Director Benson moved to approve the minutes from the regular Board meeting on February 19, 2025, seconded by Director Figuers. President Gambs abstained. The motion was approved by a roll call vote of 5-0, with one abstention.

Item 8 -

8. Consent Calendar

Director Figuers pulled Item 8d (Adopt Revised Records Retention Schedule) for discussion at a future Administrative Committee meeting. Director Narum moved to approve Items 8a, 8b, 8c, and 8e, seconded by Director Benson. The motion was approved by a roll call vote of 6-0.

Item 9 -

9. Award Conslting Services Contract for the 2025 Water Demand Assessment >

Lillian Xie, Associate Civil Engineer, presented a proposal to award a consulting services contract to EKI Environment and Water Inc. for the 2025 Water Demand Assessment and Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP). The UWMP, required by California state law, ensures effective water resource planning for at least a 20-year horizon and must be submitted every five years. The 2025 UWMP is due by July 1, 2026, and requires updated water demand forecasts, developed in coordination with Zone 7's four retailers. While three retailers have conducted independent demand forecasts, Zone 7 will develop one for the City of Livermore.

Following a procurement process, EKI Environment and Water Inc. was selected for the project, with a total budget of $278,300, including a 10% contingency. Director Narum questioned why the contract cost was similar to the previous assessment conducted five years ago. Ms. Xie clarified that the previous effort required building a demand model from scratch, whereas this time, the consultant's role is primarily to validate and integrate existing forecasts. President Gambs asked whether the updated estimates would inform broader water supply reliability projects, to which Ms. Xie confirmed that the demand forecasts would contribute to future planning efforts beyond regulatory compliance.

Director Narum made a motion to approve the Resolution and Director Green seconded it. The Resolution was approved by a roll call vote of 6-0.

Item 10 -

10. Committees

There were no comments on the notes from the Water Resources Committee or the Finance Committee meetings.

Item 11 -

11. Reports - Directors

President Gambs reported on a recent tour of the Sites Reservoir, which he attended for the third time. He expressed his continued appreciation for the management of the project led by Executive Director Jerry Brown. He noted that the project has been progressing smoothly, though it faces significant hurdles, including securing water rights, which is anticipated later this year. He highlighted that, with the Los Vaqueros project not moving forward, Sites Reservoir has become an increasingly viable option, as evidenced by a waiting list of agencies willing to participate if any current participants withdraw.

Director Green provided an update on her attendance at the ACWA DC Conference alongside Carol Mahoney. She emphasized the importance of the trip, particularly in linking Zone 7's PFAS working group with ACWA and Senator Schiff's office. She noted that the senator is particularly interested in the working group's efforts to quantify the real costs of PFAS, moving beyond speculation. Director Green also commended Carol Mahoney's representation of Zone 7 during a meeting with Senator Schiff, where she effectively conveyed key information. She mentioned additional details from the conference will be submitted in a written report.

Director Narum announced that Zone 7 will be receiving $1.59 million as part of the shutdown of the Los Vaqueros project. She confirmed that the April JPA meeting will serve as the final meeting before its dissolution, with only a few remaining administrative matters to address. She also attended the Sites Reservoir tour and was struck by the scale of the project. She appreciated Executive Director Jerry Brown's analogy comparing water allocations to "water condos" and expressed optimism about the project's progress, especially given the termination of Los Vaqueros.

Director Benson also shared her impressions from the Sites Reservoir tour, commending Jerry Brown and his team for an informative presentation. She highlighted the efforts of Valerie Pryor, who has been instrumental in advocating for Zone 7's role in the investment team for Sites Reservoir. She expressed confidence in the reservoir's potential to enhance the valley's water supply.

Director Benson further reported that she and President Gambs attended a Dublin Chamber of Commerce event where Zone 7 received a 25-year membership award. The agency was also recognized by County Tax Assessor Phong La and Congressman Eric Swalwell for its contributions. Director Gambs added that Zone 7 maintains membership in all chambers within the valley, underscoring the agency's commitment to community engagement.

Item 12 -

12. Items for Future Agenda

No items were requested for consideration at an upcoming Board meeting.

Item 13 -

13. Staff Reports

Ms. Pryor provided an overview of the written reports included in the Board packet, highlighting key updates. She reported that the Chain of Lakes Wells PFAS Treatment Facility is currently undergoing testing and operation. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, March 26th, to commemorate its completion.

Ms. Pryor also announced that on February 25th, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) increased the State Water Project allocation to 35% for 2025. She emphasized that with the current local and regional water storage levels, Zone 7 will easily meet water demand, making this a positive development for the agency.

Additionally, Ms. Pryor provided an update on the Delta Conveyance Project, specifically the change in the point of diversion hearing process related to water rights. The process began on February 18th with policy statements, during which Director Palmer presented a statement on behalf of Zone 7. She noted that DWR released an estimate on February 22nd indicating that if the Delta Conveyance Project had been operational, it could have conveyed an additional 700,000 acre-feet of water during the winter months. This would have equated to an increase of approximately 15-20% in the State Water Project allocation. Ms. Pryor underscored the significance of the Delta Conveyance Project for Zone 7's long-term water supply reliability.

Item 14 -

14. Adjournment

President Gambs adjourned the meeting at 8:07 p.m.

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Zone 7 Meeting - March 19, 2025

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