Good afternoon, welcome to the August 21st, 2025 meeting of the Sacrament of Flood Control Agency Board of Directors.

Would the clerk please call the role?

Thank you.

Director Desmond, Director Whom?

Director Kennedy.

Director Rodriguez, Director Cerna, Director Jennings, Director Kaplan, Director Plucky Baum.

Director Holloway.

Director Johns.

Director Avdis, Director Baines, and Director Stevens.

Here we do have a sorry counting.

Nine member quorum.

Eight member quorum.

Great.

Will you join me in the Pledge of Allegiance?

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

This meeting of SAFCA is being broadcast live at Metro14Live.gov and will be re-aired on Metro Cable Channel 14 on Saturday, August 23rd at 2 p.m.

Members of the audience who would like to address the board should fill out a speaker form and bring it to me.

When addressing the board, please identify yourself for the record and speak directly into the microphone, and your comments will be limited to three minutes.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And we have one speaker slip for speakers off agenda, and that's Lisa Sanchez.

Okay, hello everybody.

My name is Lisa, and I am coming here.

I'm sure you recognize me from some of the things that I do around here.

So again, thank you for everything that you do as well.

Um I wanted to come and just give an update with two items that I would like to bring to your attention.

First is going to be our interagency cleanup that we are doing this year, as we have done for many years prior, which will be held this year at Steelhead Creek.

Uh Dr.

Roland Brady has solidified those dates from uh September 26th to October 2nd.

Again, that's seven days, and that'll include multiple agencies to bring equipment out.

We as volunteers will with River City Waterway Alliance will be working to remove the trash and debris that's in the Creek Channel in a certain section that's already been identified, and then having the equipment haul the debris away.

The reason why I wanted to let everybody here know is that the dates are going to be already solidified that they're gonna happen, and if there is any way, shape or form to have other agencies come and be involved with the cost of the debris removal.

Um I think last year we removed over a hundred thousand pounds of debris in one little area within that seven-day stretch.

So that's just a drop in the bucket of what's really there.

But the other thing I wanted to discuss is to hopefully rejuvenate some interest or in the past about um invasive species removal with Safca.

I have read online that there was a number of projects of invasive species red sesvania that had been done back in 2008.

There was something in 2014-15.

There was something to do with the budget item that helped with removal of the red sesbania, um, mainly Steelhug Creek, because that is the Salmoned channel that helps them get up to Dry Creek for spawning.

So that is our number one priority, but also Dry Creek.

Um, sorry, Robla Creek is a big one.

Uh it is completely lined like a grove of red sesbania.

Robla Creek isn't like, you know, too big of a deal, but because those seeds float down, and I think they are really um like the hub of everything downstream from that, it's just causing chaos everything.

So we got to start somewhere, and we're hoping to reinvigorate the talks about invasive species removal, as we have with trash in certain areas.

We have reduced our um trash level so we can start concentrating on invasive species, which is the goal to you know make all of our waterways healthy and amazing again, and that's part of that.

So again, the project of inviting you all to maybe uh more projects for that.

So thank you so much.

I appreciate all of your work and uh have a great day.

Thank you.

Don't go away.

Director Abdes.

Yeah, thanks.

I want to extend my appreciation for you uh you coming today and speaking.

I um as a uh someone who lives right adjacent to Steelcad Creek.

I have a firsthand look every day at the um extent of the invasive species, but also the extent of trash, and as a representative of our RD1000, I want to extend our continuing commitment to partner with you folks for the cleanups, and we'll appreciate perhaps some um a conversation after this meeting.

I'd love to chat with you about some thoughts I have on that end.

So, yes, thank you.

And water primrose, not just Susbania.

Just saying, and and uh if we go to your website, can we get more specific information uh on the cleanups as far as exactly location?

Is there a a breakdown of what agencies are doing what days, or is there anything any of that information?

Oh, so for the interagency cleanup specifically.

Um we have the events up there for people volunteers, but we haven't made a point to identify everyone yet.

I'll talk to Roland and David about that so we can put that up there or send you the information to know.

Um they know more about the the in the inside details about that than I do specifically.

Um, but we would again love to have more involvement.

There's probably some members up here, myself included, that would like to participate.

So, oh great.

The more specific information you can send us, that'd be great.

Absolutely, you got it.

All right, thanks.

Thanks, Lisa.

Okay, next item, please.

Our next item is closed session, and directors will recess to hearing room two.

Thank you, then we are in recess.

We'll call this meeting of the secondary of flood control agency board back to order.

Would the clerk please call the role to re-establish forum?

Thank you, Director Desmond, Director Whom, Director Kennedy, Director Rodriguez, sir, Director Cerna, Director Jennings, Director Kaplan, Director Pleckybaum, Director Holloway, Director Johns, Director Avdes, Director Baines, Director Stevens, we do have a tin member quorum.

Thank you.

Uh Council, is there anything to report out of close session?

Nothing reported this time.

Thank you.

Next item.

Our next item are consent matters and items one through eight are in order.

Chair Kennedy, before we move on with consent on item number six, the clerk has provided a red line for the amendment that we're requesting for that item.

Uh 6A for that resolution.

We're asking that it be five million rather than 500,000.

Would you like to explain the difference?

Yeah, that's a little uh, it's only a couple of quarter of my friends, you know.

So the issue is that the PGE has a gas line that is needing to be relocated.

It's a very large gas line, and the original discussion for this agreement was that SafeCo would re uhimburse the Corps of Engineers for their contractors' work, and that PGE would ultimately be responsible and then reimburse SAFCA.

Initial thoughts was that it would only be excavation and it would be limited to something around under 500,000.

Unfortunately, the options that have been identified by the core and the contractor have a range much higher than that, up to about four and a half million.

And when we're talking about deep uh large gas lines, we want to make sure we have a little bit of room.

So we're asking for 500.

Oh, sorry, five million.

And ultimately, the intent is that PGE will reimburse Safeco once the project is done.

Okay, when you say ultimately the intent, what's that mean?

Well, the intent is that we will collect.

Okay.

Let's be crystal clear.

All right, thank you.

Any questions?

Okay, I do have a speaker's slip on item number three, Richard Cunha.

And Mr.

Chair, I actually did have a comment actually, just so happens on item three as well.

So when you have a chance, thank you.

We're okay.

Yes, sir.

Go ahead.

Good afternoon.

My name is uh Richard Cunha, and I am here with regard to item three, the request for a $500,000 addition to the law firm shoot et al.

Um I am here on behalf of Kenneth Kayoka, Sandra K.

Kaioka Cunha, and family property owners along East Levy Road.

I've been dealing with Safka Army Corps and various agencies since 2020, uh, with regard to these properties along East Levy Road.

I've met and walked the properties uh with engineers, drainage, and septic specialists staking people three or four times.

We've spent thousands of dollars uh on council to protect our property and have attempted to cooperate um by meeting and responding with Safka and other of the uh employees and agents of SAFCA, and also with SHUT, but very little.

An example of a lack of communication is uh May 2024, we agreed with Shoot et al.

For a proposed order granting immediate possession of one of our popular uh properties.

However, it was stipulated that no entry onto the property because of our tenants and cattle were to be made without 30-day notice.

January 2025, I get a phone call that one of the tenants uh had observed on three different days, people in working on a well or waterway of some sort, left a phone number.

Uh I called it three times, left voicemail messages, and never got a response.

I told Mr.

Manning, who represents us of this occurrence, he uh informed Shoot, and to this date, I don't believe we've had a response.

Since then until uh June 3rd of this year, we've had very little communication with the shoot law firm except for response our response to court filings for hearings, witnesses, and uh a settlement conference, which on June 3rd took place.

Unfortunately, at that conference, the law firm representing SAFCA shoot uh used appraisals from a 2022 appraisal and comp properties, all except one, were clearly out of the county and miles away.

Unfortunately, there was no progress made.

Now, a perfect example is why I'm here today.

After this settlement conference went, which went nowhere, uh, Mr.

Manning or our counsel on June 11th sent the Shoot law firm further communications and documents for further settlement discussions.

To this day, two and a half months later, the drop box link has not been opened, nor has counsel responded by an email.

We and other property owners feel unfairly treated.

It's ironic the property owners are assessed to pay Safka.

Safka hires counsels, but it's certainly not in our best interest.

I'm very concerned, and I believe you should be as well by the lack of communication, cooperation, realistic input, fairness, and good faith discussions.

It's not acceptable to us, and continues to cost us, and it's not a manner in which we or any property owner and or member of the public should be treated.

I believe this board needs to take these matters in hand and address these issues.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Cunha.

Any questions?

Director Desmond.

Uh, thank you, Mr.

Chair.

No, I I for you, sir.

I've got a question about the item.

Um, I don't know if for this would be for counsel or for Jason.

Is is this is this firm the exclusive counsel we use to represent us for eminent domain matters?

It is not.

Uh in fact, we have multiple um contracts.

Generally in the Thomas, because the issues are the same often in that basin.

We have been using the same firm to uh litigate um those condemnation efforts.

But for instance, in the pocket, we have condemnation efforts going forward with Downey Brand and Internet.

And then the other, and we've brought this has probably been in a lot of contracts, and it's I haven't noticed it before, but I was just looking at the the statement and the on the um board item under measures evaluation.

This is a discrete action and will not be subject to long-term evaluation to measure success.

Now, now I understand these would be inherently legal matters we would discuss in close session, but what does that mean exactly?

You know, it is sort of a uh um standard language we used often in times when it's uh a contract matter like this.

Um so I it doesn't necessarily have any specific meaning um other than you know individual amendments aren't looked at for success.

The general status of the firm and our our contentment with their efforts, of course, are reviewed um in real time and continuously.

Okay, I just want to make sure that that doesn't mean that this board still doesn't reserve the right to to evaluate their performance of this contract or any other contractor.

Okay, one one thing to clarify too in the comment.

Um, you know, this amendment it does not add any money to the contract.

This there have been previous amendments that added additional funds to the contract.

This amendment in particular is expanding the scope of the contract to account for public contracting.

Our public contracting um outside council has retired and is no longer in practice.

So we've used the existing contract and expanded the scope because Shue Mahali also does public contracting.

So it still has the same not to the exceed.

Correct.

Okay.

All right, any other questions?

Second.

Okay, we have a motion and a second on consent.

All those in favor?

Opposed?

Abstain.

Thank you.

Next item.

And our next item is the executive director's report.

Thank you for coming in, Mr.

Cunha.

If I may, I would say before Dickie leave, and uh it's nice to see you, Dick.

Please give my regards to your family.

We've been neighbors a long time.

But obviously, Dick raised some issues that you know certainly um I think merit a follow-up discussion.

Uh certainly.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Jason Campbell, Deputy, no man, Floyd and slip there.

Executive director.

A little bit of activity on the federal side as far as appointments as well as change of command.

Uh Mr.

Adam Tell was uh approved uh, I'm sorry, confirmed with the Senate uh back in August, early August, uh, for Assistant Secretary of the Army.

He comes from uh the Senate Haggerty's office where he was the chief of staff, and prior to that he worked in the White House for uh the period of 2019 to 2021.

We've also seen a new general come in to the command of the Pacific South Pacific Division, which is now located in the 1325 J Street facility.

Uh the executive staff is there.

So General Lloyd will be the first one to be occupying that space.

But General Lloyd comes from the South Pacific Division where he was the commander of that division, and very big uh portfolio, as you can see.

Uh General Lloyd is uh happily uh getting moved in and will be here for uh probably three years.

Colonel Robert McTeague uh McTye, sorry, is the new commander for the Sacramento District.

Mr.

McTye also is coming from the North Atlantic Division where he was the deputy commander.

Uh he is occupying the space, of course, and very much uh I think uh getting engaged and working on a number of things with his teams and getting up to speed on the many many projects that they have.

Uh he was also in the field with us.

Uh, a couple of slides I'll show you.

Uh, looking at the common features project at specifically at the Sacramento where we're very happy to have these new faces, but we really are uh in the midst of many, many project activities and some issues, and we'll be working really closely with all of them.

California Senate Bill number 639 is still active.

Uh, unfortunately, it was also put on suspense yesterday.

Uh hopefully it will uh hit the suspense calendar next week and or before the 29th, and ultimately get to the assembly floor and make its way uh over to the governor's desk.

Again, the deadline is September 18th.

So we're hopeful that that does move forward.

Another general visited as well.

So again, uh Major General Kimberly Colleton, who is the deputy chief of engineers for the Army Corps of Engineers and headquarters.

She visited the projects.

She was here for gonna be here for some meetings and a change of command, but she also wanted to make sure that we have some issues that are taking place with some work that's at the Sacramento Weir on one of the abutments.

They wanted to show that they were very much engaged in wanting to make sure that we understood that they are going to make this right and get things fixed.

Unfortunately, there's going to be a little bit of a slip in schedule on the weir itself, but if you go out there again, I think I've mentioned this last month as well.

Project is moving very well.

The structures that are going on out there are massive, and the form work and the work that they're doing is pretty impressive.

Our partners in the field, the granite construction and others are doing a great job.

Continuing on the American River, this is the field trip.

You can see on the left, the uh team is up at the top of that abutment and looking to see what kind of activity is happening with the uh some of the concrete moving, which is not necessarily what we like to see, especially on an abutment.

And then on the picture on the right, you can also see everybody's looking up at the same thing just from a different perspective.

Very interesting discussion.

Again, the crew that was out there was pretty robust from headquarters from division from the district uh from congressional offices and uh of course state staff and ourselves.

This is just the uh the rest of that structure that's being uh uh constructed just south of that abutment.

You can see the lot of big heavy concrete, lots of fun work to look at.

Uh, you go out there on the uh old levee road, you'll see that it's really quite an impressive site.

So, again, just wanted to give a quick update, and we have a lot of new faces here, and it's it seems to be that that's happening everywhere, and we're happy, including me.

Happy to uh make sure that we're keeping things moving forward.

Any questions?

Any questions?

I'll just say um if if there is any board member you you remind me that there are some newer board members.

If there's any board members who haven't had an opportunity to go look at the work that's being done in YOLO, and in particular, it's it'll blow you away.

Um, I guess if you're a flood nerd, and uh, and also you know, some of the other work that's being done on the American River.

If you haven't had an opportunity, contact staff because uh it's very helpful to get your eyes on it and get a tour if you have an opportunity.

So, thank you.

All right, thank you, sir.

That takes us to the end of our agenda.

Our next meeting is the say September 18th.

We are adjourned.