Board Tackles Developer Permitting Bills, Wastewater Diversion in Wide-Ranging Session

Central San's board drew a line against Sacramento housing legislation that would fine agencies thousands per unit for slow plan reviews, authorized a partnership that could send millions of gallons of wastewater to San Ramon Valley for recycled water, and rolled out one of the first AI governance policies among California special districts. The March 19 meeting covered an unusually broad policy slate — from energy savings to cybersecurity to a 50-year water deal — reflecting a district navigating regulatory pressure on multiple fronts.

• Board strengthens opposition to developer-backed bill imposing $10,000-per-unit penalties on agencies for plan review delays, with legislative staff warning of a coordinated "shotgun approach" flooding Sacramento with 12–20 permitting bills

• Wastewater diversion framework approved to study sending up to 2.7 million gallons per day to San Ramon Valley for recycled irrigation water, potentially reshaping regional water reuse for decades

• District saves over $1 million in electricity costs through cogeneration upgrades and new solar array

• New AI governance policy establishes staff accountability for AI-generated work and data protection standards; legal counsel flags Public Records Act exposure for AI prompts

• $2.2 million in federal funding secured for UV disinfection and aeration basin projects

The longest and most contentious discussion of the meeting centered on a wave of state legislation that Central San's legislative staff described as a coordinated assault on local permitting authority — bills that would compress plan review timelines, cap the number of reviews, and impose steep financial penalties on agencies that fall behind.