Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—at home, on the road, or on your tractor.
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The board discussed needing a demand management framework in place by the start of 2027 and emphasized grower outreach before harvest season. Members discussed possible funding options—including extraction fees, wellhead fees, and per-household fees—and asked staff to coordinate outreach materials with David's Engineering. The board also reached consensus to seek a Prop 4 grant-writing proposal from David's Engineering, with formal approval expected next month.
The Board set the time and place for a July 14 public hearing to consider proposed Safe, Clean Water Program modifications for Projects E5 and F6, including a proposed San Francisquito Creek KPI rewrite that drew significant debate and a proposed expansion of public art grant eligibility countywide. The Board also approved $1,776,760 in FY2026 standard grants to four organizations for water and environmental projects.
FY 2026-27 GSA budget adopted with an estimated 50–60% fee reduction by drawing down fund balance rather than charging full program cost. Supervisors supported moving toward use-based/metered fees, with policy items expected late July/early August. Staff said reduced fees aren't sustainable long-term; Ramos requested fund balance targets and exploring multi-year averaging for predictability.
The board adopted the 2025 Urban Water Management Plan, projecting sufficient supplies in normal years through 2050 but potential shortfalls up to 26% in dry-year scenarios. Demand is projected to rise about 86% by 2050, and SSJID is urging cities to consider accelerating Phase Two as early as 2032, though no city has committed. Uncertainty remains around SGMA and Bay-Delta Plan amendment implementation.
Pumping projections are down 25–70% from the GSP, and monitoring shows groundwater levels above objectives and thresholds. The Board approved extraction fees for the next two semiannual billing periods and opened a 45-day public comment period on the draft GSP periodic evaluation. City of Ventura staff discussed possible future fixed cost-sharing if Ventura pumping declines.
