Caroline Thomas Jacobs

The meeting commenced with housekeeping announcements regarding public comment procedures and emergency protocols. The Board reviewed and approved the minutes from the September 3rd meeting. Board members provided feedback on recent site visits to utilities, specifically highlighting the holistic approach to risk management observed at Ukaya and the advancements in floating solar array technology at Hildsburg. Staff provided a legislative update, noting the extension of remote participation provisions until 2030 and changes introduced by Senate Bill 254, which removed the requirement for the Board to advise every publicly owned utility individually and established a mandatory, board-determined schedule for Wildfire Mitigation Plan submissions (at least every four years). The Board's advisory report obligation to the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety was also modified. Key agenda items for the current meeting included adopting advisory opinions for submitted plans and voting on the 2026 to 2029 submission schedule. The staff update concluded with discussions on strategic plan implications due to legislative changes and the status of ongoing staff surveys and professional development activities.

The meeting included an announcement of an emergency evacuation plan briefing for in-person attendees. Two agenda items were pulled from discussion. Public participation procedures for in-person and remote attendees were reviewed. The board discussed and approved the 2026 through 2027 two-year work plan, which focuses on priorities under the theme 'Every safe dig begins with 811' and includes implementation schedules for Senate Bill 254. Subsequent to this, the board deliberated on enforcement items concerning California Water Services Bayshore District Investigation D2315300005, finding the entity in violation for failure to provide electronic positive responses to two separate tickets and for failure to maintain a valid phone number with the regional notification center.

The California Underground Safety Board convened to address violations related to excavation safety. The board addressed an incident involving RC Cordova DBA RC construction and development, which was found in violation of government codes for excavating without notifying the regional notification center and for failing to call 911 after damaging a gas line. A motion was passed to issue mandatory education and a financial penalty of $2,000. The board then discussed a similar case involving Hydrotech Pipe Services, where a gas line was hit during excavation without an 811 ticket or a 911 call. The owner justified this by claiming it was an emergency, which raised concerns among board members.

The Wildfire Safety Advisory Board meeting included updates from Energy Safety on IOU Wildfire Mitigation Plans (WMPs), Risk Model Working Group (RMWG), Safety Culture Assessments (SCA), Executive Compensation Structures, and Safety Certifications. There was a presentation on Vegetation Management Best Management Practices and a presentation on extreme weather and the January 2025 Southern California wildfires. The board also discussed risk modeling work and an update on Wildfire Mitigation Plan Review. The meeting concluded with a staff update and adjournment.

The meeting included a review of safety and evacuation procedures, public comments, and discussions on various topics. A key focus was on the delineation of work areas for excavation and the responsibilities of utility operators in responding to locate requests. There were discussions around the standardization of processes for investigative inquiries and data transfer between utility operators and the board's investigative staff.