Council Chamber  
City of Santa Rosa  
100 Santa Rosa Avenue  
Board of Public Utilities  
Regular Meeting Minutes - Final  
Thursday, January 16, 2020  
1:30 PM  
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL  
Chair Galvin called the meeting of the Board of Public Utilities to  
order at approximately 1:30 p.m.  
6 -  
Present  
Chair Daniel Galvin III, Vice Chair William Arnone Jr., Board Member  
Lisa Badenfort, Board Member Christopher Grabill, Board Member  
David Bannister, and Board Member Mary Watts  
2. STATEMENTS OF ABSTENTION BY BOARD MEMBERS  
No statements of abstention were made by Board members.  
3. STUDY SESSION - NONE.  
4. MINUTES APPROVAL  
The minutes were accepted as submitted.  
4.1  
October 17, 2019 - Regular Meeting Minutes.  
October 17, 2019 - Regular Meeting Minutes (added 1/15/2020)  
Attachments:  
4.2  
November 21, 2019 - Regular Meeting Minutes.  
November 21, 2019 - Regular Meeting Minutes (added 1/15/2020)  
Attachments:  
5. STAFF BRIEFINGS  
5.1  
2019 COMPLIANCE UPDATE  
The City of Santa Rosa’s Laguna Treatment Plant protects the health of  
our community by recycling approximately 7 billion gallons of  
high-quality treated wastewater each year. Through the treatment  
process, the solids are separated out and are treated to create class A  
and class B biosolids which can be beneficially reused. This process  
creates biogas that is used to generate electricity which is used to offset  
the energy demand of the Laguna Treatment Plant. In order to minimize  
the impacts of our operations on the natural environment the Laguna  
Treatment Plant implements a broad range of compliance programs  
which supports the department operations and promotes environmental  
stewardship. Staff will provide an overview of applicable regulations,  
highlight permit requirements, and summarize compliance during 2019.  
The Board may discuss this item and give direction to staff.  
Presentation (added 1/15/2020)  
Attachments:  
Presenter(s): Heather Johnson, Environmental Services Officer.  
LAGUNA ENVIRONMENTAL LABORATORY UPDATE  
5.2  
The Laguna Environmental Laboratory provides water quality and soil  
chemistry analysis for the City of Santa Rosa. Most of this work is for  
Santa Rosa Water, ensuring that we have high quality drinking water  
and that our waste water treatment process is in regulatory compliance.  
The lab also supports other clients in the City including Environmental  
Crimes and the Fire Department. Staff will provide an overview of the  
work the lab does, including information on increased throughput in  
response to the 2017 fires. The Board may discuss this item and give  
direction to staff.  
Presentation (added 1/15/2020)  
Attachments:  
Presenter(s): Sean McNeil, Deputy Director Environmental Services.  
WATER SUPPLY AND RECYCLED WATER SUPPLY UPDATE  
5.3  
Staff will update the Board on water supply and recycled water supply  
issues. The Board may discuss this item and give direction to staff.  
Presentation (added 1/15/2020)  
Attachments:  
Presenter(s): Colin Close, Sr. Water Resources Planner and Joe  
Schwall, Deputy Director Regional Water Reuse Operations.  
6. CONSENT ITEMS - NONE.  
7. REPORT ITEMS  
7.1  
REPORT - POLICY APPROVAL - DISCONNECTION OF  
RESIDENTIAL WATER SERVICE FOR NON-PAYMENT  
BACKGROUND: The City currently has procedures related to  
disconnection of water service, which include allowing customers to  
make payment arrangements and provides for notification prior to  
disconnection. In September 2018, SB 998, the Water Shutoff  
Protection Act, was signed into law and goes into effect on February 1,  
2020. SB 998 is intended to ensure continued access to water for those  
that have life threatening or serious health conditions and are financially  
unable to pay their bill. SB 998 also limits reconnection fees to $50 for  
eligible customers. Per SB 998, water systems serving more than 200  
customers must develop a written policy for disconnection of residential  
water service for non-payment by February 1, 2020. This proposed  
policy will bring the City in compliance with the new law.  
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended by the Finance and Water  
Department that the Board, by resolution, approve a Finance  
Department policy titled “Disconnect of Residential Water Service for  
Non-Payment” and reduce the “Administrative Fee for Processing  
Delinquent Turn-Off” from $55 to $50.  
Staff Report  
Attachments:  
Attachment 1  
Resolution  
Presentation (added 01/15/2020)  
Presenter(s): Alan Alton, Deputy Director Finance  
A motion was made by Vice Chair Arnone, Jr., seconded by Board Member  
Grabill to approve Item 7.1 - RESOLUTION NO. 1210 ENTITLED  
"RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES OF THE CITY OF  
SANTA ROSA ESTABLISHING A POLICY FOR THE DISCONTINUATION OF  
WATER SERVICE FOR NON-PAYMENT AND REDUCING THE  
ADMINISTRATIVE FEE FOR PROCESSING DELINQUENT TURN-OFF FROM  
$55 TO $50". The motion carried by the following vote:  
6 -  
Yes:  
Chair Galvin III, Vice Chair Arnone Jr., Board Member Badenfort,  
Board Member Grabill, Board Member Bannister and Board Member  
Watts  
8. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA MATTERS  
NONE.  
9. REFERRALS  
NONE.  
10. WRITTEN COMMUNICATION (AND POSSIBLE BOARD DISCUSSION)  
NONE.  
11. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS  
Vice Chair Arnone reported that the City Council/BPU Liaison  
Subcommittee met on January 9, 2020 and the next meeting will be  
February 27, 2020.  
12. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS  
NONE.  
13. DIRECTORS REPORTS  
Jennifer Burke, Director reported on a recent news story that  
incorrectly claimed that individuals could be fined for exceeding a  
water use target of 55 gallons per person per day starting in 2020.  
The video on the news station has since been taken down because  
it contained factual errors. In addition, she announced that Chris  
Badger would be retiring after 37 years of service to Santa Rosa  
Water. She expressed her appreciation for his efforts in developing  
an Emergency Operations Plan for the department that assisted  
staff during the 2017 wildfire emergency.  
Chair Galvin congratulated Mr. Dowd on his appointment to the City  
Council. He further reported that Council Member Olivares has  
appointed Glen Wright as Mr. Dowd's replacement on the Board.  
14. ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING  
Chair Galvin adjourned the meeting at 2:27 p.m. The next regular  
scheduled meeting of the Board of Public Utilities will be held on  
February 6, 2020.  
Approved on: February 6, 2020  
_________/S/_____________  
Gina Perez, Recording Secretary