County of Monterey  
Saffron Room  
1441 Schilling Place  
Salinas Ca. 93901  
Meeting Minutes - Final  
Saffron Room  
1441 Schilling Place, Salinas, Ca. 93901  
Monday, June 15, 2026  
12:00 PM  
Water Resources Agency Board of Directors  
Matt Simis – Chair  
Jason Smith – Vice-Chair  
Mike LeBarre  
Mark Gonzalez  
Deidre Sullivan  
Ken Ekelund  
Mike Scattini  
John Baillie  
Jon Conatser  
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Call to Order at 12:00 P.M.  
The Meeting was called to order at 12:01pm.  
Roll Call  
Present: Matt Simis, Jason Smith, Mark Gonzalez, Deidre Sullivan, Ken Ekelund,  
John Baillie, Jon Conatser, Mike LeBarre  
Absent: Mike Scattini  
Public Comments on Closed Session Items  
None  
Recess to Closed Session  
The Board recessed to Closed Sessions.  
Closed Session  
Closed Session under Government Code section 54950, relating to the following items:  
a. Pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9(d)(1), the Board will confer with legal counsel  
regarding existing litigation:  
1.  
i. Mario Gonzalez, et al. v. State of California, et al., Monterey County Superior Court  
Case No. 23CV004194 (as lead coordinated case, including subordinate Monterey County cases:  
24CV000215; 24CV000421; 24CVOOO428; 24CV000904; 24CV001269; 25CV004183; and  
Santa Cruz case: 23CV03022)  
b. Pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9(d)(4), the Board of Directors will confer with legal  
counsel regarding potential initiation of litigation.  
Reconvene Meeting at 1:00 P.M.  
The Board Reconvened at 1:03pm.  
Roll Call -Present: Matt Simis, Jason Smith, Mike Scattini, Mark Gonzalez, Deidre  
Sullivan, Jon Conatser, Ken Ekelund, John Baillie, Mike LeBarre  
Absent: None  
Pledge of Allegiance  
Additions and Corrections by Clerk: The Clerk of the Board will announce agenda corrections and  
proposed additions, which may be acted on by the Board as provided in Sections 54954.2 of the  
California Government Code.  
None  
Public Comment  
None  
Presentations  
Director Comments: Mike Scattini, Mike LeBarre, Jason Smith  
Public Comments: None  
Review of the Water Year 2025 Groundwater Extraction Summary Report (Staff: Amy Woodrow)  
Consent Calendar  
Approve the Action Minutes of the Board of Directors meeting held on May 18, 2026.  
2.  
3.  
Approve the Action Minutes of the Special Joint Board of Directors meeting held on May 18, 2026  
Upon Motion by Director Ken Ekelund, and Seconded by Jason Smith the  
board approved the Consent Calendar Draft Meeting Minutes May 18, 2026,  
and Items #4 and #5.  
Ayes: Ken Ekelund, Jason Smith, Matt Simis, Mike Scattini, Deidre Sullivan,  
Jon Conatser, Mark Gonzalez, John Baillie, Mike LeBarre  
Noes: None  
Absent: None  
Item #3 Draft Special Meeting Minutes May 18, 2026 was pulled by Director  
Baillie.  
Ayes: Matt Simis, Jason Smith, Mark Gonzalez, Ken Ekelund, Mike Scattini,  
Mike LeBarre  
Noes; None  
Absent: None  
Abstained: John Baillie, Jon Conatser, Deidre Sullivan  
Approve Amendment No. 3 to the Agreement for Services with ICF Jones & Stokes, Inc. to include  
their recent name change to ICF Environmental, extend the term of the agreement for three years to  
June 30, 2029; and Authorize the General Manager to execute Amendment No. 3.  
4.  
5.  
Approve Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement for Services with The Don Chapin Company, Inc., for  
as-needed and emergency CSIP pipeline and equipment repairs, to extend the term length to July 1st  
2028, to add a dollar increase of $250,000 for a total contract amount not to exceed $350,000; and  
authorize the General Manager to execute Amendment No. 1.  
Scheduled Items  
Authorize the General Manager to execute a professional services agreement between Worthington  
6.  
Products Inc., and Monterey County Water Resources Agency for design, procurement, and  
installation of a Tuffboom Boat Barrier Buoy system for San Antonio Reservoir and additional  
Tuffboom parts for Nacimiento Reservoir in the amount of $1,180,147; and approve and authorize  
the General Manager to execute up to three future contract change orders that do not exceed 20%  
($236,029) of the original agreement, for a total contract amount not to exceed amount of  
$1,416,176.  
Upon Motion of Director Jason Smith and Seconded by Mark Gonzalez the  
Board approved a profession agreement between Worthington Products inc,.  
and Monterey County Water Resources Agency for design, procurement, and  
installation of a Tuffboom Boat Barrier Buoy system for San Antonio  
Reservoir and additional Tuffboom parts for Nacimiento Reservoir in in the  
amount of $1,180,147;and approve and authorize the General Manager to  
execute up to three future contract change orders that do not exceed 20%.  
Ayes: Jason Smith, Matt Simis, Mark Gonzalez, Jon Conatser, Deidre  
Sullivan, Mike LeBarre, John Baillie, Mike Scattini, Ken Ekelund  
Noes: None  
Absent: None  
Director Comments: Jason Smith, Mark Gonzalez, John Baillie  
Public Comments: None  
Consider approving Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement for Services with Phenix Environmental  
Planning., for environmental support services for the Nacimiento Plunge Pool Project, to add a dollar  
increase of $75,000 for a total contract amount not to exceed $150,000; and authorize the General  
Manager to execute Amendment No. 1.  
7.  
Upon Motion of Director Mike Scattini, and Seconded by Jon Conatser the  
Board approved Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement for Services with Phenix  
Environmental Planning, for environmental support services for the  
Nacimiento Plunge Pool Project, to add a dollar increase of $75,000 for a total  
contract amount not to exceed $150,000;and authorize the General Manager to  
execute Amendment No. 1.  
Ayes: Mike Scattini, Jon Conatser, Matt Simis, Jason Smith, Deidre Sullivan,  
Mark Gonzalez, Ken Ekelund, Mike LeBarre, John Baillie  
Noes: None  
Absent: None  
Director Comments: None  
Public Comments: None  
Recommend that the Board of Supervisors of the Monterey County Water Resources Agency  
approve grazing lease forms and a public bid notice for Agency grazing lands located around San  
Antonio and Nacimiento Reservoirs; and direct the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors to advertise for  
bids.  
8.  
Upon Motion by Director Mike LeBarre, and Seconded by Mark Gonzalez the  
board approved the recommendation that the Board of Supervisors of the  
Monterey County Water Resources Agency approve grazing lease forms and a  
public bid notice for Agency grazing lands located around San Antonio and  
Nacimiento Reservoirs; and direct the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors to  
advertise for bids.  
Ayes: Mike LeBarre, Mark Gonzalez, Jon Conatser, Deidre Sullivan John  
Baillie, Matt Simis, Jason Smith,  
Mike Scattini, Ken Ekelund  
Noes: None  
Abstained: None  
Absent: None  
Director Comments: Ken Ekelund, Mike LeBarre, Mark Gonzalez, John  
Baillie  
Public Comments: None  
Recommend to the County of Monterey Board of Supervisors to Adopt Plans and Special Provisions  
for the South Access Road Repair at Nacimiento Dam, Project No. 26-005; and Authorize the  
General Manager of the Monterey County Water Resources Agency to advertise the “Notice to  
Bidders” in the Monterey County Weekly.  
9.  
Upon Motion by Director Ken Ekelund, and Seconded by Jon Conatser the  
board approved recommendation to the County of Monterey Board of  
Supervisors to adopt plans and Special Provisions for the South Access Road  
Repair at Nacimiento Dam, Project No. 26-005; and authorize the General  
Manager of the Monterey County Water Resources Agency to advertise the  
"Notice to Bidders" in the Monterey County Weekly.  
Ayes: Ken Ekelund, Jon Conatser, Matt Simis, Jason Smith, Deidre Sullivan,  
John Baillie, Mike LeBarre, Mike Scattini, Mark Gonzalez  
Noes: None  
Abstained: None  
Absent: None  
Director Comments: Mike LeBarre, Mark Gonzalez  
Public Comments: None  
Consider receiving the Deep Aquifers Management Recommendations Memorandum.  
10.  
Upon Motion by Director Ken Ekelund, and Seconded by Mark Gonalez the  
board received the Deep Aquifers Management Recommendations  
Memorandum.  
Ayes: Ken Ekelund, Mark Gonzalez, Deidre Sullivan, Jon Conatser, Matt  
Simis, Jason Smith, Mike LeBarre  
Noes: None  
Abstained: Mike Scattini, John Baillie  
Absent: None  
Director Comments: Mike Scattini  
Public Comments via Zoom: Dennis Lebow, Thomas Virsik  
a. Review the findings and recommendations of the 2025-2026 Monterey County Civil Grand Jury  
(CGJ) report titled "Seawater Intrusion - A Shared Problem in Monterey County"; and,  
b. Consider the draft response to the above-referenced 2025-2026 Civil Grand Jury report; and,  
c. Authorize the Board's response to be filed with the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court.  
11.  
Upon Motion by Director Mark Gonzalez and Seconded by Director Mike  
LeBarre the board reviewed the findings and recommendations of the  
2025-2026 Monterey County Civil Grand Jury (CGJ) report titled "Seawater  
Intrusion - A Shared Problem in Monterey County"; and, considered the draft  
response to the above-referenced 2025-2026 Civil Grand Jury report; and  
authorize the Board's response to be filed with the Presiding Judge of the  
Superior Court.  
Ayes: Mark Gonzalez. Mike LeBarre, Jon Conaster, Deidre Sullivan, John  
Baillie, Matt Simis, Jason Smith, Ken Ekelund  
Noes: None  
Abstained: None  
Absent: Mike Scattini  
Director Comments: John Baillie  
Public Comments: None  
Key Information and Calendar of Events  
Director Comments: None  
Public Comments: None  
June 2026 Calendar  
July 2026 Calendar  
12.  
General Manager's Report  
Director Comments: John Baillie, Matt Simis  
Public Comments: None  
1. Personnel  
13.  
2. General Liability and Pollution Insurance  
Committee Reports  
Director Comments: Ken Ekelund  
Public Comments: None  
Committee Agenda's for May and June 2026.  
14.  
Information Items  
Director Comments: None  
Public Comments: None  
Reservoir Storage and Release Update. (Staff: Joseph Klein)  
15.  
16.  
Update on staff’s participation in the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency’s  
Advisory Committee.  
Correspondence  
Director Comments: None  
Public Comments: None  
Email Correspondence dated May 18, 2026, to Ara Azhderian, General Manager, Monterey County  
17.  
Water Resources Agency, Clerk of the Board, Clerks.  
From Bill Lipe, Public Member  
Re: Public Comment Joint MCWRA & SVBGSA Workshop  
Email Correspondence dated May 22, 2026, to Ara Azhderian, General Manager, Monterey County  
Water Resources Agency, Clerk of the Board, Clerks.  
From Bill Lipe, Public Member  
Re: General Public Comment Re May 18, 2026, SVBGSA & MCWRA Joint Board Workshop for  
Distribution and Record Placement  
Email Correspondence dated May 26, 2026, to Ara Azhderian, General Manager, Monterey County  
Water Resources Agency, Clerk of the Board, Clerks.  
From Bill Lipe, Public Member  
Re: General Public Comment for Entry into the Record-May 18, 2026 SVBSA & MCWRA Joint  
Board Workshop  
Board of Directors Comments  
None  
Adjournment