Board approves several operational items: landfill gate-fee reductions, consultant contract, IHSS payroll schedule and retirement rates; votes at a glance

At its Oct. 7 meeting the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors approved multiple county operational and administrative items. Below are the outcomes, brief context and recorded vote information where provided.

Votes at a glance

1) Solid waste presort gate-fee rate reductions (Public Works) - Action: The board conducted a public hearing and adopted staff recommendations to reduce presort gate-fee rates at county-owned solid waste facilities and to establish new presort rates at Foothill Landfill and Lovelace Transfer Station. - Key details: Proposed presort rate of $40.64/ton at Foothill and North County Landfills (12% decrease at Foothill, 18% at North County); Lovelace Transfer Station presort rate reduced to $67.03/ton (12% decrease). Staff said returning operations in-house and other changes yield approximately $2,400,000 in annual savings that enable lower gate fees; haulers are required to pass savings to residential customers where contracts specify. - Vote: Motion passed unanimously, 5-0.

2) Contract: MRPE Inc. – Acampo area drainage and innovation project (Flood Control & Water Conservation District) - Action: The San Joaquin Flood Control and Water Conservation District (board acting in district capacity) approved a consulting services agreement with MRPE, Inc., not to exceed $1,693,375, for the Acampo Area Drainage and Innovation Project Phase 2B (Fourth District). - Vote: Motion passed 5-0.

3) IHSS Public Authority retroactive salary schedule (IHSS Public Authority) - Action: The board, acting as the IHSS Public Authority governing board, approved retroactive adoption of the IHSS Public Authority salary schedule effective July 14, 2025, as required for CalPERS reporting. - Vote: Motion passed 5-0.

4) Camp Hope discretionary funds (Family Justice Center Foundation; Consent item pulled) - Action: The board approved $4,000 from each supervisorial district discretionary fund for a total of $20,000 to the San Joaquin County Family Justice Center Foundation in support of Camp Hope, a trauma-based youth camp for children who have experienced domestic violence. - Context: County staff and Family Justice Center Foundation representatives said the funds will support Camp Hope participation and follow-up services; the foundation described follow-up and regional partnerships. - Vote: Approved as part of consent (pulled for brief remarks), vote on consent passed unanimously earlier in the meeting.

5) Retirement contribution rates (San Joaquin County Employees' Retirement Association – SJCERRA) - Action: The board adopted the county retirement contribution rates for calendar year 2026 based on the SJCERRA actuarial valuation. SJCERRA reported a 2024 actuarial return above assumptions, an improved funded ratio (about 76.5% as of the 2024 actuarial valuation) and reported assets above $5 billion in 2025; trustees and staff described continued progress toward full funding. - Vote: Motion passed 5-0.

Process and context notes - Public hearings: The solid-waste fee change followed a public hearing; staff emphasized that operational savings from bringing Foothill operations in-house enabled the fee reductions. - Consent calendar: The Camp Hope funding came from discretionary funds (one-time allocations from each supervisorial district) and was presented by Family Justice Center representatives. - Financial context: SJCERRA said the county’s additional employer contributions over recent years accelerated improvements in funded status and that actuarial and investment results are reducing future contribution pressure.

Next steps - Implementation: Public works will implement reduced gate fees and update facility rate schedules; Flood Control staff will execute the MRPE agreement; IHSS, Flood Control and the Family Justice Center Foundation will proceed with contract and program implementation under the approved motions.

Ending

Board actions Oct. 7 included several operational cost and personnel schedule approvals and a multi-million-dollar contract for drainage work. Where votes were unanimous, staff said implementation would proceed under the terms approved; where items had future steps (contracts, rate changes), staff identified follow-up tasks and reporting responsibilities.