CONTRA COSTA WATER DISTRICT

ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING

BOARD STUDY SESSION

June 12, 2008

 

MINUTES

 

 

CALL TO ORDER 

 

An adjourned regular meeting of the Board of Directors was called to order at 8:15 a.m., at the District Administration Building, located 2411 Bisso Lane, Concord.

 

ROLL CALL

 

Directors Present:             Elizabeth Anello, Vice President

                                       Bette Boatmun

                                       John Burgh

                                       Karl Wandry

Directors Absent:              Joseph L. Campbell, President

General Manager:              Walter J. Bishop

Legal Counsel Absent:      Robert B. Maddow

District Secretary:             Sharon L. Burris

 

President Campbell was absent from the meeting and had previously notified the Board. 

 

Mr. Bishop provided the Board with a memo concerning increased diversions from the Sacramento River by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation).  Discussion took place on the memo and Mr. Bishop explained the potential impacts and efforts taking place to protect the District’s interests.  Director Boatmun commented on an Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) Region 4 meeting she had attended and ACWA’s awareness of the situation. 

 

ADOPTION OF AGENDA

 

Facilitator Lee Shuff reviewed the agenda and asked if there were any changes.  There were no changes. 

 

Mr. Shuff also reviewed the purpose and desired outcome of the study session, described the ground rules, and advised on the purpose of the “Issue Bin.”

 

PUBLIC COMMENT 

 

Facilitator Shuff asked if there were any public comments.  There were no public comments.  He welcomed the District’s two lobbyists: Federal Lobbyist Marcus Faust and State Lobbyist Julie Malinowski-Ball. 

DISCUSSION AND INFORMATION

 

1.         Federal Legislative Representative

 

Mr. Faust began his presentation by stating that the 2008 presidential election could be perceived as one of the most significant elections in the last 40 years.  He commented on the pros and cons of both parties and noted that there had been an increase in voter registration for voters 18-25 years of age.  He also commented on the impacts this election could have on the District.  He noted that the current focus in Washington was not on passing legislation or addressing issues. 

 

Addressing appropriations for District projects, including the Los Vaqueros Reservoir Expansion (LVE), the Alternative Intake Project (AIP), the appropriations from the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers for the canal lining project, Mr. Faust opined that it was unlikely that the related bills would pass until after the November election.  He also referenced Judge Oliver Wanger’s decision on delta smelt and how it could impact funding for District projects. 

 

Mr. Faust anticipated that a continuing resolution would be in place for FY09 and no new appropriations would be made until after November.  He discussed earmarks pending the outcome of the election.  He advised that many appointees had already left Washington and had found jobs elsewhere. 

 

Mr. Faust commented positively on Reclamation Commissioner Bob Johnson.  He referenced a meeting he attended where Mr. Bishop briefed the Commissioner on District projects.   He also commented favorably on Mr. Bishop’s testimony at the Congressional hearing on the Bay-Delta.   

 

Discussion took place on Water Restoration Fund payments.   Mr. Faust commented that Congressman George Miller supported the concept of utilities proceeding with immediate/emergency actions as an offset to Restoration Fund payments.  Mr. Bishop explained how the offsets would work to benefit various agencies. 

 

Mr. Bishop advised that the South Bay Aqueduct agencies were considering how to address water concerns.  The District was meeting with these agencies to make them aware of the benefits of LVE, and how partnering with the District would have a positive impact.  Discussion took place on the possibility of federal and regional partners for LVE, the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) certification, and the District’s desired outcome for the project.  

 

The Board took a short break at 9:35 a.m.

 

The Board reconvened at 9:45 a.m.

 

2.         State Legislative Representative

 

Ms. Malinowski-Ball referenced the November election and commented that it would most likely be contentious for four Districts in the state.  She commented on the new leadership in Sacramento, including the new Speaker of the House Karen Bass and the next Senate President Pro-Tem Darrell Steinberg.

 

Ms. Malinowski-Ball noted that discussions were taking place in both the Senate and Assembly on the water bond strategies.  She advised that the previous water bond appropriation was in conference committee for one year.  She advised that both houses were ready to appoint conference committee members to address the State’s budget.  The first conference committee hearing was scheduled for June 12. 

 

Discussion took place on the budget process and strategies between both the Senate and Assembly.  Discussion continued on new fees and taxes which could be included in the budget to help balance the deficit.  Ms. Malinowski-Ball noted that protecting social and education programs were a priority in Sacramento at the present time. 

 

Ms. Malinowski-Ball commented on the number of citizens appearing daily at the Capitol to   complain about the economy. 

 

The Board thanked Ms. Malinowski-Ball for her presentation. 

 

 3.        Current Status of the Delta

 

Mr. Bishop noted that Assistant General Manager of Water Resources Greg Gartrell would be making a presentation.  He also commented on the schedule for the LVE. 

 

Dr. Gartrell reviewed activities at the state level related to Judge Wanger’s decision and the effects that his decision would have on the District’s projects and the Delta.  He also commented on the fish screens that the District has at Old River and reported that the District had not taken any smelt this year. 

 

Discussion took place on filling Los Vaqueros Reservoir and the anticipated chloride levels.

 

Dr. Gartrell advised that biological opinions for delta smelt, salmon, and steelhead were being revised due to two recent court decisions by Judge Wanger invalidating the previous biological opinions.  The outcome of the decisions would determine Delta water quality and water supply conditions for the foreseeable future.  Discussion took place on the biological opinions and the District’s position.   

 

Dr. Gartrell reviewed the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) and advised that a range of alternatives for conveyance and ecosystem projects were being examined.  The BDCP was considering near-term actions that could resolve issues quickly since any major changes in conveyance would take a long time to implement.  Discussions took place on interim and near-term actions, the condition of the Delta levees, a dual conveyance system, and water quality. 

 

Dr. Gartrell discussed Delta Vision’s Strategic Plan and reviewed some of the key issues being considered.  He advised that the plan deals with all issues including levees, communities, land use, infrastructure, emergency response, immediate and near-term actions, water conveyance, water supply and ecosystem as co-equal values, ecosystem restoration in the Delta and governance.   He reported that the Delta Vision viewpoint was more comprehensive than the BDCP’s.  It was not clear in the BDCP that the water supply and ecosystem were equal values.

Dr. Gartrell reported that Delta Vision’s Blue Ribbon Task Force was stressing the importance of identifying, evaluating and implementing near-term measures to improve Delta ecosystem functions and water system reliability pending completion of new capital facilities that could take years to complete.  Staff continues to participate in Stakeholder Committee meetings to protect District interests and emphasize immediate actions to deal with the impending crisis in the Delta.  

 

Dr. Gartrell reviewed the Delta activities schedule for the biological opinions relating to operation of the Central Valley and State Water Projects, the BDCP and Delta Vision. 

 

Addressing the LVE Project, Dr. Gartrell advised that the existing reservoir capacity was 100,000 acre-feet.  Alternatives were presented using the present and proposed expanded reservoir sizes. 

 

Special Project Managers Marguerite Naillon gave an update on the LVE.  She advised that the administrative draft Environment Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) had been submitted to Reclamation, the Department of Water Resources, and Western Power for review.  A public draft of the EIS/EIR would be available in the fall.  She reviewed the schedule and advised that the anticipated date for the Board’s consideration of certification would be as early as January 2009. 

 

Ms. Naillon addressed the project alternatives currently under consideration.  She reiterated Dr. Gartrell’s comments concerning the options for increasing the size of the reservoir, the operational focus, the Delta intake facilities and conveyance.   

 

4.         General Manager/Legal Counsel/Board Member Comments

 

Mr. Bishop commented on District projects as they related to state and federal funding.  He also commented that the District would remain focused on partnering for projects.     

 

Mr. Maddow commented briefly on a hearing being held by Judge Wanger concerning salmon. 

 

Director Burgh commended staff and encouraged them to stay focused.  He also suggested the possibility of renaming the LVE project so that it would have instant name recognition for the public.  Mr. Bishop replied that LVE was used through the EIS/EIR document and provided consistency. 

 

Director Boatmun thanked staff for the updates.

 

Vice President Anello commented on the information received and thanked staff.  

 

The meeting was adjourned at 11:37 a.m.  The next regular meeting of the Board of Directors was scheduled for June 18, 2008, commencing at 6:30 p.m.

 

 

                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                Joseph L. Campbell, President

ATTEST:

                                               

Sharon L. Burris

District Secretary