The Board directed staff to proceed with a 2026 four‑year short‑term note strategy to fund six critical infrastructure projects and to include refunding the 2016 bonds in the financing package. The structure maintains flexibility to coordinate with ongoing EPA WIFIA loan negotiations, which could later provide a long‑term takeout for the notes.
The Board voted 3-2 to create a new Engineering Manager position with a salary range of $170,400–$213,000, as the Agency discussed financing options for major capital projects and directed consultants to prepare materials for possible action on January 22. The Board also agreed to use full-board workshop formats for Budget & Finance and Planning Operations Engineering topics instead of smaller committees.
Board reviewed alternative financing options for $50 million in capital projects, with consultants recommending a hybrid using short-term notes and long-term bonds as a WIFIA backup. A proposal to create a dedicated Engineering Manager position was tabled pending completion of an organizational study expected by March 2025. The FY 2024‑25 audit received a clean opinion with no material findings and a lower pension liability.
The water district's general manager resigned after five years of successful financial turnaround, while a community advocate raised serious concerns about elevated childhood cancer rates potentially linked to environmental contamination. Despite public concerns, the board tabled a modified agreement with PG&E that, if approved, would significantly reduce the agency’s benefit payments by approximately half (potentially exceeding $100,000 annually) and will revisit the item when legal ...
The board approved moving forward with consolidating Pine Grove Community Services District's water system, converting approximately 400 wholesale connections to retail customers to address Pine Grove's $250,000 operating deficit. The agency received a three-notch credit rating upgrade from Standard & Poor's, improving from BBB negative to A minus, which reflects improved financial stability. Staff will prepare consolidation agreements and return with action items, while the transition ...
