County of Monterey  
Cayenne Room  
1441 Schilling Place  
Salinas Ca. 93901  
Meeting Agenda - Final  
Cayenne Room - 1441 Schilling Place Salinas Ca. 93901  
Tuesday, February 17, 2026  
1:00 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  
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 at  
3. For ZOOM participation please join by computer audio at:  
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  
Enter this Meeting ID number: 991 0259 4638 when prompted. Please note the Participant  
Code, 738282 or 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.  
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  
WRApubliccomment@countyofmonterey.gov or to: mcwater@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 la  
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: 99102594638. Por favor tenga en cuenta  
código de participante 738282, o 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 o a  
mcwater@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 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.  
Call to Order at 1:00 P.M.  
Roll Call  
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.  
Public Comments  
Committee Appointments  
Chair to make appointments to Water Resources Advisory Committee (WRAC),  
consisting of Chair, Vice-Chair, two Board Members and public appointments.  
1.  
Consent Calendar  
Approve the Action Minutes of the Board of Directors meeting held on January 20,  
2.  
3.  
2026.  
Attachments:  
Receive the Monterey County Water Resources Agency FY 2025-26 Financial  
Status Report through December 31, 2025. (Staff: Nan Kim)  
Attachments:  
Authorize the General Manager to enter into the Second Amendment to the Subgrant  
Agreement with the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency to  
increase by $200,000 the amount of funding for Monterey County Water Resources  
Agency services in support of Sustainable Groundwater Management Round 2  
Implementation Grants #4600015881 (SVBGSA) and #4600015624  
(MCWDGSA), for a maximum payable amount of $600,000; and authorize the  
General Manager to execute up to two no-cost amendments to the Subgrant  
Agreement. (Staff: Amy Woodrow)  
4.  
Attachments:  
Approve Amendment No. 3 to the Agreement for Services with JDI Electrical  
Services, Inc., to increase the dollar amount by $85,000 for a total contract amount  
not-to-exceed $235,000 and extend the term of the Agreement to June 30, 2029, to  
provide electrical maintenance and repair services for the Nacimiento Dam  
Hydroelectric Power Plant; and authorize the General Manager to execute the  
5.  
amendment. (Staff: Manuel Saavedra)  
Attachments:  
Action Items  
Receive an update on staff's participation in the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater  
Sustainability Agency Advisory Committee. (Staff: Shaunna Murray)  
6.  
Attachments:  
Receive an update on the Castroville & Eastside Canals and Alternatives Preliminary  
Feasibility Study. (Staff: Shaunna Murray)  
7.  
Attachments:  
Receive an update on the New Seawater Intrusion Project (NSIP) Feasibility Study.  
(Staff: Shaunna Murray)  
8.  
Attachments:  
Key Information and Calendar of Events  
February and March 2026 Calendars.  
9.  
Attachments:  
General Manager's Report  
1. Personnel  
10.  
Attachments:  
Committee Reports  
Committee Agenda’s for January 2026 and February 2026:  
11.  
·
Joint Water Resources/Board of Supervisors Leadership Committee Meeting  
Agenda  
·
·
Water Resources Agency Planning Committee Meeting Agenda  
Water Resources Agency Finance and Administration Committee Meeting  
Agenda  
Attachments:  
Information Items  
Reservoir and Storage Release Update. (Staff: Joseph Klein)  
12.  
Attachments:  
Correspondence  
1. Email Correspondence dated January 21, 2026, to Ara Azhderian, General  
Manager, Board of Directors, Monterey County Water Resources, Clerk of the  
Board from Bill Lipe, General Public re; General Public Comment - The Economic  
Kill-Switch of State Intervention.  
13.  
2. Email Correspondence dated February 10, 2026, to Ara Azhderian, General  
Manager, Board of Directors, Monterey County Water Resources, from Christopher  
Bunn, President Salinas Basin Water Alliance, re; Public Comment CSIP Analysis.  
Attachments:  
Board of Directors Comments  
Adjournment