President Palmer stated that the Board met in Closed Session and approved a Resolution for amendments to Appendix A, Footnotes to the Salary Schedule for boot allowances for employees who belong to the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, the Alameda County Management Employees Association, and Unrepresented Managers for $400 per fiscal year effective February 19, 2023. The Resolution was approved by a roll call vote of 7-0.

Item 5 -

5. Pledge of Allegiance

President Palmer led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Item 6 -

6. Roll Call of Directors

All Directors were present.

Item 7 -

7. Public Comment

There was no public comment.

Item 8 -

8. Minutes

Director Ramirez Holmes asked that on page three, paragraph three, the second sentence should say, "Constituents and on social media" as opposed to "her social media followers." The minutes were approved as amended by a roll call vote of 6-0 with Director Narum abstaining.

Item 9 -

9. Introduction of Los Vaqueros Reservoir Expansion Executive Director

Valerie Pryor, General Manager, introduced Taryn Ravazzini, Executive Director of the Los Vaqueros Expansion Joint Powers Authority (JPA). Ms. Ravazzini thanked the Board and staff for allowing the Joint Powers Authority to utilize Zone 7's Boardroom for their monthly meetings, noting that Zone 7 Director Angela Ramirez Holmes is the Chair of the JPA. Ms. Ravazzini presented an overview of the Los Vaqueros Reservoir Expansion Project which has three major components; storage, conveyance, and recreation. The reservoir will be expanded from 160,000 acre feet to 275,000 acre feet, with improvements to trails, the interpretive center and the marina.

Director Gambs asked Ms. Ravazzini if she had any assessment on the Governor's recent executive order and if it had a positive effect on water and water storage projects. Ms. Ravazzini replied that while she doesn't have a specific assessment, she said the Los Vaqueros Reservoir Expansion Project is a primary project supported by the Governor and has been identified as one of his top priorities in terms of water infrastructure for the state.

Director Ramirez Holmes stated that it has been an honor to serve as chair for two years and that the JPA is fortunate to have Taryn as their Executive Director. Director Ramirez Holmes pointed out that 11 million Californians will be served by this project and the JPA is honored to have the Governor's support. She also added that Zone 7 Director Sandy Figuers sits on the JPA Board as an Alternate.

Director Benson asked when the project is anticipated to be completed and Ms. Ravazzini replied around 2030.

Director Green asked what Zone 7 will get out of the project and Ms. Pryor replied with "10,000 acre-feet of State Water Project storage with access to the Transfer-Bethany Pipeline."

Director Figuers asked if the Bethany Pipeline will be one way only, or a dual pipeline so water can be transferred either to the north or to the south at the same time. Ms. Ravazzini replied that it will be a one-way pipeline that will help to move water that connects to the California Aqueduct. Ms. Pryor added that it connects to the California Aqueduct, which is very close to the South Bay Aqueduct.

Item 10 -

10. Award Flood Management Plan Phase 2A Contracts

Valerie Pryor stated that the Board adopted the Flood Management Plan Phase 1 in June of 2022 which is a high-level strategy for flood management. The goals and objectives in that report serve as a multi-year work program to advance Zone 7's flood management plan strategy. Because of the amount of work, staff are starting out with a work plan for phase 2A and the proposed contracts to accomplish that. This was presented to the Water Resources Committee on January 26th, where the Committee recommended that it be brought to the full Board and that the Board award these contracts.

Mine Inamine from HDR, reminded the Board what Phase 1 entailed and how it applies to Phase 2A. Mr. Inamine stated that Phase 2A is a piece of Phase 2, which is comprised of three major efforts: it quantifies risks of the flood protection system and recommends a plan, it provides a risk-informed, quantifiable basis for proactive maintenance, and it initiates and conducts outreach and engagement with stakeholders and the public.

Joanna Leu from HDR, who is the technical lead supporting the system-wide evaluation, outlined the different phases of work they have achieved for Zone 7. She added that there will be kickoff meetings, they will assess the risk, and come up with a plan they can recommend.

Mr. Inamine stated that what Ms. Leu described is an involved process that will take a lot of interaction with land use agencies, public engagement, etc. Following that there is a capital improvement program, an implementation plan, and funding and financing that will have to be phased in. Furthermore, there will be planning and eventual design and construction, which could take up to 10 years until it is completed. Mr. Inamine stated that the last piece would be stakeholder and public outreach and engagement. That will entail in-person workshops and public workshops with Zone 7 staff and partner agencies. There will be a micro website on the existing website that will allow those who can't participate in the workshops, to participate virtually to see what was presented.

Director Ramirez Holmes asked if the database mentioned in the report on task four will eventually belong to Zone 7. Melissa Diamant of HDR, confirmed it will be. Director Ramirez Holmes stated that it would be a great opportunity to engage with elected officials at upcoming Liaison Committee meetings.

Director Ramirez Holmes asked how adjustments will be made to the timeline so that people know what has been completed. Ms. Pryor replied that if the Board approves the project and contracts, staff will report back to the Board with the new estimated dates, and they will be posted on any public materials, the website, the micro website, and then an annual report to the Board on the status. Ms. Pryor added this will be similar to the format of the quarterly update on the Capital Project Status Reports to the Board.

Director Figuers asked about the channels that aren't owned by Zone 7 and how they will be addressed. Mr. Inamine replied that they have started the discussion with the land use agencies, and it might be prudent to pick up ownership or give up ownership in order to affect a more resilient flood management system.

Director Narum asked how HDR is going to drive the public and the stakeholders to the micro website and to some of these tools that have been mentioned. Ms. Diamant replied that there is a section of the outreach plan that would be used to inform people what is happening and the different outlets that they can use to access the information. She added that a social media schedule and associated messaging will be established, as well as presentations the Board can share with their constituents.

Director Ramirez Holmes made a motion to approve the award of a Professional Services Contract with HDR Engineering and Director Benson seconded the motion. The resolution passed by a roll call vote of 7-0.

Director Ramirez Holmes made a motion to approve the award of a Project Management Services Contract with Larsen Wurzel & Associates, Inc. and Director Green seconded the motion. The resolution passed by a roll call vote of 7-0.

Director Ramirez Holmes made a motion to approve the award of a Hydrologic and Hydraulic Modeling Support Services Contract with Environmental Science Associates and Director Figuers seconded the motion. The resolution passed by a roll call vote of 7-0.

The Board took a short recess.

Item 11 -

11. Declaration of Fix a Leak Week

Valerie Pryor stated that before the Board is a resolution to declare Fix a Leak Week for March 20-26 which is done annually in March to bring public awareness to the wasteful loss of water through leaks. She added that staff have a number of items planned working with the retailers, on social media, through the schools' program and will be handing out shower buckets. Director Ramirez Holmes asked what locations will have the buckets for distribution. Ms. Pryor responded that the City of Livermore has a supply and the City of Pleasanton is next to receive them. People can also come to Zone 7 to pick one up.

Director Ramirez Holmes moved to approve the Resolution declaring Fix a Leak Week and Director Narum seconded the motion. The resolution passed by a roll call vote of 7-0.

Item 12 -

12. Committees

No comments were received from the Board.

Item 13 -

13. Reports - Directors

President Palmer reported that she attended an ACWA Regulatory Roundup and the ACWA Agricultural Committee meeting. She also submitted a written report.

Director Benson reported that the Dublin Historical Society is having an event at the Senior Center on March 17th. She also reported that EBMUD is celebrating their 100-year anniversary.

Director Ramirez Holmes reported she is meeting monthly with the ACWA State Legislative Committee and that the Los Vaqueros JPA board has returned to in-person meetings held at Zone 7. She also thanked the Pleasanton Weekly for having three articles about Zone 7 in their latest publication.

Director Green attended the ACWA Groundwater Quality Subcommittee Meeting and the ACWA Quarterly Regulatory Committee Meeting.

Item 14 - Items for Future Agenda - Directors

There were no items for future agendas.

Item 15 -

15. Staff Reports

Director Ramirez Holmes asked if the California state of emergency will sunset in June and Ms. Pryor responded that it will not. She added that if things continue to go well, staff could consider ending the Zone 7 drought emergency.

Ms. Pryor pointed out from her General Manager's Report that if the Delta Conveyance Project had been in place during the atmospheric rivers, it was estimated that the project could have captured about 200,000 acre-feet from the December and January storms, and for the Sites Reservoir, it was estimated that it could have captured 120,000 acre-feet and through January, then another 260,000 through mid-February.

Item 16 -

16. Adjournment

President Palmer adjourned the meeting at 9:00 p.m.

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Zone 7 Meeting - February 15, 2023

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