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Home My WebLink About03.12.25 WB Agenda Packet Regular MtgCity of Bakersfield Water board Regular Meeting of March 12, 2025 Kern River Canal Backup Weir Reconstruction Water Resources File Packet AKERSFIELD THE SOUND 0F5an244ut� 13ei{er WATER BOARD Bob Smith, Chair Andrae Gonzales Manpreet Kaur CITY OF BAKERSFIELD WATER BOARD REGULAR MEETING Wednesday, March 12, 2025 - 10:00 a.m. Water Resources Building Conference Room 1000 Buena Vista Road, Bakersfield, CA 93311 AGENDA l . CALL TO ORDER 2. ROLL CALL 3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS A. Agenda Item Public Statements B. Non -Agenda Item Public Statements 4. MINUTES A. Approval of the Minutes of the Special Water Board Meeting of February 12, 2025 - For Board Review and Action 5. KERN RIVER LEVEE DISTRICT 6. REPORTS A. Kern River & Isabella Reservoir Operations Report - For Board Information 7. HEARINGS Water Board Agenda March 12, 2025 S. NEW BUSINESS A. Proposed Domestic Water Rate Increase - For Board Review and Action B. Proposed Sewer User Rate Increase - For Board Review and Action 9. WATER BOARD STATEMENTS 10. CLOSED SESSION A. Conference with Legel Counsel - Potential Litigation Closed session pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9 (d) (2), (e) (1) (One Matter) 11. CLOSED SESSION ACTION 12. ADJOURNMENT POSTED: March 7, 2025 d ph RV BAKERSFIELD THE SOUND 0F:6wv1--ajtbf P 0j, ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT WATER BOARD MEETING DATE: March 12, 2025 AGENDA SECTION: Minutes ITEM: 4. A. TO: Bob Smith, Chairman Andrae Gonzales, Member Manpreet Kaur, Member FROM: Kristina Budak, Water Director DATE: March 7, 2025 DEPARTMENT HEAD SUBJECT: Approval of the Minutes of the Special Water Board Meeting of February 12, 2025. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the Minutes of the Special Water Board Meeting of February 12, 2025. BACKGROUND: BAKERSFIELD THE SOUND OF�awletG�ufay MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE WATER BOARD - CITY OF BAKERSFIELD Wednesday, February 12, 2025 - 10:00 a.m. Water Resources Conference Room 1000 Buena Vista Rd., Bakersfield, CA 93311 CALL TO ORDER Chairman Smith called the meeting to order at 10.00 a.m. 2. ROLL CALL Present: Chairman Smith, Member Gonzales Absent: Member Kaur 3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS - None 4. MINUTES A. Approval of the Minutes of the Special Water Board Meeting of October 23, 2024. Motion by Member Gonzales to approve the Minutes of October 23, 2024. APPROVED WITH MEMBER KA UR ABSENT 5. KERN RIVER LEVEE DISTRICT 6. REPORTS A. Kern River & Isabella Reservoir Operations Report Miguel Chavez, Hydrographic Manager, first discussed the Kern River Basin Snowpack Accumulation graph in the Water Board Packet. A November storm brought snow to the basin bringing the snowpack above average but since then the weather has been dry. Historically a dry January on the Kern means a very dry water year. In late January there was storm activity that impacted Northern California which brought our snowpack higher. Currently there is a storm projected to bring six feet of snow at higher elevations and three and half at mid -elevations. DWR published the first Bulletin 120 Report Bakersfield, California, February 12, 2025 — Page 2 REPORTS (continued) of the year on Monday, February 10, 2025, with a forecast 56% of normal runoff for the April — July period. The California Nevada River Forecast Center is projecting higher at 75% of normal runoff for the April — July period. Second, Mr. Chavez discussed the Kern River Inflow, Outflow, and Isabella Reservoir Operations Water Year 2024-2025 graph in the Water Board Packet. The two spikes on the graph coincide with storm activity in November and end of January. Next Water Board Meeting staff should have the water year visually projected on the graph. Currently, Isabella inflow is 500 cfs., outflow is 300 cfs. and storage is at 162,700 acre-feet of which 29,000 acre-feet is the City of Bakersfield's water. Matthew Collom, Deputy City Attorney, requests the Water Board to allow item C. presented prior to item B. to give as much time for our visitors to present. C. Update on the Kern River Canal Backup Weir Project Daniel Maldonado, Assistant Water Director, provided additional information since the last update in November 2024, with a construction commencement date of February 18, 2025, with Nicholas Construction. Mr. Maldonado explained the importance of the project and displayed pre -construction photos. B. Delta Conveyance Project Presentation Kristina Budak, Water Director, introduced Carrie Buckman, Environmental Program Manager California Department of Water Resources, and Graham Bradner, Executive Director, Delta Conveyance Design and Construction Authority Ms. Budak introduced Tom McCarthy, Kern County Water Agency General Manager/interim Improvement District No. 4 Manager. Also in attendance, Kern County Water Agency Directors Wulff, Milobar, and Lundquist. Mr. McCarthy gave an overview of the State Water Project, history of Improvement District No. 4 (ID4) and ID4s relationship with the City of Bakersfield. Ms. Buckman and Mr. Bradner provided a presentation about the Delta Conveyance Project including an overview of the project, preliminary cost estimate, schedule summary, and the next steps. Estimated construction to begin 2029 with a completion date of 2042 and fully operational in 2045. 7. HEARINGS — None 8. NEW BUSINESS A. Proposed 2025 Water Board Meeting Calendar Kristina Budak, Water Director, reviewed the proposed 2025 Water Board Meeting Calendar, confirmed members are available for a 10 a.m. start time and meeting dates as listed on the calendar. Bakersfield, California, February 12, 2025 — Page 3 Motion by Member Gonzales to approve the 2025 Water Board Meeting Calendar APPROVED WITH MEMBER KAUR ABSENT 9. WATER BOARD STATEMENTS — None 10. CLOSED SESSION — None 11. CLOSED SESSION ACTION — None 12. ADJOURNMENT Chairman Smith adjourned the meeting at 11:35 a.m. Bob Smith, Chairman City of Bakersfield Water Board Kimberly Aleman, Secretary City of Bakersfield Water Board d Pft W ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT BAKERSFIELD WATER BOARD MEETING DATE: March 12, 2025 AGENDA SECTION: Reports ITEM: 6. A. TO: Bob Smith, Chairman Andrae Gonzales, Member Manpreet Kaur, Member APPROVED F 41k6L FROM: Kristina Budak, Water Director DEPARTMENT HEAD DATE: March 7, 2025 SUBJECT: Kern River & Isabella Reservoir Operations Report RECOMMENDATION: For board information. BACKGROUND: Report on current Kern River flow and Isabella storage conditions. Q CL C) e O Cap ro m rn m00 w L) z rN r-I a — Lf) a. 0 0 LIM CV 1 0 z W 40 eq I U) N z 40 C4 �~� cn w w > z w 0 Li CD Lr) 0 Ln Lr) fn rl-i -j � '� �— --A Ln (sa4:)U1) lualuo:) Jolem I 4) u LO 11 ruin 0 I.— 40* W.J 0 0 CL W W 0 SAD ul) CD N0 Wu z 0 WC4 z 0 u V) m D.Q D f? "At o o o 0� 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 C) 0 CD 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 8 8 c� C; lj� (.--i ljj d U-j d lj� d ti Cj � 0 Lr), lil)- t rl, LO C-4 LO N �� P-, Q-) (N r-- LO CN Lo N o g 4j:)V- UOIJDA,913 a d Pft W ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT BAKERSFIELD,A0,1 WATER BOARD MEETING DATE: March 12, 2025 AGENDA SECTION: New Business ITEM: 8. A. TO: Bob Smith, Chairman Andrae Gonzales, Member Manpreet Kaur, Member FROM. Kristina Budak, Water Director DATE: March 7, 2025 SUBJECT: Proposed Domestic Water Rate Increase RECOMMENDATION: Staff Recommends Rate modifications to City Council. APPRnvFn DEPARTMENT HEAD 14-- BACKGROUND: The Water Resources Department provides domestic water services for the distribution of clean drinking water to residents and businesses within the City of Bakersfield's Domestic Service Area. The Domestic Water Enterprise fund is self-sustaining supported primarily by service connection fees, water availability fees and monthly domestic water sales to residents within the Domestic Service Area. The City of Bakersfield's domestic water system currently has one of the lowest monthly rates in urban Bakersfield. In 2022, the City contracted with a consultant to prepare a five-year Domestic Water Rate Study. The consultant commended a 5-year rate increase of 15%, 10%, 10%, 3%, 3% annually but a rate increase of 10% in FY 24, with four additional years of 6% increases was ultimately approved by the City Council in June 2023 and adopted July 1, 2023. Since the rate increase went into effect, additional State regulations have been passed that impact the City's operation of the Domestic Water System. These regulations include Water Conservation is a Way of Life and additional water quality regulations for PFOs, which both were finalized in 2024. These regulations have increased anticipated operating and capital improvement project expenditures to comply with regulations that were not factored in the current rate study. Staff have performed thorough planning of Capital Improvement Projects and projected expenditures based on recent observed costs for labor, supplies, and materials. These planning values of Domestic Water Fund were discussed and supported with Finance Department and City Manager's Office. IN Pft W ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT BAKERSFIELD THE SOUND OFSMte�'ee* WATER BOARD Staff will provide a presentation of their findings, along with various rate options for the Water Board to consider. Staff recommends Option 1, which results in rate increases of 34%, 6%, 6%, 2.4%, 2.4%, annually for five -years. d oft RV ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT BAKERSFIELD THE SOUND 0Fb3*fWA)WJ't'?8* WATER BOARD MEETING DATE: March 12,2025 AGENDA SECTION: New Business ITEM: 8. B. TO: Bob Smith, Chairman Andrae Gonzales, Member Manpreet Kaur, Member APPROVED FROM: Kristina Budak, Water Director DEPARTMENT HEAD DATE: March 7..2025 SUBJECT: Proposed Sewer User Rate Increase 1 _T 14-1 :1 * K #1 "TT" "IV .NJ Staff recommends rate modifications to City Council. BACKGROUND: The Water Department manages the City's Sewer Enterprise Fund which provides for the operation and maintenance of the City's wastewater treatment plants, sewer collection system, and storm drain system. These costs are covered by sewer user fees which are collected from residential and commercial users on the property tax roll. Sewer rates are financially self-sufficient and not supported by General Fund revenues. The City's sewer rate structure ensures the cost of providing service is fairly and equitably recovered from all user groups. Staff has performed thorough planning of Capital Improvement Projects and projected expenditures based on recent observed costs for labor, supplies, and materials, and has determined that a substantial rate increase to the sewer user fee is required in order to fund operational and capital costs, and to ensure sufficient reserves to meet long-term needs. These planning values of the Sewer Enterprise Fund were discussed with and are supported by the Finance Department and City Manager's Office. Staff will provide a presentation of their findings, along with various rate options for the Water Board to consider. Staff recommends Option 1, which results in an annual sewer user rate increase from $239 to $950. B A K.�1 CORPORAT`wD ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT U � Rit �A✓ F 1 IV, WATER BOARD LORS MEETING DATE: March 12, 2025 AGENDA SECTION: Closed Session ITEM: 10. A. TO: Bob Smith, Chairman Andrae Gonzales, Member Manpreet Kaur, Member FROM: Virginia Gennaro, City Attorney DATE: March 7, 2025 APPROVED DEPARTMENT HEAD �'�� SUBJECT: 1. Conference with Legal Counsel — Potential Litigation Closed session pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9(d) (2), (e) (1) re: one (1) matter. MSC:js S:\WATER\Waterboard\24-25\2025.03.12 - Admin Report Closed Session PotLit.1