Sacramento Area Sewer District Board Meeting – June 23, 2026

The Sacramento Area Sewer District Board met on June 23, 2026, to adopt the fiscal year 2026-27 budget, approve ordinance amendments, award a construction contract, discuss quorum challenges, and receive a quarterly update on the Harvest Water program. All votes were unanimous.

Consent Calendar

• Items 1–6 (consent matters) were approved unanimously (12–0). No public comments or pull requests were made.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Anthonosis Casuris (Eurostile Management) protested the proposed award of the sedimentation tanks rehabilitation contract to Pro Builders. He argued that Pro Builders' bid did not meet the mandatory experience requirements (similar magnitude and character at municipal wastewater facilities) and that the district was changing the rules after bid opening. He requested the board enforce the bid requirements as written.
• Staff and legal counsel responded that the bid was responsive; Pro Builders demonstrated the requisite experience, including work at wastewater facilities, and the protest was meritless.

Discussion Items

• Adopt Fiscal Year 2026-27 Final Budget – Presenter Christoph Dobson highlighted a $372 million operating budget and a $486 million capital budget. He addressed prior questions: new positions are funded through operating revenues, not reserves; chemical cost increases (especially liquid chlorine) drive the budget; generating chlorine on-site would increase salinity and strain permit limits. Bond revenues on the treatment side were reduced from $150 million to $100 million due to a $50+ million state grant for Harvest Water. The budget was adopted unanimously (12–0).
• Adopt Ordinance Amendments – Mike Hewitt presented amendments consolidating two district ordinances into one, updating impact fees for industrial customers, and lowering liquid waste haul rates. The public hearing had no comments. The amendments were adopted unanimously (13–0) and will take effect July 17, 2026.
• Award of Contract – Secondary Sedimentation Tanks 10 & 16 Rehabilitation – Sunny Lundy recommended awarding the contract to Pro Builders (lowest responsive bidder at $3,448,000) despite a formal protest from Eurostile Management. Staff and counsel determined the protest meritless. After public comment and staff rebuttal, the board awarded the contract unanimously (12–0; Director Viegas did not vote).
• Discussion: Quorum Issues – Christoph Dobson led a discussion on potential improvements: better communication (collecting cell phone numbers), alternate meeting locations (e.g., the Echo Water facility or Gaty community room), and governance changes (board size, appointment of alternates). Directors expressed interest in a smaller ad hoc committee to explore options but took no formal action. The board agreed to have the district engineer meet with the mayor regarding two vacant city of Sacramento seats.
• Harvest Water Quarterly Report (Jan–Mar 2026) – Mike Crooks and Joe Phil Borha presented capital program updates: pipeline construction essentially complete, pump fabrication challenges, on-farm connections in two phases (56 sites in phase one, 35 in phase two). The construction budget is $323.4 million with $250 million spent; projected completion ~$310 million due to fewer on-farm connections. Joe Phil Borha reported on outreach, ecological plan development, and grant funding: $417 million awarded from the Water Storage Investment Program (WSIP), with additional federal and state grants. The program is nearly 80% grant-funded. No action was taken.
• District Engineer Miscellaneous Matters – Christoph Dobson introduced two new managers: Pat Flaherty (Risk Manager) and Christopher Borders (Human Resources Manager). No board action.

Key Outcomes

• Budget approved (FY 2026-27) – unanimous.
• Ordinance amendments adopted – unanimous.
• Contract awarded to Pro Builders for sedimentation tank rehabilitation – unanimous (one abstention).
• Quorum discussion: No formal action; board consensus to pursue an ad hoc committee and further outreach to fill vacancies and address attendance issues.
• Next board meeting scheduled for July 2026.