County of Monterey  
Board of Supervisors Chambers  
168 W. Alisal St, 1st Floor  
Salinas, Ca 93901  
Meeting Minutes  
Tuesday, January 21, 2025  
12:00 PM  
person at: 1441 Schilling Place, Salinas CA - Cayenne Room  
Water Resources Agency Board of Directors  
Mike LeBarre, Chair  
Matt Simis, Vice Chair  
Mark Gonzalez  
Deidre Sullivan  
Ken Ekelund  
Mike Scattini  
Jason Smith  
John Baillie  
Jon Conatser  
Participation in meetings:  
You may attend the Board of Directors meeting through the following methods:  
1. You may attend in person  
2. Attend via Zoom (info below) or observe the live stream of the Board of Directors meetings  
3. For ZOOM participation please join by computer audio at:  
OR to participate by phone call any of these numbers below:  
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Enter this Meeting ID number: 997 6907 9850 when prompted. Please note there is no  
Participant Code, you will just press # again after the recording prompts you.  
You will be placed in the meeting as an attendee; when you are ready to make a public  
comment if joined by computer audio please Raise your Hand; and by phone please push *9  
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PLEASE NOTE: IF ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT IN PERSON, PUBLIC  
PARTICIPATION BY ZOOM IS FOR CONVENIENCE ONLY AND IS NOT REQUIRED  
BY LAW. IF THE ZOOM FEED IS LOST FOR ANY REASON, THE BOARD OF  
DIRECTORS MEETING MAY BE PAUSED WHILE A FIX IS ATTEMPTED BUT THE  
MEETING MAY CONTINUE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRPERSON.  
4. If you choose not to attend the Board of Directors meeting but wish to make a comment on  
a specific agenda item, please submit your comment via email by 5:00 p.m. on the Friday  
before the meeting.. Please submit your comment to the Secretary of the Board at  
mailto:WRApubliccomment@countyofmonterey.gov In an effort to assist the Secretary in  
identifying the agenda item relating to your public comment please indicate in the Subject  
Line, the meeting body (i.e. Board of Directors Agenda) and item number (i.e. Item No. 10).  
Your comment will be placed into the record at the Board meeting.  
Participacion en Reuniones:  
Puede asistir a la reunion de la Junta Directiva a traves de los siguientes metodos:  
1. Podar asistir personalmente a la reunion; o,  
2. Asistir por Zoom (informacion a continuacion), que observe la transmisión de la reunión de  
3. Para participar for ZOOM, por favor únase for audio de computadora por:  
O para participar for teléfono, llame a culquiera de los números a continuación:  
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)  
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)  
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)  
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)  
+1 253 215 8782 US  
+1 301 715 8592 US  
Cuando se le solicite, ingrese este número de reunión: 997 6907 9850. Por favor tenga en  
cuenta que no hay código de participante, simplemente presione # nuevamente después de  
que la grabación se lo indique.  
Se le colocará en la reunion como asistente; cuando deseé hacer un comentario público si  
esta unido por la computadora utilize la opción de levantar la mano en el chat de la pantalla; o  
por teléfono presione *9 en su teclado.  
TENGA EN CUENTA: SI TODOS LOS MIEMBROS DE LA JUNTA ESTÁN  
PRESENTES EN PERSONA, LA PARTICIPACIÓN PÚBLICA DE ZOOM ES SOLO POR  
CONVENIENCIA Y NO ES REQUERIDA POR LA LEY. SI EL FEED DE ZOOM SE  
PIERDE POR CUALQUIER MOTIVO, LA REUNIÓN DE LA JUNTA DIRECTIVA  
PUEDE PAUSARSE MIENTRAS SE INTENTA UNA SOLUCIÓN, PERO LA REUNIÓN  
PUEDE CONTINUAR A DISCRECIÓN DEL PRESIDENTE.  
4. Si prefiere no asistir a la reunión de la Junta Directiva pero desea hacer un comentario  
sobre algún tema específico de la agenda, por favor envie su comentario por correo  
electrónico antes de las 5:00 p.m. el Viernes antes de la reunion.. Envie su comentario al  
Secretario de la junta al correo electronico WRApubliccomment@countyofmonterey.gov  
mailto:WRApubliccomment@countyofmonterey.gov Para ayudar al Secretario a idenficar el  
artículo de la agenda relacionado con su comentario, por favor indique en la linea de asunto  
del correo electronico el cuerpo de la reunion (es decir, la Agenda de la Junta Directiva) y el  
número de artículo (es decir, el Artículo No. 10). Su comentario se colocará en el registro de  
la reunion de esta Junta.  
NOTE: All agenda titles related to numbered agenda items are live web links. Click on the  
title to be directed to corresponding Board Report.  
PUBLIC COMMENT: Members of the public may address comments to the Board  
concerning each agenda item. The timing of public comment shall be at the discretion of the  
Chair.  
THE BOARD RECESSES FOR CLOSED SESSION AGENDA ITEMS: Closed Session  
may be held at the conclusion of the Board's Agenda, or at any other time during the course  
of the meeting, before or after the scheduled time, announced by the Chairperson of the  
Board. The public may comment on Closed Session items prior to the Board's recess to  
Closed Session.  
Call to Order at 12:00 P.M.  
The meeting was called to order at 12:00 p.m.  
Roll Call  
Present: Mike LeBarre, Matt Simis, Mark Gonzalez, Deidre Sullivan, Ken Ekelund, Mike Scattini  
(arrived at 1:08 p.m.), Jason Smith, John Baillie.  
Absent: None.  
Public Comments on Closed Session Items  
None.  
1.  
Closed Session under Government Code section 54950, relating to the following items:  
a. Pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9(d)(2) and (d)(4), the Board will confer with legal  
counsel regarding one matter of significant exposure to litigation and the potential initiation of litigation.  
b. Pursuant to Government Code section 54957(b)(1), the Board will provide a performance evaluation  
for the General Manager.  
c. Pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9(d)(1), the Board will confer with legal counsel  
regarding existing litigation: California-American Water Company, et al. v. Marina Coast Water  
District, et al., San Francisco County Superior Court Case No. CGC-15-546632.  
Note: Continuance of Closed Session to be held at the conclusion of the Board's Regular  
Agenda, or at any other time during the course of the meeting announced by the Chairperson of  
the Board. The public may comment on Closed Session items prior to the Board's recess to  
Closed Session.  
Recess to Closed Session  
The Board of Directors recessed to Closed Session at 12:01 p.m.  
Reconvene Meeting at 1:00 P.M.  
The meeting reconvened at 1:01 p.m.  
Pledge of Allegiance  
ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS BY CLERK: The Clerk of the Board will announce  
agenda corrections and proposed additions, which may acted on by the Board as provided in  
Sections 54954.2 of the California Government Code.  
Public Comment  
Bill Lipe.  
Presentations  
Board of Directors Comments: John Baillie  
Staff Comments: Paul Sciuto, Monterey One Water General Manager  
Public Comments: Bill Lipe  
2.  
3.  
Monterey One Water and Water Resources Agency Update of Reconciliation Process. (Presenting:  
Ara Azhderian and Paul Sciuto)  
Appointments  
Appoint chairs for the committees of the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of  
Directors.  
The Board of Director Chair appointed the 2025 Committee Chairs:Basin Management Advisory:  
Matt Simis; Finance: Director John Baillie; Personnel and Administration: Director Mark  
Gonzalez; Planning: Director Deidre Sullivan; Reservoir Operations Advisory: Ken Ekelund.  
Director Comments: None  
Staff Comments: None  
Public Comments: Bill Lipe  
Public Comment  
Consent Calendar  
Upon Motion by Director Jason Smith and Second by Deidre Sullivan the Board approved the  
Consent Calendar.  
Ayes: Mike LeBarre, Matt Simis, Mark Gonzalez, Deidre Sullivan, Ken Ekelund, Mike Scattini,  
Jason Smith,  
John Baillie.  
Noes: None.  
Absent: None  
Abstained: None.  
Recused: None.  
Board of Director Comments: None.  
Public Comments: None.  
4.  
Approve the Action Minutes of December 16, 2024.  
Attachments:  
5.  
Approve an Amendment to the Conflict of Interest Code for the Monterey County Water Resources  
Agency. (Staff: Ara Azhderian)  
Attachments:  
6.  
Adopt the 2025 Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Directors and Committees  
Meeting Calendar. (Staff: Eva Gonzales)  
Attachments:  
Action Items  
7.  
Consider authorizing the General Manager to enter into a Subgrant Agreement with the Salinas Valley  
Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency to receive funding for services in support of Sustainable  
Groundwater Management Round 2 Implementation Grants #4600015881 (SVBGSA) and  
#4600015624 (MCWDGSA), in the amount not to exceed $250,000; and authorize the General  
Manager to execute up to two no-cost amendments to the Subgrant Agreement. (Staff Presenting: Amy  
Woodrow)  
Attachments:  
Upon Motion by Director John Baillie, and Second by Director Mark Gonzalez authorized the  
General Manager to enter into a Subgrant Agreement with the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater  
Sustainability Agency to receive funding for services in support of Sustainable Groundwater  
Management Round 2 Implementation Grants #4600015881 (SVBGSA) and #4600015624  
(MCWDGSA), in the amount not to exceed $250,000; and authorize the General Manager to  
execute up to two no-cost amendments to the Subgrant Agreement.  
Ayes: Mike LeBarre, Matt Simis, Mark Gonzalez, Deidre Sullivan, Ken Ekelund, Mike Scattini,  
Jason Smith,  
John Baillie.  
Noes: None.  
Absent: None  
Abstained: None.  
Board of Directors Comments: None  
Public Comment: Bill Lipe, Thomas Virsik  
Key Information and Calendar of Events  
8.  
January, February and March 2025 Calendars.  
Attachments:  
Key Information and Calendar of Events Clerk updated time change for Finance Committee at 8:  
30 a.m. and Personnel and Administration at 10:00 a.m held on the first Friday of the month.  
General Manager's Report  
Directors Comments: Mike LeBarre, Mark Gonzalez.  
Staff Comments: None  
Public Comments: Bill Lipe  
9.  
·
·
·
·
·
·
Personnel  
Dam Safety Funding  
Monterey Peninsula Water Management District PWMx Proposed Water Allocation  
Association of California Water Agencies  
Regulatory/Legislative Activities  
Other  
Attachments:  
Committee Reports  
10.  
Committee Agenda’s and Cancellation Notices for December 2024 and January 2025:  
·
·
·
·
·
·
Water Resources Agency Reservoir Operations Advisory Committee Agenda  
Joint Water Resources/Board of Supervisors Leadership Committee Reschedule Notice  
Water Resources Agency Basin Management Advisory Committee Agenda  
Water Resources Agency Planning Committee Agenda  
Water Resources Personnel and Administration Committee Cancellation Notice  
Water Resources Agency Finance Committee Agenda  
Attachments:  
Information Items  
11.  
12.  
Well Permit Application Activities Update. (Staff: Guillermo Diaz-Moreno)  
Attachments:  
Reservoir Storage & Release Update. (Staff: Peter Kwiek)  
Attachments:  
Board of Directors Comments  
John Baillie, Ken Ekelund, Mark Gonzalez, Matt Simis, Mike LeBarre, Jason Smith.  
Adjournment  
The meeting adjourned at 2:02 p.m.