Dave Harris

The meeting agenda includes discussions on a Capital Acquisition budget adjustment for dewatering facility repairs, the establishment of an Assistant General Manager/Director of Administrative Services role, updates on the 2026 Capital Improvement Program, and a review of the District's Five-Year Outlook. Legislative and water supply updates are scheduled. The Board will also conduct closed sessions regarding existing and anticipated litigation and property negotiations.

The Board of Directors reviewed and discussed various financial and administrative matters, including the capital acquisition budget adjustment for the dewatering facility centrifuge repair, the establishment of the Assistant General Manager/Director of Administrative Services job description and salary range, and the review of the 2026 Capital Improvement Program update and the five-year outlook. The meeting also addressed legislative and water supply updates, received operational reports, and conducted closed sessions regarding litigation and public employment/labor negotiations.

This document, the 2026 Capital Improvement Program Master Plan Update Memorandum, outlines the strategic direction for addressing distribution and joint facilities needs over a 10-year period (FY27-FY36). It updates the previous 2021 Master Plan by incorporating revised cost estimates due to increased construction expenses, addressing equipment acquisition challenges, and reprioritizing projects based on reduced local water supply availability. The plan defines specific capital investments to enhance infrastructure reliability, ensure cost-effective operations, and achieve sustainable financial management, covering both 'District Only' and Joint Facilities projects.

The meeting included reviewing action and discussion items such as the Minutes from the previous Administrative and Finance Committee Meeting (February 10, 2026), Directors' and General Manager's Expenses, and the Monthly Investment Transaction Report for February 2026. Key discussion points centered on the Review and Discussion of the Santa Fe Irrigation District Five-Year Outlook, which detailed financial projections, major drivers like O&M expenditures, capital spending assumptions, the status of the Lake Hodges Dam replacement project, and various financial scenarios. Reports covered Administrative Services, Public Communications and Outreach, and the General Manager's activities.

The Executive Committee meeting addressed several substantive items across action, discussion, and report categories. Key discussion points included the establishment of a new job description and salary range for an Assistant General Manager/Director of Administrative Services, which was proposed as a reclassification of an existing role to enhance executive leadership capacity and support the General Manager. Other agenda items involved a legislative update tracking bills related to Proposition 218 compliance and wildfire preparedness, and the review of draft agendas for both the Executive Committee and the full Board of Directors meetings scheduled for March 19, 2026. The Committee also reviewed future agenda topics, and received a verbal General Manager's Report, which included updates on ribbon-cutting ceremonies for solar and dam repair projects. A portion of the meeting was dedicated to a Closed Session to discuss labor negotiations with unrepresented employees.