Council Chamber  
City of Santa Rosa  
100 Santa Rosa Avenue  
Board of Public Utilities  
Regular Meeting Minutes - Final  
Thursday, June 5, 2025  
1:30 PM  
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL  
Chair Galvin called the meeting to order at 1:32 p.m.  
7 -  
Present  
Chair Daniel Galvin III, Vice Chair William Arnone Jr., Board Member  
Lisa Badenfort, Board Member Robin Bartholow, Board Member  
Duane De Witt, Board Member J. Matthew Mullan, and Board Member  
Glen Wright  
2 REMOTE PARTICIPATION UNDER AB 2449 (IF NEEDED)  
None.  
3. STATEMENTS OF ABSTENTION BY BOARD MEMBERS  
None.  
4. STUDY SESSION  
None.  
5. MINUTES APPROVAL  
5.1  
May 15, 2025 - Regular Meeting Minutes - DRAFT  
The May 15, 2025 Regular Meeting Minutes were approved as  
submitted.  
6. STAFF BRIEFINGS  
6.1  
FEMA FLOOD RISK MAPPING PROJECT FOR THE SANTA ROSA  
CREEK WATERSHED  
Staff will present the latest update on the Federal Emergency  
Management Agency (FEMA) Santa Rosa Creek Watershed Flood Risk  
Mapping Project. The multi-year FEMA project will map high-risk flood  
areas in the Watershed. The Board may discuss this item and give  
direction to staff.  
Claire Myers, Storm Water and Creeks Manager, and Jimmy Bliss,  
Chief Building Official, presented and answered Board Member  
questions.  
Janice Carmen asked questions regarding FEMA taking in the  
waterways infrastructure, the flood channels, and easements that  
have already been taken care with regards to floods.  
6.2  
2024 WATER QUALITY REPORT UPDATE  
Staff will provide an overview of Santa Rosa’s 2024 water quality report,  
including information on Santa Rosa’s water supply, distribution system,  
drinking water regulatory requirements, and 2024 water quality results.  
The Board may discuss this item and provide direction to staff.  
Tony Llamas, Water Quality Manager, presented and answered  
Board Member questions.  
Janice Carmen spoke regarding how lucky Santa Rosa is to have  
high quality water.  
6.3  
WATER AND RECYCLED WATER SUPPLY UPDATE  
Staff will update the Board on water and recycled water supply issues.  
The Board may discuss this item and give direction to staff.  
Peter Martin, Deputy Director - Water Resources, presented and  
answered Board Member questions.  
7. CONSENT ITEMS  
A motion was made by Vice Chair Arnone, Jr., seconded by Board Member  
Mullan, to approve Consent Item 7.1.  
The motion carried by the following vote:  
7 -  
Yes:  
Chair Galvin III, Vice Chair Arnone Jr., Board Member Badenfort,  
Board Member Bartholow, Board Member De Witt, Board Member  
Mullan and Board Member Wright  
7.1  
MOTION - APPROVAL OF A FIRST AMENDMENT TO  
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR LEGAL SERVICES  
WITH MINASIAN LAW  
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended by the City Attorney’s Office  
and Santa Rosa Water that the Board of Public Utilities, by motion,1)  
approve a First Amendment to Professional Services Agreement (PSA)  
number F002930 with the law firm of Minasian Law, LLC for outside  
legal services for Santa Rosa Water in the amount of one hundred  
thousand dollars ($100,000), for a total contract not to exceed amount  
of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000), subject to approval as to  
form by the City Attorney, and 2) delegate authority to the City Attorney  
to execute the First Amendment.  
This Consent - Motion was approved.  
8. REPORT ITEMS  
8.1  
REPORT - RECOMMEND TO CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF THE  
REVISED PUBLIC STORM DRAIN STANDARDS AND DELEGATE  
APPROVAL AUTHORITY FOR FUTURE REVISIONS TO THE BOARD  
OF PUBLIC UTILITIES  
BACKGROUND: The Public Storm Drain Standards (Standards) set  
forth the design policies and construction methods associated with  
additions and modifications to the public storm drain infrastructure. The  
standards, details, and specifications require routine revisions to ensure  
that new installations and modifications are consistent with various  
regulations, references, industry best practices, industry needs, and  
operational needs to serve the community’s urban environment. The  
delegation of approval authority is consistent with the general policy  
and management authority over the public storm drain infrastructure  
granted to the Board under Section 25 of the Charter of the City of  
Santa Rosa (City) and City Council Resolution RES-2017-177, which  
delegated approval authority of the Potable Water, Recycled Water,  
and Sewer Design Standards, Construction Standards, and  
Construction Specifications to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU).  
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended by Santa Rosa Water and the  
Planning and Economic Development Department that the Board of  
Public Utilities, by motion, recommend the Santa Rosa City (City)  
Council adopt, by resolution, the revised Public Storm Drain Standards  
as presented with an effective date 30 days from the date of adoption  
and delegate authority to the Board of Public Utilities to adopt future  
revisions to the standards.  
Flannery Banks, Supervising Engineer, and Cleve Gurney, Deputy  
Director - Development Services, presented and answered Board  
Member questions.  
Board Member Bartholow left Council Chamber at 2:44 p.m.  
A motion was made by Vice Chair Arnone, Jr., seconded by Board Member  
Wright, to approve the recommendation to the Santa Rosa City (City)  
Council to adopt, by resolution, the revised Public Storm Drain Standards  
as presented with an effective date 30 days from the date of adoption and  
delegate authority to the Board of Public Utilities to adopt future revisions  
to the standards.  
The motion carried by the following vote:  
6 -  
Yes:  
Chair Galvin III, Vice Chair Arnone Jr., Board Member Badenfort,  
Board Member De Witt, Board Member Mullan and Board Member  
Wright  
1 - Board Member Bartholow  
Absent:  
8.2  
REPORT - UPDATE TO 2018 WATER AND SEWER STANDARDS  
AND SPECIFICATIONS  
BACKGROUND: Santa Rosa Water’s Design and Construction  
Standards (Standards) provide the specifications for designing and  
constructing additions and modifications to the public water and sewer  
systems. In October of 2018, the Board, via Resolution No. 1180, last  
approved an update to Santa Rosa Water’s current Standards.  
Santa Rosa Water was a participant in U.S. et al., ex rel. Hendrix v. J M  
Manufacturing Co., Inc., et al., Case No. EDCV 06 0055 GW (C.D. of  
CA) (“Action”), and therefore, the current Standards include a restriction  
on the use of PVC pipe manufactured by J M Manufacturing and JM  
Eagle. In May 2025, the City entered into an agreement settling the  
Action, and the settlement requires the City to remove the restrictions  
on J M Manufacturing and JM Eagle.  
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended by Santa Rosa Water and the  
City Attorney's Office that the Board of Public Utilities, by resolution,  
approve updates to the Water Distribution System Design Standards,  
the Water Distribution System Construction Standard Specifications,  
and the Sanitary Sewer System Construction Standard Specifications,  
removing the restricted use of J M Manufacturing or JM Eagle pipe.  
Andy Allen, Supervising Engineer, presented and answered Board  
Member questions.  
A motion was made by Board Member Wright, seconded by Board Member  
De Witt, to waive reading of the text and adopt RESOLUTION NO.  
RES-2025-007 ENTITLED: RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC  
UTILITIES ADOPTING THE REVISED AND UPDATED WATER AND SEWER  
STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONS.  
The motion carried by the following vote:  
6 -  
Yes:  
Chair Galvin III, Vice Chair Arnone Jr., Board Member Badenfort,  
Board Member De Witt, Board Member Mullan and Board Member  
Wright  
1 - Board Member Bartholow  
Absent:  
8.3  
REPORT - RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL FOR  
CONSIDERATION OF COUNCIL’S DIRECTION TO ITS WATER  
ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE REGARDING THE  
PROPOSED WATER SUPPLY AGREEMENT BETWEEN MARIN  
MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT AND SONOMA WATER  
BACKGROUND: The City of Santa Rosa entered into the Restructured  
Agreement for Water Supply with the Sonoma County Water Agency  
(Sonoma Water) in 2006 (2006 Restructured Agreement). The 2006  
Restructured Agreement created the Water Advisory Committee (WAC),  
which is an advisory committee to the Sonoma Water Board of Directors  
and is comprised of elected officials of each of the eight prime  
contractors that are party to the 2006 Restructured Agreement,  
including Santa Rosa. Marin Municipal Water District (Marin Water) has  
a separate existing water supply agreement with Sonoma Water with a  
term expiring June 30, 2025. Sonoma Water and Marin Water have  
prepared a draft amended and restated water supply agreement (Draft  
Agreement), which proposes changes to several key provisions.  
The 2006 Restructured Agreement provides for deliveries to Marin  
Water pursuant to their 1996 water supply agreements, or to  
amendments to those agreements that have been approved by the  
WAC, or to subsequent agreements between Sonoma Water and Marin  
Water that have been approved by the WAC. Therefore, the WAC will  
be considering approval of the Draft Agreement at a future WAC  
meeting, currently scheduled for August 4, 2025. Staff are  
recommending that the Board of Public Utilities provide a  
recommendation to the City Council regarding the Council’s direction to  
its WAC representative, Councilmember Natalie Rogers, regarding  
support for the Draft Agreement for Water Supply by and between Marin  
Water and Sonoma Water.  
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended by Santa Rosa Water that the  
Board of Public Utilities consider the proposed water supply agreement  
by and between Marin Municipal Water District and Sonoma County  
Water Agency and, by motion, make a recommendation to the City  
Council regarding Council’s direction to its Water Advisory Committee  
(WAC) representative.  
Peter Martin, Deputy Director - Water Resources, presented and  
answered Board Member questions.  
Board Member Badenfort left Council Chambers at 2:56 p.m. and  
returned to Council Chambers at 3:00 p.m.  
A motion was made by Board Member Wright, seconded by Board Member  
Mullan, to approve consideration of the proposed water supply agreement  
by and between Marin Municipal Water District and Sonoma County Water  
Agency and make a recommendation to the City Council regarding  
Council's direction to its Water Advisory Committee (WAC) representative.  
The motion carried by the following vote:  
6 -  
Yes:  
Chair Galvin III, Vice Chair Arnone Jr., Board Member Badenfort,  
Board Member De Witt, Board Member Mullan and Board Member  
Wright  
1 - Board Member Bartholow  
Absent:  
8.4  
REPORT - RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE  
GRANT OF EASEMENT TO SONOMA COUNTY WATER AGENCY  
OVER PORTIONS OF CITY PROPERTY LOCATED AT 2200 LLANO  
ROAD AND 0 SEBASTOPOL ROAD (APNS 060-060-059 AND  
060-060-064)  
BACKGROUND: Sonoma Water owns and operates ground water wells  
within the Santa Rosa plain, one of which is adjacent to the City owned  
Property, commonly known as Brown Farm. The wells are intended to  
augment water supplies during periods of drought. In connection with  
Sonoma Water’s Emergency Sebastopol Road Well Activation Project,  
which upgraded the Sebastopol Road well (“Well”) during the most  
recent drought, Sonoma Water requires a water line and access  
easement over a portion of the Property. Staff is seeking a Board  
recommendation to Council to approve these actions.  
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended by Santa Rosa Water and  
Real Estate Services that the Board of Public Utilities, by resolution,  
recommend that City Council: 1) grant a 730 square foot water line  
easement and a 3,504 square foot access easement (collectively,  
“Easement”) to Sonoma County Water Agency (“Sonoma Water”) over  
certain portions of City property located at 2200 Llano Road, APN  
060-060-059, and 0 Sebastopol Road, APN 060-060-064, respectively  
(collectively, the “Property”) in connection with Sonoma Water’s  
Emergency Sebastopol Road Well Activation Project (“Project”); 2)  
approve entering into an Easement Agreement in a form to be approved  
by the City’s Attorney’s Office; and 3) authorize the Assistant City  
Manager to execute necessary documents in connection therewith.  
Sean McNeil, Deputy Director - Environmental Services, and  
Stephanie Valkovic, Associate Real Property Agent, presented and  
answered Board Member questions.  
A motion was made by Board Member Mullan, seconded by Board Member  
De Witt, to waive reading of the text and adopt RESOLUTION NO.  
RES-2025-008 ENTITLED: RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC  
UTILITIES RECOMMENDING THAT THE SANTA ROSA CITY COUNCIL  
APPROVE A GRANT OF EASEMENT TO SONOMA COUNTY WATER  
AGENCY OVER PORTIONS OF CITY PROPERTY LOCATED AT 2200 LLANO  
ROAD AND 0 SEBASTOPOL ROAD (APNS 060-060-059 AND 060-060-064).  
The motion carried by the following vote:  
6 -  
Yes:  
Chair Galvin III, Vice Chair Arnone Jr., Board Member Badenfort,  
Board Member De Witt, Board Member Mullan and Board Member  
Wright  
1 - Board Member Bartholow  
Absent:  
9. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA MATTERS  
Janice Carmen spoke regarding Planning Commissioner  
appointments including her objection to Council Member  
MacDonald's appointment, tree cuttings not being picked up, and on  
another Planning Commission matter.  
10. REFERRALS  
None.  
11. WRITTEN COMMUNICATION (AND POSSIBLE BOARD DISCUSSION)  
None.  
12. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS  
None.  
13. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS  
Board Member DeWitt expressed his desire to speak to Deputy  
Director McNeil regarding McMinn Ave.  
14. DIRECTORS REPORTS  
Director Burke reported: Santa Rosa Water Staff will host two days  
of the Mike Hauser STEM Academy. The Academy is open to all 8th  
grade students in partnering school districts and is designed to  
motivate students as they enter high school and begin making  
important course decisions. The students will attend sessions at  
both the Laguna Treatment Plant, and the Utilities Field Office where  
they will be introduced to diverse work environments and engage  
them in interactive, hands-on learning guided by teachers,  
engineers, and technical experts. The Academy is devoted to  
strengthening math and science skills, expanding the boundaries of  
what these students believe is possible, and inspiring them to  
pursue higher education and careers in the fields of STEM.  
Reminder that there will be no Board meeting on June 19, as it is a  
City holiday. Next meeting on July 3, Peter Martin, Deputy Director -  
Water Resources, will be your contact for that meeting.  
15. ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING  
Chair Galvin adjourned the meeting 3:27 p.m. The next Board of  
Public Utilities meeting is scheduled for July 3, 2025 at 1:30 p.m.  
Approved on: July 17, 2025  
/s/ Michelle Montoya, Recording Secretary