Board introduces 50‑year franchises for California American Water and Golden State Water; adoption continued to Nov. 4
October 30, 2025 | Sacramento County, California
This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »
Carrie Schmidt of the Department of Water Resources said both investor‑owned utilities requested superseding franchise ordinances covering their county service areas. Terms described by staff included a 2% payment to the county based on gross annual receipts, a requirement to keep a $10,000 corporate surety bond on file with the clerk, and a 50‑year franchise term. Several supervisors asked whether a 50‑year term was typical; staff replied franchise terms vary by municipality and prior county franchises had used 50‑year terms.
The board introduced the ordinances at the public hearing and waived full reading; adoption was continued to the Nov. 4 board meeting. No public speakers requested to comment during the hearing.
View full meeting
This article is based on a recent meeting—watch the full video and explore the complete transcript for deeper insights into the discussion.
View full meetingSponsors
Proudly supported by sponsors who keep California articles free in 2025
