Feldman Announces Retirement After 17 Years as Board Approves Budget, Water Plan

The Coastside County Water District board held a packed June 9 meeting that doubled as a milestone moment for the small coastal agency: Board President Bob Feldman announced he will retire from public service at the end of his term in December, capping nearly two decades of involvement with the district. The board also adopted a 2025 Urban Water Management Plan warning of severe dry-year shortfalls, approved a $73 million capital plan, and called a November election that will put three of five board seats on the ballot.

• Board President Feldman to step down after 17 years, opening three of five seats in a single election cycle

• Water plan projects flat demand through 2050 but warns of up to 52% supply shortfalls in consecutive dry years under worst-case Bay Delta scenarios

• $73M ten-year capital plan and FY 2026-27 operating budget adopted, confirming third planned 8% rate increase in January 2027

• District's local water production jumps from 30% to 40% of supply, validating years of infrastructure investment

• GM recruitment on fast track, targeting September selection to allow overlap before March 2027 departure

Why it matters: The district faces its most significant governance turnover in years — three of five board seats will appear on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot — just as it navigates a general manager transition and tens of millions in infrastructure work.