Regular Meeting
Governing Board of Sweetwater Authority
AGENDA

Wednesday, September 27, 2023

5:00 P.m. - 6:00 P.m.

Sweetwater Authority Administration Building

505 Garrett Avenue

Chula Vista, CA 91910

Notice: This meeting will be held at the above date, time, and location, and Sweetwater Authority Board members and members of the public may attend in person. Some Sweetwater Authority Board members may attend and participate in the meeting virtually pursuant to the Brown Act (Gov. Code § 54953). As a convenience to the public, the Sweetwater Authority provides a call-in option and internet-based option for members of the public to virtually observe and provide public comments at its meetings.  Additional details on in-person and virtual public participation are below. Please note that, in the event of a disruption in the call-in option or internet-based option, the meeting will continue unless otherwise required by law, such as when a Director is attending the meeting virtually pursuant to certain provisions of the Brown Act. 

 

To join via Zoom Webinar from a computer, tablet, or smartphone, click on the link below:
https://zoom.us/j/91458023440

 

To join this meeting via telephone, please dial:
1-669-900-6833 or 1-253-215-8782
Meeting ID: 914 5802 3440

The Zoom Webinar link and telephone number will be active approximately 15 minutes prior to the meeting start time.

 

If you are unable to access the meeting using this call-in information, please contact the Assistant Board Secretary at [phone] for assistance. 

 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT

 

Members of the public may address the Board regarding items not appearing on the posted agenda, which are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Governing Board, and on agenda items. Speakers are asked to state name, address, and topic, and to observe a time limit of three (3) minutes each. Public comment on a single topic is limited to twenty (20) minutes. (Note: Written comments will no longer be read aloud during the meeting.)  

 

Making Public Comment for Those Attending In-Person:

Anyone desiring to address the Governing Board regarding non-agenda items or an item listed on the agenda is asked to fill out a speaker’s slip and present it to the Board Chair or the Secretary. Request to Speak forms are available at the Speaker’s podium and at www.sweetwater.org/speakerform. 
 
Making Public Comment for Those Not Attending In-Person:

The Chair will inquire if there are any comments from the public regarding non-agenda items and any items listed on the agenda prior to Board discussion. Members of the public may request to speak and make comments as follows: 

• Via Zoom Webinar, click on “Raise Hand” button. This will notify the moderator that you wish to speak during Oral Communication or during a specific item on the agenda.
• Via phone, you can raise your hand by pressing *9 to notify the moderator that you wish to speak during the current item.  

Any person with a disability who requires a modification or accommodation in order to participate in a meeting should direct such request to the Board Secretary at (619) 4096703 at least forty-eight (48) hours before the meeting, if possible. 

 

UNDERSTANDING THE MEETING AGENDA

 

Opportunity for Public Comment  Opportunity for members of the public to address the Board on items not appearing on the posted agenda, which are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Governing Board (Government Code Section 54954.6)

 

Action Calendar Agenda  Items on the Action Agenda call for discussion and action by the Board. All items are placed on the Agenda so that the Board may discuss and take action on the item if the Board is so inclined, including items listed for information.

Consent Calendar Items  Items to be acted upon without discussion, unless a request is made by a member of the Board, the Staff, or the Public to discuss a particular item, including items listed for information. All consent calendar items are approved by a single motion.

Reports and Informational Items  Items placed on the Agenda to allow the persons designated to provide information to the Board and the Public. There is no action called for in these items. The Board may engage in discussion on any report upon which specific subject matter is identified on the Agenda, but may not take any action other than to place the matter on a future Agenda.

 

Directors’ Comments  Directors’ comments are comments by Directors concerning Authority business that may be of interest to the Board. Directors’ comments are placed on the Agenda to enable individual Board members to convey information to the Board and the Public. There is no discussion or action taken on comments made by Board members.

 

Closed Session  At any time during the regular session, the Governing Board may adjourn to closed session to consider litigation, personnel matters, or to discuss with legal counsel matters within the attorney-client privilege. (Government Code Section 54954.5.)

---

1.

Call Meeting to Order and Roll Call

2.

Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

3.

Opportunity for Public Comment

4.

Chair’s Presentation

4.1

"Federal Legislative Update," presented by Don Gilchrest, Thomas Walters & Associates, Inc.

4.2

Comments from the Public Regarding Agency Staff

ACTION CALENDAR AGENDA

5.

Items to be Added, Withdrawn, or Reordered on the Agenda

6.

Approval of Minutes - Regular Board Meeting of September 13, 2023

7.

Consent Calendar Items

7.1

Approval of San Diego Gas & Electric Demands and Warrants - August 2023

7.2

Approval of Demands and Warrants (excludes the San Diego Gas & Electric Demands and Warrants) - August 2023

7.3

Consideration to Adopt Resolution 23-18, Adopting a Revised Pay Schedule for All Employees Effective July 1, 2023

(Finance and Administration Committee Meeting of 9/11/23)

Recommendation: Adopt Resolution 23-18, Adopting a Revised Pay Schedule for All Employees Effective July 1, 2023.

7.4

Consideration to Approve a One-year Agreement with Info-Tech Information Technology Research Group with an Option for Two (2) Additional One-year Renewals for a Total Cost of $77,883.27

(Finance and Administration Committee Meeting of 9/11/23)

Recommendation: Approve a one-year agreement with Info-Tech Information Technology Research Group with an option for two additional one-year renewals for a total cost of $77,883.27

7.6

Update on Community Advisory Work Group (Information Item)

(Legislative Affairs and Communications Committee Meeting of 9/18/23)

Recommendation: No action is required by the Governing Board.

7.5

Update on Rate Outreach Plan and Draft Proposition 218 Notice (Information Item)

(Legislative Affairs and Communications Committee Meeting of 9/18/23)

Recommendation: No action is required by the Governing Board.

Action and Discussion Items

8.

Old and Unfinished Business

8.1

Consideration to Approve, Receive, and File the 2023 Water Rate Study; Direct Staff to Issue a Notice Pursuant to Proposition 218; and Set a Public Hearing on December 6, 2023 to Approve Changes

to the Rates for Water Service Charges to be Effective January 1, 2024

8.2

Consideration to Direct Staff to Submit an Application to San Diego Gas & Electric for a System Impact and Interconnection Study, and Prepare a CEQA Document for the Floating Solar Project 

9.

New Business

9.1

Consideration to Approve the 2023-24 Kaiser and Cigna Medical Insurance Plan Renewal

10.

Approval of Directors' Attendance at Meetings and Future Agenda Items

10.1

Per diem approval for Directors that attended the Community Open House at the Richard A. Reynolds Desalination Facility - September 21, 2023

10.2

Per diem approval for Directors who wish to attend the Orange County Water Summit, Costa Mesa - October 13, 2023

10.3

Council of Water Utilities Meeting - October 17, 2023

Topic: AWWA Utility Benchmarks 101

Guest Speakers: Roberto N. Yano, P.E., Assistant General Manager, Sweetwater Authority and Adolfo Segura, Chief of Administrative Services, Otay Water District.

REPORTS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

11.

Delayed Revenue Balance Dashboard

12.

Committee Minutes

13.

Financial Reports - August 2023

14.

Report of Management

15.

Reports by Directors on Events Attended

15.1

Community Open House - September 21, 2023

(Note: Pending per diem approval)

15.2

Tour of Floating Solar Facility, Healdsburg, CA - September 26, 2023

15.3

Other Events Attended

16.

Directors’ Comments

17.

Closed Session

17.1

Conference with Labor Negotiator pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6

Agency Negotiators: General Manager Carlos Quintero 
Unrepresented Employees: Assistant General Manager, Director of Administrative Services, Director of Engineering and Operations, Director of Finance, and Director of Water Quality

17.2

Conference with Labor Negotiator pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6:

Agency Negotiators: General Manager Carlos Quintero and Assistant General Manager Roberto Yano
Employee Organizations: Sweetwater Authority Employees' Committee, Sweetwater Authority Middle Management Group, and Sweetwater Authority Confidential Group

17.3

Public Employee Performance Evaluation pursuant to Government Code Section 54957:

Title: General Manager

17.4

Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9 (d)(1):

United States, et al. ex rel John Hendrix v. J-M Manufacturing Company Inc., and Formosa Plastics Corporation, U.S.A., Case No. ED CV06-00055-GW

18.

Adjournment

 

 

This agenda was posted at least seventy-two (72) hours before the meeting in a location freely accessible to the Public on the exterior bulletin board at the main entrance to the Authority’s office and it is also posted on the Authority’s website at www.sweetwater.org. No action may be taken on any item not appearing on the posted agenda, except as provided by California Government Code Section 54954.2. Any writings or documents provided to a majority of the members of the Sweetwater Authority Governing Board regarding any item on this agenda will be made available for public inspection at the Authority Administration Office, located at 505 Garrett Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91910, during normal business hours. Upon request, this agenda will be made available in appropriate alternative formats to persons with disabilities, as required by Section 202 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Any person with a disability who requires a modification or accommodation in order to participate in a meeting should direct such request to the Board Secretary at [phone] at least forty-eight (48) hours before the meeting, if possible.

To subscribe to meeting agendas and other pertinent information, please visit www.sweetwater.org