SacSewer - 6/17/26

The Sacramento Area Sewer District (SacSewer) Board of Directors meeting on June 17, 2026, focused on the adoption of the annual budget, significant ordinance changes, and a long-term strategy to address ongoing board quorum issues.

Fiscal Year 2026-27 Final Budget

The Board unanimously approved (12-0) a $372 million operating budget and a  $486 million capital budget.

• Funding and Reserves: District Engineer Christoph Dobson clarified that new positions are funded through operating revenues rather than reserves.
• Bond Adjustment: Bond revenues on the treatment side were reduced from $150 million to $100 million because the district received over $50 million in state grant funding for the Harvest Water project.
• Salinity Concerns: In response to inquiries about generating chlorine on-site to save costs, staff explained that this would create waste salt streams that would increase salinity in the Delta, potentially violating the district’s permits and environmental values.

Ordinance and Contract Approvals

• Consolidated Ordinance: The Board adopted amendments to combine the previous treatment and collections ordinances into one unified SacSewer ordinance. The new rules update industrial impact fees for consistency and lower liquid waste haul rates to incentivize haulers to bring waste directly to the treatment plant.
• Sedimentation Tank Project: A $3.448 million contract was awarded for the rehabilitation of secondary sedimentation tanks 10 and 16.
• Bid Protest: The Board overruled a formal protest from Euro Style Management, which argued the low bidder lacked specific experience in municipal wastewater facilities. Staff and County Counsel maintained that the low bidder’s experience with other public agencies was equivalent in magnitude and character, making the bid responsive.

Board Quorum and Governance Challenges

The Board held an extensive discussion regarding frequent difficulties in reaching a quorum for its 17-member body.

• Structural Issues: Because the five Sacramento County Supervisors are members by default and have no alternates, their absence—combined with current vacancies in the City of Sacramento—frequently puts the board at risk of being unable to conduct business.
• Potential Solutions: Suggestions included moving to a different time slot or location, though Director Dickinson cautioned that moving meetings away from the City Council Chambers would increase costs due to declining cable television revenues.
• Ad Hoc Committee: The Board signaled support for forming an ad hoc committee to study governance changes, such as creating a tiered membership system or allowing high-level staff to serve as alternates, which would require state legislation.

Harvest Water Project Update

Staff provided a quarterly report on the Harvest Water program, which is now 80% grant-funded ($417 million in total awards).

• Construction Progress: Pipeline construction is largely complete, including street surfacing in Elk Grove and the south county area.
• Pump Delay: The main pumping station faces a schedule slip; delivery of large, complicated pumps is now expected in November 2026 due to fabrication challenges. Commissioning is targeted for early 2027 with water delivery beginning in May 2027.
• Ecological Benefits: The district is conducting "crane forage field trials" to study how inundating fields for bird habitats affects water seepage and mineral levels.

Administrative and Personnel

District Engineer Dobson introduced two new section managers: Pat Flaherty (Risk Manager), who previously served the City of Sacramento for 20 years, and Chris Borders (Human Resources Manager), a 15-year public sector veteran. The meeting was adjourned at the conclusion of these matters.