Nick Emmert

The meeting commenced with operational announcements regarding live streaming and archiving of board meetings. The board addressed public comments concerning the location of the Pure Water Reclamation Project in a residential area, with residents expressing concerns about notification procedures and the impact of sewage treatment facilities. A procedural change was introduced for public comment, requiring it to occur before board deliberation on each item. The consent agenda, including a Memorandum of Understanding, was approved. Board members discussed the need for improved public outreach to clarify that the drought is not over and that groundwater basin recovery is ongoing, suggesting the use of visible indicators like thermometers. Staff requested board feedback on managing and prioritizing new ideas that accumulate, proposing a 'Reserve List' structure. Administrative business included the approval of the first application under the new Water Distribution Optimization (WDO) program for low-flow toilets, and a discussion regarding the ascension of the Vice President to President, including pros and cons of different term limits.

The meeting commenced with a call to order, roll call, and a closed session. Following the closed session, the board announced that agenda item 7.4 would be postponed for further staff review. Key discussions during the open session included a public comment regarding correspondence about the Modified Pure Water Soquel Project and the anticipated dumping of brine into Monterey Bay via the Santa Cruz city wastewater outflow pipe, focusing on the effects of increased salinity. The board also addressed Brown Act updates concerning the expiration of the statewide emergency declaration (AB361) and pending legislation that might relax teleconference rules for directors. A significant action involved the formation of an ad hoc committee to explore collaborative strategies and shared resources between the Soquel Creek Water District and Scotts Valley Water District to enhance customer value. Board members expressed interest in serving on this new committee. Furthermore, the serious drought conditions were noted.

The meeting addressed procedures for conducting the board meeting virtually due to executive orders suspending physical meeting requirements. A significant portion of the discussion centered on establishing procedures for public comment in the virtual setting, ultimately implementing a system for live comment contingent upon prior submission of a speaker form. Staff provided updates on modifications to district work, including measures taken to protect staff and the community regarding COVID-19, such as implementing rotations, distancing, and enhanced sanitation. Key agenda items involved seeking board direction on the Continuity of Operations (COOP) plan, specifically regarding the delegation of authority, and adopting Resolution 20-04, which addressed declaring a local emergency and delegating authority. Public comment included concerns regarding the declaration of public works projects as essential functions under the shelter-in-place order, requesting that any essential projects be limited to repairs only to prevent the unnecessary introduction of outside workers who might carry contamination. Board members also discussed the proposal to triple the procurement policy limit for emergency purchases to facilitate necessary operations during the crisis.

The meeting included a discussion regarding a service connection for the Aptos Village Project on Granite Way, confirming it has been locked off as requested, with a detailed letter sent by the general manager. Administrative business covered updates from a webinar with the Groundwater Committee concerning the State's shift in focus for the Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) facilitation and the upcoming water budget analysis for the Central Coast area. Attention was drawn to an upcoming National Water Research Institute (NWRI) expert panel meeting concerning the Pure Water Soquel project, detailing the panel's charge, composition, and public participation process. Administrative items also involved reviewing three Will Serve Letters, including the approval of two straightforward single-family home requests and one for a change of use from a nursing home to a residential development, noting the latter resulted in a water demand offset due to decreased projected water use. Finally, the board reviewed conceptual ideas for an alternative water rate structure, focusing initially on single-family residential customers.

The meeting included an update from the labor negotiator following a brief closed session where no action was taken. Discussions during the open session focused heavily on the consent agenda items, with specific questions raised regarding warrants covering the purchase of a right-of-way from the County of Santa Cruz, services from Brown and Caldwell related to the groundwater replenishment project, and a feasibility study with Corolla. A significant portion of the meeting involved deliberation on item 3.6, which concerned developing new facility layouts for the Pure Water Soquel project to supersede previous gross-scale footprints, and aligning drawings with advanced water purification rather than membrane bioreactor technology, especially in light of a pending acquisition agreement with the City of Santa Cruz for secondary water. Public comments addressed concerns about the affordability and safety of recycled water for groundwater injection, referencing recent state board findings on direct potable reuse. Board members also discussed the positive impact of recent heavy rainfall (182% of the long-term average) on groundwater levels, noting that only a small fraction of rainfall translates to recharge, reinforcing the need to continue addressing the long-term overdraft issue. Furthermore, there was a proposal to create an interagency committee to explore mutually beneficial projects, such as capturing stormwater runoff for groundwater recharge in partnership with entities like the drainage division, and a suggestion to reevaluate the criteria for groundwater emergency status stages based on actual aquifer levels rather than just rainfall totals.