Coastside Water Board Honors Feldman, Weighs New General Manager

The Coastside County Water District Board of Directors spent its Nov. 10, 2026, meeting saying goodbye to Board President Bob Feldman, the finance-minded director colleagues credited with holding the line on rates. The board then closed the doors on a second leadership decision, a public employee appointment and contract talks for a prospective general manager. Earlier, directors unanimously approved a $164,900 five-year environmental monitoring contract.

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• Feldman's final meeting: Four recorded ayes on Resolution 2026-08 honoring his years of service.
• Leadership turnover: Board enters closed session on general manager appointment and contract negotiations.
• $164,900 EKI contract approved 5-0 for state-required monitoring and emergency environmental support.

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A Rate Watchdog Exits the Dais

Why it matters: Feldman's departure removes the board's president and a leading financial voice. It leaves the board chair seat and a spot on the Finance Subcommittee to fill. It also comes as the board weighs a general manager appointment, which would put two of the district's top leadership roles in transition at once.

Where things stand: General Manager Mary Rogren opened the item by noting it was Feldman's last official meeting and recounting his appointments and terms. The resolution's title cites 16 years of service, while speakers cited 17.

Colleagues returned again and again to one theme: money. Director Ken Coverdell credited Feldman's financial expertise and his push to "make sure those rates didn't go up and protect the interests of our customers." Director Dickson recalled the annual budget dynamic: "I always knew I was going to hear from you at budget time about the rate increase."

Directors also praised Feldman's clear communication and humor. One said he was sorely missed on the Finance Subcommittee. Board Vice President John Miller kept it simple: "It's been a privilege to serve with you as chair."

The honoree's response: Feldman deflected the credit. He thanked staff, the board and a supportive community for the district's successes, including a tank project he cited as a high point. "It's not me. It's the system, the agency, and the people that have made this happen," said Board President Bob Feldman.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Coverdell moved Resolution No. 2026-08. The roll call recorded four ayes from Coverdell, Dickson, Mickelsen and Miller. When his name was called, Feldman answered "Thank you" rather than casting an audible vote, and no result was formally announced. For ratepayers, the larger question is who takes over Feldman's role scrutinizing proposed rate increases during budget season.

The GM question: At the end of the open session, the board convened into closed session on two items. The first was a public employee appointment for general manager. The second was a conference with labor negotiators over a prospective general manager, with Director Dickson and Director Ken Coverdell named as the board's negotiators. An announcer told attendees, "we do have a potential open session item that will follow these closed sessions." That item is listed on the agenda as possible consideration of a general manager appointment and approval of an employment agreement. No outcome was reported in the available record.

What's next: The board must choose a new president and fill Feldman's Finance Subcommittee seat. Residents should watch for a closed-session report on any general manager appointment and employment agreement, along with the agreement's terms.

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Storm-Ready Permit Compliance for $164,900

The basics: Construction permits often carry follow-up conditions. For two recent projects, state permits require the district to monitor environmental effects for years after construction ends.

Why it matters: "The district is required to conduct annual monitoring and submit reports to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife," said General Manager Mary Rogren. Those reports are due each year for five years. Pre-arranged consultants can also move faster when storms damage infrastructure in the district's slide-prone terrain.

Where things stand: EKI Environment and Water, Inc., working with ESA Environmental Science Associates, handled environmental permitting for two projects:

• The Highway 92 pipeline replacement
• An emergency culvert replacement near a creek

The new agreement covers five tasks:

• Two permit-required monitoring tasks
• Two as-needed tasks for biological monitoring and compliance support, including emergency consultation, budgeted at about $60,000
• EKI's own contract administration

Rogren stressed that the as-needed money is spent only if needed. She pointed to the district's history of landslides and storm damage and the short deadlines for notifying state agencies after an emergency.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The board authorized the general manager to sign the professional services agreement for up to $164,900. No directors objected. The vote was For: 5 (Coverdell, Dickson, Mickelsen, Miller, Feldman), Against: 0, Absent: 0. For ratepayers, the contract is mainly insurance: it keeps the district in compliance with state permits and gives it a consultant on call when a storm forces emergency work near sensitive creeks.

What's next: EKI's annual monitoring reports to state wildlife regulators will continue through the five-year term.

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Minor Items

• Consent calendar approved 5-0: The board approved $1,578,882.75 in October disbursements and accepted the Carter Hill tank and seismic upgrades and the Denniston Reservoir dredging projects as complete.
• Insurance savings: "We did get a notice that our experience modification factor was lowered," said General Manager Mary Rogren. The factor is a rating based on past claims, and the lower rating will save the district $46,000.
• Bay-Delta plan: On Oct. 30, the State Water Resources Control Board adopted a Bay-Delta Plan update that incorporates the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program. Rogren called it one more step.
• Elias Borba remembered: Coverdell read a tribute to the former field supervisor, who died Sept. 29, 2026. "He served us from October 1st, 1982 until December 30th, 2006," said Director Ken Coverdell.
• Operations report: Staff reported new hypochlorite pumps at the treatment plant, a replacement mixer and completed reservoir dredging. Staff also clarified that the district does not treat raw water for farm use: "It's the raw water, and then the farmer has to chlorinate."

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Looking Ahead

The district placed among the top 10 outreach winners in its region of the Association of California Water Agencies for 2026. Rogren is expected to accept the award at the association's December meeting.