Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—at home, on the road, or on your tractor.
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The board honored Rene Magdaleno for 20 years of service and accepted an unmodified financial audit. Army representatives reported shrinking Fort Ord groundwater plumes and ongoing PFAS investigations; district supply wells have no reported PFAS detections. A rate-loading error underbilled about 11,500 accounts by roughly $255,000, followed by delayed bills and confusing statements. Staff apologized, suspended September and October late fees, and revised billing procedures.
A Palm Drive sewer study estimated $35 million for the central zone and $52 million for the south zone. One commenter questioned legal holds, a 45-day deletion period and an alleged interagency confidentiality agreement. The board approved procurement and records policies, added a Finance Manager classification and amended one Platinum Strategies contract supporting its ERP transition.
EKI identified calibration weaknesses in the Tulare Lake groundwater model and will await its 2026 update. Staff said overdue GEARS reports from either reporting period face 25% monthly penalties beginning February 1, 2027. Staff plans to seek a county bridge loan pending Prop 218 revenue and bring budgets to the next board meeting. A Prop 26 extraction fee would follow a separate agenda process; no fee or loan was approved. The November and December meetings are planned to be combined on a date to be determined.
The board approved SGMA fee corrections for disputed parcel boundaries, classifications, water providers or calculations. Requests are due April 30 of the fee year; staff has up to 30 days to seek more information and reviews complete requests within 30 days. Fee payers may appeal to the board. The board also set a $50 minimum for direct bills to non-taxable properties, authorized work on a remaining budget adjustment and approved a Davids Engineering agreement for potential SGMA support.
State officials intend to make $10 million in budgeted grant funds available for MAGSA’s expansion project; an agreement amendment is still planned, and lower financing costs are possible, not assured. The board approved the form of a W.M. Lyles construction contract and authorized its execution, with two members recused. It also set a November 4 hearing on a proposed Resolution of Necessity for project easements.
