Sacramento Area Sewer District Board Meeting - October 8, 2025

The Sacramento Area Sewer District Board of Directors convened on October 8, 2025, with Director Dickinson presiding as acting chair in the absence of Chair Karpinsky Costa. The meeting proceeded with a full agenda despite initial discussions regarding the timing of non-voting items to manage efficiency. Key topics included the approval of employee memorandums of understanding (MOUs), the presentation of the annual report for the Confluence Regional Partnership Program, and strategic discussions regarding future meeting consolidation.

Consent Calendar

• Items 1 & 2: Approved unanimously. Items included the Echo Road Septage Station project, which staff commended for being completed in-house with no external engineering costs.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were received for the posted agenda items nor for items not on the posted agenda. No speaker slips were filed for the public comment period.

Discussion Items

• Meeting Efficiency Strategy: Director Dickinson requested a dedicated to-do list to minimize the total number of meetings in 2026. In response, the Executive Director confirmed that the executive team meets weekly to review the long-range agenda and consolidate critical items, though financial impacts sometimes prevent rescheduling. The Board expressed a desire for a formal check-in if line items (like American River Parkway) are under-subscribed before year-end closure.
• Confluence Regional Partnership Program (FY 2024-25):
  • Awards: The program received the National Environmental Achievement Award and the Utility of the Future Today Award.
  • Financials: Total grants awarded exceeded $4.9 million across seven categories, utilizing discretionary funding from asset sales (biogas, recycled water) rather than rates.
  • American River Parkway: Received $272,000 in funding (below the $600,000 allocation). Director Dickinson requested proactive outreach to stakeholders and a mid-year check-in process before reallocating surplus funds to other categories.
  • Sewer Lifeline Rate Assistance: Enrollment increased due to coordination with SMUD and PG&E; over $2 million was distributed to low-income homeowners, renters, and shelters.
  • Economic Development: 25 grants totaling $650,000 were approved, creating 763 jobs. The program provides a 50% discount on sewer impact fees in exchange for creating at least one full-time job.
  • Public Education: A grant of over $200,000 was awarded to the Center for Land Based Learning for hands-on habitat restoration for high school students.
  • MOSAC: $1.5 million was approved for the Museum of Science and Curiosity.
• Educational Outreach & Engineering Recruitment: Director Viegas and Director Guerra criticized current exhibits at MOSAC for failing to connect students to the sewer district's technology (e.g., biogas generation, toilet systems). They expressed strong support for enhancing exhibits to inspire youth toward public engineering careers, noting that current displays focus too heavily on water quality and riparian habitat rather than the district's core infrastructure operations.
• MOU Approvals:
  • Group 2 (Administrative Employees): Approved with provisions for market-based equity adjustments over three years, a 2.5% longevity pay at 15 years of service, and 90% Kaiser medical subsidies. Positions were noted that employees currently above market rates would not receive pay cuts but would not receive COLA adjustments until the market caught up.
  • Group 3 (Supervisors): Approved as the final MOU for recognized employee organizations.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Matters: Motion passed unanimously (Directors Dickinson moved, Supervisor Diegus seconded).
• MOU with Group 2: Motion to approve passed unanimously.
• MOU with Group 3: Motion to approve passed unanimously.
• Strategic Directives: The Board directed staff to consider a quarterly status report or mid-year check-in regarding under-subscribed Confluence funds to ensure stakeholders are aware of available resources before funds roll over or close.
• Staff Recognition: Director Dickinson publicly thanked SAC Sewer staff and government relations for their effective engagement during recent contentious state mandate (CARB) proceedings regarding rate impacts.
• Adjournment: The meeting concluded with appreciation for the staff's efforts in efficiency and outreach.