Board Meeting
MINIUTES
THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF STOCKTON EAST WATER DISTRICT WAS HELD AT THE DISTRICT OFFICE
6767 EAST MAIN STREET, STOCKTON, CA
ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2024 AT 12:30 P.M.
A. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND ROLL CALL
President Atkins called the regular meeting to order at 12:30 p.m., and Director Panizza led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Present at roll call at the District were Directors Atkins, Cortopassi, McGurk, Panizza, Sanguinetti and Watkins. Also present were Manager Hopkins, Assistant Manager Vega, Finance Director Ram, District Engineer Evensen, Water Operations Manager Wunderlich, Administrative Clerk Rodriguez, Legal Counsel Zolezzi and Consultant Barkett.
B. CONSENT CALENDAR (None)
C. PUBLIC COMMENT (None)
D. SCHEDULED PRESENTATIONS AND AGENDA ITEMS
- Minutes 01/02/24 – Regular Meeting
A motion was moved and seconded to approve the January 2, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Minutes, as presented.
Roll Call:
Ayes: Atkins, Cortopassi, McGurk, Panizza, Sanguinetti, Watkins
Nayes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
2. Warrants – California Public Employees’ Retirement System
A motion was moved and seconded to approve the January 9, 2024 Warrants, as presented.
Roll Call:
Ayes: Atkins, Cortopassi, McGurk, Panizza, Sanguinetti, Watkins
Nayes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
3. Stockton East Water District – Support of AB 1567 and SB 867 Memo
a. AB 1567 Letter of Support
b. SB 867 Letter of Support
Manager Hopkins provided the Board with Support AB 1567 and SB 867 Memo. Manager Hopkins reported on February of 2023 Assembly Member Eduardo Garcia of Coachella and Senator Ben Allen of El Segundo introduced Assembly Bill (AB) 1567 and Senate Bill (SB) 867, respectively. The two bills collectively propose to place a $15B natural resources general obligation bond on the November 2024 ballot should the bills pass through the House of Representatives and the Senate. The bond will provide over $5Bfor safe drinking water, drought preparation, and flood protection.
Director Watkins inquired what the other $10B is funding. Manager Hopkins replied it will be used for wildfire prevention, extreme heat mitigation, clean energy and workforce development.
Director Cortopassi inquired how Assembly Bill 1567 and Senate Bill 867 tie in with Bellota Project funding. Manager Hopkins replied if the funding is approved by the voters it would be available to the state over a certain period of time and each year the state would fund different programs for Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), safe drinking water, drought preparation, flood response, Integrated Regional Water Management Plan Implementation (IRWM) and protection and restoration of rivers which the Bellota Project fits in to many of those categories.
Director McGurk inquired if the Board approves the letter of support and is passed through the House of Representatives and the Senate will the staff be capable to apply for grants from all different categories. Manager Hopkins replied yes, the District very rarely passes up a grant whether it is for Bellota Project or not. Discussion followed.
A motion was moved and seconded to support AB 1567 and SB 867, and authorize the Board President to approve the letters of support, as presented.
Roll Call:
Ayes: Atkins, Cortopassi, McGurk, Panizza, Sanguinetti, Watkins
Nayes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
4. Stockton East Water District – Agriculture Lease Agreement for Remainder of North Site Property Memo
a. Agricultural Lease Agreement Carna Farming-Lagorio
Manager Hopkins provided the Board with Agriculture Lease Agreement for Remainder of North Site Property Memo. Manager Hopkins reported the Agricultural Lease Agreement Carna Farming-Lagorio was discussed during the real property negotiation in closed session on January 2, in which the Board provided some feedback on the terms of the agreement and identified potential conflicts of interest between the lessee and some of the Board of Directors. Manager Hopkins noted that conflicted directors should now recuse themselves. Director McGurk left the Board room.
President Atkins expressed his concerns about the safety of the Stockton East Water District employees after hours since there is only one employee who is at the treatment plant for the entire night and outside people have access to the main gate after hours.
President Atkins inquired if staff could see who the people are through the security camera. Manager Hopkins replied no.
Assistant Manager Vega reported there has been issues with people having bond fires in the back and people cutting locks to be able to access the backend of the property. Assistant Manager Vega also reported the District does not have camera coverage on the entire backend of the property to determine if it is the tenants or other outside people breaking in. Discussion followed
No action was taken. The Board directed staff to revise the Agricultural Lease Agreement and bring the item back to a future regular board meeting. Director McGurk returned to the Board room.
5. Stockton East Water District – Water Rights Applications – Revised Calaveras River Project Memo
Manager Hopkins presented the Board with the Water Rights Applications – Revised Calaveras River Project Memo. Manger Hopkins reported the District submitted a total of nine water rights applications, one on the Calaveras River and the remainder on Littlejohns/Rock Creek to divert storm water flow between November 1st and April 30th annually. To support use of the water which was applied for, the District developed the Water Supply Enhancement Project and proceeded with a draft environmental impact report to study the project’s impact. Manager Hopkins reported the original project was very extensive with a price tag of $500M to $1B and the amount of water which was being applied for was more water than the District could use. Through an ad-hoc committee, a more realistic project description was developed for water use on the Calaveras River system. Five subprojects were developed for the revised WSEP scope with a combined FloodMAR recharge estimate of 108,533 acre feet annually (afa) at a diversion rate of 300 CFS into the old Calaveras River, 75 CFS into the Bellota Pipeline, and the cumulative pumping capacity of Mormon Slough and Potter Creek private diversions. Proceeding with such a further revised Calaveras only project would allow the District to reduce the pending Calaveras Application from 288,000 afa to 110,000 afa, and similarly reduced the maximum cfs diversion. In addition, we would greatly reduce the impacts identified in the Draft EIR. Finally, we could prepare an EIR focused only on the Calaveras River, and not have to include the Littlejohns/Rock Creek improvements as they are now separate projects.
Director Cortopassi inquired if the existing water rights application the District currently has is on flood water. Manager Hopkins replied, yes.
Director McGurk inquired if the District reduces how much it is applying for what happens to the portion the District let loose. Legal Counsel Zolezzi replied the District will not receive any money back. Discussion followed.
E. COMMITTEE REPORTS
1. San Joaquin County and Delta Water Quality Coalition Steering Committee Meeting, 01/08/24
President Atkins reported this meeting was cancelled.
F. REPORT OF GENERAL MANAGER
1. Water Supply Report as of 01/02/24
Manager Hopkins provided a handout of the Water Supply Report for information only that included storage, release, and production data collected from various sources as of midnight last night.
There is 167,646 AF in storage at New Hogan Reservoir. Current releases are set at 152 cfs. There is 1,985,220 AF in storage at New Melones Reservoir. Current releases are set at 841 cfs. Current release at Goodwin Dam to Stanislaus River is set at 1,002 cfs and release to all water users is set at 0 cfs. The district water treatment plant (WTP) is currently processing 34 mgd. North Stockton is currently utilizing 14 mgd. South Stockton is currently utilizing 4 mgd. Cal Water is currently utilizing 20 mgd. The City of Stockton WTP is currently processing 0 mgd.
2. Information Items:
· Manager Hopkins noted items: F2a-1, F2a-2. Director Cortopassi recommended Manager Hopkins not present such biased articles in the future.
·
3. Report on General Manager Activities
a. Stockton East Water District Activities Update
Manager Hopkins reported the District received the draft Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) language from Congressman Harder’s office. The District will request a minor change in the language and push back on the 50% cost share requirement which was in the draft language. Manager Hopkins also reported the WRDA authorization is proposing $2M of funding from the federal budget to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for the work USACE must perform on the study, which at 50% of the cost share, the District would be looking at a $2M cost. The District will investigate receiving full federal funding for the study.
Manager Hopkins reported he had a meeting with Reid Roberts from Central San Joaquin Water Conservation District (CSJWCD). Reid was interested in being on the same page since there seemed to be some misunderstanding of where the consolidation is amongst his directors. Manager Hopkins reported both Districts are waiting for each other to complete the Cost Service Study to see how the rates should look, independent of consolidation or not.
Manager Hopkins reported staff and himself met with the Urban Contractors to discuss the water treatment plant shutdown which is scheduled for January 22nd. There were some concerns since the City of Stockton water treatment plant is still shutdown and they may not be able to meet their water demands with wells. Manager Hopkins also reported after negotiating with the City of Stockton, Stockton East Water District (SEWD) will proceed with the shutdown for a trail period of two to three days at which time the City of Stockton will evaluate their ability to meet demand over the time period. If the City of Stockton is able to meet their demands then SEWD will continue to stay shutdown for the two-week period as planned and if not, then SEWD will restart the water treatment plant and do a second shutdown for February to complete the remainder of the work.
Director Panizza inquired if the City of Stockton water treatment plant is still shutdown due to the tugboat issue. Manager Hopkins replied, yes.
Director Cortopassi inquired why the District is doing a plant shutdown. Manager Hopkins replied part of the shutdown is for the P-1 pump discharge piping replacement, LLPS sump gates replacement and clear well inspection. Discussion followed.
4. Stockton East Water District Water Treatment Plant Update
Water Operations Manager Wunderlich provided the Board with an update on the District’s water treatment plant production. Water Operations Manager Wunderlich reported the water treatment plant rain fall totals for the previous week were 1.35 inches, the District’s water treatment plant produced 3,123 AF, between Cal Water and City of Stockton the production was 2,301 AF, City of Stockton, Cal Water and Diamond wells produced 486 AF and the City of Stockton water treatment plant produced 208 AF in the month of December.
G. DIRECTOR REPORTS
1. Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce Monthly Mixer – University of the Pacific Athletics at the Alex G. Spanos Center, 01/04/24
Director Watkins attended the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce Monthly Mixer. Director Watkins reported it was a great event and enjoyed the basketball game against San Francisco.
H. COMMUNICATIONS
I. AGENDA PLANNING/UPCOMING EVENTS
1. Eastern San Joaquin Groundwater Authority Steering Committee, 8:30 a.m., 01/10/24
*This meeting was cancelled*
2. Eastern San Joaquin Groundwater Authority Board Meeting, 10:30 a.m., 01/10/24
3. Stockton East Water District – Agriculture Operations Committee Meeting, Noon, 01/11/24
4. Stockton Area Water Suppliers Meeting (SAWS), 1:00 p.m., 01/12/24
President Atkins informed the Board the Stockton Area Water Suppliers Meeting was changed to January 19, 2024.
5. District Holiday – Martin Luther King Jr., 01/15/24
President Atkins informed the Board, Stockton East Water District will have the Electrical Power Alternatives ad-hoc Committee Meeting on January 12, 2024 at Noon.
J. REPORT OF THE COUNSEL
1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL: REAL PROPERTY GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9 – Property:
Water Rights
Agency Negotiator: Justin M. Hopkins
Negotiating Parties: Rock Creek Water District
Under Negotiation: Water Transfer
2. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED
LITIGATION Potential exposure to litigation – Government Code
Section 54956.9 – two cases
President Atkins adjourned the meeting to closed session at 1:40 p.m. The regular meeting reconvened at 2:15 p.m., with no reportable action.
K. ADJOURNMENT
President Atkins adjourned the meeting at 2:16 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Justin M. Hopkins
Secretary of the Board
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