:54,430 So of course, I was a wonderful and sorrow family here today, we talked about the baseball player and so on. 2788 04:05:54,430 --> 04:05:58,310 But I do want to take the time to recognize Director Kremlin. 2789 04:05:58,750 --> 04:06:00,370 And thank you for the service of his listening. 2790 04:06:00,990 --> 04:06:04,410 There's many things he did that were really helpful. 2791 04:06:05,370 --> 04:06:09,250 And by the way, also, I want to take the time for the older group here in the water district. 2792 04:06:09,430 --> 04:06:11,410 I had my 39th annual. 2793 04:06:11,530 --> 04:06:12,790 I'll be so sad to program. 2794 04:06:13,110 --> 04:06:17,370 Probably 100% we used the word very loosely around there about diversity inclusion. 2795 04:06:17,930 --> 04:06:19,510 Well, this advantage community. 2796 04:06:19,930 --> 04:06:23,150 And they were there with toothpaste and brushes and everything else. 2797 04:06:23,150 --> 04:06:28,850 So going back to director Kremlin, I want to take the time because the came to his extraordinary 2798 04:06:28,850 --> 04:06:36,730 leadership during the water storage committee that I'll stand in job prior to the drought and after the drought. 2799 04:06:37,650 --> 04:06:41,850 And also with security and course the assistant water rate program, we really appreciate the 2800 04:06:41,850 --> 04:06:43,090 him and Tony worked on that. 2801 04:06:43,250 --> 04:06:50,710 And the last thing is he helped make his story, a point was here, the district, it was four of us. 2802 04:06:50,710 --> 04:06:57,110 And one of them was Gary Crenner, who led the leadership, helped appoint the first Asian Hispanic 2803 04:06:57,110 --> 04:07:04,270 American to this position of CEO. He also was very, very helpful in supporting our first 2804 04:07:04,270 --> 04:07:10,570 black American, Red Calendar CEO. And also our first Hispanic legal counsel that a fantastic job 2805 04:07:10,570 --> 04:07:14,890 that leadership. So I didn't have to teach Gary anything, he knew it. He came from the background. 2806 04:07:15,050 --> 04:07:18,950 He represented a District 7 fine. And if you're listening, Gary, it'd best to you and your family. 2807 04:07:18,950 --> 04:07:20,950 Thank you, Chair. 2808 04:07:21,150 --> 04:07:22,110 Thank you, Director Santos. 2809 04:07:22,230 --> 04:07:23,090 That was a nice honor. 2810 04:07:24,470 --> 04:07:26,930 So, Mr. Bell, did you have your... 2811 04:07:30,740 --> 04:07:32,500 I wanted to make a request. 2812 04:07:33,300 --> 04:07:42,500 I'm interested in how many vacancies exist in the water district personnel. 2813 04:07:43,900 --> 04:07:46,780 And I can talk to you later about it. 2814 04:07:47,100 --> 04:07:50,720 But I think it's something that we should review, like to see. 2815 04:07:50,720 --> 04:07:56,140 like we keep, okay, we keep asking them to do stuff, okay, and that's our 2816 04:07:56,140 --> 04:08:02,660 snake concease. So sometimes, you know, we hit a point where, you know, they 2817 04:08:02,660 --> 04:08:07,900 can't do all the stuff we wanted to do. And so I'd like to be aware of that 2818 04:08:07,900 --> 04:08:14,860 or draw awareness to that subject by asking for just informing us about 2819 04:08:16,120 --> 04:08:23,860 may be the management vacancies and so forth, so please please maybe we can develop a way of 2820 04:08:24,500 --> 04:08:32,560 having a running tally of how we're doing, you know, hiring top staff and all that kind of thing. 2821 04:08:32,640 --> 04:08:35,900 I'd like to be more closely aware of what's going on. 2822 04:08:36,200 --> 04:08:36,920 Thank you. 2823 04:08:36,920 --> 04:08:37,520 It's a good request. 2824 04:08:39,960 --> 04:08:43,360 Director, did you have your, okay, I didn't see your signal of yourself? 2825 04:08:46,560 --> 04:08:47,020 Oh, we quick. 2826 04:08:47,160 --> 04:08:47,440 I promise. 2827 04:08:47,800 --> 04:08:53,220 So I, I was thinking, I, you know, I agree so often with what my colleagues are saying. 2828 04:08:53,640 --> 04:08:58,200 I just thought maybe we could explore having, um, to save time on behalf of, you know, a 2829 04:08:58,200 --> 04:09:02,320 public, maybe we could have, I've seen this done elsewhere, like a plus one sign or something 2830 04:09:02,320 --> 04:09:07,260 that we can indicate, you know, just also to show support for the ideas of our colleagues 2831 04:09:07,260 --> 04:09:17,420 And also kind of to expedite meetings and tell, it's something to consider, you know, so we don't have to say, like I sometimes say, I really agree with so and so, just to just another thought. 2832 04:09:18,040 --> 04:09:32,520 You know, oh, quickly to I wanted to thank Director Santos for his comments about my predecessor, and I want to make it really clear that I think nobody is all good or all bad, and I think that it's always best to give other people the benefit of the doubt. 2833 04:09:32,520 --> 04:09:40,700 In terms of their goals and their priorities and and I absolutely do that with my predecessor and and you know, and I 2834 04:09:40,700 --> 04:09:46,460 You know, I think there were content he may contributions and I'm happy to honor that I'm very honored to be here 2835 04:09:46,820 --> 04:09:51,960 But I of course I give respect to those who came before me. Just once it was very kind 2836 04:09:53,140 --> 04:09:53,700 So 2837 04:09:54,620 --> 04:09:57,500 Proposed future board agenda items 12.2 2838 04:10:05,260 --> 04:10:14,340 Are you wanting a list of future agenda item? There is quite a list. I have document in all the agenda items. 2839 04:10:14,640 --> 04:10:19,620 Okay, you know what? We've got it. I have. So can you give the clarification on the board request? 2840 04:10:19,960 --> 04:10:21,560 Okay. I'll put it that way. 2841 04:10:22,020 --> 04:10:35,240 All right. Well, we'll do that. I have several requests here. I have a request from Director Bell for the January CIP work city session to identify projects that can be completed faster and save money for the constituent. 2842 04:10:35,240 --> 04:10:44,180 of the county. Also looking to state funding matching opportunities for our projects, especially 2843 04:10:44,180 --> 04:10:51,500 with the California Water Projects Bill, I believe that was just passed. Schedule the in-house 2844 04:10:51,500 --> 04:10:58,080 workshop in January of 2023, which I'm sorry. 2845 04:11:02,400 --> 04:11:05,120 Okay, well I originally docked documents across 2846 04:11:05,120 --> 04:11:06,400 and become an action. 2847 04:11:07,540 --> 04:11:11,700 And then I have the Request from Director Shua, the in July of August, the next year to return 2848 04:11:11,700 --> 04:11:14,380 with the lessons learned on the two-year budget process. 2849 04:11:15,140 --> 04:11:22,100 And then the two requests that you stated Director Shua, one, was include with the CIP, the 2850 04:11:22,100 --> 04:11:27,800 Chaco information for the CIP in January, that how the Pachaco storage opportunity connects 2851 04:11:27,800 --> 04:11:29,580 to the water storage master plan. 2852 04:11:30,220 --> 04:11:34,380 And then I'm sorry, I didn't catch your whole Request regarding the Ag Water Rates. 2853 04:11:34,380 --> 04:11:38,020 So I can touch faces with you afterwards on that. 2854 04:11:38,300 --> 04:11:41,180 And then director Bell's request to provide 2855 04:11:41,180 --> 04:11:43,740 and reoccurring report on the number of vacancies 2856 04:11:43,740 --> 04:11:45,780 in the value water personnel. 2857 04:11:48,290 --> 04:11:49,050 Thank you. 2858 04:11:49,630 --> 04:11:54,210 So the last item on the agenda is to say to each and every single one 2859 04:11:54,210 --> 04:11:58,130 of you, a very happy holiday, happy Hanika, 2860 04:11:58,830 --> 04:12:01,770 happy Kwanza, Merry Christmas, happy New Year. 2861 04:12:02,190 --> 04:12:04,570 And this was an amazing, wonderful meeting. 2862 04:12:04,570 --> 04:12:09,150 welcoming our new board members here, the meeting flowed very, very well, I'm very pleased. 2863 04:12:09,950 --> 04:12:13,010 We are adjourned until January 10th. 2864 04:12:19,670 --> 04:12:21,230 I'm sorry, I didn't see that. 2865 04:12:23,540 --> 04:12:24,700 Yeah, sure, of course. 2866 04:12:30,050 --> 04:12:35,690 Marisol in San Jose, she's the head of the Washington Neighborhood Association, she was hit 2867 04:12:35,690 --> 04:12:43,910 by a car and killed as she was marching with the community on a Pasada march down first street 2868 04:12:43,910 --> 04:12:53,590 and Carter didn't hit her, killed her, and I'll get the name, it's a long name, it's 2869 04:12:55,350 --> 04:12:58,730 got, but Marie Marisol, is her name. 2870 04:13:00,910 --> 04:13:07,110 I'll get the full name for you, and we'd like to adjourn her memory, and send the family 2871 04:13:07,110 --> 04:13:07,850 or condolences. 2872 04:13:07,970 --> 04:13:10,610 Absolutely, the memory of Marie is Marisol. 2873 04:13:10,610 --> 04:13:18,330 Marisol, with our condolences to the family, this Board of Directors meeting is adjourned 2874 04:13:18,330 --> 04:13:20,030 in her name and her memory. 2875 04:13:20,730 --> 04:13:25,010 And we will reconvene one PM on January 10th, 2023. 2876 04:13:26,550 --> 04:13:27,290 Thank you, Board members. 2877 04:13:27,570 --> 04:13:28,090 Thank you, Public. 2878 04:13:29,750 --> 04:13:30,350 We are adjourned.