Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—on the road, on your tractor, or at home.
Employee unions urged fair compensation as wages lag Santa Clara County’s $160,000 poverty line, with nearly 70% of members below that level. The board approved two resolutions of necessity for Coyote Creek Flood Protection property acquisitions, including at a low‑income housing complex, and awarded a $90.6 million Penitencia Residuals Management Project contract, with work expected to finish in 2030.
The groundwater use fee true-up process is advancing, with invoices expected in February 2026 and preliminary data showing the area is only 2,000 acre-feet above the 10% reduction target. Agricultural recharge projects delivered 6,100 acre-feet in the last water year, and a new technical assistance program for multi-benefit land repurposing is launching with workshops planned in January and February.
Board discussed a significant golden mussel infestation discovered and asked staff to prioritize developing treatment options. Directors approved the final 2026 budget, which uses about $500,000 of reserves to hold current assessment rates. The Frick Unit Phase 2 pipeline project was awarded to Superior Ag for $4.35 million, well below the roughly $8 million engineer's estimate, and the board reduced the typical change order allowance so larger changes must return for approval.
Lake Millerton is well above flood control targets, and staff indicated a Class 2 allocation in the low single digits is likely this winter to reduce storage. The Board asked staff to begin separating GSA-related financial tracking around January 1 to clarify actual GSA costs and funding needs. The CEQA review for the Southeast Service Area Lateral Project runs through December 18, with a special public hearing planned after that.
The Board adopted a $17 million operating budget for 2026 with a 7% rate increase, facing projected operational losses due to reduced Tri-Dam revenue. Draft groundwater management programs were reviewed, including a well mitigation program and allocation reductions up to 65% in some areas, with formal GSA adoption targeted for January 2026. All employee groups received a 1.6% CPI-based COLA effective January 9, 2026.
