Residents press council over Metropolitan Water District representation and Delta tunnel; council sends transit letter to Metro

Public comment at the San Fernando City Council meeting focused heavily on the Metropolitan Water District and the proposed Delta Conveyance Project, with speakers urging transparency in MET’s general‑manager hiring and asking the council to press the city’s MET representative for a different approach. Multiple nonprofit and tribal representatives, including speakers from Sierra Club California, Restore the Delta, California Indian Environmental Alliance and the city of Stockton’s mayoral office, criticized the MET board chair (named in public comment as Adan/Don Ortega) for perceived support of the Delta Conveyance Project and for a hiring process for Metropolitan’s general manager that speakers described as closed and lacking Brown Act transparency. Speakers warned the project’s rising cost and property‑tax implications would harm disadvantaged communities; one Sierra Club representative said the estimated $20 billion project is now projected by some to cost “$60 to $100 billion” and would raise wholesale water rates and property taxes with little benefit locally. Several callers said Ortega is not a San Fernando resident and urged the council to seek a representative who will defend local ratepayers. Restore the Delta and other speakers said they have worked with MET on grants but are now concerned the board chair’s conduct — including legislative outreach and social‑media comments — is dividing stakeholders. Multiple speakers called for a public, open GM hiring process and for MET to prioritize local water resilience investments such as recycling, groundwater recharge and levee fixes rather than the Delta tunnel. Separately on a transit item, the council approved a letter to Metro requesting Scenario 2 planning (a two‑track Metrolink approach rather than a higher‑frequency light‑rail alignment through the city), mobility hubs at proposed stations, local pedestrian and crossing safety improvements, and exploration of an alternate stop near the Cesar Chavez memorial (the chamber and some residents had proposed extending a rail alignment to a terminus that would incorporate the memorial). Metro staff said they had not previously examined the Cesar Chavez terminus and would consider study if directed. The council voted to approve the letter; roll call was 3–1 (Council Member Joe Fajardo voted no) with one absence. City staff said they will continue outreach to MET and report back; several commenters asked the council to formally request that its MET representative comply with open‑meeting rules and to consider replacement if he does not represent San Fernando’s interests. No council action was taken on Metropolitan Water District board membership or the Delta tunnel itself; council action was limited to the transit letter to Metro.