DATE: March 4, 2025
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Director of Public Works
SUBJECT: Adopt a Resolution Appointing City of Hayward Representative to the Boards of Directors of the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency, and the San Francisco Bay Area Regional Water System Financing Authority
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council (Council) adopts a resolution (Attachment II) appointing City of Hayward (City) representative to the Board of Directors of the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA), and the San Francisco Bay Area Regional Water System Financing Authority (RFA).
SUMMARY
The City is a member of the BAWSCA and RFA, and is currently represented by Councilmember Angela Andrews, whose term expires on June 30, 2025. Therefore, the Council must appoint a representative to the Board no later than 90 days from the date the vacancy occurs. This report has been prepared by the City Council to take the necessary action to reappoint Councilmember Andrews to represent the City on the two Boards, effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2029.
BACKGROUND
BAWSCA and the RFA are special districts, comprised of twenty-six member agencies that purchase wholesale water from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC). Both the agency and authority were formed in 2002 by State legislation, with the City’s membership approved by Council in 2003. BAWSCA and the RFA are governed by a Board of Directors, with appointed representatives from each member agency. The BAWSCA Board of Directors meets bi-monthly at 6:30 p.m., with the RFA Board convening either during, or immediately after. The meetings are held at a location typically on the Peninsula, and not necessarily at the same location each month.
Councilmember Andrews has served as the City’s representative since February 2022, following the resignation of Councilmember Al Mendall who had served as the City’s representative beginning in July 2012 with reappointments effective July 1, 2013, July 1, 2017, and July 1, 2021. It is not required that the Board representative be an elected official; however, staff highly recommends that a Councilmember be appointed.
DISCUSSION
BAWSCA’s primary function is to coordinate and provide regional water supply planning, resource development, and water conservation program services to the wholesale purchasers of water from the SFPUC’s Regional Water System. Among other responsibilities, the Board provides policy direction to the BAWSCA/RFA staff, reviews and approves agency budgets and consultant agreements, reviews wholesale rate calculations and other financial information, monitors water supply negotiations, and the status of Regional Water System Improvement Projects. The RFA was formed to secure financing for water system improvements if the SFPUC is unable to obtain the funding needed. The RFA is currently largely inactive as the SFPUC has been successful in raising the necessary funds.
Both BAWSCA and RFA allow the City to re-appoint its director for an unlimited number of terms or to appoint a new director at the end of each term. Based on her experience in the water and wastewater industry and interest in serving, the Mayor has recommended that the Council re-appoint Councilmember Andrews to the Board of Directors for a second term.
ECONOMIC IMPACT
There are no economic impacts associated with this action.
STRATEGIC ROADMAP
This item is a routine operational matter and does not relate directly to any of the priorities outlined in the Council’s Strategic Roadmap.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City currently pays an annual membership fee of over $550,000 to BAWSCA to support BAWSCA/RFA’s budget.
Beginning on July 1, 2025, Board members will receive compensation of $200 per day for attending meetings, with a maximum amount of $800 per month (maximum of four days).
Compensation is paid by BAWSCA, and there are no direct fiscal impacts associated with this action.
SUSTAINABILITY FEATURES
The City’s membership and active participation in BAWSCA and the RFA supports its local water supply and conservation efforts.
PUBLIC CONTACT
There is no additional public contact required for this action.
NEXT STEPS
If approved, staff will notify BAWSCA staff of Council’s action related to the re-appointment of the City representative to the BAWSCA and RFA Boards. The appointment will be effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2029.
Prepared by: Conrad Braganza, Water Resources Planner
Cheryl Muñoz, Water Resources Manager
Recommended by: Alex Ameri, Director of Public Works
Approved by:
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Dr. Ana M. Alvarez, City Manager