Chris Fike

The meeting agenda included a presentation providing an update on the Sites Reservoir Project, detailing progress on water rights, critical permits, construction contractor selections, land acquisitions, engineering design, cost estimates, financing, and off-taker contracts. The Consent Calendar involved approving the minutes of the February 18, 2026, meeting, receiving and filing the December 2025 Cash Disbursement Report, and adopting a resolution to join the California Fixed Income Trust. Action items included receiving and filing the December 2025 Investment Report, allocating property tax revenue to offset the Combined Desalter Enterprise Fund deficit, and adopting resolutions to confirm representatives to the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority Commission and the Western Riverside County Regional Wastewater Authority Board of Directors. Discussions also covered confirming representatives to other outside organizations and providing direction regarding teleconferencing pursuant to recent Brown Act amendments. Reports covered the General Manager's update on MWD's budget concerns regarding the PURE Water EIR versus projects like Sites Reservoir, a water supply conditions update noting good surface storage but a 60% snowpack average, and various reports from representatives of SAWPA, MWD, CBWM, CDA, WRCRWA, WRCOG, SRRRA, and ACWA. A closed session was held to discuss anticipated litigation and real property negotiations concerning a water purchase agreement with the San Diego County Water Authority.

The Finance Committee meeting agenda included several key items for discussion and potential action. Discussions were scheduled for receiving and filing the December 2025 Cash Disbursement Report and receiving/filing a report on the use of General District Property Tax Revenue to offset a deficit in the Combined Desalter Enterprise Fund for Fiscal Year 2024-2025, along with allocating additional property tax funds. Another major item was the adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the District to Join the California Fixed Income Trust Membership and to Invest in Shares of the Trust and in Individual Accounts. The meeting also included receiving routine reports from the General Manager and the Assistant General Manager/Chief Financial Officer, covering topics such as a New Agenda Management System Overview and a Budget Workshop Schedule Update. The CFO/AGM report also included a Rate Litigation Update, noting that the District's current rate structure complies with Proposition 218 based on a recent California Court of Appeal decision, and announced the creation and funding of the Section 155 Trust.

The Community and Government Affairs Committee meeting agenda included several key items. The Consent Calendar included the approval of the Minutes from the December 9, 2025, Committee Meeting. Action items involved taking a support position on the Proposed Ballot Measure: "California Change Environmental Review Process for Essential Projects Initiative," and receiving and filing the January-February 2026 Government Affairs and Legislative Update for recommendation to the Full Board. Reports covered updates from the General Manager on the LAFCO election, the Assistant General Manager/Communications and Customer Experience on the ACWA Fall Conference and Water Solutions Summit, Strategic Communications regarding sponsorships, and Customer Experience concerning water efficiency and education program updates.

The Finance Committee Meeting of the Whole addressed several recommendations for the full Board of Directors. These recommendations included forwarding the Operating Budget to Actual Report Through September 30, 2025, and the October and November 2025 Cash Disbursement Reports for consideration. The committee also recommended adopting a resolution to update the General Manager's purchasing and contract authority to $200,000, and forwarding approvals for the renewal of the Microsoft Enterprise Agreement for software licensing, authorizing the General Manager to implement cost-saving recommendations from Procure America, and authorizing the General Manager to execute a Master Service Agreement extension with Paymentus. In reports, an update on rate litigation noted that the District's current tiered water rate structure aligns with a recent California Court of Appeal decision, although Supreme Court review is possible. The creation and funding of the Section 155 Trust was also announced.

The meeting commenced with a roll call establishing a quorum, followed by an invocation led by an operations technician. Key discussions focused on two main action items. The first action item involved authorizing the purchase of replacement construction equipment, specifically one mini excavator, one skid steer loader, and one equipment trailer for a total amount not to exceed $320,000. This purchase is necessary to ensure compliance with California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulations requiring the removal of lower-tier off-road vehicles by December 31, 2025. The procurement utilized the Sourcewell cooperative purchasing agreement. The second action item involved adopting a resolution to authorize a contractor pre-qualification process for projects deemed to have higher risk or technical complexity, illustrated by the Meridian building climate control project. Additionally, the board received and filed the September 2025 cash dispersement report, detailing $23.7 million in disbursements, primarily for water purchases. The final action involved receiving and filing the annual accountability report for Community Facilities Districts (CFDs) 88-1 and 99-1, confirming collection and expenditure totals for the previous year, and noting that no active projects remain.