Edward John Caldwell

The committee meeting covered several key legislative and operational items. Discussion topics included adopting support positions for the More Water Act, the Large-Scale Water Recycling Reauthorization Act, and Senate Bill 872 regarding climate change and infrastructure funding. Additionally, the committee discussed and recommended the authorization of an agreement for the assignment of non-consumptive water use permits to EIE Oil and Gas and Stoofer Management Company LLC for groundwater remediation activities in Carson.

The committee discussed and recommended board approval for seven community outreach sponsorship requests for various galas, festivals, and breakfast events. The discussion included fiscal impact considerations, efforts to minimize costs while maintaining sponsorship benefits, and the process for handling budget amendments if necessary. Additionally, the committee reviewed upcoming district sponsorship opportunities for a groundwater festival and a spring conference.

The committee meeting addressed several operational and engineering matters, including the authorization to initiate solicitations for labor compliance consulting services and material testing and specialty inspection services. Additionally, the committee discussed and recommended amending a contract with Arnas Engineering Contractors for the recycled water pump station project, noting that the project is nearing completion and has stayed within the overall budget despite requiring a contract budget adjustment for unforeseen conditions. The committee also briefly moved into an agenda item regarding a supply agreement for electricity.

The committee meeting covered updates regarding the planning of water education forums for the general public, including venue options and proposed program agendas. Additionally, a monthly communications update was provided, highlighting various media stories, social media engagement statistics, and community events such as career fairs, landscape design workshops, and community races. The committee also received a debrief on the Water Reuse Youth Summit, which involved high school student projects on water reuse challenges, and an update on the ongoing student art contest.

The meeting focused on an update regarding alternatives for the proposed biennial budget, rates, and charges for fiscal years 2026-2027 and 2027-2028. Key discussion topics included the analysis of various budget scenarios, capital improvement program (CIP) spend adjustments, property tax rate projections, and staffing levels. The board reviewed proposals from different delegations, including the City of Los Angeles, Modoc, and San Diego, and evaluated the impact of funding the Pure Water Southern California program. Participants discussed the need for balancing expenditures and maintaining system reliability while managing rate impacts.