Board Approves $7.4M in Water Infrastructure Contracts, Backs Statewide Policy Push

The Contra Costa Water District board moved swiftly through a full agenda Wednesday night, awarding more than $7 million in construction and engineering contracts — headlined by a $5 million treatment plant upgrade — while positioning the district at the center of California's intensifying gubernatorial-year water policy debate. New Director Daniel Fitzpatrick took the oath of office, returning the board to full strength ahead of major decisions on the horizon.

• $5M Randall-Bold treatment plant overhaul awarded after competitive seven-bid process

• $2.4M in construction management contracts authorized with two firms to support capital project surge

• Board backs five state and federal bills on water affordability, drought relief, wildfire equipment, and golden mussel eradication

• ACWA resolution adopted urging next governor to set bold 100-day water agenda

• New Director Fitzpatrick sworn in, restoring board to five-member complement

• District vacancy rates hold steady below state-mandated threshold in both bargaining units

Randall-Bold Plant Gets $5M Upgrade

Why it matters: The Randall-Bold Water Treatment Plant is jointly owned by CCWD and Diablo Water District and serves not just the district's customers but partner agencies including the City of Antioch (9.5 MGD), the City of Brentwood (6 MGD), and Golden State Water (4.4 MGD). Equipment dating to 2007 is showing its age, and a clearwell maintenance gap has limited the district's ability to serve Diablo Water District during shutdowns.

Where things stand: Construction Manager Stan Ali walked the board through the scope: replacing worn sedimentation basin sludge collection equipment, resurfacing launders, swapping out aging chemical feed piping, addressing clearwell corrosion and hydraulic concerns, and — critically — installing a permanent bypass so the district can continue delivering water to Diablo Water District during future clearwell maintenance.

"We are going to be making improvements by installing a permanent bypass," said Stan Ali, Construction Manager. "It will enable us in the future to be able to drain the clearwell and still be able to provide water to the airport district even when we want to conduct some significant maintenance."

The project drew seven bids — an unusually strong field for a specialty treatment plant job. TNT Industrial Contractors submitted the apparent low bid of $4,675,635, landing within 2.5% of the $4.5M engineer's estimate. An 8% change order authority of $374,051 brings the total not-to-exceed amount to $5,049,686. Separately, the board amended the design services agreement with Waterworks Engineers LLC by $217,698 for construction-phase support, raising that contract's ceiling to $1,556,698.

Vice President Antonio Martinez confirmed the improvements are specific to the plant's current 50 MGD capacity and that additional work would be needed for any future expansion to 80 MGD.

President Ernesto Avila praised the competitive bidding outcome: "You had seven bidders. That's really fantastic for a smaller public works contract. Even though $5 million seems like a lot when you're dealing with treatment plant improvements — usually they're very large type projects. But you still got seven bidders, which means that the outreach effort was effective."

Decision: Passed unanimously (For: 5, Against: 0, Absent: 0).

Board Takes Positions on Five Bills as Legislative Season Heats Up

Why it matters: With California's legislative session in full swing and a federal drought bill advancing in Congress, the district is staking out positions on measures that could reshape water affordability, wildfire preparedness, and invasive species response for years to come.

Where things stand: Director of Public Affairs Jennifer Allen presented the May legislative affairs report, covering developments in Sacramento and Washington. The board unanimously adopted positions on five bills:

• AB 1893 (Favor): Expands grant funding for mobile rigid dip tanks used in firefighting. Currently held on suspense file in the legislature.

• AB 2739 (Support): Establishes the Water Affordability and System Stabilization Fund in the state treasury to provide dedicated, sustainable low-income rate assistance.

• SB 1125 (Support if Amended): Another water rate assistance bill, but the district flagged concerns about potential unfunded mandates on local agencies.

• HR 7845 (Support): The DROUGHT Act, which would raise the WIFIA federal financing cap to 90% for projects in drought-affected areas.

• Golden Mussel Eradication and Control Act of 2026 (Support): Sponsored by Senator Schiff, this federal bill would create a demonstration program targeting golden mussels — an invasive species threatening California's water infrastructure.

Allen described AB 2739 as tackling a persistent gap in water policy: "What AB 2739 is suggesting is to establish the Water Affordability and System Stabilization Fund in the state treasury. This fund would receive an initial injection of money from potentially the general fund. But the idea would be that the money would be invested over and over again."

The other side: Vice President Martinez questioned whether AB 1893 could eventually impose obligations on water districts to supply water for firefighting dip tanks. "My concern is that as it moves along, if there's a minimus to that bill that forces water districts to do something that maybe we're not necessarily ready to do, we should be watching out for that," he said. Staff assured the board the bill focuses on grants to fire districts, not mandates on water agencies.

Allen also highlighted a new outreach strategy: meeting legislators at their local offices rather than traveling to Sacramento. "For the members that we were not able to meet in person at the Capitol, we set up some follow-up in-district meetings," she said, citing sessions with Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan, Assemblymember Ransom, and Senator McNerney. Director Patricia Young called the approach "a great pilot" and "a better use of everyone's time and far more effective."

On golden mussels, Allen noted that AB 2032 by Assemblymember Ransom has received wide support at the state level, with President Avila having testified before two legislative committees.

Decision: All five positions adopted unanimously (For: 5, Against: 0, Absent: 0).

District Joins Statewide Push to Shape Next Governor's Water Agenda

Why it matters: With California's gubernatorial race underway, the Association of California Water Agencies is mobilizing its 460-plus member agencies behind a unified water policy platform — and CCWD just added its name to the effort.

Where things stand: Director of Public Affairs Jennifer Allen presented ACWA's "Vision for Our Water Future" initiative, built around four priorities: having the next governor set a bold water agenda in the first 100 days with strong appointees; protecting affordability through sustainable funding; delivering on critical infrastructure including the State Water Project, Central Valley Project, and Colorado River supply; and modernizing water management through permitting reform and improved data.

"The intent of this initiative is elevating water as a top priority for the next governor, for legislative leadership and state officials," Allen said. "This really provides a framework with four priority areas for consideration."

President Avila offered insider context, noting that candidate engagement is already substantive. "One of the key gubernatorial candidates has an extensive program for how they would move on their first hundred days on big bold projects for CVP and State Water Project, working with our federal folks and State Water Project to try to improve the overall structure for providing more water for California," he said.

Avila also flagged what he called one of ACWA's most significant institutional developments: a new committee on "projects of statewide significance" that would, for the first time, establish formal processes for the association to take positions on controversial large-scale water projects — potentially requiring a three-quarters vote threshold. ACWA task committees are expected to begin meeting the first week of June.

Decision: Resolution 26-009 adopted unanimously (For: 5, Against: 0, Absent: 0).

$2.4M in Construction Management Contracts Approved

The basics: The board authorized two-year agreements with two firms selected through a competitive RFP process posted on Planet Bids in March, which drew four proposals.

MCK Americas will provide construction management and inspection services for up to $450,000 in FY27, with an option for $600,000 in FY28, for a total not-to-exceed amount of $1,050,000. Consor North America will provide similar services plus SCADA system support for operations, at up to $625,000 in FY27 and $750,000 in FY28, totaling $1,375,000 not to exceed. Services include constructability reviews, construction administration support, cost estimating, change order evaluation, inspection support, and dispute resolution.

President Avila recused himself from the Consor vote due to a professional conflict of interest; Vice President Martinez presided over that item.

Decisions: MCK Americas passed unanimously (For: 5, Against: 0, Absent: 0). Consor North America passed unanimously (For: 4, Against: 0, Recused: 1 — Avila).

Vacancy Rates Hold Below State Threshold

The basics: California Assembly Bill 2561 requires public agencies to hold annual public hearings when job vacancy rates in bargaining units exceed certain thresholds.

Where things stand: Director of People and Culture Kristin Cunningham presented the district's first public hearing under the law. IFPTE Local 21 had an average of 7.25 of 101 authorized positions vacant at any time — a 7.18% vacancy rate. IUOE Local 39 had 9.45 of 167 positions vacant on average — a 5.69% rate. Neither approaches the 20% threshold that would trigger additional reporting requirements.

"For IFPTE Local 21, we had a total of 101 authorized vacancy positions. We had an average vacancy of 7.25 positions being vacant at any given time, creating an annual average vacancy rate of 7.18%," said Kristin Cunningham, Director of People and Culture.

Cunningham highlighted ongoing workforce strategies including targeted outreach, workforce pipeline building for hard-to-fill operational roles, improved hiring timelines, the H2O new employee onboarding program, and the DEAL professional development initiative. No public comment was received. Legal counsel confirmed no board action was required — only the hearing and informational presentation.

Minor Items

• New Director Fitzpatrick sworn in. District Secretary Veronica Sepulveda administered the oath of office to Daniel Fitzpatrick as the new Division 2 Director, filling the seat previously held by John Burgh.

• Consent calendar approved unanimously (5-0). Directors' business activities, expenses, CSDA conference travel authorization, and the May 21 warrant register.

• 25th consecutive Partnership for Safe Water award. General Manager Rachel Murphy reported that both the Bowman and Randall-Bold treatment plants received the recognition for the 25th year running.

• Weekend power events. A PG&E public safety power shutoff affected about 12 services primarily at the Los Vaqueros watershed. A separate Western Area Power Administration pole failure on the Tracy-to-Contra Costa transmission line temporarily knocked out power at Rock Slough, the multipurpose pipeline pump station, and Antioch Service Center facilities. Generator backup kept critical systems running; power was restored within 24 hours. A 10-acre fire near Contra Loma Reservoir was 100% contained with no district property damage.

• Youth Art Calendar. The 2027 Water Awareness Youth Art Calendar contest received 120 entries, with 64 finalists advancing to public voting opening through June 10.

• Central San's 80th anniversary. Florence Weddington, Board President of the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District, congratulated Director Fitzpatrick and invited the board to Central San's 80th anniversary celebration on June 13.

• Vice President Martinez reported attending a CCSDA Bonds 101 presentation, noting the financing concepts closely parallel CCWD's own canal replacement program preparations.

• PIC Committee report received without comment.

• Closed session. The board met in closed session regarding consideration of initiation of litigation (one case). No reportable actions were taken.