1 00:00:07,060 --> 00:00:18,720 Absent, Director Eisenberg, Absent, Director Estimera, Absent, Director Keegan, Director Santos, Director Rerella, Chair Shua, here, 2 00:00:50,900 --> 00:00:51,200 we have a 3 00:00:53,180 --> 00:01:03,600 The board is back from its closed session. We will start with item 2.6 District Council report on closed session. 4 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:05,960 Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm sorry. I got a sort of District Council. 5 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:12,140 The board met in closed session on items 2.1 and through 2.4 inclusive with all directors participating. 6 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:20,220 On items 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 direction was given to staff. On item 2.4, no reportable action was taken. 7 00:01:20,220 --> 00:01:25,280 The board met in close session on item 2.5 with all directors except director Eisenberg and no 8 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:26,600 reportable action was taken. 9 00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:27,720 Thank you. 10 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:27,940 Okay. 11 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:29,140 Thank you. 12 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:30,260 Item 3.1. 13 00:01:30,500 --> 00:01:31,940 Pledge of Allegiance. 14 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:32,880 Ms. Gibson. 15 00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:34,100 Can you lead us for the, 16 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:50,080 yeah. 17 00:01:50,340 --> 00:01:52,620 Thank you. 18 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:53,980 Item 3.2. 19 00:01:53,980 --> 00:01:55,420 Oh, there's of the day. 20 00:01:55,860 --> 00:02:00,780 Are there any requests to change the sequencing of items on today's agenda? 21 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:05,400 Okay. 22 00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:12,500 free time open for public comment on any item not on the agenda. Do we have a request to speak 23 00:02:12,500 --> 00:02:13,600 to the board? 24 00:02:17,820 --> 00:02:21,910 Thank you Madam Chair. At this time on Zoom I have a hand raised by Tom. 25 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:24,400 Okay, Tom. 26 00:02:34,610 --> 00:02:35,910 Can you please mute yourself? 27 00:02:49,140 --> 00:02:49,140 Tom? 28 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:54,560 To the correct of the board, the user has been requested to mute via the system and is not a meeting. 29 00:02:55,560 --> 00:03:02,420 okay then uh yeah we'll okay then we'll go to the next person 30 00:03:08,340 --> 00:03:09,700 this is I'm sorry 31 00:03:09,700 --> 00:03:14,560 I can't read the word I'm not sharing let me help you so the next person I 32 00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:19,820 have on zoom with the hand raised is Bridget Bridget yeah Bridget please go 33 00:03:19,820 --> 00:03:20,400 ahead 34 00:03:26,260 --> 00:03:32,360 we can hear you but not clearly there's some noise background noise 35 00:03:45,540 --> 00:03:46,920 Pardon me? 36 00:03:51,500 --> 00:03:52,660 Okay, please go ahead. 37 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:03,280 I'll please go ahead. 38 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:11,500 Come here soon. Maybe we'll 39 00:04:19,050 --> 00:04:23,190 try later. Okay, I do have a tool. 40 00:04:30,130 --> 00:04:33,070 This is Bridget, right? 41 00:04:33,650 --> 00:04:34,770 So we have 42 00:04:35,710 --> 00:04:39,770 Okay, go ahead and speak and see if we can hear you clearly. 43 00:04:49,010 --> 00:04:51,010 Yeah, yeah, good. Now it's good. 44 00:04:52,590 --> 00:04:59,070 Okay, so my name is Bridget, and I own a phone on Tim with Avenue. 45 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:12,700 And we share the effect line with the federal and water district. My factor is about 150 feet of shared 46 00:05:12,700 --> 00:05:19,180 bit and bit and bit and bit and then there's the driveway and at the dead end of China. I contacted 47 00:05:19,180 --> 00:05:26,020 the board, probably almost on a weekly basis for the last two or three years. And we finally 48 00:05:26,020 --> 00:05:30,240 less than half because we couldn't take it anymore. The homeless were destructive. There 49 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:34,620 was fires, there was noise, there was police activity. We couldn't take it anymore. And 50 00:05:34,620 --> 00:05:40,680 we left. Our home will now not shut up. It's been on the market for 54 days. We have 51 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:46,880 lower the price. We've said everything we can to make it simple while other houses in the 52 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:52,500 neighborhood that we not have the buildings at home would have sold for over $1.6 million 53 00:05:52,500 --> 00:05:54,300 are rolling and on crap. 54 00:05:55,340 --> 00:06:00,180 We, some lower their price, like I said, but every time anyone 55 00:06:00,180 --> 00:06:03,280 even makes a drawer door, they say, oh my God, 56 00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:05,200 those homeless, us disgusting, we can't 57 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:05,800 waste beer. 58 00:06:06,060 --> 00:06:10,360 So no one's at least putting a disgusting offer on our house. 59 00:06:12,660 --> 00:06:16,040 We would like for the water district to put a fence up 60 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:20,160 that was designed for the EI8 that we know for whatever 61 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:27,420 reason underground wires, power lines, budget, whatever it is that was supposed to be the 62 00:06:27,420 --> 00:06:32,260 spring which would have helped us to all our house. We want you to put fencing up the 63 00:06:32,260 --> 00:06:35,480 high of the homeless from the disability of our house. We're not going to do this a good 64 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:40,540 neighbor fence because we're not going to pay $8,000 to the fence in when they can still 65 00:06:40,540 --> 00:06:45,460 seize up on the levelling and everything else. So we want you to make sure that the homeless 66 00:06:45,460 --> 00:06:49,900 are on the other side of the river. You have to put some guidelines on where they can be. 67 00:06:49,900 --> 00:06:58,280 You have to start making some rule where they're not lighting fires, so large, that people in the neighborhood are having respiratory issues. 68 00:06:59,380 --> 00:07:02,200 We were promised the GI8 and now we have nothing. 69 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:09,020 Nothing is happening. People are debating, but they're moving to your location in front of our house and our house. 70 00:07:09,260 --> 00:07:10,940 It's getting to be prioritized. 71 00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:26,380 Bridget, are you finished with your comment? 72 00:07:30,650 --> 00:07:31,410 Okay, thank you. 73 00:07:31,410 --> 00:07:53,950 Based on this public's comment that staff should be familiar with the situation and since we cannot discuss this at the meeting, that's work offline on this request. 74 00:07:53,950 --> 00:07:55,130 Yeah. Okay. 75 00:07:58,260 --> 00:07:59,500 Oh, we have. 76 00:08:13,380 --> 00:08:26,260 I hear your concern that just I feel filled for it, but then since this item is not on our agenda today, we really cannot discuss it. So we will make sure that we get back to you. 77 00:08:27,380 --> 00:08:27,900 It's... 78 00:08:27,900 --> 00:08:29,080 I can put on the agenda. 79 00:08:33,820 --> 00:08:33,840 Yeah. 80 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:37,600 So our staff is familiar with your situation. 81 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:42,660 We will definitely circle back to you and then go from there. 82 00:08:42,920 --> 00:08:45,020 Thank you very much for coming to the board meeting. 83 00:08:47,700 --> 00:08:47,960 Okay. 84 00:08:48,500 --> 00:08:50,320 Do we have another one? 85 00:08:51,760 --> 00:08:52,680 Is that William? 86 00:09:00,260 --> 00:09:01,780 Can you please unmute yourself? 87 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:15,720 Do the board the user has been requested to unmute? 88 00:09:16,100 --> 00:09:16,880 Is that a meeting themselves? 89 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:17,900 Okay. 90 00:09:20,540 --> 00:09:22,440 We have Dave. 91 00:09:41,830 --> 00:09:44,330 They have been through the board. They have been requested on me. 92 00:09:44,550 --> 00:09:47,590 They are on medium self. They are not meeting them themselves. 93 00:09:47,890 --> 00:09:47,950 Okay. 94 00:09:50,210 --> 00:09:58,630 What's going on? Let's go to the people who are here at the boardroom, Josephine 95 00:10:02,230 --> 00:10:03,750 Yes, please. 96 00:10:13,610 --> 00:10:35,430 I am here on behalf of the MedCath neighborhood association. I have some maps. If you would like to look at them, the location. If you wanted to pass that around. What has happened recently is the upgrading of the dam, right by MedCath Park. 97 00:10:36,170 --> 00:10:43,250 And also we have a lot of construction on Monterey Road, or not sure, is heavy construction there. 98 00:10:44,310 --> 00:10:52,870 But I'm here because we've had pigs come into our complex, California misson complex. 99 00:10:53,350 --> 00:11:02,970 And we used to have a few of them, and we were able to deal with fences and, you know, 100 00:11:02,970 --> 00:11:06,910 after the, let's see, the damn work, 101 00:11:07,030 --> 00:11:08,110 which has been ongoing. 102 00:11:08,990 --> 00:11:11,270 I think started in May of last year. 103 00:11:11,710 --> 00:11:13,970 Has that been completed yet? 104 00:11:14,770 --> 00:11:16,690 You're nodding your head, but I don't know. 105 00:11:16,730 --> 00:11:20,130 I've left messages for, is it Tiffany, Chao, 106 00:11:21,850 --> 00:11:23,290 and let's see who's the other gentleman? 107 00:11:25,630 --> 00:11:29,610 Tony, Marcotta, that I haven't heard back from them. 108 00:11:29,610 --> 00:11:39,310 So, our concern is the cost and also our property values, certainly decreased with, we 109 00:11:39,310 --> 00:11:42,710 had used to have beautiful landscaping there. 110 00:11:42,850 --> 00:11:51,950 So, I'm wondering who, what jurisdiction and who at each jurisdiction could I speak with 111 00:11:51,950 --> 00:12:06,490 Because I'm looking at the maps, the city of San Jose Planning Department, recently, is in the process of rezoning to open space, all around us. 112 00:12:06,950 --> 00:12:13,130 And I did happen to talk to one of your water district employees when I was down in Market Hill. 113 00:12:13,130 --> 00:12:20,350 And I asked if he could tell me where the county or the valley water district or whatever 114 00:12:20,350 --> 00:12:24,470 line is near us and it's not clear. 115 00:12:24,810 --> 00:12:29,930 I'd like to know what jurisdictions are there. 116 00:12:30,330 --> 00:12:37,450 So I may speak with the appropriate people to help us with the wild pigs. 117 00:12:37,450 --> 00:12:41,950 They are being hit by cars on Monterey Road. 118 00:12:42,230 --> 00:12:46,350 We have huge dead pigs that are very good and large, 119 00:12:46,670 --> 00:12:48,330 but then they have their little piglets. 120 00:12:49,270 --> 00:12:53,450 So a city of San Jose takes about two weeks to clean that up. 121 00:12:56,510 --> 00:13:01,990 So we will get back to you about the jurisdiction. 122 00:13:02,610 --> 00:13:05,430 The staff have a quick answer at this point. 123 00:13:05,430 --> 00:13:08,270 or, yeah, we'll get back up to, yeah. 124 00:13:08,630 --> 00:13:11,710 So we have your information and then we'll get back to you. 125 00:13:12,730 --> 00:13:15,430 Thank you for coming to the board meeting 126 00:13:15,430 --> 00:13:19,550 and give us the, I don't think you have all my information. 127 00:13:20,490 --> 00:13:23,830 And can you please leave the information with our staff? 128 00:13:24,070 --> 00:13:25,830 We'll make sure that we talk, if we're good. 129 00:13:26,230 --> 00:13:29,210 Yeah, we did you want to give some on-apps 130 00:13:29,210 --> 00:13:33,670 of our association of the, okay, we'll go ahead. 131 00:13:34,730 --> 00:13:37,250 I want to ask a quick question of you. 132 00:13:37,450 --> 00:13:39,230 Thank you so much for telling me about this. 133 00:13:39,350 --> 00:13:41,830 I'm wondering if you've alerted animal rescues 134 00:13:41,830 --> 00:13:44,090 or animal services. 135 00:13:44,370 --> 00:13:46,530 Pigs are extraordinarily intelligent animals. 136 00:13:46,870 --> 00:13:48,170 They're sacred under many religions, 137 00:13:49,770 --> 00:13:51,010 and they're just such amazing. 138 00:13:51,270 --> 00:13:53,670 This is really, really upsetting to hear. 139 00:13:53,890 --> 00:13:55,830 Have you notified animal rescues? 140 00:13:58,880 --> 00:14:00,720 You may want to get the mic if the chair says so. 141 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:06,720 Yeah, just, okay, can we have a quick answer to Dr. Eisenberg's question? 142 00:14:07,180 --> 00:14:10,540 Yeah, because we, again, design them is not of the agenda. 143 00:14:10,860 --> 00:14:13,660 We should receive your report and then we'll get back to you. 144 00:14:14,260 --> 00:14:19,960 Yes, many of the individual owners in Kalmasan have called about it. 145 00:14:19,980 --> 00:14:29,060 One of them offered to have her husband and father who hunt pigs, have them come on to our property and kill them, 146 00:14:29,060 --> 00:14:30,360 put them in cages. 147 00:14:30,740 --> 00:14:33,460 You feel free to contact me directly to talk about pig 148 00:14:33,460 --> 00:14:37,380 rescues, Rebecca, Eisenberg, will you get that to me? 149 00:14:37,500 --> 00:14:38,600 Yeah, we'll give that to you. 150 00:14:38,660 --> 00:14:40,880 Because I know a bit about animal rescue. 151 00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:42,580 So thank you, sir. 152 00:14:42,940 --> 00:14:44,060 But it's important. 153 00:14:44,340 --> 00:14:46,380 I'm happy to be here at the meeting because tomorrow 154 00:14:46,380 --> 00:14:48,620 is our board meeting at Calametson. 155 00:14:48,980 --> 00:14:50,260 And there has been a survey. 156 00:14:50,760 --> 00:14:53,380 And many people are upset about them killing. 157 00:14:53,800 --> 00:14:56,360 Oh, I imagine that's one thing about the need of us. 158 00:14:57,580 --> 00:14:59,880 That's move on to a mischievous tattoo. 159 00:15:07,180 --> 00:15:20,800 Yes, thank you Madam Chair, person. Thank you board for listening to me. I live and own property on Tonino Drive back up to your property, the Guadalupe Creek. 160 00:15:22,740 --> 00:15:29,040 For the last three years we've had the homeless problem. We have tents immediately behind our property. 161 00:15:29,780 --> 00:15:37,820 number of times over the last few years we've had large fires one time the fire department 162 00:15:37,820 --> 00:15:47,100 actually ran hoses through our property to put out the fire this is getting beyond 163 00:15:48,260 --> 00:15:54,580 tiresome we listen to them every night you know we one of the reasons we bought the house 164 00:15:54,580 --> 00:16:01,760 in the first place was there was no backyard neighbor. At that time it was just farmland 165 00:16:01,760 --> 00:16:06,840 to be on the creek and now of course that's the Alden Ranch which is not an issue. 166 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:16,060 But if we had actual backyard neighbors who did the things that these homeless are doing, 167 00:16:16,780 --> 00:16:22,280 the police would be there constantly. They would probably be forced out of their home, 168 00:16:23,140 --> 00:16:25,360 arrested, whatever I don't know. 169 00:16:27,540 --> 00:16:32,940 But this is getting tiresome. This is your private property. 170 00:16:33,540 --> 00:16:39,780 Supposedly there is no trespassing. Obviously other than the public paths for use. 171 00:16:40,660 --> 00:16:45,860 But I would think that anyone actually camping in the land would be considered trespassing. 172 00:16:46,940 --> 00:16:50,280 I just don't understand why nothing gets done. 173 00:16:50,280 --> 00:16:54,040 Thank you for listening to me. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for coming to the 174 00:16:54,040 --> 00:17:01,860 for me. Joe, I wish that we'll get back to you. Okay. That's a circle back to 175 00:17:04,480 --> 00:17:11,220 those public who wish to speak to us on Zoom. Do we have any? No. Okay. 176 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:18,100 So, is Arlie the next one to request to speak to the board? 177 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:20,980 Is that? 178 00:17:20,980 --> 00:17:25,040 I'm not seeing any hands raised at this time on this. 179 00:17:25,040 --> 00:17:26,140 Okay, everybody's done. 180 00:17:26,580 --> 00:17:27,340 Everybody's done. 181 00:17:27,860 --> 00:17:28,040 Okay. 182 00:17:31,270 --> 00:17:33,930 Now moving on to item 3.4. 183 00:17:34,390 --> 00:17:36,310 This is a public meeting. 184 00:17:37,210 --> 00:17:42,970 I'm where we're opening a public hearing on a groundwater production 185 00:17:42,970 --> 00:17:50,810 charges. I have a statement to read first and then staff will do a presentation. 186 00:17:52,110 --> 00:17:57,570 So good afternoon, my name is Nyshir and I am the Santa Clara Valley Water District Board 187 00:17:57,570 --> 00:18:05,110 of Directors Chair. This item 3.4 is a public hearing for the recommended groundwater 188 00:18:05,110 --> 00:18:10,890 production and other water charges for fiscal year 20, 24, 25. 189 00:18:12,010 --> 00:18:18,590 The district ad requires that valley water prepares a report, containing a recommendation 190 00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:25,890 as to whether a groundwater production charge should be levied in any zone of valley water. 191 00:18:25,890 --> 00:18:40,670 And a proposal of the charge per acre foot for production of agricultural water and the charge per acre foot for production of all water other than agriculture water. 192 00:18:40,670 --> 00:18:44,190 So the district act requires that a public hearing 193 00:18:44,190 --> 00:18:48,750 be held on the annual report on the protection 194 00:18:48,750 --> 00:18:51,790 and augmentation of water supplies, 195 00:18:52,050 --> 00:18:56,050 so that the public may appear and submit comments 196 00:18:56,050 --> 00:18:58,950 and information to the Board of Directors 197 00:18:58,950 --> 00:19:03,590 on the charges proposed by staff for the upcoming fiscal year. 198 00:19:03,950 --> 00:19:08,270 And that's what we're doing today under this item. 199 00:19:08,270 --> 00:19:35,430 After today's session, the hearing will be continued to the special board meeting scheduled for 7pm April 11, 2024, in-person at the Gilroy City Council Chambers City Hall at 777-351 Rosanna Street in Gilroy, or via teleconference Zoom meeting. 200 00:19:35,430 --> 00:19:42,970 We will first have a presentation by staff on the proposed charges for fiscal year 20, 24, 25. 201 00:19:43,270 --> 00:19:45,810 Then we will hear comments from the public. 202 00:19:46,450 --> 00:19:53,130 So if you would like to provide comments on this item, please either complete a public comment card 203 00:19:53,130 --> 00:19:59,970 and submitted to the clerk or use the race hand tool in Zoom to identify yourself. 204 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:10,960 And request to speak. Following staff's presentation on this item, I will recognize speakers one at a time and give access to make comments. 205 00:20:11,960 --> 00:20:26,160 So, with that, I would now like to introduce Aaron Baker, Chief Operating Officer of the Water Utility Enterprise to begin the staff presentation and provide additional details on the subject matter. 206 00:20:26,780 --> 00:20:28,900 Thank you, Chair and Honourable Board of Directors. 207 00:20:29,300 --> 00:20:30,980 Valley Water Remains and Anair of Investment. 208 00:20:31,500 --> 00:20:35,840 Climate change has also brought the possibility of more frequent and prolonged droughts 209 00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:37,660 and the need for new infrastructure investments. 210 00:20:38,320 --> 00:20:41,800 The effort to develop Valley Water's 2050 water supply master plan is underway. 211 00:20:42,420 --> 00:20:47,020 When completed, it will guide critical investments for projects, programs to increase the 212 00:20:47,020 --> 00:20:48,420 future of water supply reliability. 213 00:20:49,440 --> 00:20:54,360 The proposed groundwater production charges for fiscal year 2024 and 25 will be presented in 214 00:20:54,360 --> 00:20:55,160 the staff presentation. 215 00:20:55,160 --> 00:21:01,860 These groundwater projection charges are necessary to pay for the ongoing maintenance of the existing water system, 216 00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:06,660 investments in water supply infrastructure rehabilitation and upgrades, and the new water supply 217 00:21:06,660 --> 00:21:11,200 reliably investments. Now I'd like to introduce Ms. Carmen Narayanan, who will give the staff 218 00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:16,240 presentation. Wonderful. Thank you. Good afternoon, Chair Swayan members of the board. 219 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:23,660 Today's public hearing has three specific objectives. First, to present the annual report on 220 00:21:23,660 --> 00:21:27,780 water activities to ensure reliable water supply and recommended groundwater 221 00:21:27,780 --> 00:21:32,600 production charges second to provide an opportunity for any interested person to 222 00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:36,940 appear and submit evidence concerning the subject of the written report to 223 00:21:36,940 --> 00:21:41,500 the board and third to determine an effects groundwater production and other water 224 00:21:41,500 --> 00:21:43,980 charges for FY2425. 225 00:21:46,760 --> 00:21:49,400 Our 53rd annual report, the annual protection and 226 00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:54,100 augmentation of water supplies report was released at the end of February and it 227 00:21:54,100 --> 00:21:59,220 available online and this report provides information and accountability for our groundwater 228 00:21:59,220 --> 00:22:05,220 production charges and the water utility. We'll be covering several topics today as listed 229 00:22:05,220 --> 00:22:05,880 here. 230 00:22:09,910 --> 00:22:13,730 And this map does a great job highlighting the comprehensive and flexible water system that 231 00:22:13,730 --> 00:22:18,690 value water manages and as the groundwater stewed for the county and the primary wholesaler 232 00:22:18,690 --> 00:22:23,550 wholesale water provider. We operate the system that serves over 2 million people here in Santa 233 00:22:23,550 --> 00:22:28,110 care county and you can see what's highlighted reservoirs, many acres of recharge 234 00:22:28,110 --> 00:22:32,450 ponds, pipelines, we have three water treatment plants, our water purification center 235 00:22:32,450 --> 00:22:33,790 and multiple pump stations. 236 00:22:37,480 --> 00:22:41,740 We have four groundwater production charge zones, which are highlighted on the map, a zone 237 00:22:41,740 --> 00:22:46,240 W2 in North County is shown on the left in our three South County zones on the right. 238 00:22:46,700 --> 00:22:52,640 Our board's pricing policy maximizes effective water use and a key concept is that groundwater 239 00:22:52,640 --> 00:22:56,500 charges are levied within each zone for the benefits received. 240 00:22:57,100 --> 00:23:01,960 And another key concept is the polling concept or all water sources and facilities contribute 241 00:23:01,960 --> 00:23:05,080 to the common benefit within a zone regardless of cost. 242 00:23:05,640 --> 00:23:11,100 Our board pricing policy further limits the agricultural water charge to no more than 10% of 243 00:23:11,100 --> 00:23:12,460 M&I rates. 244 00:23:17,980 --> 00:23:24,460 The rate setting process is consistent with props to 1826, and the groundwater charge process 245 00:23:24,460 --> 00:23:29,520 consistent with prop 26 and to qualify as a non-tax fee, the charge is established at an 246 00:23:29,520 --> 00:23:33,500 amount that is no more than necessary to cover reasonable cost of the government activity, 247 00:23:34,160 --> 00:23:38,360 and the manner in which the costs are allocated, bear a fair, reasonable relationship to the burden 248 00:23:38,360 --> 00:23:43,360 on or benefits for see from the government activity. Our surface water charge setting process is 249 00:23:43,360 --> 00:23:47,540 consistent with prop 2018 and that's defined in board resolution 12-10. 250 00:23:50,640 --> 00:23:51,340 All right, this graph 251 00:23:51,340 --> 00:23:56,160 here highlights our district manage water use, district manage water use translates to revenue for 252 00:23:56,160 --> 00:24:01,880 water utility and we show of different types of water being treated water, groundwater, and then 253 00:24:01,880 --> 00:24:07,720 surface of recycled water. Prior, your actuals are shown in blue. Current, or current projections, 254 00:24:08,160 --> 00:24:12,240 future projections are shown in green and then our current adoptive budget is there in orange 255 00:24:12,240 --> 00:24:19,720 for FY24. So our current adoptive budget is 207,000 acre feet. We're looking to be on track for 256 00:24:19,720 --> 00:24:24,780 achieving that water use. This fiscal year, our prior year, actuals came in a little bit higher 257 00:24:24,780 --> 00:24:32,180 budget at 198,000. And for the upcoming rate setting cycle, we're projecting our budgeting 258 00:24:32,180 --> 00:24:39,540 district manage water use around 222, 223,000 acre feet of water. That does assume some rebound 259 00:24:39,540 --> 00:24:44,600 ongoing rebound from the drought. And we've seen rebound from the drought happen. It's happened 260 00:24:44,600 --> 00:24:51,280 from the last several droughts over the previous several decades. To what level is the question 261 00:24:51,280 --> 00:24:57,300 that rebound and I'd like to note that the future projections are actually lower than our most recent 262 00:24:57,300 --> 00:24:59,980 drought or prior projections from that church. 263 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:13,820 We've shown in the highlighted, or the shaded gray area above. We've heard feedback from our retailers, about flattening demand and hardening conservation, where we're very aware of that and taking that into consideration. 264 00:25:16,240 --> 00:25:23,300 And we're looking forward to see what the summer tells us. What will water usage be? It's looking like there's no drought right? There is no drought this year. 265 00:25:23,300 --> 00:25:30,180 people start watering their gardens again. We're embarking on a study to look into water use 266 00:25:30,180 --> 00:25:37,400 projections and we're looking forward to that informing next great setting cycle on FY26. 267 00:25:40,240 --> 00:25:44,380 Alright another another graph where you all this highlights are long-term cost projections for 268 00:25:44,380 --> 00:25:50,540 the water utility stacked by cost category so we have our source of supply, raw water, 269 00:25:50,540 --> 00:25:55,080 treatment and distribution on going debt service is highlighted there in green and a key 270 00:25:55,080 --> 00:26:01,080 takeaway from this graph is the grade blue bars along the top and that represents our capital 271 00:26:01,080 --> 00:26:06,500 investments and capital expenditures over the next 10 years and it really is a key driver 272 00:26:06,500 --> 00:26:13,400 of our water rates and what is built into these projections I'll be covering in a future slide. 273 00:26:16,340 --> 00:26:22,000 We recognize that recent inflation trends have put upward pressure on water rates as Chief 274 00:26:22,000 --> 00:26:26,380 We mentioned we remain in an era of investment for our existing water supply and infrastructure. 275 00:26:26,720 --> 00:26:32,120 It was built decades ago, we're fixing Anderson Dam, ongoing upgrades at Rintonautow Water Treatment Plan. 276 00:26:32,680 --> 00:26:38,780 Continue and we are addressing seismic deficiencies at multiple dams on a more expedited schedule. 277 00:26:40,240 --> 00:26:45,820 We continue planning work to build local storage, including the Chaco Reservoir Expansion Project, 278 00:26:45,840 --> 00:26:50,560 expanding purified water locally here in the county and investing in out-of-county storage, 279 00:26:50,560 --> 00:26:55,260 such as the Lose Picarus Reservoir Expansion Project and the Systemories Project. 280 00:26:56,340 --> 00:27:00,680 And finally, we're looking forward to the results from the Water Supply Master Plan 2050, 281 00:27:01,220 --> 00:27:04,780 which will shed light on what new infrastructure investments are recommended. 282 00:27:07,030 --> 00:27:10,410 So what is included in our FY25 rate assumptions? 283 00:27:10,830 --> 00:27:16,830 I already covered the district manage water use projected at around 220,000 acre feet next fiscal year 284 00:27:16,830 --> 00:27:19,150 to secure existing supplies and infrastructure. 285 00:27:19,150 --> 00:27:27,550 We have a suite of baseline projects that include the Brinkonautal Water Treatment Plan upgrades and the Art tenure pipeline reliability project. 286 00:27:27,970 --> 00:27:30,650 The Anderson dam seismic retrofit project. 287 00:27:30,650 --> 00:27:35,430 The suite of projects is included as well as the DM safety program that I just mentioned. 288 00:27:35,790 --> 00:27:37,330 That is a preliminary placeholder. 289 00:27:38,150 --> 00:27:40,190 We have master plan project placeholders. 290 00:27:40,790 --> 00:27:42,650 There are currently three master plans underway. 291 00:27:43,150 --> 00:27:48,930 And we're projecting the need for capital projects that will be recommended as an outcome of that. 292 00:27:48,930 --> 00:27:55,310 The key assumption is that the state water project tax will continue to pay for 100% of our state water project cost. 293 00:27:55,570 --> 00:27:59,690 I'll note that that excludes the state water project portion of the Delta Convance project. 294 00:28:00,530 --> 00:28:08,630 We are also including the Delta Convance project, our Valley Waters portion of that at 3.23% in our baseline rates. 295 00:28:08,630 --> 00:28:14,450 For expanding conservation and reuse, we have a phase 1 demonstration facility as 296 00:28:14,450 --> 00:28:19,770 San Jose Purified Water project included as well as a preliminary placeholder for a phase 297 00:28:19,770 --> 00:28:23,250 2 full scale facility for that purified water. 298 00:28:23,710 --> 00:28:29,790 And then I already mentioned the Chaco, Loast Piccadros, and Systemories to secure additional 299 00:28:29,790 --> 00:28:31,070 supply and storage. 300 00:28:34,620 --> 00:28:38,500 One strategy, one strategy for funding all of those large capital projects is through 301 00:28:38,500 --> 00:28:43,160 financing. This graph reflects our debt service components, including principal interest and our 302 00:28:43,160 --> 00:28:49,680 commercial paper program. We're looking at around $87 million total on FY25 and that grows to around 303 00:28:49,680 --> 00:28:59,360 317 million by FY34. We always targeted 2.0 debt service coverage ratio or better to ensure 304 00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:03,800 financial sustainability and that helps us maintain high credit ratings. 305 00:29:08,290 --> 00:29:08,970 I mentioned before we 306 00:29:08,970 --> 00:29:19,630 We have four different groundwater production zones and so one question we hear is why do we have different rates among those zones and also different rate increases as projected and all cover those in just a moment. 307 00:29:19,970 --> 00:29:21,350 And it really comes down to infrastructure. 308 00:29:21,890 --> 00:29:30,230 Some of our infrastructure is shared and benefits all users in the county some benefits only North County such as our water treatment plants and multiple reservoirs. 309 00:29:30,230 --> 00:29:35,050 some of our infrastructure benefits only South County, such as the Yves and Chesbro Reservoirs 310 00:29:35,050 --> 00:29:40,330 and the Scrawler Cycle Water System. And it serves as a reminder that cost-follow infrastructure 311 00:29:40,330 --> 00:29:42,050 and rates-follow costs. 312 00:29:44,420 --> 00:29:48,980 Diving into some numbers, this is a 10-year groundwater charge increase 313 00:29:48,980 --> 00:29:54,920 projection for all four zones. I've highlighted next upcoming fiscal year of 2025 in the red box. 314 00:29:54,920 --> 00:29:59,620 So for North County Zone, W2 staff recommended increases. 315 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:05,220 It's 12.9% over current adopted rates. We'll be going over those in a little more detail momentarily. 316 00:30:06,440 --> 00:30:13,120 So, 12.9% next year, followed by 9.9% per year for many years, out through FY33. 317 00:30:13,840 --> 00:30:23,960 In South County, zone W5, a 6.6% rate increase in South County zone W714.2% and finally in South County, zone W8 and 8% increase. 318 00:30:23,960 --> 00:30:28,080 We're able to maintain smooth and stable rate increases for our South County zones. 319 00:30:28,840 --> 00:30:33,920 It's also important to note that lower water use rebound would add upward pressure on our water rates. 320 00:30:35,760 --> 00:30:40,180 If we break down those rate projections to the monthly impact to an average household, 321 00:30:41,060 --> 00:30:45,140 in North County it would be about $8 in 70 cents per month next fiscal year, 322 00:30:45,380 --> 00:30:50,780 and in South County ranging from $1.10 to $3.20 per month to the average household. 323 00:30:50,780 --> 00:30:53,160 And for all rates that we're going over today, 324 00:30:53,300 --> 00:30:55,020 it does not include any additional increases 325 00:30:55,020 --> 00:30:57,380 that a retailer may layer on top. 326 00:31:00,030 --> 00:31:02,550 And taking those rape projections of this graph highlights, 327 00:31:02,890 --> 00:31:05,090 not only our agricultural groundwater production charge, 328 00:31:05,110 --> 00:31:07,090 which is in purple at the bottom of the graph, 329 00:31:07,370 --> 00:31:09,170 and then we have our three South County zones 330 00:31:09,170 --> 00:31:11,410 and orange green and, I guess, a golden color 331 00:31:11,410 --> 00:31:14,530 and finally our North County zone W2 in the blue. 332 00:31:14,830 --> 00:31:16,730 I've boxed in next fiscal year 333 00:31:16,730 --> 00:31:19,910 and you could see the trend that we're looking at. 334 00:31:22,400 --> 00:31:23,160 All right, next up, 335 00:31:23,160 --> 00:31:32,880 Perzone all walk us through some numbers so again North County zone W2 highlighted here on the map before you it's staff recommendation is a 12.9% increase 336 00:31:34,260 --> 00:31:41,260 that translates to a maximum proposed rate of $2,229 per acre foot for M&I 337 00:31:42,180 --> 00:31:46,740 or as I mentioned before about eight dollars and 78 cents per month to the average household 338 00:31:47,320 --> 00:31:52,860 We're recommending our contractor to water surcharge, remain the same at $115 per acre 339 00:31:52,860 --> 00:31:57,200 foot, and the non-contractor to water surcharge at $200 per acre foot. 340 00:31:57,480 --> 00:32:02,460 And we believe maintaining this surcharge, it'll maintain the point of neutrality, where 341 00:32:02,460 --> 00:32:06,020 retailer with the choice would be economically indifferent as to whether they should take 342 00:32:06,020 --> 00:32:07,640 treated water or pump groundwater. 343 00:32:10,980 --> 00:32:16,340 In our South County zone W5, again highlighted in the map, this overlays the Yagas sub basin, 344 00:32:16,340 --> 00:32:27,180 The staff recommended 6.6% increase translates to a maximum proposed rate of $579 per acre foot or about a dollar 22 per month to the average household. 345 00:32:27,920 --> 00:32:41,340 I'll note that our surface water master charge is recommended at $61 per acre foot and zone W5 also has recycled water and the maximum proposed rates for M&I is $559 per acre foot 346 00:32:41,340 --> 00:32:46,680 or $70 and 15 cents per acre foot for agricultural water use. 347 00:32:48,220 --> 00:32:51,340 In South County, zone W7, which is in the Coyote Valley, 348 00:32:51,980 --> 00:32:55,420 of staff recommended rate increase of 14.2 percent, 349 00:32:55,740 --> 00:32:59,460 translates to an M&I charge, again maximum per pellet of $750, 350 00:33:00,280 --> 00:33:06,140 and 50 cents per acre foot, or about $3.20 per month to the average household. 351 00:33:06,720 --> 00:33:11,060 And we do see higher rate increases in zone W7 compared to our other South County zones, 352 00:33:11,060 --> 00:33:15,220 because it's a dynamic sub basin that requires more district managed recharge. 353 00:33:17,600 --> 00:33:20,080 And finally, in South County, zone W8, 354 00:33:20,740 --> 00:33:26,540 South recommendation is an 8% rate increase, which translates to 355 00:33:26,540 --> 00:33:31,640 maximum and an I charge of $430 per acre foot or about 110 per month. 356 00:33:32,260 --> 00:33:36,640 And then I'd like to point out that our agricultural water charge 357 00:33:36,640 --> 00:33:41,640 is at or under 10%, technically it's a 9.25% increase. 358 00:33:41,640 --> 00:33:45,980 that were, excuse me, it's set at 9.25% of our zone W8 359 00:33:45,980 --> 00:33:51,040 M&I rate and that translates to $39.80 per acre foot, 360 00:33:51,140 --> 00:33:54,860 and that the agricultural rate is the same across all four of our zones. 361 00:33:57,610 --> 00:34:00,090 And when we compare those rates that I just went over, 362 00:34:00,170 --> 00:34:03,590 these are the maximum proposed, excuse me, 363 00:34:03,630 --> 00:34:05,310 this is translated to a monthly impact. 364 00:34:05,370 --> 00:34:10,510 But if we look at other retail agencies and the monthly average monthly bill 365 00:34:10,510 --> 00:34:15,450 for the four zones that I just went over, those are highlighted in the yellow color and then some of our 366 00:34:15,450 --> 00:34:22,070 local retailers are in the darker blue compared to other agencies across the state. You could see that the 367 00:34:22,070 --> 00:34:27,030 the groundwater production charges are on the lower side. One compared to other agencies. 368 00:34:31,510 --> 00:34:31,890 I think that's 369 00:34:31,890 --> 00:34:37,470 good point. Excuse me. Okay. We also like to compare our rates to wholesale, other wholesale 370 00:34:37,470 --> 00:34:44,310 agencies, including Orange County, Zone 7, San Diego, and the SFPUC, and I'd like to 371 00:34:44,310 --> 00:34:48,750 note my apologies that the data on this graph is outdated. 372 00:34:49,190 --> 00:34:54,630 However, the correct rates are shown in Exit 6 of attachment 1, which is page 7. 373 00:34:55,790 --> 00:34:59,490 And I will note that the trend is very similar, so all the dollar amounts are a little different 374 00:34:59,490 --> 00:34:59,970 the trend is... 375 00:35:00,000 --> 00:35:05,540 The same and our three South County zones are on par with Orange County Water District and our North County, 376 00:35:05,540 --> 00:35:11,600 so NW2 rates are in alignment with San Diego, SFPZ and Zone 7 in Alameda County. 377 00:35:13,740 --> 00:35:17,700 And finally, I wanted to highlight our state water project tax recommendations. 378 00:35:18,080 --> 00:35:20,680 We're recommending setting the tax at $28 million. 379 00:35:21,320 --> 00:35:26,780 Last, next year, current tax was set at $27 million, so $1 million increase. 380 00:35:26,780 --> 00:35:34,740 That translates to a bill for the average single family home here in Santa Clara County of around 42 dollars per year on their property tax bill 381 00:35:34,740 --> 00:35:42,500 And if we did not love either state water project tax it would have real impacts to our rates over a hundred and fifty five dollars or our 382 00:35:42,500 --> 00:35:48,240 M&I rate and North County zone W2 could be up to a hundred and fifty five dollars higher than what I shared with you today and 383 00:35:48,860 --> 00:35:54,360 Similar in South County the impact ranges from twenty nine dollars per acre foot to fifty five dollars per acre foot 384 00:35:54,360 --> 00:36:04,020 higher if we did not let be the state water project tax, and then it would also impact our open space credit by eliminating nearly 385 00:36:04,020 --> 00:36:09,260 790,000 dollars of revenue that benefits the open space credit. 386 00:36:12,520 --> 00:36:14,720 All right, here we are today opening the public hearing. 387 00:36:15,280 --> 00:36:17,980 We are sharing this information tomorrow at the water commission meeting. 388 00:36:18,420 --> 00:36:21,260 We're continuing the public hearing in South County. 389 00:36:21,260 --> 00:36:26,660 there's an open house starting at six in that meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. at Giora City Hall, 390 00:36:27,080 --> 00:36:31,080 and then we're set to come back on April 23 to conclude this public hearing. 391 00:36:32,380 --> 00:36:36,700 Ideally, are by annual budget, the groundwater production charges I just covered, 392 00:36:37,280 --> 00:36:40,500 and our CIP are adopted at the May 14th meeting. 393 00:36:42,320 --> 00:36:47,980 And as part of our red setting process, we share this information with many groups and 394 00:36:47,980 --> 00:36:52,980 and committees, including our water retailers, the agricultural advisory committee. 395 00:36:54,320 --> 00:36:58,960 And so we have heard from our water retailers, I'd just like to report out, they have 396 00:36:58,960 --> 00:37:04,460 at our recent retailers meeting in March, they expressed appreciation for valley water and 397 00:37:04,460 --> 00:37:08,700 all the work that we're doing that investments in infrastructure, but that was tempered 398 00:37:08,700 --> 00:37:12,940 with concern over rising rates and rising rates over the long term. 399 00:37:12,940 --> 00:37:24,980 We heard that ongoing water conservation is hardening and that demand is flattening out and that the request was made to keep future rate increases as low and reasonable as possible. 400 00:37:25,760 --> 00:37:41,940 And then yesterday we shared similar information at the Agricultural Advisory Committee and they passed a motion to recommend that the board suspend agricultural water rate increases until an ecosystem benefit study is completed, which would include the impacts of carbon sequestration. 401 00:37:43,020 --> 00:37:54,560 And then I'd just like to note, we do send out notices of public hearing and outreach materials to our private well owners and surface water customers, but to date staff hasn't heard anything directly from our customers. 402 00:37:56,220 --> 00:37:58,800 And I'll just close with we remain in an era of investment. 403 00:37:59,440 --> 00:38:03,580 We're looking forward to the recommendations that'll come out of the water supply master plan 2050. 404 00:38:03,580 --> 00:38:10,460 the proposed maximum FY-25 groundwater production charge in North County would equate to an average, 405 00:38:11,220 --> 00:38:18,240 excuse me, equate to an increase of about $8.78 per month for the average household for groundwater 406 00:38:18,240 --> 00:38:24,540 and trade water. And then again, ranging from $1.10 to $3.20 per month for our three South County 407 00:38:24,540 --> 00:38:29,660 zones. And like I said, we will obtain feedback from the water commission tomorrow and share that 408 00:38:29,660 --> 00:38:34,040 with you as we continue the public hearing on April 11th. 409 00:38:34,200 --> 00:38:36,680 And with that, I am available for any questions. 410 00:38:41,760 --> 00:38:44,340 Thank you very much for the presentation. 411 00:38:46,160 --> 00:38:50,340 I think based on the procedures we're in right now 412 00:38:50,340 --> 00:38:53,180 we're in the public hearing. 413 00:38:53,440 --> 00:38:57,720 And the next step is for the board to receive public comments. 414 00:38:57,720 --> 00:39:04,660 And then we will ask for more members questions or comment or direction to staff. 415 00:39:05,660 --> 00:39:11,680 So we may call on you later about questions. 416 00:39:12,220 --> 00:39:18,900 But now we will receive the public's comments on the recommended groundwater production 417 00:39:18,900 --> 00:39:22,980 and other water charges for fiscal year 2425. 418 00:39:22,980 --> 00:39:29,980 Again, as a reminder, as I said earlier, if you would like to provide comments on this item, 419 00:39:30,440 --> 00:39:35,980 please either complete a public comment card and submit it to the clerk of the board. 420 00:39:36,500 --> 00:39:38,600 Let's see what it looks like this. 421 00:39:39,340 --> 00:39:45,440 Or you can use the raise hand to, in Zoom, to identify yourself and request to speak. 422 00:39:46,120 --> 00:39:52,340 And I will recognize us speakers the one at a time and give access to make comments. 423 00:39:52,340 --> 00:39:59,900 So with that, any public who wish to provide comments related to the groundwater production. 424 00:40:01,940 --> 00:40:10,000 I don't have any requests for people who are in the board room. Do we have any raise hand? 425 00:40:11,200 --> 00:40:14,580 Thank you, Madam Chair. I have a hand raised on Zoom from Cacha Urban. 426 00:40:15,300 --> 00:40:17,500 Yes, Ms. Urban, please go ahead. 427 00:40:17,500 --> 00:40:18,260 We're 428 00:40:20,470 --> 00:40:25,150 now turning in chair, Shua, and having gotten a lot of informed directors and staff. 429 00:40:25,690 --> 00:40:28,570 This is Carter Irving with the Sierra Club, Illinois Fair of the Chapter. 430 00:40:29,910 --> 00:40:34,410 We're going to have our committee join this year's CIP budget and rate-tening process, 431 00:40:35,450 --> 00:40:43,830 since or commented in the process, since we know we're experiencing that our concerns will not be addressed through this process. 432 00:40:43,830 --> 00:40:49,990 Nevertheless, we want to stay for the record that issues that we have brought up before many times in the past. 433 00:40:50,870 --> 00:40:59,550 Before I get into that, I would like to express appreciation to staff for making some changes since the last presentation on rate increases to moderate those increases. 434 00:40:59,550 --> 00:41:04,530 Let's go to see if there's concern about this issue. We encourage you to continue to 435 00:41:04,530 --> 00:41:08,670 examine opportunities to reduce rate increases over the next 10 of the 436 00:41:08,670 --> 00:41:14,510 units. In the past, we have consistently expressed our concern that future 437 00:41:14,510 --> 00:41:20,530 increases in water demand should be more conservative. On its pace, the water demand 438 00:41:20,530 --> 00:41:25,890 rebound used for the rate-centered process seems questionable. The expected rebound 439 00:41:25,890 --> 00:41:33,990 and not occurred in 2023. So it's unclear why 16,000 Haker per year we found this forecast 440 00:41:33,990 --> 00:41:41,450 in February of 2024 and 2025. Historically, water used to have gone up and down with their 441 00:41:41,450 --> 00:41:48,050 general downward trend. The assumption that water use will only go up in the future seems unrealistic. 442 00:41:49,050 --> 00:41:54,630 There will be droughts in reduced usage between now and 2030-4. That said, you do appreciate 443 00:41:54,630 --> 00:41:57,130 a lot of us move towards more concerted demand 444 00:41:57,130 --> 00:41:59,190 projections over the past several years. 445 00:41:59,910 --> 00:42:02,690 More importantly, we are concerned about the particular 446 00:42:02,690 --> 00:42:05,350 reservoir project and the Delta Command's project, 447 00:42:05,710 --> 00:42:09,310 which are huge and very violently destructive projects. 448 00:42:10,010 --> 00:42:12,410 Current cost estimates for these projects are preliminary 449 00:42:12,410 --> 00:42:15,930 and extremely large and unprecedented projects, 450 00:42:15,950 --> 00:42:20,090 such as these, will have unpredictable future cost increases. 451 00:42:20,850 --> 00:42:23,390 The cost increases for a recent reservoir are indicative, 452 00:42:23,390 --> 00:42:25,670 even though it is much less complex. 453 00:42:26,650 --> 00:42:28,370 Now we've castled bar bills already 454 00:42:28,370 --> 00:42:30,610 are forecasted to increase more than $100 455 00:42:31,250 --> 00:42:34,830 over the per month, over the next 10 years. 456 00:42:35,530 --> 00:42:38,290 These projects go forward and increase this will undoubtedly 457 00:42:38,290 --> 00:42:41,450 be significantly more than that. 458 00:42:41,510 --> 00:42:44,190 It will continue far beyond the current 10 year projection. 459 00:42:45,270 --> 00:42:46,870 As a sign note, it's a run-of-hole 460 00:42:46,870 --> 00:42:49,550 that we do not have updated costs protections 461 00:42:49,550 --> 00:42:52,170 for the potato and the delta defense. 462 00:42:52,170 --> 00:42:57,630 This information is crucial for the water supply master plan update, and we urge you to make sure that new 463 00:42:57,630 --> 00:43:00,990 estimates are available if integrated into that plan update. 464 00:43:01,910 --> 00:43:11,790 These kinds apply to all three persons this process with setting budget, CFE, and thank you very much for your consideration. 465 00:43:11,790 --> 00:43:23,630 Okay, thank you, Ms. Irvin, and I also want to recognize that a written comment was submitted 466 00:43:23,630 --> 00:43:28,970 before the meeting and Ms. Irvin just read from the written comment. We're moving 467 00:43:30,750 --> 00:43:33,250 on to Ms. Maldi Colton. 468 00:43:39,050 --> 00:43:43,870 Directors, this is Molly Colmus, the article of California. Thank you, staff, for bringing 469 00:43:43,870 --> 00:43:49,230 important item to the board. As I'm sure we're all aware, we are experiencing an affordability 470 00:43:49,230 --> 00:43:54,450 crisis from the cost of housing, diversity, and utilities. People are struggling in 471 00:43:54,450 --> 00:43:59,190 the Bay Bills and make ends meet. Battlewater is not immune to these agonized difficulties and 472 00:43:59,190 --> 00:44:04,950 uncertainties. Battlewater is facing a $300 million deficit resulting in our iron grease. 473 00:44:05,650 --> 00:44:10,450 Blooming cost increases of products like Anderson Dan, Pachico, and the Delta Tunnel only 474 00:44:10,450 --> 00:44:12,950 exacerbate the current affordability crisis. 475 00:44:13,790 --> 00:44:19,210 I agree with Dr. Kiggen's comment, and a recent San Jose Sparklet Spotlight article stating 476 00:44:19,210 --> 00:44:23,710 it's time to take the serious look at which projects can wait before the district throws 477 00:44:23,710 --> 00:44:24,510 around money. 478 00:44:25,190 --> 00:44:29,450 Immediately, I was expected to release an updated cost estimate on the dust tunnel project 479 00:44:29,450 --> 00:44:31,630 sometime in the spring, which is any data. 480 00:44:32,330 --> 00:44:35,700 The laboratory would wait to finalize the water supply next to the plant until the 481 00:44:35,700 --> 00:44:41,100 cost estimates are released for both the JBL project as well as the next time. Thank you for 482 00:44:41,100 --> 00:44:45,480 considering considering the impact of cost increases on already overburden rate here as the 483 00:44:45,480 --> 00:44:54,180 community. This concludes my thoughts today. Okay, thank you. Ms. Coden. Next one is a Mr. Jim Co. 484 00:45:00,340 --> 00:45:09,520 Good afternoon. I have basically two comments. I will incorporate it into a single comment. 485 00:45:11,770 --> 00:45:25,370 The first one is the plan to attach an outing, warm presentation really is not as clear as it could be. And some additional information is needed. 486 00:45:26,550 --> 00:45:33,310 Sure, a lot of great changes within and without inflation would be helpful. 487 00:45:34,410 --> 00:45:40,870 The second point is, is that by more county zone two compound unit cost drivers that are causing 488 00:45:40,870 --> 00:45:51,630 the water rates to increase using fiscal year 23 as a baseline and project what the impact 489 00:45:51,630 --> 00:45:59,210 Dryers are the fiscal year 28, fiscal year 31, and fiscal year 34. 490 00:46:01,530 --> 00:46:10,370 The next comment is the Sheryl North County Zone to Glorys, from the baseline with, 491 00:46:10,430 --> 00:46:18,290 and without the Chamber of Resort, San Luis Resort, and the Los Veracles Resort, 492 00:46:18,290 --> 00:46:22,510 expansion and the double, that's the time to share. 493 00:46:24,910 --> 00:46:28,750 Looking at the proposed growth and 494 00:46:28,750 --> 00:46:29,490 rigs, 495 00:46:31,670 --> 00:46:41,690 it appears that North County, W.W., will double from fiscal year 23 by fiscal year 28, 496 00:46:41,690 --> 00:46:54,990 It will quadruple by fiscal year 31 and will go up 14 times in 11 years. 497 00:46:55,750 --> 00:46:58,170 This seems excessive. 498 00:46:59,570 --> 00:47:10,690 It's not clear to me what the impact of those outstanding increase will be on the consumers. 499 00:47:11,770 --> 00:47:17,690 water bill that we receive from retailers such as House A Water Company. 500 00:47:19,430 --> 00:47:25,070 I just go quite understand the numbers that are being thrown out of staying very small. 501 00:47:25,530 --> 00:47:30,190 I believe they only reflect this school year 25 who are looking at it. 502 00:47:30,730 --> 00:47:33,930 So we need those projections for these hour and years. 503 00:47:33,930 --> 00:47:37,410 Another span is major infrastructure projects, 504 00:47:37,870 --> 00:47:39,930 how are impact in those rates, 505 00:47:40,390 --> 00:47:43,350 because it just doesn't seem to do all the work. 506 00:47:45,620 --> 00:47:53,500 The recommendation I have is valley water needs to make a formal public 507 00:47:55,480 --> 00:48:02,580 that is attractive to look at the plan for major projects in our structure, 508 00:48:03,420 --> 00:48:10,900 makes problems and evaluate each one of those options and do it within pretty much. 509 00:48:11,760 --> 00:48:14,660 The conclusion about the vision 510 00:48:19,980 --> 00:48:24,260 of progress should be an option that is identified 511 00:48:24,260 --> 00:48:28,300 without a partner and with a partner. 512 00:48:30,830 --> 00:48:35,430 Pre-assessment bowl would be the best information that should be conducted to establish 513 00:48:35,430 --> 00:48:38,130 the best infrastructure project mix. 514 00:48:38,130 --> 00:48:46,010 So we'll make the water supply reliable and affordable for our spend deeper drugs and good products. 515 00:48:48,340 --> 00:48:50,900 Thank you, Ms. Mr. Cole. 516 00:48:51,480 --> 00:49:06,360 And I also want to recognize that Mr. Cole has submitted several written comments before the meeting in more details about what he just presented. 517 00:49:06,360 --> 00:49:14,620 And of course all these written comments, staff will take a seriously and then addressing 518 00:49:14,620 --> 00:49:16,720 or answer the questions. 519 00:49:18,000 --> 00:49:23,020 Are there any other public comments? 520 00:49:25,700 --> 00:49:35,700 So not seeing a public request, I just want to remind everybody who is listening also on 521 00:49:35,700 --> 00:49:44,220 Zoom that this public hearing of the recommended ground weather production charges will 522 00:49:44,220 --> 00:49:55,120 continue and the deadline to submit your comment to this board is April 23rd, 2024. 523 00:49:56,060 --> 00:49:59,980 So there is still time for you to get into the issue and then. 524 00:50:00,000 --> 00:50:11,340 I submitted your comment to us by April 23, 2024. And also, we will hold a South County special board meeting 525 00:50:11,340 --> 00:50:19,100 about the same topic and that's another, that's a schedule for Thursday, April 11, which is this week, Thursday. 526 00:50:20,600 --> 00:50:26,860 And that's an opportunity for you to appear in person before the board, if you have additional 527 00:50:26,860 --> 00:50:34,920 comment. So with that, I will now ask board members if you have any questions or comment 528 00:50:34,920 --> 00:50:36,480 with direction to staff. 529 00:50:39,770 --> 00:50:43,630 Okay, I have a, okay, I'm sorry, I pressed the wrong button. I have 530 00:50:43,630 --> 00:50:47,770 a direct to Eisenberg first. Thank you. 531 00:50:51,910 --> 00:50:56,510 Is that right? We got it. Thank you. Okay. And so thank 532 00:50:56,510 --> 00:51:03,050 you for the presentation. Really helpful. Can you go to slide 12, please? Yes, give me 533 00:51:03,050 --> 00:51:04,530 Just a moment. We need to reload. 534 00:51:17,540 --> 00:51:28,040 This is it's like? Yeah. So here you say that debt service coverage ratio is 2.0. 535 00:51:28,560 --> 00:51:39,180 We target 2.0. Define. Define debt service ratio here. Sure. So let's say that you took out $100 million. 536 00:51:39,940 --> 00:51:44,180 under your formula, what then would be the cost of repayment? 537 00:51:51,390 --> 00:51:53,010 Let me see, there's two questions. 538 00:51:53,190 --> 00:51:56,130 I've at least if I can answer your, I think the just of your question. 539 00:51:57,170 --> 00:52:00,690 A, a service coverage ratio, the definition of it would be, 540 00:52:00,690 --> 00:52:06,090 you're ongoing revenue, leisure, operational costs, equals an amount. 541 00:52:06,370 --> 00:52:10,930 That amount is targeted to be two times your debt service payment. 542 00:52:10,930 --> 00:52:23,410 If that target is met, but we found other targets, we will maintain a very high credit rating and therefore lower the lowest possible barring costs for value art. 543 00:52:23,630 --> 00:52:27,150 Okay, great. So yeah, so that's it. But stay there. 544 00:52:28,530 --> 00:52:31,030 So what year do we start paying back the Wifjellones? 545 00:52:35,450 --> 00:52:39,690 Take for example the Wifjellone that was closed in October 31, 223. 546 00:52:42,080 --> 00:52:44,240 I think we got this answer this question at the last board meeting. 547 00:52:44,240 --> 00:52:45,720 Well, that's here again. 548 00:52:46,840 --> 00:52:52,800 Interests starts in FY32 for the WIFI alone for Pacheco and for Anderson. 549 00:52:55,600 --> 00:53:05,080 And for San Jose DPR, FY39, and for our assumptions for Anderson and for the Dam Safety Program, 550 00:53:05,440 --> 00:53:09,620 under a core WIFI program would be FY36 and FY39 respectively. 551 00:53:10,300 --> 00:53:13,400 So, why isn't there a step up in 2032? 552 00:53:15,760 --> 00:53:17,100 20, I'm looking at that chart. 553 00:53:17,680 --> 00:53:19,180 2032 is the year. 554 00:53:19,380 --> 00:53:22,380 You just said that we start paying back. 555 00:53:22,920 --> 00:53:24,040 Many of those loans. 556 00:53:25,020 --> 00:53:31,500 So, I see a very minimal change between 2031 and 2032. 557 00:53:32,660 --> 00:53:34,180 Yes, you see it there, interest only. 558 00:53:35,520 --> 00:53:38,940 So, we start paying back, we haven't started paying back the loans 559 00:53:38,940 --> 00:53:40,720 and then we start paying back the loans. 560 00:53:41,380 --> 00:53:46,160 So what will be the interest payments in 2032? 561 00:53:46,720 --> 00:53:49,680 The new interest payments, the marginal increase. 562 00:53:51,120 --> 00:53:53,020 I would have to go back and get that information. 563 00:53:53,500 --> 00:53:58,760 So I guess what I'm saying is I just based on my understanding of math 564 00:53:58,760 --> 00:54:01,020 and your explanation of repayment schedules. 565 00:54:01,700 --> 00:54:05,600 I'm not seeing that the interest charges being reflected in this. 566 00:54:05,600 --> 00:54:13,000 Because we know that the $92 million or $93 million loan that you took out on October 31, 567 00:54:14,360 --> 00:54:17,100 2032, I mean sorry, 2023, 568 00:54:19,160 --> 00:54:21,810 the cost of repayment is approximately $290 million, 569 00:54:22,340 --> 00:54:33,640 just for that small loan. So given 20 years of repayment, and an almost $300 million obligation, 570 00:54:34,620 --> 00:54:42,660 That should be, you know, let's say, okay, so 300 divided by let's say, it's paid over 10 years. 571 00:54:43,080 --> 00:54:48,580 So that would be like a $30 million increase per year if you're paying back over 10 years. 572 00:54:49,260 --> 00:54:56,080 And I don't see a $30 million increase in interest reflected here. 573 00:54:58,000 --> 00:54:59,660 Let us go back and get some more information. 574 00:55:02,560 --> 00:55:29,980 So the math is that you're not repaying these loans at all. And then you start repaying them in 2032. So you've paid zero, zero, zero, zero, zero, zero, zero. And now you pay these loans. And what I quoted you is just for the $200 million loan. So if you're going to have a billion dollars of loans, that would be significantly more expensive. 575 00:55:29,980 --> 00:55:35,160 to repay. So, you should see a step up the year you start repaying alone. 576 00:55:36,240 --> 00:55:42,120 Well, sorry to interrupt. So, conversation. That's put on slide number nine. I think that's actually 577 00:55:42,120 --> 00:55:47,900 that was a, I was very happy to see this slide number nine. I thought that's, that's answering 578 00:55:47,900 --> 00:55:52,740 the director of key director, Eisenberg's question at the last board meeting. 579 00:55:54,300 --> 00:56:02,900 So, this dark green bar, that's listed as Wifi at Death Service and the light green bar is the Death Service. 580 00:56:03,120 --> 00:56:04,840 So, that's the winter projection. 581 00:56:05,140 --> 00:56:08,220 So, staff is showing those with respect to the charge. 582 00:56:09,160 --> 00:56:10,620 I'm trying to be helpful. 583 00:56:11,000 --> 00:56:11,820 So, if there's any questions. 584 00:56:12,600 --> 00:56:13,060 So, yes. 585 00:56:13,540 --> 00:56:18,120 That reflects the same mathematical inconsistency that I'm pointing out. 586 00:56:18,120 --> 00:56:25,440 So, Chair, you may not have understood the question as I said it, which is that we start paying back the loan in 2032. 587 00:56:26,260 --> 00:56:28,720 So, I guess it doesn't answer the question. 588 00:56:29,580 --> 00:56:36,060 So, here, see the green line there? See the green part of the bar? That represents interest payments, okay? 589 00:56:36,960 --> 00:56:39,020 It doesn't or it's something else. What does that represent? 590 00:56:39,160 --> 00:56:45,360 That's for the interest payments for the planning and design loan, the construction loan interest would start in FI37. 591 00:56:45,360 --> 00:56:47,300 and so beyond the time for him to show it. 592 00:56:48,040 --> 00:56:53,760 So, you know, and you're right that I keep asking these questions, but I'm not getting 593 00:56:53,760 --> 00:56:54,420 any answers. 594 00:56:56,080 --> 00:56:58,300 So, you know, what do I want? 595 00:56:58,900 --> 00:57:04,620 I know, actually, director Sha, this doesn't answer the question. 596 00:57:05,080 --> 00:57:08,720 He just said that we don't start repaying the loan, these loans until 2037. 597 00:57:09,300 --> 00:57:14,220 I think it's important that my colleagues understand what I'm asking, what I'm asking is 598 00:57:14,220 --> 00:57:21,860 information so we can actually see the impact of these loans on water rates. We still have 599 00:57:21,860 --> 00:57:29,840 not been shown the actual impact of these loans on water rates. In this case, chair, we don't 600 00:57:29,840 --> 00:57:39,200 start repaying those loans until 2037. 2037 is not indicated on this chart. Why is that important? 601 00:57:39,200 --> 00:57:45,280 because we pay zero, zero, zero, zero, zero, zero, zero, zero, zero, zero, zero, 602 00:57:45,620 --> 00:57:49,520 and tell 2037 and then we pay a number. 603 00:57:51,080 --> 00:57:52,500 We don't know what that number is. 604 00:57:53,180 --> 00:57:56,980 So that number needs to be provided to us. 605 00:57:57,220 --> 00:58:02,700 And I'm again asking you to please give us and give the public 606 00:58:04,580 --> 00:58:13,600 Complete information about how these extraordinarily expensive loans it will impact their 607 00:58:13,600 --> 00:58:18,260 water rates we deserve to know they deserve to know and if you don't want to give 608 00:58:18,260 --> 00:58:24,660 information about rates give us at least how much interest will be paying each year that 609 00:58:24,660 --> 00:58:30,380 is part for the course and I get that some people don't I understand my question but just 610 00:58:30,380 --> 00:58:32,860 because you don't understand it doesn't mean it's wrong. 611 00:58:34,760 --> 00:58:37,460 So I have a background that's a bit different 612 00:58:37,460 --> 00:58:38,800 than from how others are. 613 00:58:39,480 --> 00:58:41,820 So, second, first I just want to say as a side point 614 00:58:41,820 --> 00:58:44,780 that I completely support the Agricultural Committee 615 00:58:45,630 --> 00:58:48,560 in their argument that, you know, 616 00:58:48,720 --> 00:58:53,740 until we have investigated the positive impact 617 00:58:53,740 --> 00:58:58,560 of their sustainable agriculture practices 618 00:58:58,560 --> 00:59:06,660 and their carbon benefits to us, agriculture actually converts carbon to oxygen. 619 00:59:07,400 --> 00:59:10,140 It is extraordinarily positively impactful. 620 00:59:11,180 --> 00:59:13,160 It is better than an oxygen machine. 621 00:59:14,020 --> 00:59:16,840 We can live without planes, trains, and automobiles. 622 00:59:17,060 --> 00:59:22,980 We can live without fashion, we can live without movies, we cannot live without food. 623 00:59:23,600 --> 00:59:28,460 Agriculture is extraordinarily important, and as an environmentalist, I also am here to 624 00:59:28,460 --> 00:59:31,440 It's also extremely important from an environmental impact, too. 625 00:59:32,240 --> 00:59:33,440 So I'm going to support them, 626 00:59:35,460 --> 00:59:35,460 too. 627 00:59:36,100 --> 00:59:39,460 OK, asked about, oh, he on page eight. 628 00:59:40,000 --> 00:59:41,680 Here's another question I've asked you all 629 00:59:41,680 --> 00:59:43,680 that I haven't gotten an answer to yet. 630 00:59:44,200 --> 00:59:49,060 So on page eight, here again, you have a chart 631 00:59:49,060 --> 00:59:54,280 where you have a relationship between cost of water 632 00:59:54,280 --> 00:59:55,540 and uses of water. 633 00:59:55,540 --> 00:59:59,640 So, having, again, observed both the agricultural 634 01:00:00,000 --> 01:00:18,500 Committee as well as the retailers, committee meeting. There is a unanimous agreement outside of this particular group of leaders that the more expensive the water gets, the less water is used. 635 01:00:18,500 --> 01:00:31,720 And I know as a big pain and not toughest the other week when I said, please give me an analysis of the elasticity of pricing on usage. 636 01:00:32,320 --> 01:00:45,120 In other words, these charts continue to rest on the presumption that we can keep raising water rates without devastating water usage. 637 01:00:45,780 --> 01:00:55,100 But the analyses of our biggest retailers and agricultural, you know, leaders, flies in the face of that. 638 01:00:56,100 --> 01:01:05,000 So at some point, I'm wondering, can you please present to me your analysis of how higher prices will impact usage? 639 01:01:05,560 --> 01:01:12,400 Because I'm sure you understand what I mean by saying that if we continue to price water so high, we're not going to increase revenue. 640 01:01:12,400 --> 01:01:15,700 We're going to start decreasing revenue by devastating usage. 641 01:01:16,560 --> 01:01:20,800 We also could potentially be creating a black market for water, and that seems crazy. 642 01:01:21,620 --> 01:01:24,520 But that's what happens when prices become out of reach. 643 01:01:25,540 --> 01:01:33,120 So I'm going to ask for that again, because these numbers, these figures, this relationship between price and usage, 644 01:01:33,840 --> 01:01:41,740 is not supported by the experts that we actually rely on to advise us. 645 01:01:41,740 --> 01:02:06,620 Okay, and so last, for now, the last, oh first, page 23, on page 23, you make an analysis of our water rates as compared with what you consider to be comparable agencies and in that agency, you listed the PUC. 646 01:02:10,200 --> 01:02:19,780 So, SFPUC, as I'm page 23, so my understanding is that the SFPUC is both the wholesaler and 647 01:02:19,780 --> 01:02:21,480 the retailers that correct. 648 01:02:23,360 --> 01:02:24,000 That's correct. 649 01:02:24,500 --> 01:02:29,960 So, we the wholesaler are comparing our rates to a retailer. 650 01:02:30,660 --> 01:02:32,020 That's, they are also a wholesaler. 651 01:02:32,200 --> 01:02:33,360 We're comparing wholesale to wholesale. 652 01:02:33,880 --> 01:02:40,980 Right, but in this case San Francisco, you rate payers pay the wholesale price, don't they? 653 01:02:42,820 --> 01:02:48,480 The answer is yes, because they are the wholesale and the retailer. Well, as of PUC, wholesale 654 01:02:48,480 --> 01:02:55,000 spotter to cities such as Palo Alto. Yeah, but we're time them. Yeah, and then they have a retail system within the city itself. 655 01:02:55,760 --> 01:02:59,260 Right, so which one are you using? And so which one we're comparing 656 01:02:59,260 --> 01:03:02,000 are rates to their wholesale rates, 657 01:03:02,140 --> 01:03:05,100 what they sell the water to other retail agencies. 658 01:03:06,460 --> 01:03:10,180 But it looks like all their customers in San Francisco 659 01:03:10,900 --> 01:03:13,600 can't pay their wholesale rates. 660 01:03:14,860 --> 01:03:17,940 Their rate schedule is, they have a published rate schedule 661 01:03:17,940 --> 01:03:20,780 that highlights retail rates that, 662 01:03:20,820 --> 01:03:22,960 like as a resident or a resident or a business 663 01:03:22,960 --> 01:03:24,800 you would pay versus the wholesale rate. 664 01:03:24,940 --> 01:03:25,500 And they're different. 665 01:03:26,120 --> 01:03:28,760 So for if your San Francisco rate pair, 666 01:03:28,760 --> 01:03:31,280 You're paying a markup on this? 667 01:03:31,560 --> 01:03:33,180 Because I didn't say I would just go for 20 years. 668 01:03:33,920 --> 01:03:34,480 And we didn't. 669 01:03:35,520 --> 01:03:37,100 I would have to look at their rates schedule. 670 01:03:37,560 --> 01:03:40,420 So I think it's important that we compare apples with apples 671 01:03:40,420 --> 01:03:42,760 and not apples with apple pie. 672 01:03:44,460 --> 01:03:47,880 So I don't know how many others of these are actual, 673 01:03:47,880 --> 01:03:49,300 both wholesalers and retailers, 674 01:03:50,480 --> 01:03:53,080 but in less of our comparing with the actual wholesalers 675 01:03:53,080 --> 01:03:55,340 that then experience a markup. 676 01:03:56,040 --> 01:04:02,680 wholesalers, tell, sell to retailers, retailers, sell to rate payers, there's a markup in between, right? 677 01:04:03,320 --> 01:04:04,960 So, let's be honest here. 678 01:04:05,740 --> 01:04:07,940 So, I, this chart, I think, need some clarification. 679 01:04:09,600 --> 01:04:12,500 Okay, so finally, I just want to make a point, a general point. 680 01:04:12,940 --> 01:04:21,200 One thing you said, which I understand to be the strategy followed by previous boards. 681 01:04:21,200 --> 01:04:37,040 And although some people here don't like new people, younger people coming in and shaking things up sometimes sometimes there are really big fundamental flaws in strategies that I think need to be rethought. 682 01:04:37,440 --> 01:04:40,280 And this is not the first time I said this. 683 01:04:40,620 --> 01:04:41,920 But here's what you said, 684 01:04:41,920 --> 01:04:48,940 Costs follow infrastructure and rates follow cost and I've heard that more than once and so 685 01:04:48,940 --> 01:04:54,180 You know, you said that and my understanding is that reflects the thinking of many of my colleagues 686 01:04:54,180 --> 01:04:59,960 So in other words, we decide what infrastructure we want to build 687 01:05:01,650 --> 01:05:07,970 And then we see what the costs are. And once we know the costs, we set the rates to pay for it. 688 01:05:09,680 --> 01:05:13,840 That is a fundamentally flawed system. 689 01:05:14,600 --> 01:05:21,720 We should not be choosing our infrastructure without considering cost. 690 01:05:22,360 --> 01:05:29,300 We have no right to be a cost blind decision maker. 691 01:05:29,300 --> 01:05:36,220 We don't operate with unlimited money even the wealthiest people and I know many of the wealthiest 692 01:05:36,220 --> 01:05:36,520 people. 693 01:05:36,660 --> 01:05:41,320 I live in a city with one of the highest ratios of billionaires and I'm telling you you don't 694 01:05:41,320 --> 01:05:47,260 get to be a billionaire without thinking looking at how much things cost before making a decision 695 01:05:47,260 --> 01:05:48,600 about what you should do. 696 01:05:49,420 --> 01:05:58,820 So I think, you know, here I come, shaken things up, I think we need to consider cost when 697 01:05:58,820 --> 01:06:06,080 decide what infrastructure we are going to build. And until we start to do that, we will be 698 01:06:06,080 --> 01:06:20,900 fundamentally harming the public and harming the ratepayers. We must have a cost drive infrastructure. 699 01:06:23,000 --> 01:06:32,040 Infrastructure follows costs not the reverse and we must think about the impact on rates before deciding what to do. 700 01:06:33,540 --> 01:06:40,460 And, you know, I miss Collins, you know, I've heard you say that and it reflects the current approach of this board. 701 01:06:41,140 --> 01:06:49,400 Until we change that approach, we are never going to be financially responsible to those whom we are supposed to be serving. 702 01:06:50,440 --> 01:06:56,980 No one in the world makes, cause, makes decisions without knowing how much things cost. 703 01:06:57,880 --> 01:07:01,720 I mean, would you buy a house for the same house as on the market? 704 01:07:01,860 --> 01:07:04,200 One is $1 million, the other is $10 million. 705 01:07:05,140 --> 01:07:10,080 One of them is painted blue, the other is painted pink, and you prefer blue. 706 01:07:10,480 --> 01:07:12,900 So do you choose the $10 million dollar house? 707 01:07:14,340 --> 01:07:16,000 No, you don't. 708 01:07:16,000 --> 01:07:29,560 You choose the one million dollar house and you pay $10,000 to repaint it. So, we are operating differently than any rational decision maker. 709 01:07:30,460 --> 01:07:39,620 So, we need to rethink this. We need to make a decision as to what infrastructure we do based on how much it costs. 710 01:07:39,620 --> 01:07:44,220 And until we change that, we're just ripping people off. 711 01:07:44,460 --> 01:07:47,040 So I'm not going to be supporting any of this, 712 01:07:47,140 --> 01:07:51,280 because A and support of the Ag, you know, my friends and colleagues 713 01:07:51,280 --> 01:07:53,760 and partners and agriculture, I am from Wisconsin, 714 01:07:54,300 --> 01:07:56,460 and agriculture state, I respect them. 715 01:07:56,860 --> 01:07:57,860 We need them. 716 01:07:58,420 --> 01:08:02,000 And B, because it is a broken, it's a broken strategy 717 01:08:02,000 --> 01:08:05,400 to be cost-blind while making infrastructure decisions. 718 01:08:06,100 --> 01:08:07,720 I recognize that's how it's been done. 719 01:08:07,720 --> 01:08:11,720 But we got to change it. Thank you. 720 01:08:12,960 --> 01:08:20,680 Okay. Director Horaela, I think I accidentally deleted you earlier in that, right? 721 01:08:21,420 --> 01:08:25,520 Yeah. So go ahead. I think you want to second one. 722 01:08:26,120 --> 01:08:29,000 Okay. Thank you, Chair. I appreciate that. 723 01:08:29,220 --> 01:08:31,360 Carmen, can you go to page 22, please? 724 01:08:33,980 --> 01:08:40,640 So, myself and Director Santos attended and directed about attended the Agriculture Committee 725 01:08:40,640 --> 01:08:50,020 in yesterday, and we heard a quite a few statements, several were concerning, and referenced 726 01:08:50,020 --> 01:08:51,480 to our infrastructure projects. 727 01:08:51,600 --> 01:08:59,460 One was targeting Anderson Dam, suggesting that we should demolish that project entirely, 728 01:08:59,460 --> 01:09:04,260 and going from what it is to perhaps upon that some sort. 729 01:09:05,160 --> 01:09:06,340 And I thought, well, that's interesting. 730 01:09:07,520 --> 01:09:10,380 In a community of Santa Clara County, 731 01:09:11,360 --> 01:09:13,180 which exponentially is growing, 732 01:09:14,100 --> 01:09:17,320 although there are some reports that we're losing people. 733 01:09:17,600 --> 01:09:18,760 They're moving away from California. 734 01:09:19,360 --> 01:09:21,540 Other suggest people are coming to California 735 01:09:21,540 --> 01:09:24,460 because there are job opportunities here. 736 01:09:26,000 --> 01:09:28,620 Earlier, we attended and listened to 737 01:09:28,620 --> 01:09:31,940 of joint venture silicon valley state of the valley index, 738 01:09:32,680 --> 01:09:33,720 which is an annual event, 739 01:09:34,280 --> 01:09:38,040 but gives you a perspective of what is happening 740 01:09:38,040 --> 01:09:39,400 in silicon valley. 741 01:09:40,680 --> 01:09:43,600 And we are the technology center of the planet, essentially. 742 01:09:44,140 --> 01:09:48,100 Others look to the valley as to innovation, 743 01:09:49,020 --> 01:09:52,580 a project development, and cookie cuttering that 744 01:09:52,580 --> 01:09:53,900 and taking to other parts of the world, 745 01:09:54,060 --> 01:09:55,000 and other parts of the country. 746 01:09:55,840 --> 01:09:57,780 But that's what we represent, and that's what we are. 747 01:09:58,900 --> 01:09:59,980 And in those meetings, 748 01:10:00,000 --> 01:10:10,100 I hear positive comments from various leaders, such as the President of Stanford University, the President 749 01:10:10,100 --> 01:10:17,280 from San Jose State, CSU program, Santa Clara University, and the leadership and education from those 750 01:10:17,280 --> 01:10:23,280 institutions about what they see and how they see the growth and development within our communities. 751 01:10:23,280 --> 01:10:28,660 And I use the word development because we are growing. Each of our cities, if you look around 752 01:10:28,660 --> 01:10:34,060 with the city of San Jose, he's growing exponentially, city of Morgan Hill, where I live is growing, 753 01:10:34,500 --> 01:10:40,660 city of Morgan Hill, Gilroy is growing, and the unincorporated area of the county is also growing. 754 01:10:42,060 --> 01:10:47,580 At yesterday's agriculture meeting, we heard comments being mentioned that agriculture is 755 01:10:47,580 --> 01:10:56,180 diminishing, that it's dying in the valley, and that we need to look at what we as valley water 756 01:10:56,180 --> 01:11:04,060 are doing to be part of the cause for that diminishing productivity of agriculture within our 757 01:11:04,060 --> 01:11:09,120 county. And primarily in District 1, which is what I represent. And the reason why I wanted 758 01:11:09,120 --> 01:11:13,920 us to take a look at this graph in front of a sweet tail agencies. If you look at this graph, 759 01:11:13,960 --> 01:11:21,540 and this tells you, is you a view of what other regions in the state, what their costs 760 01:11:21,540 --> 01:11:31,580 are for water, wholesale costs, etc. Now if you go to the bottom part of this chart, that shows 761 01:11:31,580 --> 01:11:40,880 you what valley water costs are in comparing other key residential suburban agricultural regions 762 01:11:40,880 --> 01:11:48,480 in the state of California are paid. Our threshold is one of the lowest and cost of water 763 01:11:48,480 --> 01:11:52,820 to our constituents, the two men and people that we 764 01:11:52,820 --> 01:11:56,080 plus or minus, depending on who's counting heads today, 765 01:11:56,760 --> 01:11:57,540 that we represent. 766 01:11:58,580 --> 01:12:00,780 That is the bottom line. 767 01:12:01,240 --> 01:12:02,840 That tells the whole story. 768 01:12:03,600 --> 01:12:05,020 So sure, there are opinions. 769 01:12:06,120 --> 01:12:07,900 Very important to listen to those opinions, 770 01:12:08,400 --> 01:12:10,640 but that's all they are, are opinions 771 01:12:10,640 --> 01:12:14,060 of what they see as what we are not presenting 772 01:12:14,060 --> 01:12:18,280 to the value of what agricultural represents in this area. 773 01:12:19,540 --> 01:12:22,860 Our my perspective on that is, well, just look at the graph. 774 01:12:23,860 --> 01:12:25,000 Now, let me ask you a question. 775 01:12:25,440 --> 01:12:28,620 If the open space credit, if the open space credit did not exist, 776 01:12:29,020 --> 01:12:32,360 if that was not part of the process, what would our water reach be? 777 01:12:33,220 --> 01:12:37,560 Well, for agriculture, the water rate would be the same as that 778 01:12:37,560 --> 01:12:39,360 and then I rate within all four zones. 779 01:12:39,920 --> 01:12:43,020 And we're projecting the open space credit to provide nearly $13 million. 780 01:12:43,020 --> 01:12:45,800 next year to offset that full cost of revenue. 781 01:12:46,180 --> 01:12:50,640 So that keeps the cost of water at a much lower rate. 782 01:12:51,320 --> 01:12:55,380 And without that in place, the agricultural rate 783 01:12:55,380 --> 01:12:58,140 should be the same as every community in the county, essentially. 784 01:12:59,120 --> 01:13:03,120 Our agricultural rates would be the same as the M&I rates by zone. 785 01:13:03,440 --> 01:13:04,320 OK, that's it. 786 01:13:04,320 --> 01:13:05,160 As I went over earlier. 787 01:13:05,160 --> 01:13:05,860 OK, by zone. 788 01:13:06,440 --> 01:13:09,480 So again, I want to repeat that yesterday's meeting 789 01:13:09,480 --> 01:13:11,260 was rather contentious. 790 01:13:11,260 --> 01:13:19,600 There was vitriol, there was anger, there was finger pointing at valley water, and I'm thinking, 791 01:13:20,480 --> 01:13:22,220 you know, this is really interesting. 792 01:13:22,880 --> 01:13:29,880 I know Director Santos and I am Dr. Bell have said on other agriculture water agencies up and down the region. 793 01:13:29,960 --> 01:13:36,880 From San Luis, Delta, Mendoza, which is the breadbasket and some people's opinions of the entire United States, 794 01:13:36,880 --> 01:13:39,140 from Bakersfield to Sacramento. 795 01:13:41,020 --> 01:13:44,380 Water resares, like Westland's water, 796 01:13:45,800 --> 01:13:49,180 Bryant, and other major water providers in that region. 797 01:13:49,860 --> 01:13:52,580 And we never hear these kinds of discussions or arguments 798 01:13:52,580 --> 01:13:55,120 from the largest agricultural center in the planet 799 01:13:55,120 --> 01:13:59,980 on the West Coast, from the central coast 800 01:13:59,980 --> 01:14:02,240 from Santa Barbara to San Francisco. 801 01:14:02,740 --> 01:14:05,120 The salad bowl from Salinas, Monterey, 802 01:14:05,120 --> 01:14:09,640 The Santa Cruz region of farmers that ice it on their boards along with director Santos. 803 01:14:10,120 --> 01:14:15,580 We don't hear the complaints that we're hearing here from the agriculture community. 804 01:14:16,040 --> 01:14:17,440 So I personally don't get it. 805 01:14:17,740 --> 01:14:19,040 I really don't. 806 01:14:19,360 --> 01:14:23,400 Yeah, they're requesting certain things and we're going to perform. 807 01:14:23,800 --> 01:14:25,840 We're going to give them the information that they request. 808 01:14:28,210 --> 01:14:30,590 Ask in the board to delay our process. 809 01:14:30,970 --> 01:14:33,190 Well, that's a question whether or not we choose to do that. 810 01:14:33,230 --> 01:14:35,650 That's an action decision that could be made by this board. 811 01:14:35,650 --> 01:14:40,530 So I just wanted to give you one director's perspective on what agriculture now. 812 01:14:41,010 --> 01:14:42,430 Do we need farming in this region? 813 01:14:42,910 --> 01:14:43,550 Is it important? 814 01:14:43,690 --> 01:14:44,130 Absolutely. 815 01:14:44,610 --> 01:14:45,130 It is. 816 01:14:45,830 --> 01:14:52,950 But from their own mouths, they're saying agriculture in this region is dying from their own mouths. 817 01:14:53,870 --> 01:14:58,330 I don't see that happening, but they know things I don't though, because that's how I make my living. 818 01:14:58,390 --> 01:14:59,190 They do that. 819 01:15:00,000 --> 01:15:05,900 I see it friday. In the regions where I live, most of the farming area is located. 820 01:15:08,000 --> 01:15:13,340 So, again, it's an opinion, but that's my opinion. That's what I see. That's what I want to say to you. 821 01:15:13,880 --> 01:15:18,860 Okay, thank you. The next one is Director Bell. 822 01:15:22,700 --> 01:15:29,200 appreciate their presentation. I know we're going to be working on this over the next 823 01:15:29,200 --> 01:15:36,580 month with the public, my colleagues, and staff. 824 01:15:39,440 --> 01:15:44,020 So my question is on the fiscal financial 825 01:15:44,020 --> 01:15:54,000 outlook of the water utility systems. Can I ask a question? Does conservation save the tax 826 01:15:54,000 --> 01:15:55,260 Okay. 827 01:15:58,750 --> 01:15:59,030 Pardon? 828 01:15:59,970 --> 01:16:00,230 Yes. 829 01:16:00,350 --> 01:16:01,350 In the long run it does. 830 01:16:04,210 --> 01:16:11,490 Is there an indication in this budget anywhere, and I'm looking at the financial outlook, 831 01:16:12,010 --> 01:16:18,030 exactly how much money or what's our proposed conservation, water conservation, 832 01:16:20,950 --> 01:16:21,690 budget would 833 01:16:21,690 --> 01:16:33,130 what kind of action specifically and in a way where we can evaluate whether or not we're doing 834 01:16:33,130 --> 01:16:39,450 the best we can because we'll save money. We'll save money. So are we doing the best 835 01:16:39,450 --> 01:16:50,930 we can and what other things can we do? That is to me, something I don't see here and 836 01:16:50,930 --> 01:16:55,790 maybe you can get some supplemental information on that, okay. 837 01:16:58,030 --> 01:17:04,710 The other part is that we turned to that, I guess it's the estimated 838 01:17:04,710 --> 01:17:10,010 conservation, you know, how much, you know, we're spending, you know, I'm saying, 839 01:17:10,170 --> 01:17:14,010 we're going down to Home Depot, we're going down to Lowes, we're buying all kinds of plants, 840 01:17:14,750 --> 01:17:20,610 we're going, we're going in to put in drip irrigation systems, all that all 841 01:17:20,610 --> 01:17:30,110 homeowners are having projects and we're building modern buildings that have better 842 01:17:30,110 --> 01:17:31,010 conservation. 843 01:17:34,410 --> 01:17:44,490 What kind of savings do we attribute to conservation? When I look at the chart 844 01:17:44,490 --> 01:17:54,190 on page 8 there. It looks like essentially none. No, no, no, no attribution of conservation. 845 01:17:56,730 --> 01:18:05,150 And I think actually we're projecting a pretty good increase in water usage over the next 846 01:18:05,150 --> 01:18:16,590 for four years, that kind of flattens out a little bit, but my concern is that we talk 847 01:18:16,590 --> 01:18:25,530 about the drought bounce back, but we should also be talking about the laws, the technological 848 01:18:25,530 --> 01:18:27,050 improvements on construction, 849 01:18:29,090 --> 01:18:38,730 all the water conservation efforts that we can institute, which 850 01:18:38,730 --> 01:18:49,870 are really cost effective in terms of spending our taxpayer's money to protect the taxpayer 851 01:18:49,870 --> 01:18:58,490 from large rating increases. The other thing that conservation does is it allows us a little 852 01:18:58,490 --> 01:19:03,970 more flexibility on looking long range in terms of when we need some of these major capital 853 01:19:03,970 --> 01:19:05,050 improvement programs. 854 01:19:07,730 --> 01:19:12,210 If you plan to capital budget over a long period of time and you have 855 01:19:12,210 --> 01:19:22,310 little bit extra conservation. Maybe you don't need to complete them in an expeditious 856 01:19:22,310 --> 01:19:29,910 quick manner. Maybe you have a little more time to look at how we're doing on conservation. 857 01:19:31,030 --> 01:19:44,600 And I think it's worth something to look at. When I looked at source of supply in the 858 01:19:48,790 --> 01:19:53,890 I'd like to know what the total cost of all the projects that relate to importing water is. 859 01:19:54,090 --> 01:19:58,730 Okay, we import what percentage of our water is imported, like 40 percent, right? 860 01:19:59,050 --> 01:19:59,970 40, plus the future. 861 01:20:00,000 --> 01:20:07,260 You see another 10%. Well, if you take out the P.C. part and look at the other 40 percent, how much money 862 01:20:07,260 --> 01:20:12,440 are we spending on all the projects? I'm talking going from sites, I'm talking to Delta 863 01:20:12,440 --> 01:20:20,020 Companions, which I just spent all day, Thursday, touring, talking to him about it, 864 01:20:25,980 --> 01:20:26,940 learning, learning 865 01:20:26,940 --> 01:20:36,820 Now upgrade fixed, the cis dam raise, the pipelines in our county that we are building, 866 01:20:37,920 --> 01:20:42,060 the rehabilitation of those pipelines over the, we're going to do some rehabilitation 867 01:20:42,060 --> 01:20:46,860 over the next 50 years I assume, the pipes I'm going to last forever, we have to fix them 868 01:20:46,860 --> 01:20:49,920 everyone's, you know, every few years. 869 01:20:49,920 --> 01:20:54,140 So what is total cost of the importing water, 870 01:20:56,460 --> 01:21:00,340 and how is that fit into this? 871 01:21:00,340 --> 01:21:02,120 What is the cost of that? 872 01:21:02,980 --> 01:21:05,100 So I would like to answer this on that. 873 01:21:06,500 --> 01:21:16,790 The other thing I noticed in the report, I tried to find out, okay, we were talking about 874 01:21:17,730 --> 01:21:25,190 For my tenure here, I've been talking about, I know the board has been supporting this, 875 01:21:26,470 --> 01:21:29,090 trying to get the advanced water purification program. 876 01:21:30,310 --> 01:21:38,490 And what we were talking about was we wanted to put an emphasis not just on the so-called 877 01:21:38,490 --> 01:21:44,290 test advanced water treatment facility, but the bigger picture 878 01:21:45,950 --> 01:21:51,530 facility, and I noticed that in the budget that they have the financial 879 01:21:51,530 --> 01:21:57,270 outlook in some page 59, it says it is an unfunded capital improvement 880 01:21:57,270 --> 01:21:59,270 program. It's not funded. 881 01:22:01,440 --> 01:22:04,920 So that's not been considered in this particular 882 01:22:04,920 --> 01:22:09,620 plant. So it's is unfunded. 883 01:22:12,960 --> 01:22:22,180 A lot of the cost of capital projects has since 2020, 2019, 884 01:22:22,300 --> 01:22:29,300 you know, pre-COVID, COVID hit us, all the capital budgets went airy, you know, these 885 01:22:29,300 --> 01:22:32,620 to go up, like, for what 4%, I think, 886 01:22:32,840 --> 01:22:35,800 cow transges to say, 4%, 5% infrastructure, 887 01:22:36,760 --> 01:22:40,100 cost increase, no longer since 2019. 888 01:22:40,400 --> 01:22:43,740 I mean, we're talking, like, 10, 12%, correct? 889 01:22:44,720 --> 01:22:53,210 So the question is, on this, how much cost increase 890 01:22:53,210 --> 01:22:59,050 are we using as a reasonable estimate based on the last five 891 01:22:59,050 --> 01:23:01,350 and it's based on certain things. 892 01:23:01,550 --> 01:23:05,730 It's based on supply, materials, labor costs, 893 01:23:06,270 --> 01:23:07,730 those things are going up. 894 01:23:07,770 --> 01:23:11,190 Labor supply shortage, it's an index. 895 01:23:11,490 --> 01:23:14,330 And we see they evaluate this very carefully. 896 01:23:15,670 --> 01:23:16,590 And it's an index. 897 01:23:17,450 --> 01:23:19,370 And it goes up and up and up. 898 01:23:19,450 --> 01:23:27,310 And we're looking at 10, since COVID, 10, 12% a year. 899 01:23:27,310 --> 01:23:31,090 I mean it goes up and down sometimes more than that, sometimes a little less, 900 01:23:33,310 --> 01:23:34,670 so we see what 901 01:23:34,670 --> 01:23:41,110 happened with the Anderson Project, what happened quite a bit, and you know, I don't blame the staff, 902 01:23:41,290 --> 01:23:50,210 I don't blame the board, I don't blame anybody, it's a bigger global national international 903 01:23:51,430 --> 01:23:52,510 issue, okay? 904 01:23:54,590 --> 01:23:58,470 Because the supply shortage is affecting the whole world, basically. 905 01:23:59,410 --> 01:24:04,870 Steel, where are you going to get steel? Where are you going to get materials? Labor shortage 906 01:24:04,870 --> 01:24:10,070 people are not working anymore. We need to have more people working. Where are you going 907 01:24:10,070 --> 01:24:17,810 to get those people? So in terms of this budget though, where what is real, how does that relate 908 01:24:17,810 --> 01:24:25,770 to the projected costs, construction costs, indexes that we see in general since in other places. 909 01:24:26,150 --> 01:24:30,650 You know, do we have a, understand, now I've asked this before, I never really got an answer 910 01:24:30,650 --> 01:24:31,470 of this. 911 01:24:31,870 --> 01:24:38,370 That had no response, but I want to get the answer on that and I want it in writing and I want 912 01:24:38,370 --> 01:24:41,130 it for the public to peruse so we can have a discussion. 913 01:24:41,130 --> 01:24:55,090 Okay, so the groundwater is the groundwater program, a cost effective in terms of your water supply. 914 01:24:58,430 --> 01:24:58,510 Yes. 915 01:24:58,990 --> 01:24:59,330 Yes. 916 01:24:59,530 --> 01:24:59,710 Yes. 917 01:25:01,980 --> 01:25:15,500 So is there a way we can maximize the groundwater recaptured programs? Do we have a better plan on that? Is there some options we could take? 918 01:25:17,660 --> 01:25:25,080 We need to look at, we want to, this is like a 10-year thing. We're not just looking at the budget or five-year looking over 10-year. 919 01:25:25,780 --> 01:25:38,740 So, the groundwater recapture, I think, could be a viable answer to people that are concerned 920 01:25:40,460 --> 01:25:45,920 about the rating creases, they could say, well, we can save water, we can do this, we 921 01:25:45,920 --> 01:25:46,800 could be smart. 922 01:25:49,840 --> 01:25:56,140 We could try to expedite some of these cost-effective, smarter scale kind 923 01:25:56,140 --> 01:26:00,500 of projects all over the county. Some of the guys at the Ag meeting yesterday talked 924 01:26:00,500 --> 01:26:10,000 about pawns, you know, things like that. I mean, there were sometimes that's feasible, 925 01:26:10,000 --> 01:26:17,320 sometime it isn't. So I'm making my comments here. I'm not forming conclusions. I'm asking for 926 01:26:17,320 --> 01:26:24,200 information. I want information. I've asked for some of this before. When I went out of the 927 01:26:24,200 --> 01:26:29,860 Delta, I said, you know, I only asked one question, the whole tour. You know what the question was? 928 01:26:31,340 --> 01:26:33,880 When was your cost estimate done? 929 01:26:36,560 --> 01:26:39,340 Because you know how I am. I want to know if it was done. 930 01:26:39,340 --> 01:26:49,500 yesterday and it was, you know, it was done, it was done in 2020 and in 2019 so I was 931 01:26:49,500 --> 01:26:53,200 saying, okay, you estimate $20 billion. 932 01:26:57,950 --> 01:27:04,230 2019 numbers, what's the 2025 number? What's 933 01:27:04,230 --> 01:27:12,460 the 2030 number? I think it's very important when we talk about these large-scale 934 01:27:14,220 --> 01:27:21,140 construction projects to be transparent about what the cost to date and in the future 935 01:27:21,140 --> 01:27:29,120 during our water supply discussion, setting rates for people, tell them how much taxes 936 01:27:29,120 --> 01:27:35,240 they're going to have to pay. I don't like to go in and say, well, you're going to have 937 01:27:35,240 --> 01:27:42,340 a $8, $10 increase per month over $100 a year and then say, well, we made a little 938 01:27:42,340 --> 01:27:48,240 state because we got this bill from this and we got bill from this construction project and 939 01:27:48,240 --> 01:27:52,780 now it's going to be $200 so you can have another $100 and 940 01:27:55,310 --> 01:27:56,710 that's why that's why we have 941 01:27:56,710 --> 01:28:02,250 to be honest and when we're making decisions we base it on what's the most cost effective. 942 01:28:04,030 --> 01:28:11,690 What's the most cost effective? So when we throw out things because we're using numbers that 943 01:28:11,690 --> 01:28:21,910 no good. That is not being a good fiscal watchdog. So I want to be a good fiscal watchdog 944 01:28:21,910 --> 01:28:28,690 in doing this plan. And I'm asking these questions so that we get answers. And I'd 945 01:28:28,690 --> 01:28:31,190 like to have the staff to have a chance to give me the answers. 946 01:28:33,360 --> 01:28:34,280 Because I know I can get 947 01:28:34,280 --> 01:28:40,220 the answers elsewhere. But I'd like to have the staff, you know, let's get the real answers 948 01:28:40,220 --> 01:28:46,340 year. I've asked them before. I want the answers. Thank you. 949 01:28:48,760 --> 01:28:49,560 Director Keegan. 950 01:28:51,700 --> 01:28:55,960 Thank you and thank you to staff for a very thorough presentation. 951 01:28:56,280 --> 01:29:04,060 And I'd also like to thank my colleagues today for bringing up a number of important ideas. 952 01:29:05,680 --> 01:29:10,140 Some questions that might be helpful, not just for the board, but for the community to have a better 953 01:29:10,140 --> 01:29:22,800 understanding of what's going on here. I'm a few specific questions if we look at page 14 of attachment to that shows the infrastructure. 954 01:29:24,720 --> 01:29:25,300 Great. 955 01:29:27,500 --> 01:29:34,860 So I really like this graphic because it's helpful for people. They're able to look at, okay, here's North County, here's South County, here's what's shared. 956 01:29:34,860 --> 01:29:41,380 So, I still always have this feeling that advanced purified water, since it improves overall 957 01:29:41,380 --> 01:29:47,620 system reliability, is something that should be a shared cost, but I'll save that argument 958 01:29:47,620 --> 01:29:49,020 for another time. 959 01:29:50,240 --> 01:29:58,300 Looking at the shared projects, Anderson Coyote, Pacheco, and the imported water from the Central 960 01:29:58,300 --> 01:29:59,220 Valley Project. 961 01:30:00,000 --> 01:30:04,620 How do we allocate those costs between North County and South County? 962 01:30:06,900 --> 01:30:08,700 Thank you, Director. I can put a question. 963 01:30:09,620 --> 01:30:16,700 So we use several different allocation methods to allocate costs between North and South County, and it really comes down to the benefits provided. 964 01:30:18,360 --> 01:30:24,340 So for imported water, it could be based on the volume of water, right? That is used in North County versus the South County zones. 965 01:30:24,540 --> 01:30:27,700 We therefore allocate those costs based on that relative proportion. 966 01:30:30,040 --> 01:30:38,430 So given the fact that 967 01:30:40,480 --> 01:31:01,920 South County has a lot of agriculture, they actually use more water but they're getting a diminished charge, if you will, but in terms of like individual homeowners, so less water means less people in South County, more water consumption because there's more people in North County. 968 01:31:01,920 --> 01:31:10,420 But looking at the average household, what would be, are they paying relatively equal costs for that? 969 01:31:13,600 --> 01:31:17,900 If I could go back to the common on the egg rate, just briefly, if you don't mind. 970 01:31:19,360 --> 01:31:24,580 So about half the water, district manage water use in South County is egg, right? 971 01:31:24,680 --> 01:31:29,640 And that's, we do have the lower rate, it's offset by the open space credit, right? 972 01:31:29,640 --> 01:31:37,020 and so that's non-brain revenue being used to offset those costs. Now when you ask about the average 973 01:31:37,020 --> 01:31:42,420 household, do you mean a well owner or do you mean a retail customer, like a Morgan Hill or 974 01:31:42,420 --> 01:31:47,080 Gayle? I'd say probably the easiest way would be a retail customer because that way we're 975 01:31:47,080 --> 01:31:52,900 comparing apples to apples, right? Because most of the residents or water users in North County 976 01:31:52,900 --> 01:31:59,320 are retail users. Sure, and so I guess I would respond that if you're a retail customer, 977 01:31:59,320 --> 01:32:04,780 Morgan Hill are you pay for their cost on top of the cost of the wholesale water that they 978 01:32:04,780 --> 01:32:09,800 pump from the ground that we provide and it's based on their distribution system in their 979 01:32:09,800 --> 01:32:14,900 own infrastructure and so their rates would be relatively similar but still different. 980 01:32:18,720 --> 01:32:20,380 Perhaps I'm not understanding your question clearly. 981 01:32:21,520 --> 01:32:30,590 I guess that I just want to make sure that like, you know, I have many low-income residents 982 01:32:30,590 --> 01:32:39,490 in my community, Director Estromera has even more, and those people are more impacted by 983 01:32:39,490 --> 01:32:47,130 these increases in water rates, right? And so I just want to see that it's an equitable split. 984 01:32:47,230 --> 01:32:55,780 If the costs are increasing by, you know, I don't know, let's say $5 on someone's bill, 985 01:32:55,980 --> 01:33:01,640 because these shared things, is it roughly equivalent to $5 in North County and the $5 in 986 01:33:01,640 --> 01:33:05,960 South County or is it $5.00 in North County and $1.50 in South County? 987 01:33:06,340 --> 01:33:10,800 I just want to know if there's a certain level of parity and I don't have an intuitive 988 01:33:10,800 --> 01:33:12,780 understanding of that. 989 01:33:13,220 --> 01:33:19,760 I think I can answer that question by saying that our wholesale water rates are different 990 01:33:19,760 --> 01:33:21,040 across different zones. 991 01:33:21,660 --> 01:33:28,180 So in Zone W2, what staff is recommending is an increase in the wholesale water rate that 992 01:33:28,180 --> 01:33:34,900 impact an average homeowner to the tune of just under nine dollars per month, whereas the wholesale 993 01:33:34,900 --> 01:33:40,440 water rate recommended increase in the South County ranges from a dollar to three dollars. 994 01:33:40,980 --> 01:33:48,120 In terms of impact to the average homeowner, and in our costs are based on the benefits provided 995 01:33:48,120 --> 01:33:55,120 in each particular zone. So the graphic here is meant to show why is there a different rate 996 01:33:55,120 --> 01:34:00,640 amongst the different zones. It's not meant to reflect decision making into the future with 997 01:34:00,640 --> 01:34:06,500 regard to water supply projects. It's meant to show that given this infrastructure and 998 01:34:06,500 --> 01:34:11,520 the costs and weigh the water flows through that infrastructure based on how the water 999 01:34:11,520 --> 01:34:16,940 flows, for example, for Anderson Dam, 80% of the water flows to North County, 20% of 1000 01:34:16,940 --> 01:34:21,460 water flows for South County. Therefore, North County bears 80% of the cost of that product, 1001 01:34:21,460 --> 01:34:24,520 South County bears 20% of the cost of that project. 1002 01:34:24,860 --> 01:34:30,320 So our costs flow in the way that infrastructure 1003 01:34:30,320 --> 01:34:34,480 or is driven by infrastructure as our rates are today. 1004 01:34:35,120 --> 01:34:38,240 So what's the population difference between North County 1005 01:34:38,240 --> 01:34:43,180 and South County wouldn't that be in the 80, 20 kind of range? 1006 01:34:43,920 --> 01:34:46,160 And that's all factored into the rate projection, right? 1007 01:34:46,500 --> 01:34:48,800 So when you think about your costs 1008 01:34:48,800 --> 01:34:57,680 And the simple calculation of your water rates is costs divided by water use, or based on your water use, right? 1009 01:34:58,140 --> 01:34:59,980 So the population is going to... 1010 01:35:00,000 --> 01:35:05,900 Use a certain amount of water. So that's all reflected in the water rates that we are projecting here for you today. 1011 01:35:07,100 --> 01:35:12,960 I guess I need to see some more detailed information on that. So if staff could provide that, it would be helpful. 1012 01:35:13,240 --> 01:35:30,820 Thank you so much. And if we look at, if we look at page 15 and we look at the cost increases that we're looking at. 1013 01:35:33,260 --> 01:35:43,600 A big driver for these increase increases in the groundwater, charge is due to our CIP, correct? 1014 01:35:44,000 --> 01:35:45,220 Yes, that is correct. 1015 01:35:48,240 --> 01:35:52,540 So what percentage of the increase would we say? 1016 01:35:52,840 --> 01:35:56,380 So we're like North County, 12.9 percent of that, 12.9 percent. 1017 01:35:56,440 --> 01:36:01,020 How many percentages are related to infrastructure? 1018 01:36:04,670 --> 01:36:06,230 And if you don't have an answer. 1019 01:36:06,630 --> 01:36:07,110 Yeah, thank you. 1020 01:36:07,470 --> 01:36:08,670 It's a good question. 1021 01:36:09,090 --> 01:36:09,370 It's a good question. 1022 01:36:09,370 --> 01:36:10,090 It's a good question. 1023 01:36:10,550 --> 01:36:12,330 We could come back with that information. 1024 01:36:12,650 --> 01:36:16,950 And I'd also just like to highlight the information that was presented at the March 26th 1025 01:36:16,950 --> 01:36:22,990 Board meeting, where we broke down this, where we broke down by zone, 1026 01:36:23,570 --> 01:36:26,890 our, what's included in our rates with those incremental capital investments. 1027 01:36:27,350 --> 01:36:29,790 So we, but we can get back with that information. 1028 01:36:30,470 --> 01:36:37,030 You know how it is, the first time you hear something, you need that power of repetition, right, to hear it over and over again. 1029 01:36:37,350 --> 01:36:46,010 So thank you for that. And then, you know, lastly, I just have to say, 1030 01:36:50,290 --> 01:36:56,350 over the last 12 years, this is my 12th time of going through something like this. 1031 01:36:56,350 --> 01:37:00,530 I've been questioned by constituents on our groundwater, 1032 01:37:02,630 --> 01:37:06,350 charge, increasing on the cost of water to them, increasing. 1033 01:37:07,870 --> 01:37:09,090 And I've defended that. 1034 01:37:09,090 --> 01:37:12,270 I've said, you know, we're making a reinvestment and infrastructure. 1035 01:37:12,810 --> 01:37:17,470 There's things that we need to do, deferred maintenance from the past. 1036 01:37:17,690 --> 01:37:20,370 And I felt comfortable with my response. 1037 01:37:20,370 --> 01:37:27,890 But I have to say, I think we've reached a point where I no longer feel that it's 1038 01:37:27,890 --> 01:37:29,790 defensible in that same way. 1039 01:37:30,270 --> 01:37:36,550 I really think, and when we talk about the CIP, I think that's the opportunity for talking 1040 01:37:36,550 --> 01:37:37,750 further about it. 1041 01:37:37,950 --> 01:37:48,070 But I feel like our CIP, we need to scrutinize it more carefully as director Bell was saying, 1042 01:37:48,070 --> 01:37:52,930 Maybe there is an opportunity to defer some projects, 1043 01:37:54,250 --> 01:37:57,870 maybe even, you know, downscale some projects. 1044 01:37:57,990 --> 01:38:01,230 Whatever it might be, or even the validity of some projects. 1045 01:38:01,390 --> 01:38:06,210 I think that if I felt like we'd exhausted all those things, 1046 01:38:06,290 --> 01:38:10,470 I could get back to the point where I'd be able to defend these projects 1047 01:38:10,470 --> 01:38:12,730 or, you know, these costing creases. 1048 01:38:13,270 --> 01:38:15,970 And I've a feeling that what we hear from the water condition, 1049 01:38:16,530 --> 01:38:21,270 They're not going to be happy about these either and those are the people that we have 1050 01:38:21,270 --> 01:38:26,090 to respond to because they represent our constituents in the individual communities. 1051 01:38:27,690 --> 01:38:33,810 So thank you again for the presentation and if I could have those questions answered it would be 1052 01:38:33,810 --> 01:38:34,110 wonderful. 1053 01:38:34,390 --> 01:38:34,930 Thank you so much. 1054 01:38:35,490 --> 01:38:36,610 Thank you. 1055 01:38:45,390 --> 01:38:45,950 Okay. 1056 01:38:45,950 --> 01:38:49,730 of our capital improvements continues to come up. 1057 01:38:50,030 --> 01:38:55,770 We're not reviewing that we need these infrastructure like we haven't put off a number of projects. 1058 01:38:56,490 --> 01:39:08,790 So I really do think that we ought to have a work study session where we do review the CIP because it's important for us to look at every single one of the projects. 1059 01:39:09,570 --> 01:39:12,950 I know that some of the projects in my own district have been put off. 1060 01:39:14,190 --> 01:39:17,150 There's a number and other districts that have been put off. 1061 01:39:19,090 --> 01:39:26,550 I don't think that we have time halls here, but the only way that people are going to 1062 01:39:26,550 --> 01:39:32,930 believe that is for us to review it and show it, because as we continue to mention, when 1063 01:39:32,930 --> 01:39:40,570 a situation where we have to rebuild a lot of our infrastructure, much of our infrastructure 1064 01:39:40,570 --> 01:39:46,010 isn't seen. It's not like you drive down the street and you see all our pipes hanging out and 1065 01:39:46,010 --> 01:39:53,890 you see them being destroyed. We don't want to wait until they start blowing up and flooding neighborhoods. 1066 01:39:55,290 --> 01:39:59,970 So we need to talk about that. I think for us to have a committee that looks like 1067 01:40:00,000 --> 01:40:10,000 We're looking at it once in a while. We're looking at it once for each project when it comes up or when it's absolutely necessary to do. 1068 01:40:11,140 --> 01:40:17,380 It's fine for us, but I think it's important for the public to look at what it is that we're doing. 1069 01:40:18,040 --> 01:40:26,260 They're just like when we talk to people in the neighborhoods who have a treatment plan. 1070 01:40:27,340 --> 01:40:35,820 In their neighborhood, why they haven't there, what it means, what protections we provide for it, 1071 01:40:35,820 --> 01:40:37,120 why it costs so much more. 1072 01:40:37,880 --> 01:40:43,420 It's why when we have public hearings, it costs us a lot to have public hearings. 1073 01:40:44,680 --> 01:40:45,240 Why? 1074 01:40:45,900 --> 01:40:48,860 Because we have to review what's going on. 1075 01:40:49,180 --> 01:40:52,280 We have to have a lot of staff present. 1076 01:40:52,580 --> 01:40:54,620 We have to have contractors present. 1077 01:40:55,000 --> 01:40:57,160 So then we can add some questions and we can make presentations. 1078 01:40:57,740 --> 01:40:58,580 So all of that costs. 1079 01:40:59,320 --> 01:41:00,320 But it's value. 1080 01:41:00,560 --> 01:41:01,220 It's necessary. 1081 01:41:02,000 --> 01:41:03,560 And we want to provide that. 1082 01:41:03,760 --> 01:41:05,220 What is the same thing for infrastructure? 1083 01:41:05,220 --> 01:41:09,240 in that situation where we're, well, gee, 1084 01:41:11,640 --> 01:41:15,200 what can, what can we do? We've got, we've got to make up infrastructure. 1085 01:41:16,300 --> 01:41:22,960 I never forget when direct the census knife went to a public meeting there in, in very, yes or? 1086 01:41:23,200 --> 01:41:31,560 Well, the neighborhood thought that we, we need to look for projects to build because we got nothing else to do. 1087 01:41:33,200 --> 01:41:39,920 And the folks ran stuff out and said, you know, get lost, we don't want these projects, get out of here. 1088 01:41:40,800 --> 01:41:42,760 And then we have to come back and say, wait a minute. 1089 01:41:43,740 --> 01:41:45,720 We don't have a problem if you don't want the project. 1090 01:41:46,860 --> 01:41:48,570 But we don't want you to come back to us. 1091 01:41:49,780 --> 01:41:50,060 Okay? 1092 01:41:50,440 --> 01:41:57,650 When you have the situation that we had in 2017, and in President's day, 1093 01:41:57,650 --> 01:42:03,920 and then get in and date it and then come back to us and say, why did you do some about it? 1094 01:42:04,890 --> 01:42:11,970 So we don't run around looking for projects to create infrastructure because that's the business we're in. 1095 01:42:12,310 --> 01:42:15,900 We're doing it because it relates to public safety in those cases. 1096 01:42:16,690 --> 01:42:23,690 And each one of our projects that are flood control related projects are all related to public safety. 1097 01:42:23,690 --> 01:42:40,310 And secondly, the infrastructure projects that we have is because we don't want to come back with a destroyed infrastructure like the feds did and end up having to pay three times as much because we didn't maintain it correctly. 1098 01:42:41,570 --> 01:42:48,370 So we have to review these projects in public so that people can see what it is that we're doing. 1099 01:42:48,370 --> 01:42:54,930 I agree. That's what we need to do. So I think we need to have a study where we review the projects. 1100 01:42:55,690 --> 01:43:01,450 So we can have people come up here and say, we don't want this project in our neighborhood. It's okay if we get flooded. 1101 01:43:02,090 --> 01:43:06,750 We don't mind. It's all right. Because we want to save three dollars. 1102 01:43:08,570 --> 01:43:10,070 That's what I think we need to do. 1103 01:43:11,570 --> 01:43:26,330 Okay, thank you. Actually, I agree. I think that's a good idea that I'm thinking that maybe our stoichi particularly they want to utility projects since the entire 1104 01:43:26,330 --> 01:43:31,270 While the utility is a infrastructure is a system, 1105 01:43:32,410 --> 01:43:34,790 it cannot be cutting to pieces. 1106 01:43:35,490 --> 01:43:36,510 It's a county-wise system. 1107 01:43:37,250 --> 01:43:40,890 So putting that aside, I was just thinking 1108 01:43:40,890 --> 01:43:45,590 that maybe the April 20 nice strategic planning session 1109 01:43:45,590 --> 01:43:47,770 will be a good opportunity to dedicate 1110 01:43:47,770 --> 01:43:52,670 a significant portion of that issue for that issue. 1111 01:43:52,670 --> 01:44:02,670 If we cannot get these basic stuff, I'll figure it out and everybody is on the same place 1112 01:44:02,670 --> 01:44:11,470 and talking about our strategies for the future, I think it's probably only NASA's stable foundation. 1113 01:44:12,430 --> 01:44:20,130 So our work with the CEOC, how do we structure that and then the opportunities to do that in April 2019? 1114 01:44:20,130 --> 01:44:26,410 Okay, so at this point, I do want to, okay, vice chair. 1115 01:44:27,510 --> 01:44:28,290 Yes, thank you, Madam Chair. 1116 01:44:28,450 --> 01:44:32,090 Since everybody was talking pros and cons on mysville, 1117 01:44:32,390 --> 01:44:35,330 see a few things like we've been teaching each other here. 1118 01:44:35,410 --> 01:44:37,430 We have opinions and then we have facts. 1119 01:44:38,330 --> 01:44:40,770 And as far as I'm concerned, I have facts. 1120 01:44:42,230 --> 01:44:42,710 I agree. 1121 01:44:42,870 --> 01:44:43,830 We need public education. 1122 01:44:44,070 --> 01:44:46,270 There's no question that's what we should be doing all the time, 1123 01:44:46,270 --> 01:44:46,910 but we continue. 1124 01:44:47,590 --> 01:44:49,270 I'm very satisfied with our staff and 1125 01:44:49,270 --> 01:44:53,430 CEO and the majority of this board has been doing for years. 1126 01:44:54,290 --> 01:44:59,970 Years ago, the buck was passed to us because of previous boards that didn't take pre-planet for the future. 1127 01:45:00,210 --> 01:45:16,970 As I've said over and over and over, it's just like police in California. We don't have enough dams for the future. I got mine. Do we want less police officers? No, the public said it's just the opposite. And I'm saying the same thing. 1128 01:45:18,790 --> 01:45:24,710 of a relic that I like it was, Tony says it like it is, so does chair shoe. 1129 01:45:25,970 --> 01:45:33,110 We are planning for the future. We got ours. We want your grandkids and great grandchildren to have a source of reliable water. 1130 01:45:33,450 --> 01:45:42,630 That's why we plead plan. That's why people keep on telling you like fellow busters about a bunch of stuff that sticks to the wall and preaching you can confuse. 1131 01:45:43,190 --> 01:45:46,290 aquifers are wonderful. We've got our awards because we have a great 1132 01:45:46,290 --> 01:45:51,810 aquifer, a water-managed plant, but it don't last forever. You need that 1133 01:45:51,810 --> 01:45:55,990 this water stories. Just a couple years ago we had the packed house 1134 01:45:55,990 --> 01:45:59,930 tell us, we need water. What are we going to do? Because the important one to 1135 01:45:59,930 --> 01:46:05,410 $2,000 an acre foot. So we're trying to use all the water we have here before we 1136 01:46:05,410 --> 01:46:12,610 buy other water that costs way too much, 50% or more. We have a great 1137 01:46:12,610 --> 01:46:18,410 aquifer plan, we have damped, that need to be completed, and nine of them has seismic conditions. 1138 01:46:18,990 --> 01:46:25,450 We didn't build them, we inherited them. We have to pay for them. It takes money. You pay now, 1139 01:46:25,570 --> 01:46:31,750 you pay more in damage control. Serity is going to rain. Wonderful, but it don't rain forever. 1140 01:46:32,350 --> 01:46:38,150 So we have to recapture. Find out the best way of doing it and so on. We have so many things, 1141 01:46:38,150 --> 01:46:47,250 But here's the main thing, what this staff and this board, the majority has been doing, planning for the future, and you can't live without water. 1142 01:46:47,590 --> 01:46:55,610 All the other things somehow you can make it, but you can't. You got the best water in California, quality of water, prices are down. 1143 01:46:56,590 --> 01:47:06,090 Just think what would you do if you didn't have water, and droughts follow storms, and pretty soon you'll all be here a couple of years since they say, what are we going to do? 1144 01:47:06,090 --> 01:47:10,430 We need funding, but you'd rather pay now than pay later. 1145 01:47:10,930 --> 01:47:15,530 It's less now than it will be later, and I hope everybody has water for the future for 1146 01:47:15,530 --> 01:47:16,410 your children. 1147 01:47:16,950 --> 01:47:17,630 Thank you. 1148 01:47:21,140 --> 01:47:28,540 At this point, I do not have any requests for board members to know in the public. 1149 01:47:29,220 --> 01:47:34,940 So this public hearing, again, thank you staff for your great work, this public hearing 1150 01:47:34,940 --> 01:47:41,160 will continue, and we will close the public here in April 23rd. 1151 01:47:41,340 --> 01:47:48,600 So you have now until April 23rd, I'll just time to submit your comment to us related 1152 01:47:48,600 --> 01:47:50,580 to the groundwater protection charges. 1153 01:47:51,100 --> 01:47:55,320 And now we will go back to our regular agenda. 1154 01:47:55,760 --> 01:47:59,360 The next item is item 3.5. 1155 01:47:59,520 --> 01:48:02,960 It is also a public hearing. 1156 01:48:02,960 --> 01:48:07,840 So, I have my prepared statement to read first. 1157 01:48:09,540 --> 01:48:12,980 Item 3.5 is the public hearing 1158 01:48:12,980 --> 01:48:15,240 to consider value-waters, 1159 01:48:15,680 --> 01:48:17,200 capital improvement program, 1160 01:48:17,280 --> 01:48:19,780 draft capital improvement program. 1161 01:48:20,180 --> 01:48:24,100 For fiscal year 2025 through 2029, 1162 01:48:24,340 --> 01:48:26,080 this is a five-year plan. 1163 01:48:27,780 --> 01:48:31,640 And the public hearing is to consider value-waters 1164 01:48:31,640 --> 01:48:43,360 the CIP and February 27, 2024, the board directed staff to update the CIP draft fiscal year 1165 01:48:43,360 --> 01:48:51,600 2025 through 29, five-year plan prior to release for public review to reflect the staff 1166 01:48:51,600 --> 01:48:59,060 recommended assumptions presented in the 2024 protection and augmentation of water supply reports. 1167 01:48:59,060 --> 01:49:10,000 So these two documents are greatly related to each other, one feed into the other. 1168 01:49:10,540 --> 01:49:19,160 Following this direction on March 13, 2024, the update is the IP draft fiscal year 25 through 29. 1169 01:49:19,160 --> 01:49:25,160 five year plan was released to all cities and land use authorities in Santa 1170 01:49:25,160 --> 01:49:32,420 Card County and the county of Santa Clara for review as to its consistency with the 1171 01:49:32,420 --> 01:49:36,800 general, with their individual agencies general class. 1172 01:49:37,240 --> 01:49:44,920 Pursuant to California government code 65403D before adopting a 1173 01:49:44,920 --> 01:49:51,920 important program, the governing body of a special district is required to hold at least one 1174 01:49:51,920 --> 01:49:59,300 public hearing. And that's what we're doing in the under-dis item. The public hearing is being 1175 01:49:59,300 --> 01:49:59,960 out of. 1176 01:50:00,000 --> 01:50:18,660 For value waters, five year plan, so that representatives of the city, townships, county, or the public may appear in the mid-commence and information to the Board of Directors regarding this draft five year CIP plan. 1177 01:50:20,380 --> 01:50:38,300 So welcome to the public hearing for the five-year step, five-year CIP, if you would like to provide comments on this item, please submit a speaker card to the clerk or use the raise hand to a tool located in the Zoom. 1178 01:50:38,300 --> 01:50:45,700 I will recognize speakers one at a time and to give access to make comments. 1179 01:50:46,640 --> 01:50:50,260 Speakers comments should be limited to three minutes. 1180 01:50:51,320 --> 01:50:55,700 We will now receive the public comments to consider very well as five-year plan. 1181 01:50:56,000 --> 01:51:01,180 So apparently there is no staff presentation on the draft CFP plan. 1182 01:51:01,200 --> 01:51:02,560 There's no plan to do that. 1183 01:51:02,740 --> 01:51:03,500 No presentation. 1184 01:51:03,740 --> 01:51:04,500 No presentation. 1185 01:51:04,500 --> 01:51:08,740 So we'll go directly into the public comment period. 1186 01:51:09,740 --> 01:51:12,040 So if you have comment, as I said earlier, 1187 01:51:12,600 --> 01:51:15,760 usually raise hand too or submit a speaker card. 1188 01:51:18,810 --> 01:51:22,290 As of now, I don't have any speaker cards submitted. 1189 01:51:24,010 --> 01:51:27,670 Are there any raise hand on the Zoom? 1190 01:51:28,250 --> 01:51:31,150 Thank you, Madam Chair, at this time. I have no hands raised in Zoom. 1191 01:51:34,170 --> 01:51:34,850 And 1192 01:51:38,920 --> 01:51:43,480 are there any board comment directions? 1193 01:51:44,980 --> 01:51:49,040 It's a very much related to the previous public hearing. 1194 01:51:49,940 --> 01:51:50,500 Yeah, sure. 1195 01:51:51,540 --> 01:51:52,800 Okay, Director Keegan. 1196 01:51:53,980 --> 01:51:54,740 Thank you. 1197 01:51:54,860 --> 01:51:58,370 You know, I just had one suggestion, which is, 1198 01:51:58,880 --> 01:52:05,240 I know for a long time we just circulated our CIP to cities 1199 01:52:05,240 --> 01:52:14,760 cities to see what there is any incompatibility with their general plans and things of that 1200 01:52:14,760 --> 01:52:15,160 nature. 1201 01:52:16,020 --> 01:52:19,800 But I think we've sort of limited ourselves and just asking for that feedback. 1202 01:52:20,060 --> 01:52:26,500 I mean, I think that what should be asking in a broader sense in terms of what they might 1203 01:52:26,500 --> 01:52:29,420 feel are the priorities as part of our CIP. 1204 01:52:29,420 --> 01:52:35,340 You know, I think we're coming to a time of constrained resources, and it's better for us to know 1205 01:52:36,260 --> 01:52:41,900 which projects are more broadly supported by the larger community, particularly the engineering community. 1206 01:52:42,360 --> 01:52:49,440 So that is just a suggestion that I will make. I don't know if that any of my colleagues feel that that's something important but I do. 1207 01:52:51,610 --> 01:53:09,690 Okay, I'm sure anyone who wants to be engaged in the CIP, we will come that for the land use agency that was required by California government co-hosts, that's why we do that's why we specifically call it out. 1208 01:53:09,970 --> 01:53:13,450 But then everybody else has the welcome to be engaged. 1209 01:53:13,450 --> 01:53:15,770 Okay, Dr. Astralmarra. 1210 01:53:15,950 --> 01:53:16,770 Yeah, thank you, man, chair. 1211 01:53:17,330 --> 01:53:18,730 Just wanted to point out that, you know, 1212 01:53:18,910 --> 01:53:21,450 unlike cities who are required to have to see us, peace. 1213 01:53:22,430 --> 01:53:25,770 We didn't have, we're not required to, and we didn't have one. 1214 01:53:26,410 --> 01:53:28,770 It's been a number of years now that we've had a CIP 1215 01:53:28,770 --> 01:53:30,630 that we share with everybody. 1216 01:53:31,370 --> 01:53:32,370 We get their feedback. 1217 01:53:33,390 --> 01:53:36,390 And then we talk about it, and we have a number of public hearings. 1218 01:53:37,030 --> 01:53:41,930 But I'm pretty satisfied that we will, as the chair said, 1219 01:53:41,930 --> 01:53:49,790 We will spend a little time publicly reviewing each of these projects in the public settings. 1220 01:53:50,310 --> 01:53:58,130 So we can share with people why it is that we're doing this 10 year pipeline rehab or any of these things, the pumping plant. 1221 01:53:59,030 --> 01:54:03,010 You know, there's nothing sexy about a pumping plant. There's nothing sexy about any of this stuff. 1222 01:54:03,570 --> 01:54:11,510 But when you look at it, what happens if we don't do it? If you don't do it, what happens? That's what we got to tell the public. 1223 01:54:11,510 --> 01:54:13,670 Okay, we don't do this pumping plan. 1224 01:54:13,990 --> 01:54:22,570 What's gonna happen if we don't have a 10 year pipeline rehab program where we invest, 1225 01:54:23,050 --> 01:54:29,710 making sure that we have that in stock, rather than to wait for a number of years when 1226 01:54:29,710 --> 01:54:34,170 something's going on in your neighborhood, you're inundated and we got to wait to find some 1227 01:54:34,170 --> 01:54:34,810 steal somewhere. 1228 01:54:35,110 --> 01:54:35,850 Good luck. 1229 01:54:36,610 --> 01:54:41,090 And it's at their sacrifice, not ours. 1230 01:54:41,950 --> 01:54:43,670 That's why we've got to review this with people. 1231 01:54:43,850 --> 01:54:46,250 So let's see what it is that we're trying to do. 1232 01:54:46,510 --> 01:54:48,410 What this CIP is doing. 1233 01:54:49,830 --> 01:54:54,430 So yeah, we will definitely work with CIO and this other staff 1234 01:54:54,430 --> 01:54:55,950 to schedule that. 1235 01:54:56,510 --> 01:54:59,770 And in the meantime, that this public hearing. 1236 01:55:00,000 --> 01:55:12,620 We will continue into our public board meetings throughout April and the public hearing will be closed on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. 1237 01:55:13,180 --> 01:55:18,600 So there's lots of opportunities for people to be engaged in the CIP. 1238 01:55:19,560 --> 01:55:21,480 With that, there are two Eisenberg. 1239 01:55:22,500 --> 01:55:24,000 Thank you so much. 1240 01:55:24,000 --> 01:55:33,500 So, with appropriate respect, I vet vehemently disagree with the comments just said by my colleague. 1241 01:55:34,080 --> 01:55:47,040 First of all, we are not doing the public any favor by disclosing to the public how we are spending our 10 billion with a billion. 1242 01:55:47,040 --> 01:55:53,620 Remember, Dr. Evil, you know, billion dollar capital improvement plan. 1243 01:55:55,420 --> 01:56:01,400 You know, other districts don't have a CIP. I believe that other districts do it better. 1244 01:56:02,020 --> 01:56:09,420 The CIP program is a failure. We know that already. The process is problematic. 1245 01:56:10,280 --> 01:56:16,280 The auditor, the outside auditor, said that. You know, it was urgently important for us to audit. 1246 01:56:16,280 --> 01:56:19,820 And this board voted not to audit. 1247 01:56:20,640 --> 01:56:25,000 So I think that we know that there are issues with the process. 1248 01:56:25,000 --> 01:56:31,940 We know there are issues with the CIP and we are not doing the public a favor by disclosing to them. 1249 01:56:33,640 --> 01:56:44,420 And they're actually our laws in place starting with the Brown Act and the District Act and a whole slew of state and federal laws that require us to share 1250 01:56:45,800 --> 01:56:53,460 thorough information, complete information about how we are spending the public's money and we 1251 01:56:53,460 --> 01:57:01,860 are not doing that at all. So we need to do better. Our ratepayers deserve it, public deserves 1252 01:57:01,860 --> 01:57:07,120 it, immediate deserves it, our colleagues deserve it, everyone deserves to know more about 1253 01:57:07,120 --> 01:57:12,500 how we're spending our money. I shouldn't have to ask the question about how interest payments 1254 01:57:12,500 --> 01:57:18,860 impact water rates literally for a year, you know, I shouldn't have to, you know, it is 1255 01:57:18,860 --> 01:57:25,740 a reasonable question to know once we start paying interest in 20 years then what will happen 1256 01:57:25,740 --> 01:57:33,380 to the water rates. This stuff is not brain surgery. These are pretty obvious questions. So 1257 01:57:33,380 --> 01:57:39,980 I would say public should not be grateful. The public should demand more and the public deserves 1258 01:57:39,980 --> 01:57:46,960 more. Second is, our job is not to explain to the public what we're doing and why we're doing 1259 01:57:46,960 --> 01:57:55,300 it. Our job is to include the public with our decision-making. And you may laugh, Director 1260 01:57:55,300 --> 01:58:01,920 Estimera, your laughter is disrespectful. You do not know more than everyone in our community. 1261 01:58:01,920 --> 01:58:06,800 You, Director, I said, okay, you just make your comment and that's not a point. 1262 01:58:06,940 --> 01:58:08,900 So, not point finger as individuals. 1263 01:58:09,040 --> 01:58:11,260 Okay, so an individual was laughing. 1264 01:58:12,040 --> 01:58:17,300 And for the record, it should be known that director Estimera was laughing at what I was saying. 1265 01:58:17,660 --> 01:58:22,180 That was disrespectful, that was rude, that was offensive, not just to me, but to the public. 1266 01:58:22,680 --> 01:58:22,700 Director. 1267 01:58:22,700 --> 01:58:25,960 I said, but guys, seriously, I hope that you consider what I just requested. 1268 01:58:26,620 --> 01:58:28,030 And I go on to say, 1269 01:58:29,870 --> 01:58:37,230 Our job is not to tell the public what we're doing and try to convince them that we're 1270 01:58:37,230 --> 01:58:38,430 right and they're wrong. 1271 01:58:39,150 --> 01:58:43,410 And since I was elected to this committee, as has been complained about me time and 1272 01:58:43,410 --> 01:58:51,130 time again, my insistence that we take the community more seriously and include their 1273 01:58:51,130 --> 01:59:01,970 factors and their opinions and their experiences and their facts in our decision-making is 1274 01:59:01,970 --> 01:59:07,410 an opinion and a belief I'm going to stick with. It is called democracy. Democracy is not 1275 01:59:07,410 --> 01:59:15,450 the elected officials bullying the public to believe that we're right. Democracy means this 1276 01:59:15,450 --> 01:59:26,990 government by the people for the people to ensure the benefit of the people and by making decisions 1277 01:59:26,990 --> 01:59:32,530 and then pushing them down onto the people and assisting we know more than they do is wrong, 1278 01:59:32,730 --> 01:59:43,410 it is ethically wrong, it is socially unjust and it is, in my opinion, goes against the spirit and the 1279 01:59:43,410 --> 01:59:50,910 of the laws that enable us, we need to include the public in our decision-making and everything 1280 01:59:50,910 --> 01:59:57,930 said by my colleagues who spoke on the day is here. It's established the fact that we do not 1281 01:59:57,930 --> 01:59:58,810 complete the public. 1282 02:00:00,000 --> 02:00:15,560 I find it, I don't have words to express my disappointment to hear one of my colleagues dismiss the words of the agricultural committee leaders who know a lot more about their finances than we do. 1283 02:00:16,000 --> 02:00:21,240 To hear someone say they say they're suffering but I look around and I think they're thriving. 1284 02:00:21,240 --> 02:00:36,020 How dare we? How dare anyone say that? You know, the point of DEI is to embrace and listen to alternate experiences and perspectives. 1285 02:00:36,580 --> 02:00:45,140 And if we have a board member, utterly dismissing the experience of experts who are appointed to advise us, what are we doing here? 1286 02:00:45,140 --> 02:00:46,860 Why are we? 1287 02:00:47,340 --> 02:00:49,500 Can we focus on CIP? 1288 02:00:49,940 --> 02:00:50,160 Yes. 1289 02:00:50,560 --> 02:00:52,180 And so my point about... 1290 02:00:52,180 --> 02:00:52,420 Yes. 1291 02:00:52,520 --> 02:00:53,600 That's focused on CIP. 1292 02:00:53,780 --> 02:00:57,660 Is that we need to, including everyone here. 1293 02:00:58,120 --> 02:00:59,860 We need to listen to the public. 1294 02:01:00,580 --> 02:01:02,780 We need to learn from the public. 1295 02:01:02,940 --> 02:01:05,040 We need to take the public seriously. 1296 02:01:05,880 --> 02:01:12,580 And we need to change our plans after, after learning from them. 1297 02:01:13,060 --> 02:01:14,340 We don't know everything. 1298 02:01:15,080 --> 02:01:19,720 They know some things, you know some things that we don't know. 1299 02:01:20,160 --> 02:01:22,380 So I'd like to thank the public for your involvement. 1300 02:01:22,720 --> 02:01:24,240 Thank you all who reached out to me. 1301 02:01:24,580 --> 02:01:28,140 Thank you for sharing my, you know, sharing your experiences. 1302 02:01:28,560 --> 02:01:31,360 Even though some of my colleagues won't listen, I will. 1303 02:01:31,700 --> 02:01:33,920 And it's come to remember, we'll have more who listen to. 1304 02:01:34,280 --> 02:01:36,120 Because you deserve better. 1305 02:01:39,960 --> 02:01:40,900 Director, that's from there. 1306 02:01:41,120 --> 02:01:41,660 Thank you, Director. 1307 02:01:42,900 --> 02:01:44,660 You know, it's pretty offensive, man. 1308 02:01:44,660 --> 02:01:54,020 When we make a commitment to share with the public, then we get lectured to that we're not providing information to the public. 1309 02:01:54,920 --> 02:02:03,820 That's pretty offensive. When we're responsive, and then we get lectured that we're trying to tell the public what to do. 1310 02:02:05,810 --> 02:02:09,710 It really is pretty ridiculous to hear that kind of opinion. 1311 02:02:09,710 --> 02:02:10,470 I 1312 02:02:13,670 --> 02:02:21,110 felt we would be responsive by saying that we would share even more than what we already do and we share and offer a lot 1313 02:02:23,130 --> 02:02:29,490 and then to be lectured that, oh well, no. You're not being responsive, you're going to go tell the people what the story is. 1314 02:02:30,770 --> 02:02:40,930 We have a responsibility to tell the public exactly what it is that we're doing, what we plan to do and what we ask them, we should be doing. 1315 02:02:40,930 --> 02:02:46,610 We have public hearings. That's why we have public hearings. We haven't during the day we haven't in the evening. 1316 02:02:47,270 --> 02:02:54,390 This is the public hearing. That's what it was. We were listening to the public, whoever had something to say we heard them. 1317 02:02:55,210 --> 02:03:04,550 And even then still we said we would have more public hearings and I requested an opportunity to share with the public what it is that we're doing. 1318 02:03:05,860 --> 02:03:12,240 And then got lectured that well no you you you you you you're going to go you're going to go tell the public what to do 1319 02:03:12,240 --> 02:03:15,930 No, we're going to go tell the public what it is that we're planning and ask them 1320 02:03:16,700 --> 02:03:25,070 What they think about that that's what a public hearing is all about that's why we share what we do the reason we did the CIP was exactly for that same reason 1321 02:03:25,500 --> 02:03:28,880 To let people know what it is that we're doing 1322 02:03:28,880 --> 02:03:30,960 Now what's wrong with that? 1323 02:03:42,580 --> 02:03:45,500 I'm just going to get clarification here. 1324 02:03:46,400 --> 02:03:49,600 Item 3.4, the one we just did was the protection, 1325 02:03:50,080 --> 02:03:51,960 augmentation, water supplies. 1326 02:03:53,020 --> 02:03:56,080 So that was the water supply stuff. 1327 02:03:57,260 --> 02:04:01,380 And it looked like from a reading report like 10 years. 1328 02:04:01,660 --> 02:04:03,540 Here's what we're going to do. 1329 02:04:03,860 --> 02:04:05,200 Water supplies stuff. 1330 02:04:05,600 --> 02:04:09,560 This item is the five years CIP. 1331 02:04:10,360 --> 02:04:20,920 So this item is, this is 3.5, this is the capital and true in budget for both water supply, and a flight control and so forth. 1332 02:04:21,240 --> 02:04:22,500 The complete capital budget. 1333 02:04:22,620 --> 02:04:23,140 That's correct. 1334 02:04:23,160 --> 02:04:24,280 It has both. 1335 02:04:24,300 --> 02:04:24,820 Both. 1336 02:04:25,540 --> 02:04:27,060 Water utility and water flickering. 1337 02:04:27,560 --> 02:04:30,960 But this is only the five year. 1338 02:04:31,520 --> 02:04:33,820 Five year CIP, right? 1339 02:04:35,080 --> 02:04:38,730 It does have some stuff in there about future projects. 1340 02:04:38,730 --> 02:04:42,830 projects on the kind of the weight list or whatever. 1341 02:04:43,770 --> 02:04:51,990 Then the next item, 3.6, is that's the change of the projects. 1342 02:04:51,990 --> 02:04:59,970 It's not the projects, but the change of the projects on the Safe Queen Water. 1343 02:05:00,000 --> 02:05:16,660 Our national flag protection program, the one that was approved by the boat, by the boaters. Correct? So, I want to make it clear that we're only talking about those areas that are on the agenda. 1344 02:05:17,060 --> 02:05:19,720 That's correct. That's correct. All this other stuff. 1345 02:05:19,720 --> 02:05:22,380 Yeah. And I 1346 02:05:24,650 --> 02:05:28,690 want to make it clear that my remarks on the first item only applied to the 1347 02:05:28,690 --> 02:05:36,310 utilities not to flag control. Okay, the only applied to that pause report. I wasn't commenting 1348 02:05:36,310 --> 02:05:44,710 on the flag controls. I don't have any comments on 3.5 because 3.5 is a public hearing to 1349 02:05:44,710 --> 02:05:51,530 hear the public or not adopting that now. We're simply continuing to hearing the chair indicated 1350 02:05:51,530 --> 02:05:57,930 that we're going to have a hearing, maybe have a report at the special meeting we're going 1351 02:05:57,930 --> 02:05:58,370 to have. 1352 02:05:58,570 --> 02:06:00,050 Okay, can I interrupt? 1353 02:06:00,690 --> 02:06:07,470 So what I just said is that the public hearing for the CIP will continue and then the closing 1354 02:06:07,470 --> 02:06:13,750 date of the public hearing is on May 14th which during this period of time there will be 1355 02:06:13,750 --> 02:06:17,330 regular board meetings and then it will be on the agenda every minute. 1356 02:06:17,330 --> 02:06:21,350 So Pover has multiple opportunities 1357 02:06:21,350 --> 02:06:25,650 to submit comments to us that way. 1358 02:06:26,010 --> 02:06:32,090 And I also suggested that we can have a dedicated portion 1359 02:06:32,090 --> 02:06:36,770 of our strategic planning session, which is scheduled for April 29th. 1360 02:06:36,790 --> 02:06:41,150 That's a special board meeting to focus on the next level 1361 02:06:41,150 --> 02:06:45,830 of detail of what's in the five-year CIP. 1362 02:06:45,830 --> 02:06:52,330 So, but then that's something that I need to work together with staff to plan it out. 1363 02:06:52,690 --> 02:06:57,930 So there's plenty of opportunities for now until we adopt the budget, which is May. 1364 02:07:00,350 --> 02:07:09,550 The board can comment, people can come to us, give us their thinking, and then so our job is to make it as transparent as open. 1365 02:07:09,550 --> 02:07:12,210 and then pull by the opportunity as we can. 1366 02:07:12,530 --> 02:07:13,690 Yeah, okay, that's the whole point. 1367 02:07:14,070 --> 02:07:15,910 That explains what explains to you. 1368 02:07:15,930 --> 02:07:17,330 So I'm gonna make it clear. 1369 02:07:17,790 --> 02:07:22,470 Okay, the positive part is not gonna be, 1370 02:07:22,590 --> 02:07:25,230 it's gonna be distressed in the schedule 1371 02:07:25,230 --> 02:07:26,650 indicated on the agenda. 1372 02:07:27,590 --> 02:07:32,670 Okay, and then we're gonna have a part of our strategic planning 1373 02:07:32,670 --> 02:07:36,490 to talk about the five-year capital. 1374 02:07:36,510 --> 02:07:38,930 Yeah, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. 1375 02:07:38,930 --> 02:07:48,230 Yeah, I can't change it and I get into just in the five years CIP it's updated every year and then it's more of a 1376 02:07:48,230 --> 02:07:55,490 Flooking into the next five years, but they are projects in the five years CIP if we know the estimated 1377 02:07:55,490 --> 02:08:03,990 Estimated all projected costs beyond the five year period. It is also included in the five years CIP. Yeah, so that's 1378 02:08:05,370 --> 02:08:08,810 That's that's a that's a clarification. Okay, so the 1379 02:08:08,930 --> 02:08:14,850 Just my comments on the five-year CIP, those are projects that I hope we're going to build 1380 02:08:14,850 --> 02:08:19,590 as quickly as possible because they're pretty much projects that have been kind of thought 1381 02:08:19,590 --> 02:08:20,130 out. 1382 02:08:20,370 --> 02:08:21,110 They're ready to go. 1383 02:08:21,330 --> 02:08:22,870 They're kind of like projects we're doing. 1384 02:08:23,970 --> 02:08:28,130 So, because it's five years, only five years, that's pretty, that's kind of a short timeline 1385 02:08:28,130 --> 02:08:28,790 for construction. 1386 02:08:29,690 --> 02:08:34,170 So, my basic comment on those is let's get them done as quickly as possible. 1387 02:08:34,970 --> 02:08:38,310 I mean, you know, let's do the best we can, you know, this is horrible. 1388 02:08:39,190 --> 02:08:48,390 labor market, a horrible supply market, there might be some ways we can save money if we 1389 02:08:48,390 --> 02:08:56,310 can, but those are projects that we've already decided will be projects we want for the most part, right? 1390 02:08:57,150 --> 02:09:02,400 They're for the most part, but they are project that will future investment, that's still 1391 02:09:02,400 --> 02:09:08,720 still rely on the 2050 water supply master plan to give it more clarity on which project 1392 02:09:08,720 --> 02:09:10,040 to invest on. 1393 02:09:10,380 --> 02:09:16,520 So there's still those uncertainties but then for transparency reasons that we've included 1394 02:09:16,520 --> 02:09:24,000 everything, every document that we're preparing even though the 2050 master plan study may 1395 02:09:24,000 --> 02:09:29,120 tell us to delete a specific project because it's not that we're going to invest in or whatever. 1396 02:09:29,120 --> 02:09:37,780 So everything is a process, but then they all come together on the road, which is need to go through it to step a step. 1397 02:09:38,840 --> 02:09:47,920 Okay, so I'm asking these questions because I think when we discuss some of these items we've got 100 crossover from one item to another. 1398 02:09:47,920 --> 02:09:49,100 I'm glad you asked me. 1399 02:09:49,100 --> 02:09:53,920 You know, so we get it clear and thank you, Madam Chair for providing that clarity. 1400 02:09:53,920 --> 02:09:59,960 And the next item will be just to talk about. 1401 02:10:00,000 --> 02:10:05,260 That renewed safe clean water and natural public control program. So that's item 3.6. 1402 02:10:06,060 --> 02:10:14,000 So we're moving along with agenda. I'm just kind of, the only comment I had on the Capitol budget was a. 1403 02:10:15,000 --> 02:10:27,080 Get it done and be, you know, try to fix, like I think some of the other board members were saying, we don't want the facilities and, you know, 1404 02:10:27,080 --> 02:10:34,020 of flood control projects and the utility projects to have maintenance repair problems. 1405 02:10:34,260 --> 02:10:41,480 We should try to are best to not let that happen and for the future generations we should 1406 02:10:41,480 --> 02:10:43,940 fix those as a priority. 1407 02:10:44,360 --> 02:10:45,100 So that's the only comment. 1408 02:10:45,360 --> 02:10:46,780 I'm a fix it first kind of guy. 1409 02:10:47,480 --> 02:10:53,720 I mean, I think we're doing the big project we did this year is perfect in that description. 1410 02:10:53,720 --> 02:11:01,080 And that's the Labyrinth Annada plant, which I think is we don't get enough credit for making 1411 02:11:01,080 --> 02:11:05,680 decision to go ahead and move that despite the big cost item. 1412 02:11:06,720 --> 02:11:09,420 But that's going to be an investment for the next 50 years. 1413 02:11:09,420 --> 02:11:18,580 It's kind of a good clean, well-treated water for the community, 1414 02:11:20,620 --> 02:11:23,040 and to me, I think that 1415 02:11:23,040 --> 02:11:27,600 was, that's going to be a spectacular project when you finish it, I mean, I'm just 1416 02:11:27,600 --> 02:11:32,560 a proud of the staff and the board and all the people that are working on that project 1417 02:11:32,560 --> 02:11:36,800 down to the guys planning the trees around the project. 1418 02:11:37,440 --> 02:11:47,600 So I think that's a great project and I consider that the ALIS to maintenance repair projects 1419 02:11:47,600 --> 02:11:52,860 that we need to do, and let's give them some credit for that. 1420 02:11:53,980 --> 02:11:54,600 Thank you. 1421 02:11:56,000 --> 02:11:56,660 Thank you. 1422 02:11:57,220 --> 02:12:02,620 So, as I said, more than one time already that this public hearing will continue. 1423 02:12:03,400 --> 02:12:07,620 And then now we're going back to our regular agenda. 1424 02:12:08,360 --> 02:12:10,720 We're now on item 3.6. 1425 02:12:11,520 --> 02:12:17,280 This is conduct a public hearing on proposed changes to project under priorities. 1426 02:12:17,280 --> 02:12:24,640 A-E-N-F, for the renewed safe clean water and natural flow protection program. 1427 02:12:25,620 --> 02:12:32,620 Before I read my statement, I want to remind everybody that these proposed changes to the 1428 02:12:32,620 --> 02:12:40,820 Queensland Creek program, KPI, were about to the full board at our last board meeting and 1429 02:12:40,820 --> 02:12:46,260 board, it's left explained the rationale for these changes and the board 1430 02:12:46,260 --> 02:12:53,460 directed staff that yes that have a public hearing to hear public comments related 1431 02:12:53,460 --> 02:13:03,840 to these proposed changes. So, with that, this public hearing is now open on July 21, 1432 02:13:03,840 --> 02:13:13,140 2020, the board adopted Resolution Number 264, which specified the limits and conditions 1433 02:13:13,140 --> 02:13:20,620 by which value water is authorized to institute a special parcel tax for the renewed 1434 02:13:20,620 --> 02:13:26,820 safely water and natural flow protection program. As all-lined in the resolution, the board 1435 02:13:26,820 --> 02:13:33,600 of directors may direct that the proposed projects in the safely water program be modified 1436 02:13:33,600 --> 02:13:40,980 or not implemented due to several factors, including federal and state funding limitations. 1437 02:13:41,840 --> 02:13:47,840 To modify or not implement a proposed project, the board must hold a public hearing, 1438 02:13:48,000 --> 02:13:52,620 and that's what we're doing today at this moment on the matter, 1439 02:13:53,020 --> 02:14:01,240 which will be noticed by publication and notified two interested parties before the adoption 1440 02:14:01,240 --> 02:14:06,340 of any such decision to modify or not implement a project. 1441 02:14:07,140 --> 02:14:14,000 At its meeting on March 26, 2024, the board said the time and place for a formal 1442 02:14:14,000 --> 02:14:20,180 public hearing are April 20, 2024, which is today, and then that's what I referred to 1443 02:14:20,180 --> 02:14:26,280 at the last four meeting, March 26, 2024, staff explained in detail to the board about 1444 02:14:26,280 --> 02:14:27,560 these proposed changes. 1445 02:14:28,220 --> 02:14:33,500 Staff prepared and published an advertisement in Santa Clara County 1446 02:14:34,440 --> 02:14:40,580 consistent with the two-week notice requirements in government code section 1447 02:14:40,580 --> 02:14:42,380 six and zero six-six. 1448 02:14:42,920 --> 02:14:47,800 Staff also conducted outreach to project and program stakeholders. 1449 02:14:50,420 --> 02:14:55,360 We will begin with a staff presentation on the proposed changes and then here 1450 02:14:55,360 --> 02:14:56,260 public comments. 1451 02:14:56,260 --> 02:14:59,960 Again, anyone wish to provide comments to the... 1452 02:15:00,000 --> 02:15:06,960 The Board, you can do it either by filling out the speaker card if you are already in here. 1453 02:15:07,620 --> 02:15:14,740 Or you can use the raise hand to in the Zoom meeting to provide your feedback. 1454 02:15:15,780 --> 02:15:24,820 I would now like to introduce Jessica Collins, business planning and analysis unit manager responsible for the implementation 1455 02:15:24,820 --> 02:15:30,640 of the Safe Clean Water Program to begin the staff presentation and provide additional details 1456 02:15:30,640 --> 02:15:32,100 on the subject matter. 1457 02:15:32,880 --> 02:15:36,520 Good afternoon, Shushway and Members of the Board, I'm pleased to be here this afternoon. 1458 02:15:37,500 --> 02:15:41,880 I may please the Board, I'm here for you today, to present the proposed recommended changes 1459 02:15:41,880 --> 02:15:46,540 to three projects under Priority A, Priorities A, E and F of the Renewed Safety 1460 02:15:46,540 --> 02:15:48,500 Motor Natural Club Protection Program. 1461 02:15:52,060 --> 02:15:55,940 Today's board actions include conducting the public hearing on the proposed changes to the 1462 02:15:55,940 --> 02:16:01,280 program. And if approved, adopting resolutions for each of the projects, if the project 1463 02:16:01,280 --> 02:16:05,000 deaf nine resolution is adopted, we're also requesting that the Board approve a text 1464 02:16:05,000 --> 02:16:08,960 adjustment to the description of the project to align with the proposed modification. 1465 02:16:12,190 --> 02:16:16,170 Today's public hearing is being held in accordance with the program's change control process, 1466 02:16:17,070 --> 02:16:21,850 which is established the process to modify, not implement or adjust projects, which was adopted 1467 02:16:21,850 --> 02:16:27,490 by the Board via resolution number 264. On March 26, the Board set the time in place for the 1468 02:16:27,490 --> 02:16:31,270 Today's public hearing and public hearing notices were published in compliance with government 1469 02:16:31,270 --> 02:16:36,570 code section 66, additionally Valley Water Conduct Outreach directly to project 1470 02:16:36,570 --> 02:16:37,390 and program stakeholders. 1471 02:16:39,750 --> 02:16:44,810 The catalysts for today's proposed changes include rising infrastructure costs, which resulted 1472 02:16:44,810 --> 02:16:49,090 in funding shortfall for the nearly shovel ready Sunnyvale East West Philippe Protection 1473 02:16:49,090 --> 02:16:49,690 Project. 1474 02:16:50,310 --> 02:16:54,510 The board directed increased level of service for the incoming cleanup project, and I am 1475 02:16:54,510 --> 02:16:59,330 Recommendation to modify KPI 2 of the Upper Guadalupe River Flow Protection Project to include 1476 02:16:59,330 --> 02:17:05,050 benefits to all native fish species. Expansion of Project F9 grants of partnerships, KPA 1477 02:17:05,050 --> 02:17:09,650 number 4 to include all community members seeking assistance for watershed activities as opposed 1478 02:17:09,650 --> 02:17:12,810 to restricting it to small municipalities and special districts. 1479 02:17:14,830 --> 02:17:20,410 I'll now provide an overview of the proposed changes. The first proposed change is to not implement 1480 02:17:20,410 --> 02:17:25,310 Project A1, the Pecheco Reservoir Expansion Project, under the program, thereby not implementing 1481 02:17:25,310 --> 02:17:30,670 the fund transfer of up to 10 million, which would provide 0.36% of the project's total 1482 02:17:30,670 --> 02:17:35,750 project cost. The Pecheco Project would remain in the Capital Improvement Program, and the absence 1483 02:17:35,750 --> 02:17:40,530 of a 10 million allocation would not have significant impact on the project's progress and can be 1484 02:17:40,530 --> 02:17:50,390 absorbed under the current water rate projection. The 10 million can then be released into the 1485 02:17:50,390 --> 02:17:57,450 combined with additional debt proceeds with more flexible terms can help to complete the construction 1486 02:17:57,450 --> 02:18:02,510 of the Sunnyvale project that the voters approved in 2000 and bolster project F5 to help 1487 02:18:02,510 --> 02:18:06,830 sustain the enhanced level of service directed by the board this past August in order to meet the 1488 02:18:06,830 --> 02:18:09,530 growing needs of the community, including the in sheltered community. 1489 02:18:12,560 --> 02:18:13,720 The second proposed change is 1490 02:18:13,720 --> 02:18:18,980 to modify project E8, the upper Guadalupe River flood protection project. This request for 1491 02:18:18,980 --> 02:18:23,760 modification was made by the IMC, the independent monitoring committee for the program, to include 1492 02:18:23,760 --> 02:18:29,000 reference to all native-fist species in KPI number 2, and on March 12, the board accepted 1493 02:18:29,000 --> 02:18:32,580 the staff response agreeing to propose the modification via a public hearing. 1494 02:18:33,920 --> 02:18:38,060 The third proposed change is to modify project F9 grants and partnerships for safety motor 1495 02:18:38,060 --> 02:18:43,100 flood protection and environmental stewardship. The proposed modification is the KPI number 4, 1496 02:18:43,440 --> 02:18:47,040 which currently provides up to 3 million for partnerships with small municipalities, 1497 02:18:47,040 --> 02:18:50,360 which today has received no successful applications. 1498 02:18:50,900 --> 02:18:53,960 Meanwhile, community members have expressed interest in receiving 1499 02:18:53,960 --> 02:18:56,900 value water assistance to implement water-shed activities that provide 1500 02:18:56,900 --> 02:19:01,180 community benefits, such as bank repair, sediment removal, and down-tree management. 1501 02:19:01,880 --> 02:19:06,120 Therefore, staff recommends the KPI number 4 be modified to broaden and expand access 1502 02:19:06,120 --> 02:19:10,800 beyond small municipalities and special districts and include individuals with a 1503 02:19:10,800 --> 02:19:13,220 rebate program covering water-shed stewardship activities. 1504 02:19:15,400 --> 02:19:15,880 My apologies. 1505 02:19:15,880 --> 02:19:24,400 If the F9 project resolution is adopted, we're also requesting that the Board approve a text adjustment to the description to align with the proposed modification. 1506 02:19:25,960 --> 02:19:36,580 Having received the overview of the proposed changes, I'll now ask the Board to consider adopting the resolutions for projects A1, E8, and F9, and approve the corresponding text adjustment to project F9. 1507 02:19:36,820 --> 02:19:41,720 And I'll now stand up in any questions after which tertiary will receive the public's comments on the proposed changes. 1508 02:19:45,020 --> 02:19:47,940 Thank you, Ms. Collins. 1509 02:19:49,040 --> 02:19:54,460 Okay, so we will now take the public comment. 1510 02:19:55,740 --> 02:19:59,980 Related to what Ms. Collins just presented about. 1511 02:20:00,000 --> 02:20:12,540 These proposes changes to the KPI's under the Safeway Water Program. I don't have any speaker request. 1512 02:20:13,400 --> 02:20:26,320 And I see Jeff. Okay. Yeah. Mr. Here. Yeah. Who is the chair of our IMC? Has the hand raised? Can we allow him to speak? 1513 02:20:28,720 --> 02:20:37,100 Yes, good afternoon. I'll make this great. Thank you very much. As to obviously Project 1514 02:20:37,100 --> 02:20:47,180 DA, I actually did review this and I'm going to look at Project A1. The proposal here 1515 02:20:47,180 --> 02:20:55,500 to not implement. I'm curious how this will be reflected in the annual report. This will 1516 02:20:55,500 --> 02:21:00,820 be permanently taken off of the IMC's annual report? 1517 02:21:03,120 --> 02:21:07,900 Yes, the proposal is to remove the project from the Safe Clean Water Program, not remove 1518 02:21:07,900 --> 02:21:11,820 the project from the Capital Improvement Program rather, but not implement the project under 1519 02:21:11,820 --> 02:21:15,760 the Safe Clean Water Program, which was basically the fun transfer of up to 10 million. 1520 02:21:17,360 --> 02:21:24,140 Okay, and I know that our the IMC recommendation was simply a request here to reflect all 1521 02:21:24,140 --> 02:21:30,620 the other sources of funding for that project, as so long as it was part of the measure 1522 02:21:30,620 --> 02:21:32,340 S project. 1523 02:21:32,680 --> 02:21:37,780 So if it's being removed, I might correct to assume that there will be no other reporting 1524 02:21:37,780 --> 02:21:39,380 regarding this project. 1525 02:21:40,200 --> 02:21:41,460 I can respond to that. 1526 02:21:41,820 --> 02:21:48,180 So as this action is being taken in this current fiscal year, fiscal year 24, fiscal year 24, 1527 02:21:48,400 --> 02:21:53,120 fiscal year 24 annual report will address the IMC's recommendation that was approved 1528 02:21:53,120 --> 02:21:57,060 by the Board to provide all information regarding the funding sources for the project. 1529 02:21:57,560 --> 02:22:01,920 We'll still provide all of that information in this coming annual report as well as a summary 1530 02:22:01,920 --> 02:22:07,840 of the any board action taken today regarding the public hearing and then moving forward 1531 02:22:07,840 --> 02:22:12,180 any board action taken today would be reflected in the following annual reports. 1532 02:22:12,180 --> 02:22:23,630 Okay, thank you very much. Appreciate that. Okay. We have, uh, next one is, uh, Loma 1533 02:22:23,630 --> 02:22:26,950 Pareta, Resource Conservation District. 1534 02:22:31,470 --> 02:22:33,590 I'm also the Chair of that Water Advisory 1535 02:22:33,590 --> 02:22:40,650 Committee. And, uh, I like the concept of, uh, the fish mitigation, and some of these 1536 02:22:40,650 --> 02:22:44,650 of the watershed because I think that's very, very important. 1537 02:22:45,990 --> 02:22:48,370 I'm just curious about the funding of this. 1538 02:22:48,390 --> 02:22:50,510 I know there's already a flood control parcel tax. 1539 02:22:50,650 --> 02:22:52,750 Is there going to be a new tax added to this? 1540 02:22:53,030 --> 02:22:56,510 Or is it going to be, are we going to do all three grants? 1541 02:23:00,010 --> 02:23:01,270 Jessica, can you answer that? 1542 02:23:01,270 --> 02:23:02,430 You want me to answer it? 1543 02:23:02,730 --> 02:23:06,190 The funding for the E8 project. 1544 02:23:06,790 --> 02:23:10,830 The funding for the E8 project is, was that the question, 1545 02:23:10,830 --> 02:23:12,690 or for implementation. 1546 02:23:13,610 --> 02:23:15,110 Yes, for this black and roll product. 1547 02:23:15,350 --> 02:23:17,410 I think for all three proposed changes. 1548 02:23:18,370 --> 02:23:19,670 So yes, so the funding, 1549 02:23:21,170 --> 02:23:23,530 essentially for the projects under the 1550 02:23:23,530 --> 02:23:25,970 sickly-mutter natural flood protection program, 1551 02:23:26,070 --> 02:23:27,850 are funded through our special parcel tax, 1552 02:23:27,910 --> 02:23:31,210 which was a voter approved special parcel tax in 2020. 1553 02:23:32,470 --> 02:23:35,590 And those dollars are reflected any 1554 02:23:35,590 --> 02:23:39,410 shared funding sources are reported out in the Indian report. 1555 02:23:39,410 --> 02:23:45,190 And we report on that every year and provide information to the public. 1556 02:23:45,710 --> 02:23:54,490 So I think one of the, I think part of the questions are they going to be additional tests. 1557 02:23:55,430 --> 02:23:59,570 No, they won't be, they won't, yeah, they will not be additional tests. 1558 02:23:59,750 --> 02:24:04,150 So this is more of a change existing program element, 1559 02:24:04,150 --> 02:24:12,910 so that we can more efficiently use the voter approved safe clean water program. 1560 02:24:13,010 --> 02:24:16,990 Okay, great. That's a real location of funds that are in place. Yes, yes, yes. 1561 02:24:17,650 --> 02:24:19,710 Oh, thank you very much for following that. 1562 02:24:20,150 --> 02:24:28,530 Okay, thank you for asking the question, okay, any anything else? I don't have anything. 1563 02:24:31,310 --> 02:24:37,370 Okay, then, what we're still in the public hearing. 1564 02:24:38,830 --> 02:24:44,940 Okay, and we're in line. 1565 02:24:46,220 --> 02:24:49,700 Okay, we're just to receive the public comment period. 1566 02:24:49,700 --> 02:24:59,970 And then now we heard a- 1567 02:25:00,000 --> 02:25:14,820 Staff presentation and then we answered public questions and this, it is time now to close the public hearing for consideration of board discussion and motion. 1568 02:25:14,820 --> 02:25:22,360 So, different, different than the previous two public hearing that will continue into the 1569 02:25:22,360 --> 02:25:30,900 into NAVPRO or mid-May. This public hearing, this is the one meeting public hearing and then 1570 02:25:30,900 --> 02:25:36,990 we're at the point that we're ready to close the public hearing and this is the time for 1571 02:25:36,990 --> 02:25:41,690 board to ask questions and then I'll give the question to that. 1572 02:25:42,830 --> 02:25:47,750 Okay. Second. Would you have a question from Director Keegan? 1573 02:25:50,250 --> 02:25:51,270 Thank you. 1574 02:25:51,830 --> 02:25:54,990 Ms. Collins, perhaps you can answer this question for me. 1575 02:25:55,330 --> 02:26:02,770 It's related to E9 and that was a request from the IMC. 1576 02:26:02,770 --> 02:26:07,250 And so it talks about providing up to $3 million for 15-year period 1577 02:26:07,250 --> 02:26:10,350 for a Greek-side neighbor rebate program for watershed activities, 1578 02:26:10,650 --> 02:26:13,890 including bank repair, sediment removal, and down tree management. 1579 02:26:14,730 --> 02:26:17,330 So that's roughly $200,000 a year. 1580 02:26:19,690 --> 02:26:24,070 I mean, I'm supportive of this idea of opening it up more. 1581 02:26:24,370 --> 02:26:28,250 And specifically, we do hear concerns about bank repair, 1582 02:26:28,250 --> 02:26:32,830 sediment removal in trees that are impeding flow 1583 02:26:32,830 --> 02:26:33,830 in the creeks. 1584 02:26:35,350 --> 02:26:37,410 My question, well, a couple of questions. 1585 02:26:37,670 --> 02:26:41,930 One is, are we going to be providing any assistance 1586 02:26:42,810 --> 02:26:47,670 in terms of getting permits or things like that 1587 02:26:47,670 --> 02:26:52,030 or at least advising people who get these grants us 1588 02:26:52,030 --> 02:26:54,330 to what their responsibilities are to do work 1589 02:26:54,330 --> 02:26:55,030 within the channel? 1590 02:26:55,150 --> 02:26:58,050 I mean, sediment removal is kind of a big deal, 1591 02:26:58,050 --> 02:27:03,670 right. So this is the first step in the process is getting authorization to establish this type 1592 02:27:03,670 --> 02:27:09,130 of rebate program. The details of how to implement that rebate program I believe will be brought 1593 02:27:09,130 --> 02:27:15,370 back to the board for further discussion. Okay and so other questions that I have and you may not 1594 02:27:15,370 --> 02:27:22,150 be able to answer them right now but I would be curious about is like for example this could be an 1595 02:27:22,150 --> 02:27:27,770 individual perhaps an individual who's who's bank is failing behind their property and they're 1596 02:27:27,770 --> 02:27:33,210 asking for some assistance and so we it sounds like that would be something that would be 1597 02:27:33,210 --> 02:27:37,610 eligible and we might come up with some criteria right like cost sharing and things of that 1598 02:27:37,610 --> 02:27:43,190 nature so so these are things I'm getting into the details that are going to 1599 02:27:43,190 --> 02:27:48,810 staff is going to work with the IMC and with the community to develop those further and then 1600 02:27:48,810 --> 02:27:52,130 bring those back to the board am I hearing correctly yes okay thank you 1601 02:27:52,130 --> 02:27:53,210 Thank you so much. 1602 02:27:54,830 --> 02:27:56,110 Director Arsonberg. 1603 02:28:04,820 --> 02:28:08,240 So, kind of get a little closer to the mic. 1604 02:28:10,300 --> 02:28:16,380 With regard to the Pacheco, not spending choosing not to implement this expense. 1605 02:28:17,780 --> 02:28:26,260 First, I just want to point out that, you know, I'm going to reiterate my objection to the use of the number 140,000. 1606 02:28:26,260 --> 02:28:39,440 And where you state that it will up to 140,000 acre feed of storage, since we know that we will not be able to do this project, 1607 02:28:39,780 --> 02:28:50,500 if without 35% participation, we know that we will not be able to do this project without 35% of the storage going to those participants, 1608 02:28:50,500 --> 02:28:57,840 which means that actually the maximum is 91,000 acre feet. 1609 02:29:02,590 --> 02:29:04,190 Well, that's... 1610 02:29:04,190 --> 02:29:06,570 This is a binomial post. 1611 02:29:08,210 --> 02:29:11,370 But this is actually a factual misrepresentation 1612 02:29:11,370 --> 02:29:15,790 that I keep pointing out, even in a slide that says, 1613 02:29:15,870 --> 02:29:19,530 we're not implementing this, there's still a misrepresentation 1614 02:29:20,070 --> 02:29:21,350 of what this project would do. 1615 02:29:21,350 --> 02:29:37,810 So I, that bothers me, but please explain to me, you're thinking behind not implementing this and it tell me how much money from this pool of money will still be spent on Pacheco. 1616 02:29:37,930 --> 02:29:47,150 We know that you are not going, if I understand correctly, this means you won't be spending what 10 million on it. 1617 02:29:47,150 --> 02:29:53,090 So, how much will you still be spending on it and what was your thinking behind this? 1618 02:29:53,530 --> 02:29:59,970 Certainly. So, the $10,000 fund transfer to date. No funds have been transferred. Those were... 1619 02:30:00,000 --> 02:30:07,440 Transfers that were scheduled for future fiscal years. So, today, no safe clean water funds have been spent on the Czech arrest of our expansion project. 1620 02:30:08,960 --> 02:30:24,040 Under the safe clean water program fund 26, as a funding source. And so, there are no other funds allocated to this project. Under the safe clean water program, the only allocation was that $10 million transfer spread over multiple years. 1621 02:30:24,040 --> 02:30:29,080 And so, through the board's action today, should you adopt the resolution to not implement 1622 02:30:29,080 --> 02:30:31,820 this project, no fund transfer would take place. 1623 02:30:32,260 --> 02:30:37,060 Therefore, no safely water funds would be expanded on the Czech Republic's expansion project. 1624 02:30:37,900 --> 02:30:46,000 The rationale for why we're proposing this is because this project, the $10 million fund transfer 1625 02:30:46,000 --> 02:30:53,460 makes up about 0.36 of 1% of the total project cost, estimated total project cost, and in 1626 02:30:53,460 --> 02:30:58,080 essence, the project will still be able to move forward without this one transfer, however 1627 02:30:58,080 --> 02:31:04,660 these funds could be reallocated into the Safe Clean Water Program to help implement other 1628 02:31:04,660 --> 02:31:09,700 projects and actually get those projects delivered. And so the two projects that were given 1629 02:31:09,700 --> 02:31:14,320 is examples were the Sunnyvale East West Floor Protection Project, which has currently a funding 1630 02:31:14,320 --> 02:31:17,020 for fall for the Sunnyvale East Channel portion, 1631 02:31:17,600 --> 02:31:19,340 and this would help close that funding gap, 1632 02:31:19,600 --> 02:31:25,740 along with financing and be able to allow us to move forward 1633 02:31:25,740 --> 02:31:27,860 with construction, hopefully next fiscal years, 1634 02:31:28,100 --> 02:31:29,440 this project is nearly shovel ready. 1635 02:31:30,380 --> 02:31:34,360 The other item that could be supported through this action 1636 02:31:34,360 --> 02:31:37,320 is the enhanced level of service for the Enchaimment Cleanup Project. 1637 02:31:38,260 --> 02:31:39,580 Thank you for that. 1638 02:31:39,580 --> 02:31:48,120 So then, so on that when I look at the State Water Commission's website and the Prop 1 page for 1639 02:31:48,120 --> 02:31:54,300 Pateco, it says that $24.1 million was approved for early funding. 1640 02:31:56,200 --> 02:32:00,560 That is not related to the sickly water and natural flood protection program. 1641 02:32:01,080 --> 02:32:06,140 Okay, so basically that means we're not getting taking money from the flood prevention program. 1642 02:32:07,180 --> 02:32:14,280 We're not, no funds beyond this ten million dollar future funding for Pacheco for Pacheco 1643 02:32:14,280 --> 02:32:14,840 and allocated. 1644 02:32:15,640 --> 02:32:17,000 So from fun 26. 1645 02:32:17,740 --> 02:32:18,340 Okay, great. 1646 02:32:18,720 --> 02:32:22,580 So in a future meeting when it's not off topic, I would love to have. 1647 02:32:22,800 --> 02:32:25,320 And since I'm not allowed to meet with staff anymore, 1648 02:32:25,640 --> 02:32:28,160 I have to ask these questions at board meetings, 1649 02:32:28,600 --> 02:32:33,140 but I would love to have a breakdown of all the different funds 1650 02:32:34,220 --> 02:32:40,780 And what projects that those funds have been allocated to because we know we've been spending money on 1651 02:32:40,780 --> 02:32:41,360 Pacheco. 1652 02:32:41,680 --> 02:32:45,540 And again, I don't want to be off topic for this meeting, but in the future I'd like to understand 1653 02:32:46,080 --> 02:32:52,080 what funds have been spent on Pacheco because there's a number of different funds, right? 1654 02:32:52,460 --> 02:32:54,680 And here we're talking about just fund 26. 1655 02:32:55,580 --> 02:33:00,820 So, again, staying on topic, you know, and again, I have all these off topic questions because 1656 02:33:00,820 --> 02:33:04,500 because my inability to meet with staff or staff to. 1657 02:33:04,500 --> 02:33:06,200 And I can answer that. 1658 02:33:06,460 --> 02:33:11,440 The water utility enterprise fund 61 is Valley Waters funding source 1659 02:33:11,440 --> 02:33:13,240 for the particular reservoir expansion project 1660 02:33:13,240 --> 02:33:17,200 and that funding source essentially are water rates. 1661 02:33:17,640 --> 02:33:22,160 But we are here today about 20, 6, which is a larger approval. 1662 02:33:22,520 --> 02:33:25,080 Right, so in the fund water, I would love that information. 1663 02:33:25,320 --> 02:33:28,100 Because I think the public may be confused like I am 1664 02:33:28,100 --> 02:33:31,240 that this actually would be taking away some funding from Pateco, 1665 02:33:31,380 --> 02:33:35,740 but really what it's doing is not taking flood protection. 1666 02:33:36,100 --> 02:33:38,320 Money, not paying for Pateco with flood protection, 1667 02:33:38,480 --> 02:33:43,200 which I think is in line with the purpose of that fund. 1668 02:33:43,200 --> 02:33:47,280 The Pateco does not have flood protection as one of it. 1669 02:33:47,820 --> 02:33:51,380 To clarify, the sixth and what are natural flood protection program 1670 02:33:51,380 --> 02:33:54,320 is a voter approved special parcel text 1671 02:33:54,320 --> 02:33:56,420 that not only funds flood protection, 1672 02:33:56,420 --> 02:33:59,800 but it also funds water supply projects as well. 1673 02:34:00,500 --> 02:34:02,220 And each and every project that is funded 1674 02:34:02,220 --> 02:34:04,600 through the safety and water program was approved by the voters. 1675 02:34:05,060 --> 02:34:09,560 And so that is essentially outlined in the annual report 1676 02:34:09,560 --> 02:34:11,920 and the program document and five year plans. 1677 02:34:12,300 --> 02:34:12,800 I get it. 1678 02:34:12,860 --> 02:34:14,500 And I do think this is in within line. 1679 02:34:14,640 --> 02:34:15,160 So thank you. 1680 02:34:15,320 --> 02:34:15,460 OK. 1681 02:34:15,840 --> 02:34:17,300 Thank you. 1682 02:34:17,820 --> 02:34:19,640 When you have the motion and the second, 1683 02:34:20,820 --> 02:34:22,940 I think we need to take a roll call vote. 1684 02:34:23,040 --> 02:34:24,100 This is a resolution. 1685 02:34:25,220 --> 02:34:33,520 Director Bel, Director Eisenberg, I, Director Estimera, Director Keegan, Vice Chair Santos, 1686 02:34:34,160 --> 02:34:34,980 Director Berla. 1687 02:34:35,880 --> 02:34:36,460 Sure, sure. 1688 02:34:36,960 --> 02:34:37,100 Yes. 1689 02:34:37,540 --> 02:34:38,440 May you name a spoke? 1690 02:34:40,960 --> 02:34:49,040 I won't just say one sentence that I really appreciate staff's initiative, F.N.I, 1691 02:34:53,180 --> 02:34:53,180 that 1692 02:34:53,180 --> 02:34:59,420 a property owner or neighborhood group, I think that's building a lot of bridges 1693 02:34:59,420 --> 02:34:59,980 It's a hard one. 1694 02:35:00,000 --> 02:35:13,000 So, yeah, that's a big step on public agencies. So, thank you, staff, for your initiative. Okay, we're moving on to 1695 02:35:13,000 --> 02:35:24,200 I do have a public request Mr. Mark Wise for item 4.1, so I think I would just pull 1696 02:35:24,200 --> 02:35:30,000 item 4.1 for discussion first, and then we'll vote on the council and calendar. 1697 02:35:30,620 --> 02:35:31,660 Mr. Wise, please. 1698 02:35:37,410 --> 02:35:42,950 Good afternoon, board members, and staff, my name is Mark Wise. 1699 02:35:42,950 --> 02:35:49,170 I lived in Palo Alto, I wanted to commend you on acknowledging through your proclamation 1700 02:35:49,170 --> 02:35:59,670 Earth Day, April 22, 2024, and when I read that item in your packet, I immediately thought 1701 02:35:59,670 --> 02:36:07,530 of the song that I first heard on the radio as a kid, but the Dooby Brothers, black waters, 1702 02:36:07,670 --> 02:36:12,790 their number one hit in 1975, is their first hit, and they're from this neck of the woods. 1703 02:36:12,790 --> 02:36:20,130 In fact, Patrick Simmons, he, I believe, went to, he was a Lee, Longhorn, which is only 1704 02:36:20,130 --> 02:36:27,630 three miles from here up, Blossom Hill Road, and, you know, to be brothers have, I mean, 1705 02:36:27,790 --> 02:36:32,550 that song, you know, it's about the Mississippi, but they've brought a lot of claim to our area, 1706 02:36:32,630 --> 02:36:39,030 and I think they're environmentalists, Mr. Bill, Mr. Bell has it, what? And San Jose 1707 02:36:39,030 --> 02:36:47,270 stay as was Ken Kameniti. Anyways, baseball player for me. All right, so, but I'm wondering 1708 02:36:48,830 --> 02:36:54,690 maybe this board could sponsor a songwriting contest because that's song with Adobe Brothers. 1709 02:36:54,930 --> 02:37:00,830 As catchy as it is, it's about the Mississippi River. It might be interesting to see not the 1710 02:37:00,830 --> 02:37:05,270 Adobe Brothers but the next generation. There's a lot of great songwriters and up-and-coming songwriters. 1711 02:37:05,270 --> 02:37:07,570 They don't have to be students, but there's a lot of indie, 1712 02:37:08,130 --> 02:37:09,930 let's just say anyone who's not a major label, 1713 02:37:10,610 --> 02:37:12,610 signy, excluding the Dooby Brothers. 1714 02:37:12,730 --> 02:37:13,970 Maybe the Dooby Brothers could be a judge. 1715 02:37:14,030 --> 02:37:16,050 I think we great to have a songwriting contest 1716 02:37:16,050 --> 02:37:19,070 where Santa Clara County and people in your districts, 1717 02:37:19,690 --> 02:37:22,170 write a song about water, about our crics, 1718 02:37:23,830 --> 02:37:26,810 and our environmental theme, maybe not this year, 1719 02:37:27,010 --> 02:37:29,770 but going forward might be a fun project 1720 02:37:29,770 --> 02:37:32,370 for a value water community engagement 1721 02:37:33,650 --> 02:37:40,610 with my additional 70 seconds. I wanted to shout out Wallace Stegner. Wallace Stegner was my 1722 02:37:40,610 --> 02:37:47,750 neighbor for half of my life during his lifetime in that he was a leading environmentalist 1723 02:37:47,750 --> 02:37:51,170 and professor at Stanford and very involved. I'm not sure what his history is with value 1724 02:37:51,170 --> 02:37:59,860 water, but I like to look it up. But at the 1992 Earth Day in Palo Alto he was supposed to be 1725 02:37:59,860 --> 02:38:04,940 our keynote speaker, but unfortunately he died in a car accident and was never able to attend 1726 02:38:04,940 --> 02:38:05,600 that event. 1727 02:38:06,700 --> 02:38:11,460 I believe perhaps they published what he would have said at the 92 Earth Day in Palo Alto. 1728 02:38:11,960 --> 02:38:19,240 Yes, one little quibble, as I would say, in terms of your proclamation, it is more accurate 1729 02:38:19,240 --> 02:38:24,280 to not just say that Earth Day was founded in the United States, it was actually founded 1730 02:38:24,280 --> 02:38:33,280 in our county in that a huge part of the organization was done in Palo Alto by people like 1731 02:38:33,280 --> 02:38:38,720 Pete McCloskey who wrote a book about the experience and our Congress person at the time. 1732 02:38:39,060 --> 02:38:47,280 I believe and it's before my time really in Palo Alto and Peter Druckmire in 2004, the 1733 02:38:47,280 --> 02:38:53,120 20 second anniversary of it, he later became a water administrator, he probably know him and 1734 02:38:53,120 --> 02:38:56,860 our mayor, he came out of the Earth Day movement on the 20th anniversary of all that. 1735 02:38:57,020 --> 02:39:04,440 As did I. Okay, thank you. Thank you. And thank you for your suggestion. So we, uh, uh, 1736 02:39:04,560 --> 02:39:11,820 is there a motion? Uh, okay. Second, okay. Uh, we need to do a roll call vote. 1737 02:39:12,100 --> 02:39:18,600 We'll come all concerned calendar 4.1, 2, 4.4. Director Bell. Director Eisenberg. 1738 02:39:18,600 --> 02:39:25,640 I direct to Ress Mera, direct to Keegan, vice chair of Santa's, direct to Brawla, chair 1739 02:39:25,640 --> 02:39:32,260 Shua, yes, heavy and I'm a spoke, and Mr. Wise, we hope to see you at the National River 1740 02:39:32,260 --> 02:39:33,620 Cleanup Day. 1741 02:39:35,690 --> 02:39:44,750 Okay, moving on, item 5.1, consider the November 6th, 2023 and January 2nd, 2024 recommendations 1742 02:39:44,750 --> 02:39:49,990 from the board to policy and planning committee to adopt the one-water 1743 02:39:50,990 --> 02:39:54,690 Guadalupe and Upper Pajaro Watershed Plants. 1744 02:39:56,310 --> 02:39:59,970 Lisa, yes, thank you, good afternoon board, I'm Lisa Van Cache, assistant office. 1745 02:40:00,000 --> 02:40:12,700 Sir, Watershed, Stewart-Chicken Fanning. And I've got a number of staff who contributed to the Watershed Plan. So, this item is for the Board to adopt the Wadalube and Upper Watershed Pahara Watershed Master Plan. 1746 02:40:14,000 --> 02:40:28,360 These will come back, these recommended actions within the plans will come back to the Board for approval also at a later date as they are folded into operating and capital projects and programs. 1747 02:40:29,100 --> 02:40:35,320 So, again, I do want to thank staff for their contributions to this tremendous two-year effort. 1748 02:40:36,020 --> 02:40:37,940 And I do have a brief presentation. 1749 02:40:38,580 --> 02:40:39,340 Should it please support? 1750 02:40:39,420 --> 02:40:41,500 Or we can go directly to questions and discussion. 1751 02:40:42,140 --> 02:40:45,400 Let's do the presentation because I think this is a big milestone. 1752 02:40:45,860 --> 02:40:48,060 It is very important work. 1753 02:40:49,580 --> 02:40:50,100 Thank you. 1754 02:40:50,940 --> 02:40:54,900 Okay, so today I'll just talk briefly about the watershed planning process. 1755 02:40:54,900 --> 02:41:07,380 So, and then we'll talk including the both flood vulnerability assessment, which was developed as part of this program and one one program, and then focus more attention on the priority actions that are recommended. 1756 02:41:08,880 --> 02:41:22,180 So, like other master planning processes here at Valley Water, Watershed Master plans engage the community and use equitable metrics to identify flood protection and stream stewardship priority actions for sustainable future. 1757 02:41:22,180 --> 02:41:28,620 And one water plans go one step further, so they bring in actions from water supply 1758 02:41:28,620 --> 02:41:34,880 master plan and asset management plan, so they function as truly integrated long-range 1759 02:41:34,880 --> 02:41:37,860 plans for the agency wide. 1760 02:41:39,460 --> 02:41:46,020 The planning process is data-driven, there are five objectives, and baseline and targets are 1761 02:41:46,020 --> 02:41:50,800 established to identify gaps and measure progress towards each 1762 02:41:50,800 --> 02:41:51,380 subjective. 1763 02:41:52,920 --> 02:41:54,940 This is an example metric. 1764 02:41:55,660 --> 02:41:58,540 So this map shows the unprotected portions 1765 02:41:58,540 --> 02:42:02,300 of the upper-poweral watersheds stream buffer lands. 1766 02:42:02,760 --> 02:42:05,560 It's an example of how data is used to identify 1767 02:42:05,560 --> 02:42:07,900 watershed priorities, in this case, 1768 02:42:08,120 --> 02:42:10,860 to develop partnerships to protect the buffer lands. 1769 02:42:14,520 --> 02:42:16,460 And the flood vulnerability assessment 1770 02:42:16,460 --> 02:42:20,820 is another way data is used to identify watershed management priorities. 1771 02:42:24,290 --> 02:42:28,510 So flood vulnerability is a combination of community characteristics 1772 02:42:28,510 --> 02:42:34,750 and the physical extent of frequent flooding to find as the 25 year event. 1773 02:42:35,110 --> 02:42:38,630 The goal is to provide health and safety to the entire community 1774 02:42:38,630 --> 02:42:42,790 or to entire county rather prioritizing underserved communities. 1775 02:42:45,310 --> 02:42:48,470 So this map shows flood vulnerable areas in the Guadalupe watershed. 1776 02:42:48,470 --> 02:42:54,810 But as you can see, there's several areas of risk identified, including Ross, Canoes, and the upper 1777 02:42:54,810 --> 02:42:55,290 blood. 1778 02:42:55,870 --> 02:42:59,350 Please recall these maps as I'll go back to them later. 1779 02:43:00,370 --> 02:43:05,390 Flood vulnerable areas identified in the assessment in the U.S. and U.S. and U.S. and include 1780 02:43:05,390 --> 02:43:10,330 and I just want to note there's additional hydraulic modeling needed in this watershed, 1781 02:43:10,770 --> 02:43:16,150 but you'll see a number of vulnerable areas, such as the east-west little U.S. area, as well 1782 02:43:16,150 --> 02:43:18,590 as the U.S. around Highway 25. 1783 02:43:22,220 --> 02:43:25,420 So what our should management needs to involve the entire community 1784 02:43:25,420 --> 02:43:27,900 to be effective at addressing priorities. 1785 02:43:28,780 --> 02:43:31,160 The public in-person process is very robust 1786 02:43:31,160 --> 02:43:34,120 because it's really the core of the planning process. 1787 02:43:35,900 --> 02:43:37,720 Each watershed plan involved outreach 1788 02:43:37,720 --> 02:43:38,980 to a number of organizations. 1789 02:43:39,320 --> 02:43:42,520 This is just an example, neighborhood groups and individuals. 1790 02:43:43,260 --> 02:43:46,300 We also outreach to Board Advisory Committee's 1791 02:43:46,300 --> 02:43:48,540 following review by the Board Policy and Planning Committee 1792 02:43:48,540 --> 02:43:49,980 Earlier this year. 1793 02:43:52,400 --> 02:44:06,960 Here's an example of a focus workshop. We held this workshop with members of the Guadalupe adapted management team and very engaged stakeholders such as CalChout and the goal was to develop an ecological vision for each sub watershed in the Guadalupe. 1794 02:44:07,660 --> 02:44:20,240 This resulted in targeted recommendations for fish habitat improvement and these generally align with the face implementation plan but they can also serve as objectives for adaptive management for that program. 1795 02:44:23,120 --> 02:44:30,840 Now, I'll highlight the actual key results of the planning process, the priority actions for each watershed. 1796 02:44:31,420 --> 02:44:35,100 I can't cover all the actions here. There's over a hundred between the two plans, 1797 02:44:36,240 --> 02:44:38,920 but no each plan includes a detailed table. 1798 02:44:39,540 --> 02:44:45,960 And the actions are organized by phase where short phase is zero to 10 years. 1799 02:44:46,280 --> 02:44:51,900 Medium is 11 to 20 and long-term is 21 to 30 years post plan adoption. 1800 02:44:51,900 --> 02:44:59,520 This map shows the distribution of priority actions across the Guadalupe watershed. 1801 02:45:00,000 --> 02:45:09,360 265 in total. And short-term priorities in the watershed for flood risk reduction include conducting 1802 02:45:09,360 --> 02:45:16,500 two planning studies at flood vulnerable areas. And I'd just recall the map I showed earlier, 1803 02:45:17,200 --> 02:45:23,440 particularly at Canoes and Colero, or recommended in the short term. And the goal of these studies 1804 02:45:23,440 --> 02:45:31,400 is to define a feasible project project one that is affordable and protects critical assets 1805 02:45:31,400 --> 02:45:40,000 and the community. And I also want to point out that these actions include critical asset management 1806 02:45:40,000 --> 02:45:46,420 projects. Total short-term actions for flood risk reduction in the Guadalupe would cost up to 1807 02:45:46,420 --> 02:45:48,160 13 million in the short-term. 1808 02:45:51,870 --> 02:45:55,570 Sure-term ecological priorities include improving habitat for 1809 02:45:55,570 --> 02:46:01,890 had of course, as well as salmon on these creeks, the Wadalupe, assessing feasibility of fish passage 1810 02:46:01,890 --> 02:46:08,130 at Almanin Dam, modifying the Alameda's drop structure to enhance habitat, again a feasibility study, 1811 02:46:08,650 --> 02:46:15,050 and partnerships to address other priority barriers, notably the Highway 17 wildlife and trail 1812 02:46:15,050 --> 02:46:23,310 crossing project. We've got about $100 million of estimated that would in the short term for 1813 02:46:23,310 --> 02:46:30,770 ecological actions. A number of these actions would be covered by face implementation funds, 1814 02:46:31,690 --> 02:46:38,990 but because we don't know precisely which we're planning for an additional 100 million for these projects. 1815 02:46:41,750 --> 02:46:48,190 Water quality improvement would also be another additional 100 million, and this is focus on 1816 02:46:48,190 --> 02:46:50,930 addressing impacts of encampments in the watershed. 1817 02:46:54,660 --> 02:46:57,540 Moving on to the upper part, there are 48 priority 1818 02:46:57,540 --> 02:47:05,960 actions recommended in this watershed. And key actions also include flood actions would complete 1819 02:47:05,960 --> 02:47:10,540 the hydraulic modeling, which is necessary, as I mentioned, as well as conducting 1820 02:47:10,540 --> 02:47:18,360 several new planning studies and completing the lower Yagus capacity restoration projects, 1821 02:47:18,760 --> 02:47:21,840 and these costs are projected to be up to 110 million. 1822 02:47:25,170 --> 02:47:32,830 He ecological actions in the upper power watershed focus on partnerships with agricultural and other 1823 02:47:32,830 --> 02:47:41,610 rural land managers to look at floodplain restoration, including at the PAHO River Agricultural 1824 02:47:41,610 --> 02:47:42,190 Preserve. 1825 02:47:42,330 --> 02:47:48,710 So this is at the confluence of the Agas and the PAHO Rivers and at San Felipe Lake. 1826 02:47:51,950 --> 02:47:54,810 And again, water quality actions focus on partnerships. 1827 02:47:54,810 --> 02:48:02,370 this time with RCDs, the county and municipalities to address sedimentation and bacterial impairments in the creeks. 1828 02:48:05,820 --> 02:48:12,600 So that concludes my presentation. As I mentioned, next steps with adoption, 1829 02:48:13,420 --> 02:48:19,340 staff would include these priority actions into operational and capital programs as funding allows. 1830 02:48:19,340 --> 02:48:25,920 We would integrate the ecological actions into capital projects, potentially as conservation 1831 02:48:25,920 --> 02:48:31,080 or mitigation measures, allowing for these projects to be multi-benefits. 1832 02:48:32,900 --> 02:48:37,540 We would also move on to completing the next two watershed plans, which are the final 1833 02:48:37,540 --> 02:48:41,380 two of the five watershed master plans for the lower peninsula and west valley. 1834 02:48:42,260 --> 02:48:48,500 And then finally, we would conduct a county-wide flood risk prioritization process, so basically 1835 02:48:48,500 --> 02:48:54,540 taking the results of all the county-wide flood vulnerability assessments and allowing the board to 1836 02:48:54,540 --> 02:48:55,940 have input on prioritization. 1837 02:48:59,740 --> 02:49:02,080 So thank you for listening. I'm available for questions. 1838 02:49:02,200 --> 02:49:08,380 Okay. Questions from, well, member, we have, I'll start with direct, direct, direct, what 1839 02:49:08,380 --> 02:49:11,840 relevant. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Yeah, thank you. Question. 1840 02:49:13,480 --> 02:49:17,720 So both the direct or census and I sit on the part where river watershed, flood protection, 1841 02:49:17,720 --> 02:49:22,440 authority, they had their meeting last Friday. I wasn't able to attend because of a conflict 1842 02:49:22,440 --> 02:49:27,540 with another meeting. Was this presented at their meeting? This presentation that you 1843 02:49:27,540 --> 02:49:31,480 present to us tonight, or has it been? Because I don't recall this ever being presented 1844 02:49:31,480 --> 02:49:32,480 to that authority. 1845 02:49:32,640 --> 02:49:38,080 I'm going to ask Nick Maskera to address the question. As I said, we've had, I think, over 1846 02:49:38,080 --> 02:49:42,060 a hundred and twenty meetings. So I want to make sure to talk about this specific region. 1847 02:49:43,020 --> 02:49:46,180 Good afternoon, Directors. And everyone is in my name is Nick Maskera, all of the associate 1848 02:49:46,180 --> 02:49:50,000 environmental planner and project manager for this upper water shed plan. 1849 02:49:50,360 --> 02:49:53,480 This item has not gone to the authority that you're referencing. 1850 02:49:53,840 --> 02:49:59,660 Dr. Varella, however, we're well aware of that authority and we have staff that also are coordinating and following that. 1851 02:50:00,000 --> 02:50:05,720 Information has been built into the work that we've done in the plan, but it has not gone to a presentation. 1852 02:50:06,820 --> 02:50:13,840 Correct. If I heard there were 48 actions at a cost of 110 million and we're taking on partners. 1853 02:50:15,600 --> 02:50:21,780 That has to be some explanation as to what that means to that particular region and who are those partners. 1854 02:50:21,780 --> 02:50:29,040 And is the water authority inclusive in that, and are they inclusive in the sharing cost of that as well? 1855 02:50:29,380 --> 02:50:30,100 That's what I'm asking. 1856 02:50:31,040 --> 02:50:35,740 So we do have a table in the plan that identifies partners, but I believe the Pahoro River 1857 02:50:35,740 --> 02:50:41,080 Flag Protection Authority is concerned with the lower Pahoro Watershed. 1858 02:50:41,100 --> 02:50:46,900 And we are concerned in this watershed plan with the upper Pahoro Watershed since that is within our county. 1859 02:50:46,900 --> 02:50:53,100 There are a few actions and one in particular I'm thinking of which has to do with the 1860 02:50:53,100 --> 02:50:59,720 soap-lake flood clean and looking at the flood detention benefits, potential of and restoration 1861 02:50:59,720 --> 02:51:05,360 opportunities at soap-lake, and that in particular would be a project that we would coordinate 1862 02:51:05,360 --> 02:51:10,600 closely with the Parharole, and since it does have very clear downstream benefits. 1863 02:51:10,600 --> 02:51:18,160 Well, the other partners in that, the levees in that region reach constantly, and there's a 1864 02:51:18,160 --> 02:51:24,120 breach last year and I think two years ago, creates major flooding, and much of the habitat 1865 02:51:24,120 --> 02:51:29,000 is destroyed in a particular area surrounding the levees, and that's mostly in a agriculture, 1866 02:51:30,100 --> 02:51:35,500 and out places the workers, which are primarily low-income labor forces that live on these 1867 02:51:35,500 --> 02:51:38,860 particular areas, which takes away their incomes as well. 1868 02:51:38,860 --> 02:51:43,720 The Army Corps of Engineers had very engaged in all these projects in that particular region. 1869 02:51:44,300 --> 02:51:45,760 Are they engaged in this as well? 1870 02:51:46,280 --> 02:51:48,720 And they're bringing their resources to this with each dollars? 1871 02:51:49,720 --> 02:51:55,560 So as I mentioned, another way to think about that watershed plan that I'm referring to is the U.S. 1872 02:51:55,680 --> 02:51:57,320 Yagas watershed plans. 1873 02:51:58,900 --> 02:52:01,240 So we call it the upper-power watershed. 1874 02:52:01,820 --> 02:52:04,140 That's kind of a catch-all for U.S. Yagas. 1875 02:52:04,140 --> 02:52:12,180 But I believe that the Army Corps project is in on the Pocro River, Main Sam, which is outside of Santa Clara County. 1876 02:52:12,620 --> 02:52:14,620 And so therefore is not included in this planning effort. 1877 02:52:15,100 --> 02:52:20,020 Okay. I think it just need a better understanding as to you mentioned partners, the cost, 1878 02:52:20,620 --> 02:52:25,320 and that there are 48 actions, so that I can have a better understanding director Santos when we attend these meetings. 1879 02:52:25,640 --> 02:52:30,240 And questions come up and I think we need to have this presentation offered to that board of directors as well. 1880 02:52:30,920 --> 02:52:32,260 Okay. Thank you. 1881 02:52:32,260 --> 02:52:33,500 That's a good suggestion. 1882 02:52:36,260 --> 02:52:37,260 Director Eisenberg. 1883 02:52:38,180 --> 02:52:38,800 Thank you. 1884 02:52:39,680 --> 02:52:42,780 So looking at slide 16. 1885 02:52:44,880 --> 02:52:48,440 So here you talk about flood risk reduction, 1886 02:52:49,080 --> 02:52:52,020 but I'm not seeing any habitat restoration 1887 02:52:52,020 --> 02:52:58,320 in this to plan to use the strategy 1888 02:52:58,320 --> 02:53:01,900 that is viewed by scientists and many scientists 1889 02:53:01,900 --> 02:53:12,380 as the most effective means of lowering risk of floods, habitat restoration in this, that 1890 02:53:12,380 --> 02:53:18,060 is habitat restoration is not something that engineers generally do, it's something that 1891 02:53:18,060 --> 02:53:22,340 scientists usually do, so is habitat restoration part of your plan? 1892 02:53:23,520 --> 02:53:29,500 Absolutely, so the natural flood protection program was developed to actually prioritize 1893 02:53:29,500 --> 02:53:36,660 projects that incorporate habitat restoration and other means of natural flood protection. That's 1894 02:53:36,660 --> 02:53:42,380 hence the name. So it's really inherent in the planning process for each of our flood protection 1895 02:53:42,380 --> 02:53:49,020 projects to look at potential restoration opportunities for inclusion. It's not addressed 1896 02:53:49,020 --> 02:53:56,540 in words in these actions, but it is described in a little bit more detail in the planet 1897 02:53:56,540 --> 02:54:00,700 itself as well as on our procedures for natural flood protection. 1898 02:54:01,380 --> 02:54:06,520 Given the fact that habitat restoration is viewed by many to be both the most effective 1899 02:54:06,520 --> 02:54:14,600 and the most low and the lowest cost means of protecting our communities from floods, 1900 02:54:15,100 --> 02:54:20,880 I think it is worthy of having a line item for that. 1901 02:54:21,820 --> 02:54:26,520 In fact, I don't know if we're going to be asked to approve this, but I can't approve anything, 1902 02:54:26,520 --> 02:54:33,800 if I don't see habitat restoration as an essential component, if not the primary aspect of any 1903 02:54:33,800 --> 02:54:40,720 of these plans. You know, although I criticize and even centering for centering for saying this, 1904 02:54:41,300 --> 02:54:49,680 we know for a fact that it is engineering that has led to flood problems and it is science that 1905 02:54:49,680 --> 02:54:59,980 going to solve those problems. So we can not engineer ourselves out of science issues and other 1906 02:55:00,000 --> 02:55:28,100 So engineering has a role, I'm just not saying science here, I'm not saying habitat, I'm not saying protection, you know, the embracing of if we include, if we, we improve the ground cover, water can go down and that act. If we remove cement and create porous surfaces on the ground. I mean, these things are all explained and all the books on the subject. So I know you recognize the importance of these strategies. 1907 02:55:28,100 --> 02:55:35,640 I'd like to see him reflect it and I guess I pointed out page 18, also I've been 1908 02:55:35,640 --> 02:55:38,460 note about page 18 with regard to that too. 1909 02:55:39,960 --> 02:55:45,580 So yeah, so again, so here we're talking about partnering this water quality monitoring 1910 02:55:45,580 --> 02:55:46,300 that. 1911 02:55:46,540 --> 02:55:56,640 Another aspect of water quality that at least my constituents tell me about is our urgent need 1912 02:55:56,640 --> 02:55:58,760 to take action, 1913 02:56:01,060 --> 02:56:08,280 to lobby and otherwise convince our elected officials to have stronger prohibitions 1914 02:56:08,280 --> 02:56:20,040 on polluting from industrial sites, oil and gas industry, other businesses that harm the 1915 02:56:20,040 --> 02:56:35,380 on behalf of Profit and all the time there are proposed laws in the books and, you know, my elected official, you know, in peddle also does a good job with that. 1916 02:56:35,720 --> 02:56:44,040 So I think that we, that should also be a part of it, is really taking on, 1917 02:56:45,300 --> 02:56:51,680 taking on, you know, we will have cleaner water when industries, when companies stop 1918 02:56:51,680 --> 02:56:56,840 looting it. That's kind of the fastest way to get to cleaner water, right? And then finally, 1919 02:56:57,060 --> 02:57:04,660 there was a slide I didn't write down which one, were you talked about basically embracing 1920 02:57:05,880 --> 02:57:13,280 farmers and landowners about better sustainable agricultural practices that was towards the 1921 02:57:13,280 --> 02:57:18,260 beginning and basically like educating them and assisting them. 1922 02:57:19,540 --> 02:57:28,240 So if you listen to the agricultural committee, they seem pretty darn up to speed on what's sustainable and what isn't, 1923 02:57:28,460 --> 02:57:30,580 but they do state a lot of needs. 1924 02:57:31,840 --> 02:57:42,400 So again, this is kind of an opportunity I think for us to be educated by them to understand what their deeds are and what is holding them back. 1925 02:57:42,400 --> 02:57:49,460 You know, again, like we will not be able to convince people that actually they can afford to do something when they can't. 1926 02:57:50,960 --> 02:57:55,660 You know, and doesn't matter how many times we say yes, you can afford it, yes, you can afford it. 1927 02:57:55,760 --> 02:58:02,880 If they can't they can't. So I don't know the answer of what the farmers need in order to empower them. 1928 02:58:03,280 --> 02:58:04,380 But they do. 1929 02:58:05,380 --> 02:58:10,740 So rather than we educate them, I'd like us to be educated by them. 1930 02:58:10,740 --> 02:58:16,780 So maybe kind of work that into our plan too. As I said before, we all have a lot to learn from 1931 02:58:18,060 --> 02:58:26,720 those who's hands get dirty every day in this in this in this in the processes and our shared goals of 1932 02:58:26,720 --> 02:58:31,120 Saving the world so that people can have clean water 1933 02:58:31,120 --> 02:58:34,360 Because there's no clean water when there's no world 1934 02:58:34,360 --> 02:58:39,560 So I appreciate your work and I know you show these goals. So thank you 1935 02:58:44,070 --> 02:58:44,830 to Dr. Keegan 1936 02:58:46,090 --> 02:58:48,190 Thank you, Chersho. 1937 02:58:49,930 --> 02:58:51,190 Hello Ms. Bancosh. 1938 02:58:51,530 --> 02:58:54,610 I would like to commend you and your staff 1939 02:58:54,610 --> 02:58:56,730 for an excellent work product. 1940 02:58:57,310 --> 02:59:02,370 I know this has been many, many hours of hard work and effort 1941 02:59:02,370 --> 02:59:04,750 and pulling a lot of things together. 1942 02:59:04,830 --> 02:59:08,630 And I hesitate to praise anyone in particular 1943 02:59:08,630 --> 02:59:11,390 because there have been so many people that have worked on this 1944 02:59:11,390 --> 02:59:13,730 but I would like to commend you for your leadership 1945 02:59:13,730 --> 02:59:23,730 and also Mr. Mendenhall, who has been slaving away for many, many years on this, and I also just wanted to call out 1946 02:59:25,980 --> 02:59:50,840 I've seen Ruhani and Demerous Villobos Gildenda, who aren't with us anymore, but I mean they're with us a little larger sense, but they're not here at Bellywater anymore and they've made many great contributions and I'm glad to see that they were acknowledged here. 1947 02:59:51,600 --> 02:59:59,320 You know, one of the things that I just wanted to point out is that on page 13. 1948 03:00:00,000 --> 03:00:27,320 It talks about what is the vision for this and so the one water vision I just want to read this out, because, you know, maybe not everyone found this little tidbit of information, but one water seeks to manage Santa Clara County water resources, holistically and sustainably to benefit people in the environment in a way that is informed by community values. And I think that's a great vision to have and I think it really encapsulates what this is all about. 1949 03:00:29,620 --> 03:00:37,060 One thing, and I'm probably very conscious of this because a lot of people in my community 1950 03:00:37,060 --> 03:00:41,440 have to pay flood insurance, and either they have to pay flood insurance or they need 1951 03:00:41,440 --> 03:00:46,500 flood insurance, and they really can't afford it because a lot of low income people do live 1952 03:00:47,040 --> 03:00:47,840 by the creeks. 1953 03:00:48,600 --> 03:00:57,180 So we're not explicit about it, but reduced flood risk is item C, and so I'm assuming 1954 03:00:57,180 --> 03:01:04,700 that's implicit within that reducing flood risk. Correct. So that's correct. So there is the flood 1955 03:01:04,700 --> 03:01:11,980 vulnerability assessment does start with a 25 year flood event and that's the modeling that is 1956 03:01:11,980 --> 03:01:18,480 the basis for that vulnerability assessment. Now as you know it would be the 100 year flood that 1957 03:01:18,480 --> 03:01:25,100 would actually remove people from the flood plane and reduce the insurance. So that's why we need to take 1958 03:01:25,100 --> 03:01:32,960 Once we have those vulnerable areas, for example, along Kanois, we know that's a vulnerable 1959 03:01:32,960 --> 03:01:38,860 area. We would then take it a step further in planning to determine what is the level of 1960 03:01:38,860 --> 03:01:43,820 service. Can we get to a 100-year in a sustainable and affordable way? 1961 03:01:44,960 --> 03:01:48,200 Thank you for that clarification. Again, 1962 03:01:50,660 --> 03:01:56,240 a beautiful report and a useful report. So, thank you again. 1963 03:01:56,640 --> 03:01:59,680 Thank you. 1964 03:01:59,900 --> 03:02:00,720 Dr. Bell. 1965 03:02:01,840 --> 03:02:02,640 Did it work? 1966 03:02:03,500 --> 03:02:04,740 Yeah, everything's fine. 1967 03:02:05,880 --> 03:02:06,840 Good job. 1968 03:02:07,180 --> 03:02:08,720 I want to echo the comments. 1969 03:02:10,660 --> 03:02:17,420 And I appreciate the format and the way it was presented is very clear. 1970 03:02:18,520 --> 03:02:25,640 I wanted to extend my remarks to protecting homeowners and people that live in. 1971 03:02:25,640 --> 03:02:35,540 apartments, condos, and so forth, in terms of flag protection because I think that we're 1972 03:02:35,540 --> 03:02:43,580 dealing with people that are paying extra insurance and it's getting really bad with 1973 03:02:43,580 --> 03:02:50,860 the insurance, some other insurance. It's getting really bad and people are having the insurance 1974 03:02:51,900 --> 03:03:00,720 cancels. People are concerned about insurance companies using this kind of issue to raise the 1975 03:03:00,720 --> 03:03:10,360 insurance on people's proper homes. And I've got a lot of seniors and low-income families 1976 03:03:10,360 --> 03:03:19,240 that are really stressed out about that. So completing the projects or as important. The other 1977 03:03:19,240 --> 03:03:30,700 issue for me was partners. I think we can be aggressive in planning projects with county 1978 03:03:30,700 --> 03:03:38,640 city agencies that have like like I know when they build almedine expressway down the 1979 03:03:38,640 --> 03:03:44,560 street here. I'll just this is like a gripe that the whole neighborhood knows about. 1980 03:03:48,500 --> 03:03:49,220 It's 1981 03:03:49,220 --> 03:04:01,440 People told the county roads department that the cobert under Ross Creek was built to small. 1982 03:04:01,640 --> 03:04:03,380 People told them that. 1983 03:04:03,760 --> 03:04:05,620 Yet they went ahead and they didn't change their design. 1984 03:04:05,880 --> 03:04:11,340 They built the cobert at a small, now they're going back and we're studying it. 1985 03:04:11,340 --> 03:04:21,700 find, well, it's way too small. It causes a backup of the creek and causes dangerous flooding. 1986 03:04:22,420 --> 03:04:29,620 I think a five-year level, five-year, ten-year level, for all the homers up the creek, and 1987 03:04:29,620 --> 03:04:36,960 that little blockage when the creek goes underneath Almond Expressway is part of the problem. 1988 03:04:36,960 --> 03:04:41,720 So I think going to the county and saying, well, we need your help in fixing this. 1989 03:04:41,720 --> 03:04:49,400 This was not done correctly when the road was built in the first place, and I think we 1990 03:04:49,400 --> 03:04:57,020 have those kind of situations where we can request, we can make requests, we can put it 1991 03:04:57,020 --> 03:04:59,980 on the table so that people know we're trying to... 1992 03:05:00,000 --> 03:05:08,140 Trying to solve their problems, help them with their affordability crisis at their end. 1993 03:05:11,700 --> 03:05:13,060 It's very important 1994 03:05:13,060 --> 03:05:18,320 that we show up for the people in that regard. And I think the plan, now we have a plan. 1995 03:05:29,380 --> 03:05:29,980 Let's 1996 03:05:29,980 --> 03:05:39,040 kind of a picture of what we can do and let's let's all commit to making it happen and 1997 03:05:39,040 --> 03:05:39,960 they can a reality. 1998 03:05:45,060 --> 03:05:45,570 Dr. Estromera. 1999 03:05:46,160 --> 03:05:46,280 Thank you. 2000 03:05:46,480 --> 03:05:54,160 Madam Chair, I just wanted to thank the team for congratulating for great job and move the recommendations. 2001 03:05:54,500 --> 03:05:55,040 Both recommendations. 2002 03:05:56,820 --> 03:05:59,500 So we have, okay. 2003 03:05:59,500 --> 03:06:14,560 I want to say one thing that in addition to everybody who said good job and thank the team particularly Brian, I understand you're not on this effort any longer but congratulations. 2004 03:06:17,280 --> 03:06:27,460 Earlier we talked about how the current five year CIP is overwhelming and how the ongoing maintenance of our facilities 2005 03:06:28,340 --> 03:06:33,500 is so needed or also how we're going to get into 2006 03:06:35,060 --> 03:06:38,080 conditions that we can serve to people. 2007 03:06:38,680 --> 03:06:42,460 Look at these watershed, massive plants that all work. 2008 03:06:43,620 --> 03:06:46,360 Well, never, never get done. 2009 03:06:47,060 --> 03:06:54,080 So many services and then good things that we can do for the community. 2010 03:06:54,080 --> 03:07:02,060 So, yeah, it's good to have a blueprint of what's out there for us in the future. 2011 03:07:02,720 --> 03:07:04,940 So, thank you very much. 2012 03:07:05,520 --> 03:07:07,900 We have a motion in a second. 2013 03:07:08,100 --> 03:07:09,420 Madam Chair, may I interrupt? 2014 03:07:10,520 --> 03:07:11,280 Oh, I forgot. 2015 03:07:12,380 --> 03:07:13,380 I'm sorry. 2016 03:07:13,860 --> 03:07:13,920 I apologize. 2017 03:07:14,700 --> 03:07:16,560 I have two hands. 2018 03:07:17,180 --> 03:07:20,240 So, Loma Pareda resource conservation district. 2019 03:07:23,620 --> 03:07:27,740 Yes, thank you chair shoe. This is Peter and I can get him to press that button. 2020 03:07:27,920 --> 03:07:28,720 Hi, Peter. Yeah. 2021 03:07:28,720 --> 03:07:30,220 The director is with the land trust. 2022 03:07:31,720 --> 03:07:38,960 And we've done some collaborative work with you on both in both the positions of the land trust and the LPRCB. 2023 03:07:39,620 --> 03:07:44,560 You know, of course, down in that watershed that floods and the copper over the water district. 2024 03:07:44,700 --> 03:07:50,980 Also, I mean, the Carnegie River water district also has land, basically adjacent to the land we manage. 2025 03:07:52,560 --> 03:07:57,520 So we've partnered some things down there, like in the area cleaned up, and we're going 2026 03:07:57,520 --> 03:08:00,820 to some of the growers and our business that we're having some issues with garbage 2027 03:08:00,820 --> 03:08:02,340 and whatnot. 2028 03:08:03,240 --> 03:08:09,880 Other than that, I believe that the U.V. is a fairly protected creek for steelhead, and 2029 03:08:09,880 --> 03:08:13,680 possibly maybe a future shift at the Senate, which actually used to run up some of these 2030 03:08:13,680 --> 03:08:19,760 where I'm here, according to the so-called all-time fold times that I've talked to over 2031 03:08:19,760 --> 03:08:26,500 my lifetime. So I think it's a paramount force that you and really unhappy that this 2032 03:08:26,500 --> 03:08:34,220 report focuses on a fish mitigation attack. I think that's a paramount force. And I think 2033 03:08:34,220 --> 03:08:40,100 I want to mention, so Blake, I believe there's a merit effort to get some conservation 2034 03:08:40,100 --> 03:08:45,860 these minutes going in that area to help protect that part of the water shed and the 2035 03:08:45,860 --> 03:08:51,600 toxic span of wetland. I've heard a talk of that. I think most of it's in San 2036 03:08:51,600 --> 03:08:55,140 Anita County, because I asked this question yesterday, I was just wondering if you 2037 03:08:55,140 --> 03:09:00,660 know if the water's involved in any of that, if the water's involved in any of that, 2038 03:09:00,660 --> 03:09:05,280 if you're currently in a basement, stay on there. That's just one question. There's 2039 03:09:05,280 --> 03:09:10,980 another issue I see on the office, and that's the, that invasive, a random door of 2040 03:09:10,980 --> 03:09:17,020 don't ask. I think it's called, you're familiar with that, correct? Correct. Yes, and that 2041 03:09:17,020 --> 03:09:23,220 is pretty much taking over a law of the channel in Sam Martin's, is there going to be an 2042 03:09:23,220 --> 03:09:29,620 effort to mitigate that, get rid of that stuff? So we do have a county-wide invasive plant management 2043 03:09:29,620 --> 03:09:36,480 program and her Rindo as you mentioned a terrible problem particularly in South County. 2044 03:09:37,640 --> 03:09:42,880 You know, we prioritize areas as we have funding so we certainly will take that input and ensure 2045 03:09:42,880 --> 03:09:49,340 that's included as a priority if possible. And then your other question was regarding soap 2046 03:09:49,340 --> 03:09:54,020 lake and though valley water is not directly involved or with the efforts to 2047 03:09:54,020 --> 03:09:59,980 to acquire lands for preservation and so click, we do... 2048 03:10:00,000 --> 03:10:12,680 Meet regularly with regional partners, as you mentioned, to provide information regarding, of course, you know, our areas of expertise, hydrology, hydraulics, other technical information and support of those efforts. 2049 03:10:13,780 --> 03:10:20,760 Yeah, you know, I like, you know, I've seen some of the valley waters of watershed and wetlands, 2050 03:10:20,960 --> 03:10:24,220 restorations, projects, and they're fantastic. 2051 03:10:24,860 --> 03:10:30,240 These lakes of America, and what you're going down on the carnivores is, I think that's great. 2052 03:10:30,640 --> 03:10:32,280 It would be great if we could see more of that. 2053 03:10:32,280 --> 03:10:34,700 I'm not sure if you guys have the funding for that. 2054 03:10:34,940 --> 03:10:39,660 Although, I mean, there's grant money out there that is secure to you, so that, because I'll 2055 03:10:39,660 --> 03:10:44,700 has to do a lot of flight control, have to do a lot of plane water, and the wetlands will be 2056 03:10:44,700 --> 03:10:46,320 a great car and sponge. 2057 03:10:47,360 --> 03:10:50,660 There's a lot of benefit to wetlands and what nature does. 2058 03:10:52,080 --> 03:10:55,980 Well, the only other thing I want to mention, Director Keegan mentioned the vision. 2059 03:10:57,260 --> 03:10:59,420 But I didn't see that she mentioned acting that vision. 2060 03:10:59,560 --> 03:11:01,160 It was people and some other stuff. 2061 03:11:02,000 --> 03:11:03,260 But you might want to put that in that vision. 2062 03:11:03,360 --> 03:11:09,020 To be exact, it's a really important, really important component of preservation of 2063 03:11:09,020 --> 03:11:13,200 you want to shed water quality to everything because most of the forms are right of all of these 2064 03:11:13,200 --> 03:11:18,100 partnerships or with it. So anyway those are just my comments. I appreciate this thing to me. 2065 03:11:18,620 --> 03:11:22,180 Thank you. The next one, I think Miss Irvin. 2066 03:11:30,430 --> 03:11:36,170 Good afternoon. I want to admit that a lot of staff on the process to develop these plans 2067 03:11:36,170 --> 03:11:42,590 aside from the chaplain and these are multiple plans. The concern now should be implementation. 2068 03:11:42,590 --> 03:11:48,730 it. Therefore, I suggest that the projects identified the watershed master plans be considered 2069 03:11:48,730 --> 03:11:55,250 and discussed as part of the annual Capital Improvement Plan process. And there should 2070 03:11:55,250 --> 03:12:02,010 also be periodic view of the progress implementing the plans. That's what you see. And 2071 03:12:02,010 --> 03:12:08,610 your review is preferable, or at least every two years. Therefore, our progress report on 2072 03:12:08,610 --> 03:12:16,130 Highly Creek Waterset Plan which was approved in March of 2022 to be scheduled as soon as possible. 2073 03:12:16,270 --> 03:12:17,990 Thank you. 2074 03:12:18,150 --> 03:12:19,390 Thank you for your comment. 2075 03:12:19,810 --> 03:12:36,690 I believe that Ms. Van Krashe at her opening remark has stated that there will be part of the process to include it in the operation plan and also the capital improvement plan as we should. 2076 03:12:36,690 --> 03:12:45,370 Okay, are there any, there's no more public comment and I think we have, we have a motion in the second. 2077 03:12:45,950 --> 03:12:47,510 On your favor say aye. 2078 03:12:48,850 --> 03:12:49,430 Opposed? 2079 03:12:52,590 --> 03:12:55,770 Motion carries six to one. 2080 03:12:58,060 --> 03:12:58,080 Okay. 2081 03:12:58,520 --> 03:13:06,820 Moving on to item five point to consider the January 2nd, 2024 board policy and planning committee recommendation 2082 03:13:06,820 --> 03:13:11,260 to adopt the proposed changes to board governance policy, 2083 03:13:11,520 --> 03:13:15,520 executive limitation, EL-3, human resources. 2084 03:13:17,220 --> 03:13:23,380 So, yeah, this is something that's more of a administrative update to EL-3, 2085 03:13:24,700 --> 03:13:29,100 and the PPC reviewed it and recommend the board to approve it. 2086 03:13:29,720 --> 03:13:32,620 So, Patrice, do you go to say something? 2087 03:13:32,620 --> 03:13:40,600 Just in the interest of time, the information is here I am here for questions unless you want me to provide additional summary. 2088 03:13:42,060 --> 03:13:48,720 Can we have a brief summary for the, you know, for the pleasure of the public and others watching. 2089 03:13:49,660 --> 03:13:54,300 And for me, doesn't feel long one. More information is always better right y'all. 2090 03:13:54,580 --> 03:13:57,500 Maybe we can put on the red line version. 2091 03:13:59,060 --> 03:14:00,580 Can we do that? 2092 03:14:05,970 --> 03:14:06,210 Have it. 2093 03:14:06,470 --> 03:14:07,310 I don't have it. 2094 03:14:07,610 --> 03:14:08,650 I'm going to get help. 2095 03:14:08,950 --> 03:14:09,370 Thank you. 2096 03:14:10,530 --> 03:14:11,390 How do you find it? 2097 03:14:17,250 --> 03:14:18,190 Not it shouldn't be on 2098 03:14:21,040 --> 03:14:21,400 that. 2099 03:14:21,580 --> 03:14:22,860 It was not a presentation. 2100 03:14:24,580 --> 03:14:27,420 However, why don't I just provide you the information? 2101 03:14:28,200 --> 03:14:28,520 I'm verbally. 2102 03:14:29,220 --> 03:14:36,360 And what we did for this one is we proposed revisions for the EL changes in the district. 2103 03:14:36,860 --> 03:14:40,860 So we changed the district to valley water just to be in line with our 2104 03:14:40,860 --> 03:14:50,860 our naming. We revised 3.7 and 3.17 and then let me just let you know those revisions 2105 03:14:50,860 --> 03:14:59,560 of 3.7 and 3.17. 3.7 we said we would retain no more than the number of unclassified positions. 2106 03:15:00,000 --> 03:15:25,880 Approved by the board in the budget. It was a number, and we thought, why don't we ensure that whatever the board approves be implemented. And then on 3.17, we just changed to say, operate an environment where there are good labor relations with the workforce and the bargaining units. So we just clarified that sentence. 2107 03:15:25,880 --> 03:15:48,380 And then we removed the reference to board appointed officer interpretation and removed the board appointed officer interpretations so that we can have really just one policy that we go to not two documents but one policy and that policy is the board policy document. 2108 03:15:48,500 --> 03:15:49,940 Thank you. 2109 03:15:50,880 --> 03:15:54,100 Any further questions after that explanation? 2110 03:15:55,360 --> 03:16:04,540 Okay. Are there any public comment? Thank you, Mayor Chair. I have no request to speak at this time. 2111 03:16:05,000 --> 03:16:13,720 Okay, then can I entertain a motion? Okay. We have a motion and a second. 2112 03:16:13,720 --> 03:16:17,500 and all in favor say aye. 2113 03:16:17,520 --> 03:16:18,440 All right. 2114 03:16:19,480 --> 03:16:20,180 Opposed? 2115 03:16:20,620 --> 03:16:22,160 Motion carries unanimously. 2116 03:16:27,430 --> 03:16:34,690 And moving on to item 5.3, consider the January 2nd 2024 board policy and planning committee 2117 03:16:34,690 --> 03:16:40,930 recommendation to adopt the proposed changes to board governance policy, executive limitation 2118 03:16:40,930 --> 03:16:45,550 the EL-8 inclusion, equal opportunity, 2119 03:16:47,730 --> 03:16:51,010 discrimination, harassment, prevention, and diversity. 2120 03:16:52,270 --> 03:16:53,810 Put your seats, that's yours again. 2121 03:16:54,530 --> 03:17:01,210 Yes. On behalf of time, I can do a summary, or I can answer questions as. 2122 03:17:03,570 --> 03:17:06,110 Okay. Okay. 2123 03:17:06,110 --> 03:17:11,210 I don't see any requests to provide further detail. 2124 03:17:11,350 --> 03:17:13,030 Are there any public comment? 2125 03:17:14,050 --> 03:17:14,610 Thank you Madam Chair. 2126 03:17:14,730 --> 03:17:16,090 I have no requests at this time. 2127 03:17:17,090 --> 03:17:19,810 So we have motion and second on in favor say aye. 2128 03:17:21,550 --> 03:17:21,670 Okay. 2129 03:17:21,770 --> 03:17:22,370 Opposed? 2130 03:17:22,790 --> 03:17:23,030 No. 2131 03:17:23,570 --> 03:17:24,710 Motion carries unanimously. 2132 03:17:26,190 --> 03:17:26,270 Okay. 2133 03:17:26,270 --> 03:17:27,330 Thank you, Patreise. 2134 03:17:29,010 --> 03:17:31,430 I have been five points for board committee reports. 2135 03:17:32,030 --> 03:17:34,310 We have quite a few under the attachment. 2136 03:17:34,310 --> 03:17:43,170 any questions from board member related to any of these attachment, then the responsible 2137 03:17:43,170 --> 03:17:53,390 committee chair can report back. Okay, I'm not hearing any requests. Are there any 2138 03:17:53,390 --> 03:18:00,250 public comments? Thank you, Madam Chair. I have no request at this time. Okay, we don't need 2139 03:18:00,250 --> 03:18:04,410 to take an action, this is for information only, 2140 03:18:05,050 --> 03:18:10,610 and then the next item on our agenda is CEO and Chiefs report. 2141 03:18:11,350 --> 03:18:12,910 I'll turn it to let's see you all. 2142 03:18:12,990 --> 03:18:15,630 Yes, I'd good afternoon, Chair Schill and members of the Board. 2143 03:18:15,830 --> 03:18:17,410 We're a calendar, I'll see you all today. 2144 03:18:17,530 --> 03:18:18,470 We have several reports. 2145 03:18:18,590 --> 03:18:20,850 I'm going to start off with Chiefs Goodson. 2146 03:18:21,510 --> 03:18:22,550 Thank you, CEO, calendar. 2147 03:18:22,690 --> 03:18:24,270 Good afternoon, Chair Schill and members of the Board. 2148 03:18:24,570 --> 03:18:25,990 You have before you the monthly one 2149 03:18:25,990 --> 03:18:28,390 pages for the offices of civic engagement and government 2150 03:18:28,390 --> 03:18:32,830 relations just a couple highlights denote from each. First on March 9th, the Campbell Little League 2151 03:18:32,830 --> 03:18:37,230 hosted its opening day ceremony at Campbell Little League field to kick off the start of the baseball season, 2152 03:18:37,750 --> 03:18:41,710 and promote the new water bottle refill station made possible through a valley water refill station 2153 03:18:41,710 --> 03:18:45,010 grants. That's been a fit the entirely for the rest of the season and beyond. 2154 03:18:45,810 --> 03:18:51,410 Secondly, 82-409, that's Valley Waters, Bill Proposal, that's sponsored by the Calvary Municipal Utilities 2155 03:18:51,410 --> 03:18:55,470 Association, was referred to the Assembly Water Parks and Wildlife Committee, so it continues to 2156 03:18:55,470 --> 03:18:59,430 progress. It's expected to be heard on April 16th and we're working very closely, of course, 2157 03:18:59,590 --> 03:19:03,270 with CMUA on briefing the members of the committee and preparing for that here in presentation. 2158 03:19:03,770 --> 03:19:09,470 That concludes my report. I'm going to move towards acting chief your PUTU for the board of Sheds. 2159 03:19:13,090 --> 03:19:18,950 Thank you, sir. You calendar, Bavaniya Puthit. Chief of the Board of Sheds, 2160 03:19:19,250 --> 03:19:23,890 acting chief of the board of Sheds. The storm report is in front of your, as a hand out today, 2161 03:19:23,890 --> 03:19:27,130 it's continued to be relatively bad season, 2162 03:19:27,630 --> 03:19:30,630 no unusual activities other than our typo bit debris 2163 03:19:30,630 --> 03:19:33,610 and sediment removal, along with preparing 2164 03:19:33,610 --> 03:19:37,370 about 1200 linear feet of our creek banks. 2165 03:19:37,670 --> 03:19:39,150 And that's all, I have. 2166 03:19:41,190 --> 03:19:43,670 All right, and then I'm going to round the south with the report 2167 03:19:43,670 --> 03:19:45,230 that I was right, please be able to give 2168 03:19:45,230 --> 03:19:47,690 I think a little piece of good news here. 2169 03:19:48,030 --> 03:19:50,130 And it's still to have purified water bottling 2170 03:19:50,130 --> 03:19:52,550 I'm going to ask for a brand in the Nigerian or go ahead 2171 03:19:52,550 --> 03:19:58,930 hand out the first official opportunity for us to pass out with advanced 2172 03:19:58,930 --> 03:19:59,970 terrified water and 2173 03:20:00,640 --> 03:20:16,400 This is a major milestone. We just were updated on our multi-year effort to get here and finally got a approval just last week. Just to let you know, we are the first agency to bottle a purified water for outreach purposes under the new regulations under 2017. 2174 03:20:17,020 --> 03:20:27,740 We are the second agency in California, but we're the first one to do it under the regulations and third in the nation to bottle purified water as part of the conference of outreach and education program. 2175 03:20:27,740 --> 03:20:35,940 As a result of us being able to do this right now, we have 16,000 bottles of purified water which were approved for distribution by our regulators. 2176 03:20:36,900 --> 03:20:43,400 This gives you the opportunity to taste our purified water and this effort has been ongoing since 2018. 2177 03:20:43,400 --> 03:20:53,620 I do want to point out all the staff and if you're standing, if you can wave your hands, I think this is really the accomplishment of staff from the recycling purified water unit. 2178 03:20:56,200 --> 03:20:58,500 Our officers, civic engagement, 2179 03:21:00,860 --> 03:21:04,660 operations, water quality and laboratory services. 2180 03:21:05,040 --> 03:21:09,020 This is truly an accomplishment and I wanted to make sure the directors were the first 2181 03:21:09,020 --> 03:21:13,260 to be able to obtain and hopefully taste the purified water. 2182 03:21:13,600 --> 03:21:15,480 This time we'll turn it over to you, my chair. 2183 03:21:16,280 --> 03:21:17,280 Madam Chair, may I? 2184 03:21:17,560 --> 03:21:18,440 Well, last year. 2185 03:21:18,980 --> 03:21:23,360 Yeah, I'd like to take the time, thank you, CEO calendar, because I was part of the team 2186 03:21:23,360 --> 03:21:30,120 Tony put together 20 something years ago, with Downey Orange County, we drank their water, now we're drinking ours. 2187 03:21:30,460 --> 03:21:32,280 We actually know first tone. 2188 03:21:39,770 --> 03:21:42,230 And that will conclude the CEO report. 2189 03:21:42,410 --> 03:21:42,750 Okay. 2190 03:21:42,970 --> 03:21:43,390 Thank you. 2191 03:21:43,470 --> 03:21:43,810 Great. 2192 03:21:45,270 --> 03:21:45,370 Thank you. 2193 03:21:46,830 --> 03:21:47,530 Thank you everybody. 2194 03:21:49,170 --> 03:21:49,730 Okay. 2195 03:21:49,730 --> 03:21:50,470 Oh, good. 2196 03:21:51,210 --> 03:21:52,370 It's out. 2197 03:21:54,330 --> 03:21:54,890 It's out. 2198 03:21:55,850 --> 03:22:06,270 Okay, well move on to item 11.1, consider side letter agreement to memorandum of understanding 2199 03:22:06,270 --> 03:22:12,930 between the Santa Clara Valley Wallet District and Employee Association, ask me local 101 2200 03:22:12,930 --> 03:22:23,230 Engineer Society, IFPTE, local 21, and Professional Managers Association, IFPTE, local 21, and 2201 03:22:23,230 --> 03:22:31,530 up resolution approving terms of side-led agreement and approving force amended compensation plan 2202 03:22:31,530 --> 03:22:37,190 for unrepresented employees in the executive service. 2203 03:22:37,670 --> 03:22:38,870 So, the trees. 2204 03:22:39,330 --> 03:22:43,910 Thank you. Again, in the honor of time, you have the information in front of you. 2205 03:22:44,010 --> 03:22:48,270 If you'd like a brief summary, I can definitely provide it, or I can answer questions. 2206 03:22:51,440 --> 03:22:51,920 Okay. 2207 03:22:52,720 --> 03:22:52,840 Yeah. 2208 03:22:56,600 --> 03:22:57,080 Good question. 2209 03:22:58,020 --> 03:22:58,660 Just clear, Frank. 2210 03:22:58,900 --> 03:23:00,980 So this has been approved by both sides. 2211 03:23:01,220 --> 03:23:02,900 And now it's just up to us. 2212 03:23:03,720 --> 03:23:03,880 Yes. 2213 03:23:04,860 --> 03:23:06,740 The site letters have already been. 2214 03:23:06,740 --> 03:23:09,240 The site letter has already been approved by the three. 2215 03:23:09,480 --> 03:23:10,700 The man is an envoy labor. 2216 03:23:11,080 --> 03:23:14,360 And now it's up to us to just approve what they already decide. 2217 03:23:15,360 --> 03:23:17,920 The site letter has already been approved by the bargain. 2218 03:23:17,920 --> 03:23:21,320 It's once you approve this, I will sign on behalf of them. 2219 03:23:21,860 --> 03:23:22,400 Got it. 2220 03:23:22,400 --> 03:23:23,500 Okay, thank you. 2221 03:23:23,560 --> 03:23:23,980 It's just great. 2222 03:23:24,020 --> 03:23:24,360 I understand. 2223 03:23:25,560 --> 03:23:26,120 Okay. 2224 03:23:26,260 --> 03:23:27,640 Are there any public comment? 2225 03:23:28,580 --> 03:23:29,340 Thank you, Madam Chair. 2226 03:23:29,440 --> 03:23:30,960 I have no requests at this time. 2227 03:23:34,700 --> 03:23:36,000 We need to take a vote. 2228 03:23:36,820 --> 03:23:39,340 And this is a local vote. 2229 03:23:40,640 --> 03:23:41,660 Director Bell? 2230 03:23:42,500 --> 03:23:42,900 Absent? 2231 03:23:42,900 --> 03:23:43,760 Director Eisenberg? 2232 03:23:44,360 --> 03:23:45,320 Director Esmerra? 2233 03:23:46,420 --> 03:23:47,120 Director Keegan? 2234 03:23:47,620 --> 03:23:47,840 Yes. 2235 03:23:48,280 --> 03:23:49,400 Vice Chair Santas? 2236 03:23:50,660 --> 03:23:51,380 Director Braille? 2237 03:23:52,740 --> 03:23:52,780 Yes. 2238 03:23:52,780 --> 03:23:53,260 Chair Shua? 2239 03:23:53,880 --> 03:23:54,160 Yes. 2240 03:23:55,240 --> 03:24:09,720 Okay, I'm going to be approved for moving on to item 13.1, review the fiscal year 2023, 2024 for policy planning calendar. 2241 03:24:10,360 --> 03:24:18,500 I will do a quick review for the public of what's at the changed schedule on two items. 2242 03:24:18,500 --> 03:24:27,200 Under Section 5, secure existing water supply and water supply infrastructure, and update on the Delta 2243 03:24:27,200 --> 03:24:30,900 Convince Project will be coming in the full board in May. 2244 03:24:31,400 --> 03:24:41,060 So that is a desk I do has changed, and I know many public is very interested in that. 2245 03:24:41,460 --> 03:24:47,200 Item 18 provided affordable and cost effective level of services, the grants that is 2246 03:24:47,200 --> 03:24:55,300 report timing was updated to every other months starting in January. So on the report you see 2247 03:24:55,300 --> 03:24:59,840 the crossed out every other month which means that the report will come to us. 2248 03:25:00,000 --> 03:25:10,800 So those are the two changed changes that happened with our planning calendar. So is that any questions? 2249 03:25:10,800 --> 03:25:13,160 And yes, the record will 2250 03:25:16,740 --> 03:25:22,860 probably be hot number I am 11 2251 03:25:26,700 --> 03:25:33,900 Okay, he was he was out that item 11. That's that's the side letter agreement 2252 03:25:33,900 --> 03:25:37,300 We said the street bargaining units and also the 2253 03:25:37,880 --> 03:25:43,460 Represent employee is there to summers as a service. So you 2254 03:25:45,520 --> 03:25:47,840 Director Bellevue and 2255 03:25:47,840 --> 03:25:52,060 Okay. We will note that for the record for the record. Okay. 2256 03:25:52,600 --> 03:26:03,720 I have it. And so, so, this is, I'm on item 13.1, which is the board policy planning calendar. 2257 03:26:04,320 --> 03:26:07,140 I have a question from Director Eisenberg. 2258 03:26:08,760 --> 03:26:12,980 Okay. Are there any public comment on the board planning calendar? 2259 03:26:13,580 --> 03:26:15,940 Thank you, Madam Chair. I have no request at this time. 2260 03:26:15,940 --> 03:26:27,480 Okay. Thank you. Moving on to 14 Board Member Reports Announcements. So we'll start from this end to Director Keegan. 2261 03:26:32,600 --> 03:26:34,680 Sir, our policy will have to do it every time. 2262 03:26:35,660 --> 03:26:39,040 Okay, change. Every meeting. Okay. 2263 03:26:40,040 --> 03:26:45,580 We can change our policy if you, but as of now, we have to do it every time. 2264 03:26:45,580 --> 03:26:49,060 So that's to a real quick. 2265 03:26:49,580 --> 03:26:51,300 I'll do that to attend this. 2266 03:26:51,300 --> 03:27:00,500 Since the last meeting, I attended an audit committee prep meeting went through the board 2267 03:27:00,500 --> 03:27:09,400 diversity training and attended the water when a one academy, and that's it. 2268 03:27:12,860 --> 03:27:16,980 Okay, director, we're out last week. 2269 03:27:17,300 --> 03:27:19,100 Send the rest out the Mendoza Water Authority. 2270 03:27:19,640 --> 03:27:21,500 We'll be met with the Reclamation. 2271 03:27:22,400 --> 03:27:23,760 Oh, hello, I need this. 2272 03:27:24,940 --> 03:27:26,940 Meet with the Santa, we start the Mendoza Water Authority. 2273 03:27:27,080 --> 03:27:30,160 We met with the Bureau of Reclamation and New Director. 2274 03:27:30,360 --> 03:27:32,240 And we had a meeting with him. 2275 03:27:32,640 --> 03:27:33,560 And that went very well. 2276 03:27:33,720 --> 03:27:40,100 And also a lunch at Mr. Michael Cannon's home. 2277 03:27:40,100 --> 03:27:44,420 And business, it was really a terrific day and a terrific meeting. 2278 03:27:45,600 --> 03:27:52,300 Also of course, Valley Water Meeting, many occupations, and just seems like I have meetings 2279 03:27:52,300 --> 03:27:54,240 more than I have a life. 2280 03:27:55,620 --> 03:27:57,880 But it's all good, but it's all good. 2281 03:27:58,140 --> 03:27:58,940 It's all good. 2282 03:27:58,940 --> 03:27:58,960 It's all good. 2283 03:27:59,620 --> 03:27:59,660 Yeah. 2284 03:28:00,480 --> 03:28:01,360 Director Astramar. 2285 03:28:01,360 --> 03:28:03,600 I think we all have that same experience. 2286 03:28:04,160 --> 03:28:05,180 And I don't all of us. 2287 03:28:05,200 --> 03:28:08,280 So I had a recycled committee meeting, 2288 03:28:08,280 --> 03:28:20,440 with the CEO, the general council, also the Rutheran Table, with the board members of Ola and also 2289 03:28:20,440 --> 03:28:21,900 a supervisor Cindy. 2290 03:28:22,420 --> 03:28:22,980 Chavez. 2291 03:28:25,180 --> 03:28:33,620 My report, since our last board meeting, I attended the career pathway meeting, 2292 03:28:36,000 --> 03:28:36,660 the San Francisco 2293 03:28:36,660 --> 03:28:46,740 a JPA meeting, also that the landscape, committee meeting, special board meeting on diversity 2294 03:28:46,740 --> 03:28:49,500 training and 2295 03:28:52,380 --> 03:29:04,620 the briefing with staff on the upcoming DC trip and that's it. 2296 03:29:08,420 --> 03:29:11,740 Thank you Madam Chair for seeing like you and I and Rick has met every day. 2297 03:29:11,740 --> 03:29:18,160 It's been educational and we're up for the challenges, like Tony said I've met with Ola. 2298 03:29:18,220 --> 03:29:22,860 Probably had about 15 minutes, I just mentioned a few various community last night on last 2299 03:29:22,860 --> 03:29:27,480 gaping great committee and of course the Sunningville and House, many important issues. 2300 03:29:27,900 --> 03:29:32,420 A lot of agencies are all working together to try to not just solve but try to do the best 2301 03:29:32,420 --> 03:29:36,620 weekend, which is a very difficult time, of course diversity, training, thank you. 2302 03:29:36,620 --> 03:29:44,740 Director Eisenberg. Well, as y'all know, you removed me from all my committees and JPAs and I didn't have a lot to start with. 2303 03:29:45,380 --> 03:29:49,840 So I did observe all the meetings that I could. 2304 03:29:50,440 --> 03:29:56,680 And I learned a lot and also I attended in person the San Frisquito Creek JPA. 2305 03:29:57,100 --> 03:29:59,980 And although Valleywater threw me, I had served it. 2306 03:30:00,000 --> 03:30:09,720 Vice chair of that, JPA. Director Shah was not chosen to be Vice chair, so now we lost the leadership 2307 03:30:09,720 --> 03:30:17,520 role on that JPA. So, and we'll probably lose the chair shift that I was on track to get 2308 03:30:17,520 --> 03:30:23,220 through next year, but I'm sure you believe you acted with good intentions. So, that's it. 2309 03:30:23,220 --> 03:30:26,220 Okay, thank you, Director Bell. 2310 03:30:28,200 --> 03:30:34,040 Last week I took the Delta condensed tour during a rainy day. 2311 03:30:34,160 --> 03:30:38,660 I went to spend the whole day there, run around the Delta looking at the project 2312 03:30:38,660 --> 03:30:41,300 and talking to the staff, they did a great job. 2313 03:30:41,420 --> 03:30:47,620 They have a presentation, I'll give copies to anybody that would like to copy. 2314 03:30:47,620 --> 03:30:55,580 I had two Latino meetings, I'm on the Finance Committee, which does the budget, and we proved 2315 03:30:55,580 --> 03:30:58,500 that, and then the last lap come in and we proved the budget. 2316 03:31:00,100 --> 03:31:12,040 I did my diversity training with my colleagues that was important and communicated with 2317 03:31:12,040 --> 03:31:23,280 I had meeting with Councilman Peter Ortiz at his request to talk about a number of issues 2318 03:31:23,780 --> 03:31:28,660 and talk to different 2319 03:31:31,410 --> 03:31:39,510 organizations in Sacramento, including Senator McGuire and Senator 2320 03:31:39,510 --> 03:31:40,610 Cortesi. 2321 03:31:45,060 --> 03:31:54,640 Okay, that's it. Okay, and the next item is click review and clarification on board requests. 2322 03:31:55,340 --> 03:32:03,020 Thank you, Madam Chair. I have one request from Director Keegan to provide it. Excuse me, Director, Director Eisenberg, I correct myself. Sorry. 2323 03:32:03,420 --> 03:32:08,200 To provide a breakdown of all value water funds and which projects have been allocated to each fund. 2324 03:32:08,740 --> 03:32:11,260 I'm, I meant the clean water funds. 2325 03:32:11,260 --> 03:32:15,320 Okay, the basic creep ones. Yeah, and I also asked again for 2326 03:32:16,900 --> 03:32:25,020 For financial information of the impact of interest charges once the with the alone's are starting to be paid back 2327 03:32:25,020 --> 03:32:30,260 Because we keep stopping before those with the alone start to be paid back and 2328 03:32:30,260 --> 03:32:35,420 We need to know how the interest and the principle on those loans will impact 2329 03:32:36,020 --> 03:32:40,660 What are ratepayers are paying and impact our bottom line. Thank you 2330 03:32:41,260 --> 03:32:48,680 And actually, I requested some additional information on the groundwater rate increases. 2331 03:32:49,820 --> 03:33:01,200 Yeah, I think since the public hearing will continue, and then one of the purpose of is for staff to take all of our questions in the comments. 2332 03:33:01,620 --> 03:33:07,700 And then remember in the previous years that they all come back with the answers to our questions. 2333 03:33:08,640 --> 03:33:09,060 Vice Chair? 2334 03:33:09,060 --> 03:33:13,280 Yes, ma'am, one more time for the purification personnel. Thank you. 2335 03:33:13,420 --> 03:33:16,100 This is the, actually, it tastes good. It tastes good. 2336 03:33:18,900 --> 03:33:19,900 16.1. 2337 03:33:20,220 --> 03:33:34,140 Under adjourned, I want to close our meeting today by acknowledging that doing April, communities across the nation come together to honor Arab American heritage, 2338 03:33:34,140 --> 03:33:41,220 Middle Eastern and North African heritage and autism accepted months. 2339 03:33:41,740 --> 03:33:49,820 The heavy water is proud to continue to support inclusion and equity within our workforce and the communities we serve. 2340 03:33:50,560 --> 03:34:00,600 So with that, our next meeting is special meeting in the city of Gioro, a council chamber of April 11, 2024, 7 p.m. 2341 03:34:00,880 --> 03:34:02,780 So we'll see everybody in two days. 2342 03:34:02,780 --> 03:34:03,580 Thank you everybody.