The Board of Directors of the San Benito County Water District convened in special session at 5:00 p.m. at 30 Mansfield Road, Hollister, CA. All members of the Board of Directors were present, together with District Manager/Engineer John S. Gregg, District Counsel David E. Pipal and Administrative Services Officer Maria E. Alfaro. President Ken Perry presided.
a. Pledge
of Allegiance to the Flag.
President Perry called the meeting to order at 5:06 p.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
AGENDA ITEMS
It was decided to commence the meeting with Item no. 2.
2. Review Existing, Recent and Proposed Legislation related to the District.
District Counsel Dave Pipal discussed
with the Board of Directors the recent legislation. Mr. Pipal discussed AB 902
regarding subcontractor law, AB 76 which is about employee harassment, SB 1272
(Ortiz) which was targeted to Special Districts regarding the following: reimbursement of expenses, ethics and ethics
training, auditing of the District every year, compensation and benefits. Discussion was had by the Board of Directors
about the Brown Act and board member conduct per the District Code. Mr. Pipal provided a copy of ACWA’s Guidelines for Conduct and recommended that the
Board consider adopting the guidelines in the future.
1. Review and Discuss Groundwater Management Plan Update PEIR
District
Manager/Engineer John S. Gregg noted to the Board of Directors that the Water
Resources Association adopted Resolution 2002-02 on July 17, 2002. The Resolution designated the San Benito
County Water District as the lead agency for the preparation of the Groundwater
Management Plan Update PEIR. The final
document has been circulated and the next formal action will be at a Public
Hearing to be held on June 9, 2004, at City Hall. Mr. Gregg noted that the matter would be
placed on the District’s agenda in June for certification of the document.
Mr. Gregg introduced Nora Monette, Senior Project Manager of David Powers and
Associates. Ms. Monette
noted the the Water Resources Association hired their
agency to assist in the preparation of the EIR of the Groundwater Management
Plan Update. Ms. Monette
noted that the purpose of the document was to provide information to the public
and to public agencies. Ms. Monette noted that the Draft EIR was circulated in August
of 2003, that comments were received.
Ms. Monette discussed with the Board the
organization of the DFEIR and noted that Section 7 outlines what mitigation
measures will assist agencies looking at projects to avoid significant impacts.
District Manager/Engineer
John S. Gregg noted that as written the plan contains specific objectives and
will serve the purpose of the given member agencies and that the agencies will
in good faith adopt the Groundwater Management Plan Update within 180 after the
lead agency approval. Ms. Monette noted to the Board that this was a considerable
accomplishment.
There being no further
business, upon motion duly made and seconded, the meeting was adjourned at 6:16
p.m.
Ken Perry, President
Maria E. Alfaro
Administrative
Services Officer