Zone 7 Meeting - January 15, 2025
3. Open Session and Report Out of Closed Session 6. Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items 9. Bi-Annual Communications and Outreach Update > MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ZONE 7 ALAMEDA COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT REGULAR MEETING January 15, 2025 Directors Present: Dawn Benson Catherine Brown Sandy Figuers Dennis Gambs Laurene Green Kathy Narum Sarah Palmer Staff Present: Valerie Pryor, General Manager Chris Hentz, Assistant General Manager - Engineering Osborn Solitei, Treasurer/Assistant General Manager - Finance Alexandra Bradley, Communications Specialist Donna Fabian, Executive Assistant General Counsel: Rebecca Smith, Downey Brand Item 1 - Call Zone 7 Water Agency Meeting to Order The Zone 7 Water Agency meeting was called to order by President Gambs at 7:00 p.m. Item 2 - Closed Session The Board entered Closed Session at 6:01 p.m. and adjourned at 6:17 p.m. Item 3 - 3. Open Session and Report Out of Closed Session There were no actions to report out of Closed Session. Item 4 - Director Narum led the Pledge of Allegiance. Item 5 - All members of the Board were present. Item 6 - 6. Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items No public comments were made. Item 7 - Director Palmer moved to approve the minutes from the regular Board meeting on December 18, 2024, seconded by Director Green. The motion was approved by a 7-0 voice vote. Item 8 - Director Narum moved to approve Items 8a through 8h and Director Benson seconded the motion. The Consent Calendar was approved by a roll call vote of 7-0. Item 9 - 9. Bi-Annual Communications and Outreach Update > Alexandra Bradley, Communications Specialist, presented the biannual communications and outreach update, aligning with the Agency's 2020-2024 Strategic Plan. She highlighted campaigns, initiatives, and performance metrics while detailing progress made in alignment with the plan's goals, particularly Goal F on stakeholder engagement, which was successfully achieved. Key Highlights: . Agency-Wide Initiatives: o The Digital Annual Report continues to serve as a versatile outreach tool. Its transition to an online format has significantly increased readership, with over 2,000 visitors in 2024 compared to 760 in 2023. o Other initiatives include the Water Academy, Water Awareness Month activities, and year-round campaigns promoting water quality, reliability, and flood protection. . Performance Metrics: o Website Traffic: The Agency's main website saw a 26% increase in traffic, with 59,000 users in 2024. o Social Media: ? Facebook posts generated 840,000 impressions and grew followers to 1,000. ? YouTube views rose by 58%, reaching 186,000 views, outperforming peer agencies significantly. o Newsletter Engagement: Of the 26,731 emails sent, 11,000 were opened, and 2,000 engaged with the content. . Campaigns: o Water Quality Initiatives: ? The "Wondrous World of Water" video series recorded over 6,394 new views in the latter half of 2024. ? The PFAS timeline video and outreach on the Stoneridge facility showcased infrastructure and water treatment progress. ? Annual Water Quality Reports saw increased engagement, with 511 page views from 362 users. o Water Reliability Campaigns: Conservation efforts included rebate promotions and community outreach. The Tri-Valley Water Public Information Program achieved 7.8 million impressions, 83,000 video views, and increased public awareness of water sources and reliability. o Flood Protection Campaigns: The Flood Ready Freddy videos accumulated 53,000 lifetime views, emphasizing flood preparedness. Director Figuers inquired about the discrepancy between page views and individual users in the Digital Annual Report metrics. Alexandra clarified that page views represent total interactions with individual pages, while user numbers account for unique visitors. Alexandra announced that the 2023 Digital Annual Report received a GOV Design Silver Award for graphic design in the publication category, recognizing the Agency's innovative communication approach. She outlined plans for the next six months, including launching the 2024 Annual Report, aligning communication strategies with the updated strategic plan, and promoting new campaigns such as the Chain of Lakes PFAS Facility ribbon cutting and Water Awareness Month. The Board commended Alexandra for her exemplary work and dedication to improving outreach and stakeholder engagement. Item 10 - No comments were made regarding the notes from the Legislative or Finance Committees. Item 11 - Director Narum reported that the Los Vaqueros JPA voted unanimously to dissolve. She noted that the February meeting is canceled, while the March and April meetings will be held virtually, after which no further meetings are anticipated. Director Palmer shared that she attended several ACWA meetings. She also reminded the Board about the upcoming Alameda County Special Districts Association annual dinner and asked anyone interested in attending to notify Donna Fabian. Additionally, she highlighted her participation in the Patterson Ranch Trail opening celebration earlier today. Director Green informed the Board that the EPA recently released a draft risk assessment to enhance scientific understanding of PFOA and PFOS in biosolids. She also mentioned recent EPA guidance regarding PFAS in surface water. President Gambs stated that he had the honor of representing Zone 7 at the Patterson Ranch Trail ribbon-cutting ceremony. Item 12 - President Gambs stated that he would like to appoint an Ad Hoc Committee comprised of Director Benson, Director Narum, and himself to review the Zone 7 Board Policy on Conducting Business. Item 13 - Valerie Pryor highlighted key items from her report. She shared that the Chain of Lakes Wells PFAS treatment facility project is progressing well, with plans to commence operations in February. She also noted that the State Water Project allocation for Zone 7 increased from 5% to 15%. With water stored locally in Del Valle, Kern County, and the San Luis Reservoir, coupled with this allocation increase, Zone 7 is well-positioned to meet water demands this year. Item 22 - President Gambs adjourned the meeting at 7:52 p.m., honoring the firefighters battling the fires in Southern California, as requested by Director Benson.
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