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00:00:00 In this section of the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency Board Meeting, held on January 17, 2023, former director Kelly, a Vietnam War combat veteran, led the Pledge of Allegiance. The meeting was conducted both in-person and virtually via Zoom, and members of the public were encouraged to participate using the call-in number or Zoom webinar link. During the public comment section, Joan Dunn voiced concerns about the lack of recycled water provided to Santa Clarita customers and an apparent preference for supplying it to private developers. She also highlighted a passage in the Stage Two Drought Bulletin prohibiting the use of potable water for irrigating public turf medians, which she found interesting given the ongoing drought.
00:05:00 In this section, a speaker brings up a contract from when the CLWA bought the Valencia Water Company and points out a provision that says the agency agreed to provide water for future New Hall Ranch projects, despite any regulations or policies. The speaker believes that some of the new directors should read the contracts for themselves because they contain important information. Another speaker comments on the agency’s lack of plans to supply recycled water within the city, calling it criminal and mismanagement, and suggests using the recycled water in pipelines for medians and well water. They also express concern over the lack of diversity and planning within the organization.
00:10:00 In this section, the board discusses the distribution of recycled water in the community, which has been put on hold due to an unrelated court case. The agency has developed plans for distribution systems and is embarking on environmentally related work to obtain the necessary permits to proceed with enough certainty. Currently, the water is being discharged into the river, and the proposals would not take all of the water out of the river, with a consensus of about 13 and a half million gallons a day remaining.
00:15:00 In this section of the SCV Water Agency Board Meeting, the board discusses a new process approved by the regional board that allows new homes to accrue available recycled water that can be used in the community as part of the so-called x-drop program. The board emphasizes that water facilities built for developers benefit those who live in the homes, not the developers themselves. The board hopes to have more progress and outcomes as they continue with the process. Later, the board approves resolutions commending former directors R.J. Kelly and Jerry Gladback for their service and dedication.
00:20:00 In this section of the meeting, the board recognizes several dignitaries from various offices before moving on to the recognition of former Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency director R.J Kelly for his dedicated service. The board reads a resolution honoring and commending Kelly for his contributions during his time as director, including his service as board vice president and president of the Castaic Lake Water Agency and his recent role as chair of the agency’s finance and administration committee. The resolution notes Kelly’s support for the agency’s vision of responsible water stewardship and his service on several agency committees as well as other water district boards.
00:25:00 In this section, the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency board of directors honors RJ Kelly for his over 19 years of service to the board of directors of the Castaic Lake Water Agency and the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency. They present a certificate of recognition from Senator Scott Wilk and express their gratitude for Kelly’s leadership and contributions to the board, employees, and customers. Kelly takes the opportunity to thank past directors for their support and congratulate President Martin on his re-election.
00:30:00 In this section of the video, various individuals offer comments at a SCV Water Agency board meeting. RJ praises the staff’s commitment and leadership, as well as fellow director Collie’s input during financial discussions. He also acknowledges the importance of new faces bringing fresh ideas to the board. Mayor Gibbs thanks RJ for his service to the community and praises his wife for her support. The emphasis is placed on the importance of working together and supporting each other to achieve success.
00:35:00 In this section of the transcript, various representatives from government officials’ offices present certificates of recognition to RJ Kelly, who served 19 years in the water agency board. Tammy Stevens of Congressman Garcia’s office, Andrew Tavon of Assemblywoman Charbrose’s office, and the Spartanian from Supervisor Barger’s office each presented a certificate and thanked Kelly for his dedication and commitment to the community. Kelly mentioned his plan to concentrate on supporting veterans’ needs in the community.
00:40:00 In this section, various directors of the SCV Water Agency express their appreciation for Director Kelly’s service on the board. They highlight how he brought a unique perspective with his financial background and how he took the time to learn about the water business in California. Directors also acknowledge his fairness and open-mindedness and how he offered constructive criticism. They wish him well in his future endeavors. There were no public comments online, and the board now opens the floor to any further discussion on the matter.
00:45:00 In this section of the SCV Water Agency Board Meeting, board members share memories and express gratitude for board member RJ Kelly as he prepares to depart after almost ten years of service. Kelly is praised for his quick wit, service to the community, and work with veterans. Directors share stories of Kelly helping them learn the water business and building initial bridges to the formation of SUV Water through his friendship and openness. Kelly is also commended for his leadership, precise and courteous manner, and work recognizing the families of fallen veterans in the community. One director even offers to support Kelly’s next project involving a Garden space for veterans. Finally, the board president reflects on serving with Kelly during quiet times at Castaic Lake before being appointed to the board.
00:50:00 In this section, the board members express their appreciation for former director Jerry Gladbach for his decades of service to the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency. They commend Gladbach’s contributions to areas including water knowledge, finance, and protection of ratepayer money. The board presents a resolution recognizing Gladbach’s service on various committees and as board president. The resolution also notes his support for the vision to combine Castaic Lake Water Agency and Newhall County Water District to form the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency. The presentation of the resolution and a water drop to Gladbach is postponed until the end of the year after his passing in July.
00:55:00 In this section, the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency board of directors pays tribute to EG Jerry Gladback for his exceptional dedication and service to the Castaic Lake Water Agency and the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency. Mr. Gladback was actively involved in Aqua and served on numerous committees throughout his career. He contributed significantly to the Aqua JPJA and served as its board president from 2010 to July 2022. He also received awards from Calafco for his outstanding contributions to the board. The board honors Mr. Gladback’s outstanding service by presenting him with a water drop and a certificate of recognition from Senator Scott Wilk for his leadership and dedication to ensuring the safe water needs of the community. During the presentation, Mayor Gibbs expressed his appreciation for Mr. Gladback’s contributions to water stewardship.
01:00:00 In this section, several speakers share their condolences and praise for the late Jerry Gladbach who was a staple in the water community, especially in Santa Clarita, for his decades of service. Mayor Gibbs and Miss Stevens comment on Gladbach’s character and how he treated everyone with the utmost respect and decency. The board also presents Gladbach’s wife with a certificate on behalf of the agency and a resolution from the California State Assembly to thank the family for Gladbach’s service. Supervisor Barger is also mentioned for sending a beautiful adjournment scroll to Gladbach’s home in his memory.
01:05:00 In this section, members of the public make comments about the late Jerry and his dedication to his work in the water industry. Multiple people express appreciation for Jerry and his wife’s dedication, as well as for the scholarship that has been created in his name. Jerry’s wife also thanks the board for their support and kind words, expressing her wish that he could be there to share in the moment. Overall, there is a sense of gratitude and admiration for Jerry’s legacy and contributions to the water industry.
01:10:00 In this section of the transcript, several board members speak about the contributions of Jerry Gladbach, former president of Aqua and beloved member of the Santa Clarita Valley community who passed away recently. Director Cooper fondly remembers Jerry as a true gentleman and the Energizer Bunny who helped him along when he was a new board member. Director Marks and Vice President Huskey also share memories, noting Jerry’s enthusiasm, generosity, and ability to connect and lend support to others. The board passes a resolution recognizing Jerry’s valuable contributions to the Water Agency and the community.
01:15:00 In this section, various members of the SCV Water Agency Board expressed their condolences and gratitude to Donna and Jerry who lost Jerry to pancreatic cancer. They shared personal anecdotes and memories of Jerry, highlighting his warm personality and dedication to water management. Everyone spoke highly of Jerry’s knowledge of people and amazing connections within the industry. They also mentioned his ability to connect with others on a personal level and how thoughtful he was towards others, as exemplified by the card he sent to one of the board members after their dog passed away.
01:20:00 In this section of the SCV Water Agency Board Meeting, multiple directors spoke about their appreciation for the late Jerry Gladbach, a former member of the board who recently passed away. They highlighted his impressive professional accomplishments and described him as a kind, helpful, and genuine person who went out of his way to assist others. The directors also announced a scholarship that will be named after Gladbach to continue his legacy in future generations. Many people, including Gladbach’s family, will miss him dearly.
01:25:00 In this section of the video, Pam Tobin is nominated and selected as vice president in honor of the late Jerry Gladback, who was known for his honesty, directness, and sincere desire to do the right thing. The board expresses their condolences to Gladback’s wife, Donna, and notes that his legacy will live on through scholarships and internships that will help young people start their careers in the water industry. The meeting then takes a brief recess for attendees to enjoy cookies and greet each other. Finally, the board congratulates the staff for their transparency efforts, which have earned the agency an award.
01:30:00 In this section of the meeting, the board approved a resolution to award a construction contract to Pacific Hydro Tech Corporation for the construction of the Well 201 VOC groundwater treatment improvements project. This is an ongoing effort to improve the water quality in the region that is being supported by the board’s transparency policies. The project is located near the Valencia mall and includes the addition of new treatment systems to address perchlorate contamination. The board approved the purchase orders for construction management and inspection services and engineering services during construction.
01:35:00 In this section, the presenter discusses plans for the World 201 GRC treatment improvements project, which includes the installation of two granular activated carbon vessels, a backwash tank, and other improvements. The project was bid on in December 2022, and Pacific Hydro Tech Corporation was selected as the lowest apparent bidder at $7.7 million. The proposed project schedule allows for completion by the summer of 2024. The presenter asks the board to exempt the project from the California Environmental Quality Act and authorizes contracts for engineering and management services. The board approves the project, and Director Cooper notes that it was reviewed in detail at the engineering committee meeting.
01:40:00 In this section of the transcript, the board discusses the recommendation to move forward with the project to get Well 201 back into service by summer of 2024. The resolution was updated to include not only the contract with Pacific Hydrotech but also the two purchase orders and the act of construction and the operation of the facility. The Consulting Services were not competitively bid, but the agency utilized a team of multiple engineers and operations to evaluate proposals and pick the best team for the job based on performance. The board also clarifies that the project is time and materials within a not-to-exceed cap.
01:45:00 In this section, the board discusses the costs of the engineering services and construction, both of which are capped. Director Armitage also requested a Redline version of the revised resolution, which was accidentally deleted by Mr. Ben. Meanwhile, Director Collie raised a question about cost recovery from those who provided the VOCs, which will be covered in the closed session. Director Marx praised the accuracy of the bids and attributed it to the quality of the design products put out and the staff’s efforts in selecting a good design company. The item passed with the board’s approval. The section concluded with a briefing on AB2449 remote attendance, which discussed the two ways to have meetings: the pre-pandemic manner and the AB361, which is still in place, given the COVID-19 pandemic’s ongoing nature.
01:50:00 In this section, the speaker discusses the AB2449 bill and its provisions for remote participation in board meetings. There are two categories for such participation – just cause and emergency circumstances – and the latter requires approval of the board after a request from the board member, which can be made as soon as possible before or even during the meeting in question. The speaker provides additional rules and conditions for remote participation, such as the requirement to disclose other adults in the room during emergency circumstances.
01:55:00 In this section, the board discusses the permissibility of incorporating new regulations into their current policies, specifically regarding remote attendance through telephone conferencing. Director Cooper explains that the agency is not required to adopt these regulations, but it provides a way for members to choose just cause ones. Vice President Ozki confirms that no changes need to be made to their policies currently. President Martin suggests supplementing their policies by adding a reference to AB2449 and the board memorandum for guidance. Director Colleen asks if remote attendance can be used for agency travel or medical emergencies, and Director Cooper explains that there are numerous possibilities outlined in the staff memo.
02:00:00 In this section, the SCV Water Agency Board Meeting discusses the confusion surrounding the new law on remote attendance for board meetings. The board discusses how the new law intersects with their pre-existing policies, and how they can go about implementing it effectively. The board recognizes that the law is confusing, and calls for a review of their own policies to better understand how the new law can be incorporated. Finally, the board moves on to the general manager’s report of the agency’s ongoing initiatives.
02:05:00 In this section, the executive team discussed staffing needs and the upcoming two-year budget, taking into account new mandates and changing needs such as technology and cybersecurity. They also started thinking about the process of updating their strategic plan and how it involves all aspects of the organization. The recent wet weather and its effect on the State Water Project allocation was also discussed, with a cautious expectation of a higher allocation from the Department of Water Resources in the future. The current rainfall and snowpack levels are above average and exceed last year’s levels, with Oroville Reservoir at 57% capacity and the snowpack looking great.
02:10:00 In this section of the meeting, the board discusses the variability of rainfall during the winter months in December and January, noting that the amount of rainfall during this time can greatly impact the overall annual rainfall. The board also shares good news about the S Wells PFAS treatment project, which has been awarded potential funding of five million dollars from the Water Smart Drought Response Program. Additionally, the board expresses gratitude for the inclusion of the Strategic Plan Nexus section in board memos, which details how the different pieces of work tying back to the Strategic plan objectives.
02:15:00 In this section of the SCV Water Agency Board Meeting, the board discusses the impressive flow of water at the Placerita Canyon and the likelihood of Shosta reaching its historical average of 3 million. They also provide details of upcoming water-related events and board meetings.
02:20:00 In this section, the SCV Water Agency reports upcoming committee meetings and a closure on President’s Day. The board also discusses attending the Special Districts North L.A. County and the Water Dialogue, with Director Cooper inquiring about the possibility of recording the events via Zoom. Other AB 1234 reports mention discussions on recycled water, finance issues, and staffing concerns. The meeting then moves into closed session to discuss item 13.1.
02:25:00 In this section, the board discusses future agenda items and Director Bernstein requests that they explore removing committees altogether and instead have four board meetings per month on Tuesdays. She suggests that this would help streamline processes and increase transparency and accessibility. The request is taken under consideration, and there are no other requests for future agenda items. The meeting is then adjourned.