County of Monterey  
Cayenne Room  
1441 Schilling Place  
Salinas Ca. 93901  
Meeting Minutes - Final  
CAYENNE CONFERENCE ROOM  
Monday, March 16, 2026  
12:30 PM  
1441 Schilling Place, 1st Floor Salinas Ca. 93901  
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  
For information on The Ralph M. Brown Act: Open Meetings please click on the link below:  
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtmldivision=2.&chapter=9.&part=1.&lawCode=GOV&title=5  
Participation in meetings:  
You may attend the Board of Directors meeting through the following methods:  
1. You may attend in person  
2. For ZOOM participation please join by computer audio at:  
https://montereycty.zoom.us/j/91450374062, password 669097  
OR to participate by phone call any of these numbers below:  
+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  
PLEASE NOTE: IF ALL 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  
MEETING MAY BE PAUSED WHILE A FIX IS ATTEMPTED BUT THE MEETING MAY CONTINUE AT THE DISCRETION  
OF THE CHAIRPERSON.  
Enter this Meeting ID number: 914 5037 4062, PASSWORD: 669097. 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 on your keypad.  
3. 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  
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 date  
(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.  
4. ALTERNATE AGENDA FORMATS: If requested, the agenda shall be made available in appropriate alternative formats to  
persons with a disability, as required by Section 202 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 USC Sec. 12132),  
and the federal rules and regulations adopted in implementation thereof. Individuals with a disability requiring a  
modification or accommodation, including auxiliary aids or services, in order to participate in the public meeting may make  
these requests to the Water Resources Agency Office the Thursday prior to the Board of Directors 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. Para participar por ZOOM, por favor únase for audio de computadora por:  
https://montereycty.zoom.us/j/91450374062, Codigo: 669097  
O para participar for teléfono, llame a cualquiera 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  
POR FAVOR TENGA EN CUENTA: SI TODOS LOS MIEMBROS DEL COMITÉ ESTÁN  
PRESENTES EN PERSONA, EL ACCESO POR ZOOM ES SOLO POR CONVENIENCIA Y NO  
ES LEGALMENTE REQUERIDO. SI SE PIERDE LA SEÑAL DE ZOOM, LA REUNIÓN  
PUEDE PAUSARSE BREVE PERO PUEDE CONTINUAR A DISCRECIÓN DEL PRESIDENTE.  
Cuando se le solicite, ingrese este número de reunión: 914 5037 4062, Codigo: 669097. Por favor tenga en cuenta 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 de telefono.  
3. 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 a la Secretaria de la Junta al correo  
electronico WRApubliccomment@countyofmonterey.gov. Para ayudar a la Secretaria a idenficar el artículo  
de la agenda relacionado con su comentario, por favor indique en la linea de asunto del correo  
electronico la fecha de la reunion (ejemplo, la Agenda de la Junta Directiva) y el número de  
artículo (ejemplo, el Artículo No. 10). Su comentario se colocará en el registro de la reunion de esta  
Junta.  
4. Formatos Alternativos de Agenda: si se solicita, la agenda estar disponsible en formatos alternativos apropiados para  
personas con discapacidad, segun lo requerido por la Seccion 202 de la Ley de Estadounidenses con Discapacidades de 1990  
(42 USC Sec. 12132) y las normas y regulaciones federales adoptadas para su implementacion. Las personas con  
discapacidad que reuieran una modificacion o adaptacion, includios ayudas o servicios auxiliares, para poder participar en la  
reunion publica pueden hacer estas solicitiudes a la Agencia de Recursos Hidricos el Lunes antes de la reunion.  
Note: All numbered agenda titles related to agenda are live web links. Click on the link to be  
directed to corresponding item.  
Call to Order at 12:30 P.M.  
The Meeting was called to order at 1:00pm (due to tech issues recording started at  
1:10pm) after Budget Workshop Meeting concluded.  
Roll Call  
Present: Matt Simis, Jason Smith, Mark Gonzalez, Jon Conatser, Mike LeBarre, Ken  
Ekelund Mike Scattini  
Absent: John Baillie, Deidre Sullivan  
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.  
No Corrections  
Public Comment  
None  
Presentations  
Overview of the December 2025 Strategic Plan UpdateWorkshop and Final Report. (Staff: Shaunna  
1.  
Murray)  
Director Comments: Matt Simis, Mike LeBarre  
Public Comments: None  
Receive an update on staff’s participation in the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability  
Agency’s Advisory Committee. (Staff: Shaunna Murray)  
2.  
Director Comments: Ken Ekelund, Matt Simis, Mike Scattini, Mike LeBarre,  
Mark Gonzalez.  
Public Comments: Thomas Virsik (via Zoom)  
Review of Board of Directors Roles and Responsibilities. (Staff: Ara Azhderian)  
3.  
Director Comments: Matt Simis, Jason Smith  
Public Comments: None  
Consent Calendar  
Approve the Action Minutes of the Board of Directors meeting held on February 17, 2026.  
4.  
Upon Motion by Director Mark Gonzalez, Second by Jason Smith the Board  
of Directors approved the Consent Calendar.  
Ayes: Jason Smith, Matt Simis, Mark Gonzalez, Jon Conatser, Mike Scattini,  
Ken Ekelund, Mike LeBarre  
Noes: None  
Absent: Deidre Sullivan, John Baillie  
Abstained: None  
Recused: None  
Director Comments: None  
Public Comments: None  
Approve Amendment No.1 to the Agreement for Services with Pacific Coast Well Drilling, Inc. DBA  
Precision Hydro for Well Repair Services for CSIP Well 10H01, to add to the Scope of Work and,  
to add a dollar increase of $95,000 for a total contract amount not to exceed $191,770; and  
authorize the General Manager to execute Amendment No. 1.  
5.  
6.  
Appove Amendment No. 2 to the Agreement for Services with Pilot Sandblasting and Coatings, Inc.  
for sandblasting and coating services for Agency facilities, to add a dollar increase of $150,000 for a  
total contract amount not to exceed $390,000; and authorize the General Manager to execute  
Amendment No. 2.  
Key Information and Calendar of Events  
Director Comments: None  
Public Comments: None  
March 2026 and April 2026 Calendars  
7.  
General Manager's Report  
Director Comments: None  
Public Comments: None  
1. Personnel  
8.  
2. Groundwater Monitoring Program  
3. Tri Counties Club Request for a Boat Dock Compliance Framework  
4. Town Creek Association Request to Construct a Boat Ramp on Agency Property  
5. Dam Safety & Operations Future Funding Strategy  
Committee Reports  
Director Comments: Ken Ekelund, Mike LeBarre, Mark Gonzalez  
Public Comments: None  
Committee Agenda’s for February 2026 and March 2026:  
9.  
·
·
·
·
Joint Water Resources/Board of Supervisors Leadership Committee Rescheduled Notice  
Water Resources Agency Water Resources Advisory Committee Agenda  
Water Resources Agency Planning Committee Meeting Agenda  
Water Resources Agency Finance & Administration Committee Meeting Agenda  
Information Items  
Director Comments: None  
Public Comments: None  
Reservoir and Storage Release Update. (Staff: Joseph Klein)  
10.  
11.  
Water Year 2026 Quarter one Salinas Valley Water Conditions Report. (Staff: Amanda Cusenza,  
Guillermo Diaz-Moreno, Amy Woodrow)  
Correspondence  
Director Comments: None  
Public Comments: None  
1. Correspondence dated February 27, 2026, to Ara Azhderian, General Manager, Board of Directors,  
12.  
Monterey County Water Resources, from Thomas Adcock, President Alco Water Service re: Notice of  
Preparation of Urban Water Management Plan and Water Shortage Contingency Plan - 2025 Update.  
Board of Directors Comments  
Jason Smith, Mark Gonzalez  
Adjournment  
The Meeting adjourned at 2:46