Brian Johnson

The regular meeting included establishing a quorum and a brief review of the agenda. The Board unanimously approved the Meeting Minutes from November 14, 2025, as amended. Under Consent Items, Permit No. 19941 regarding the North Honcut Creek Bridge Replacement for the Union Pacific Railroad in Butte County was approved. Public comments were made regarding ongoing debris cleanup in Sacramento County levee areas, with requests for the Board to place the topic of installing legal warning signs in the floodplain, particularly the Steelhead Creek area, on a future agenda for discussion. Updates were noted on pertinent State legislation, federal news, USACE activities, and written reports from the Department of Water Resources (DWR). Staff activity reports were noted, and the Secretary provided an update on the Advisory Committee's review of draft recommendations. The Board then proceeded into a closed session to discuss multiple ongoing litigation matters and personnel matters. No action was taken during the closed session.

The meeting commenced with a roll call to determine a quorum, noting absences due to injury and illness among board members. Key discussion points included an overview of the agenda, which featured the approval of the January 16, 2026 minutes and a block of four consent items relating to various permits, such as the American River Bridge segment replacement, Big Chico Creek channel restoration, the Goldfields West embankment element, and Pump Station One replacement. Public comment featured a presentation on the effectiveness of the Sack Bank program, urging the board and staff to advocate for a system-wide economic re-evaluation instead of a basin-by-basin approach, and to seek cost-effective repair methods. Another speaker thanked the board for entering into a tolling agreement concerning levy costs for local landowners. A formal public hearing was conducted for item 9B, the regulatory fee update for the California Code of Regulations, Title 23, Division One, which aims to modernize the fee structure to better align with service costs and reduce general fund reliance. The agenda also included legislative updates and reports from board staff divisions and branches.

The regular meeting included roll call establishing a quorum and introductions. Key discussions covered announcements regarding staff transitions, including one member leaving the Board. Consent items approved included the Board's Strategic Plan for 2025 and two Permit applications (James Bypass Check Dam and Snake Marsh Wetland Restoration Project). Public comments highlighted concerns regarding USACE vegetation management guidelines, project communication timelines, and design alternatives. Legislative updates noted concerns over potential FEMA cuts. The Board received a presentation on USACE Levee Inspection Results for the Bear Creek Levee systems. In Board Items, the Board adopted CEQA findings and approved rulemaking documents for 2025 Regulatory Fee Updates, received a presentation on the 2026 Calendar, and discussed a potential delay to the Sutter Bypass East Levee Project due to a canceled federal grant. Staff provided updates on activities across various divisions. The Board also held a closed session to discuss multiple litigation matters and potential personnel issues before adjourning.

The meeting involved establishing a quorum and an overview of the combined agenda, which included both a business meeting and a workshop. Key discussion points during the business portion included the approval of Permit Number 19941 for a bridge replacement over North Hanka Creek in B County. Public comments addressed the ongoing issue of debris accumulation in local waterways, specifically requesting consideration for placing warning signs in the flood plain along Steelhead Creek due to illegal encampments causing blockages. Additionally, the Board addressed the approval of the November 14th minutes, incorporating suggested amendments regarding objections to Edwards fees and work groups for the advisory committee. The agenda also noted placeholders for an Army Corps item and a Department of Water Resources report. The session concluded with the executive officer's report on legislation and news, and anticipation for the workshop segment.

The workshop focused on the status and tentative schedule for the rulemaking effort regarding Title 23 technical standards. This rulemaking effort aims to update regulations from 1996, incorporating changes in Army Corps engineering manuals, updated state flood protection policies, new technology, and staff understanding. The board previously initiated a rulemaking effort in 2018 focusing on Article A technical standards, which was submitted to OAL in 2022 but closed in 2023. In 2024, a new rulemaking effort for fee regulations began in parallel with renewing the technical standards update, dubbed the '2024 version.' The fee regulation process is prioritized and is scheduled for a public hearing on February 27, with an expected effective date of July 1, 2026. Key updates planned for the technical standards include revising the definition of maintenance activity in Section 4 to differentiate between system features and encroachments, proposing new language in Section 6D for streamlined maintenance procedures, and updating supplemental standards in Section 133 for residential encroachments to align with the 2023 Army Corps manual. The presentation also outlined a tentative 2026 version timeline, anticipating a board approval of the initial rulemaking package in July 2026, submission to OAL in August, and final approval in February 2027. Preparatory work includes developing a regulation notice package and creating guidance materials for implementation.