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Santa Rosa Water reports regulatory compliance, federal appropriation request and Potter Valley updates; consent calendar approved
Summary
Director Burke updated the Board of Public Utilities on cross‑connection regulations compliance, a sewer‑lining project's federal appropriation request, and anticipated permit actions related to the Potter Valley project; the consent calendar was approved unanimously.
At a meeting of the Board of Public Utilities of the City of Santa Rosa, Director Burke reported on several Santa Rosa Water matters including regulatory compliance under new cross‑connection rules, progress on a sewer‑lining project that has a $2,293,000 federal appropriation request for phase 2 pending in the House Appropriations Committee, and anticipated filings tied to the Potter Valley license surrender and the Eel Russian Project Authority.
Burke told the board that Santa Rosa Water maintains an inventory of "over 12,000 backflow devices" under its cross‑connection control program and has had a cross‑connection control plan in place since February 2004. She said a state regulation effective July 2024 required water retailers to update and submit plans; Burke said Santa Rosa "was only required to implement a few changes to the existing plan" and that staff had incorporated the new requirements over the past two years. "We just recently received some positive feedback from the state division of drinking water on our plan," Burke said.
On capital projects, Burke updated the board on the Lawn o Trunk sewer lining project, saying staff met with Congressman Jared Huffman’s office during construction of phase 1 and that Huffman "has included a request for $2,293,000 for phase 2" and that the request advanced through the House Appropriations Committee. Burke said the appropriation is still in process and that the city is hopeful as it moves through the federal appropriations cycle.
Burke also briefed the board on developments related to the Potter Valley project and license surrender process. She said the city was "anticipating that PG&E will submit their license surrender by July 29," and that the surrender filing is expected to include a non‑project use of project lands component for a proposed new Eel‑to‑Russian facility. Burke said the Eel Russian Project Authority, a joint powers authority formed to implement and operate the proposed facility, and nine parties listed in a memorandum of understanding have been working on a water diversion agreement. She said the Eel Russian Project Authority board was scheduled to consider the agreement on Monday and that Sonoma County and Sonoma Water would consider it at their boards on Tuesday.
On procedural items, the board approved a two‑item consent calendar by roll call. Board Member Badenford moved to approve the consent calendar; Board Member Wright seconded. Roll call votes recorded in the meeting transcript were: Board Member Wright — "Aye"; Board Member DeWitt — "Yes"; Board Member Bartholow — "Aye"; Board Member Bettenfort — "Aye"; Chair Galvin — "Aye." The chair announced the consent calendar passed unanimously with Board Member Mullen and Vice Chair Anoni absent.
The board also recessed into a closed session on anticipated litigation; Assistant City Attorney Hofstetter reported after the closed session that there was "no reportable action taken in closed session." The meeting adjourned with the board recognizing the retirement of Patty Stapleton.
