Stockton water advisory group elects officers, hears update on nearly completed $248 million wastewater upgrade

The Stockton Water Advisory Group elected its chair and vice chair by unanimous roll-call votes and spent the remainder of the meeting receiving an overview of municipal utilities operations and a progress report on the Regional Wastewater Control Facility modifications project, a multi-year upgrade to the city’s main wastewater treatment plant.

The advisory group — created by City of Stockton Resolution 90279 and charged with “review[ing] and advis[ing] the Council Water Committee on current and future policy issues impacting water, wastewater and stormwater utilities” — heard from Director of Municipal Utilities Dr. Mel Lytle and senior department staff about department roles, ongoing capital projects and customer-facing programs.

At the start of the meeting members unanimously approved the previous meeting’s minutes and then held separate votes to elect a chair and a vice chair. A motion to elect Pat as chair passed on a 4-0 roll call; a subsequent motion to elect Member Harper as vice chair also passed 4-0. Movers and seconders for the motions were not specified in the meeting record.

Dr. Mel Lytle told the group the advisory body’s work should focus on water, wastewater and stormwater issues and act as a conduit to the City Council’s Water Committee. “The group shall review and advise the Council Water Committee on current and future policy issues impacting water, wastewater and stormwater utilities as directed by the council water committee,” Lytle read from the rules document included in the meeting packet.

Department introductions and programs

Municipal Utilities staff introduced their divisions and responsibilities. Travis Small, deputy director of water resources, summarized the drinking-water side of the operation and described recruitment and…