Hybrid - See Agenda for

Participation Information

City Council Chamber

100 Santa Rosa Avenue

City of Santa Rosa

Board of Public Utilities

Meeting Minutes - Final

Thursday, March 17, 2022

1:30 PM

1:30 PM - HYBRID VIA IN-PERSON AND ZOOM

1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL

Chair Galvin called the meeting to order at 1:33 p.m.

6 -

Present

Chair Daniel Galvin III, Vice Chair William Arnone Jr., Board Member

Christopher Grabill, Board Member Mark Walsh, Board Member Mary

Watts, and Board Member Glen Wright

1 - Board Member Lisa Badenfort

Absent

2. STATEMENTS OF ABSTENTION BY BOARD MEMBERS

There were no Statements of Abstention from Board Members.

3. STUDY SESSION - NONE.

4. MINUTES APPROVAL

March 3, 2022 - Regular Meeting Minutes.

4.1

March 3, 2022 - Regular Meeting Minutes

Attachments:

The minutes for March 3, 2022 were received and accepted as

submitted.

5. STAFF BRIEFINGS

5.1

SANTA ROSA PLAIN GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY UPDATE

The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) requires some

groundwater basins, including the Santa Rosa Plain subbasin, to form Groundwater

Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) to sustainably manage the groundwater basin.

SGMA also required GSAs to develop and submit a Groundwater Sustainability

Plan (GSP) by January 2022. The City of Santa Rosa is a member of the Santa

Rosa Plain GSA. Staff will provide the Board with an update on the current

activities of the Santa Rosa Plain GSA, including the development of a long-term

fee structure for implementation of the GSP. The Board may discuss this item and

give direction to staff.

Presentation (added 3/16/22)

Attachments:

Presenter: Peter Martin, Deputy Director - Water Resources

5.2

WATER SUPPLY UPDATE

Staff will update the Board on water supply issues. The Board may discuss this

item and give direction to staff.

Presentation (added 3/16/22)

Attachments:

Presenter: Peter Martin, Deputy Director - Water Resources

6. CONSENT ITEMS - NONE.

7. REPORT ITEMS

7.1

REPORT - SONOMA WATER 2022/23 WATER TRANSMISSION BUDGET AND

RATE INCREASE

BACKGROUND: The City of Santa Rosa purchases approximately 90% of the

water supplied to our customers from Sonoma Water. Sonoma Water is proposing

to raise the wholesale rate of water by 6.06% from $1,000.46 to $1,061.04 per

acre foot.

There is a Water Advisory Committee (WAC) made up of elected officials of each

of the prime contractors to the Sonoma Water wholesale water. The WAC is an

advisory committee to the Sonoma Water Board of Directors. The City’s WAC

Representative is Council Member Natalie Rogers. On April 4, 2022, the WAC is

scheduled to vote on whether or not to recommend the Sonoma Water budget and

proposed rate increase for approval of the Sonoma Water Board of Directors.

The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) is made up of technical staff of each of

the prime contractors to Sonoma Water’s wholesale water. The TAC provides

technical analysis and recommendations to the WAC.

RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended by Santa Rosa Water that the Board of

Public Utilities consider Sonoma Water’s budget and proposed water rate

increase and, by motion, make a recommendation to the City Council regarding

Council’s direction to its Water Advisory Committee (WAC) representative for the

WAC vote on April 4, 2022.

Staff Report

Attachments:

Attachment 1_Draft Sonoma Water Budget

Presentation (added 3/16/22)

Presenters: Kimberly Zunino, Deputy Director - Administration and

Lynne Rosselli, Administration Division Manager - Sonoma Water

A motion was made by Vice Chair Arnone, Jr., seconded by Board Member

Walsh, to recommend the City Council give direction to its Water Advisory

Committee (WAC) representative for the WAC vote on April 4, 2022 to

approve the Sonoma Water FY 2022-23 Water Transmission budget and

rate as presented. The motion carried by the following vote:

6 -

Yes:

Chair Galvin III, Vice Chair Arnone Jr., Board Member Grabill, Board

Member Walsh, Board Member Watts and Board Member Wright

1 - Board Member Badenfort

Absent:

7.2

REPORT - WATER DEMAND OFFSET POLICY, FEE STUDY, AND FEES

BACKGROUND: The City of Santa Rosa is required by California State Law to

prepare an Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) and Water Shortage

Contingency Plan (Shortage Plan) every five years to assess the adequacy and

reliability of water supplies for current and future needs as well as plan for and

detail how the City will respond to various levels of water supply shortage. On

November 18, 2021, the BPU unanimously approved a resolution recommending

the City Council adopt the Water Demand Offset (WDO) Policy, WDO Fee Study,

and WDO Fees which have been developed to implement the City’s Shortage Plan

requirement that new construction must offset water demand during water shortage

emergencies that require very restrictive water allocations (water rationing) by the

City’s existing customers. Staff will present information that was prepared in

response to the City Council’s request, at the meeting on November 30, 2021, for

more information, including additional analysis and information regarding

alternatives.

RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended by Santa Rosa Water that the Board of

Public Utilities, after receiving an additional briefing, reaffirm by motion the

November 18, 2021 recommendation that the City Council (1) adopt the Water

Demand Offset (WDO) Policy, (2) adopt the WDO Fee Study, (3) adopt the WDO

Fees, and (4) authorize the WDO Fees to be adjusted on an annual basis to

account for inflation at the beginning of the calendar year (January 1) starting in

2023, using the Engineering News Record’s 20-Cities CCI (20-cities CCI).

Staff Report

Attachments:

Attachment 1 - WDO Policy-redline

Attachment 2_Water Demand Offset Fee Study

Presentation (added 3/16/22)

Presenter: Colin Close, Senior Water Resources Planner

A motion was made by Vice Chair Arnone, Jr., seconded by Board Member

Walsh, to reaffirm the November 18, 2021 recommendation that the City

Council (1) adopt the Water Demand Offset (WDO) Policy, (2) adopt the

WDO Fee Study, (3) adopt the WDO Fees, and (4) authorize the WDO Fees

to be adjusted on an annual basis to account for inflation at the beginning

of the calendar year (January 1) starting in 2023, using the Engineering

News Record's 20-Cities CCI (20-cities CCI). The motion carried by the

following vote:

6 -

Yes:

Chair Galvin III, Vice Chair Arnone Jr., Board Member Grabill, Board

Member Walsh, Board Member Watts and Board Member Wright

1 - Board Member Badenfort

Absent:

7.3

REPORT - CONTINGENCY INCREASE - NORTH TRUNK SEWER

REPLACEMENT-MENDOCINO AVE TO TERRA LINDA DR

BACKGROUND: The North Trunk Sewer Replacement Project addresses the lack

of accessibility to the existing north trunk sewer main for routine maintenance, and

environmental risks associated with its proximity to an existing watercourse. The

project will relocate approximately 1,950 feet of existing 12-inch and 15-inch

vitrified clay pipe (VCP) sewer main that is located adjacent to Paulin Creek, and

approximately 1,350 feet of existing 15-inch reinforced concrete pipe (RCP)

located in Mendocino and Lomitas Ln. The project also includes installing

approximately 1,866 linear feet of 8-inch water main in various parts of Chanate

Road, Lomitas Ave and Lomitas Lane to both increase and upgrade the existing

water system and provide separation from the new sewer main.

The existing 8-inch diameter Asbestos Cement Pipe (ACP) water line experienced

at least 3 failures during the installation of the North Trunk Sewer Main project.

Upon further review, the City’s Asset Management Team concluded that leaving the

existing ACP in place poses an unacceptable risk of future failures and thus should

be replaced. Work includes installing 1,400 linear feet of 8-inch ductile iron water

main on Chanate Road between Belvedere Way and Terra Linda Drive,

abandoning the existing 8-inch ACP and restoring surface conditions.

RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended by the Transportation and Public Works

Department and the Water Department that the Board of Public Utilities, by

resolution, approve a new contingency amount increase of $1,650,000.00 for the

North Trunk Sewer Replacement-Mendocino Ave to Terra Linda Dr project, for a

total contract amount of $12,386,570.04.

Staff Report

Attachments:

Attachment 1_Location Map

BPU Resolution No. 1288

Presentation (added 3/16/22)

Presenter: Greg Dwyer, Associate Civil Engineer

A motion was made by Board Member Walsh, seconded by Board Member

Wright, to approve Item 7.3 - RESOLUTION NO. 1288 ENTITLED

"RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES APPROVING A

CONTINGENCY INCREASE FOR NORTH TRUNK SEWER REPLACEMENT

PROJECT – MENDOCINO AVE TO TERRA LINDA DR." The motion carried

by the following vote:

6 -

Yes:

Chair Galvin III, Vice Chair Arnone Jr., Board Member Grabill, Board

Member Walsh, Board Member Watts and Board Member Wright

1 - Board Member Badenfort

Absent:

8. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA MATTERS

None.

9. REFERRALS - NONE.

10. WRITTEN COMMUNICATION (AND POSSIBLE BOARD DISCUSSION) - NONE.

11. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

Board Member Wright reported the Budget Review Subcommittee

met on March 15, 2022. Staff presented a comprehensive review of

the FY 2022-23 Water, Local Wastewater and Regional O&M, CIP

and Debt Service budgets, expenditures versus revenues and

reserves. The subcommittee voted to recommend the budget to the

full Board for approval.

12. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS

None.

13. DIRECTORS REPORTS

Jennifer Burke, Director, reported Santa Rosa Water is working

closely with Sonoma Water on a project to rehabilitate a

groundwater well on Sebastopol Road that is next to Santa Rosa's

recycled water system. Any reject water produced from initial

flushing, filter backwash and flushing the chlorine contact system will

be temporarily discharged to the Reclamation system then moved

into a sewer trunk line, sent back to the Laguna Treatment Plant and

treated for reuse. The department is working with the Division of

Drinking Water to obtain approval to reuse this water without

treatment as part of the recycled water system in the future.

Director Burke announced the City is upgrading some equipment in

the Council Chamber and the facility will be unavailable during the

month of April. The two Board meetings in April will be held virtually.

Director Burke shared that the CWEA Redwood Empire section is

presenting its Laboratory Analyst of the Year award to Kathy

Herman, a Principal Laboratory Analyst at the the Laguna

Environmental Laboratory.

Director Burke shared that Caryn Lozada, Development Review

Coordinator for Santa Rosa Water, will be retiring the first week of

April after more than 32 years of service to the City.

Director Burke announced that Karen Donovan, Assistant City

Attorney, will be leaving the City at the end of March and Bob

Maddow will return under contract as Interim Assistant City Attorney.

14. ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING