Date Submitted
2025-04-09
Name
Justin Scott-Coe
Party
Monte Vista Water District
Question
6907.45: The OBMP Update did not amend the OBMP Implementation Plan and the Court did not order the OBMP Update to be implemented. The FY 2024/25 Approved Budget included more than $177K for this item, but less than $300 is projected to be spent. WM is once again requesting $177K. Please remove this item from the budget.
PARTY:
Monte Vista Water District
QUESTION ASKED REGARDING THE BUDGET:
Regarding Account No: 6907.45
6907.45: The OBMP Update did not amend the OBMP Implementation Plan and the Court did not order the OBMP Update to be implemented. The FY 2024/25 Approved Budget included more than $177K for this item, but less than $300 is projected to be spent. WM is once again requesting $177K. Please remove this item from the budget.
Perhaps the title needs updating, but the description of the work is as follows: “Work in 2024-2025 would include assistance with OBMPU implementation and assisting the parties with issues associated with potential amendments to the Peace Agreement and OBMPU Implementation Plan.”
Some of this work did take place, including multiple meetings regarding Peace Agreement meet and confer – a miscoding had been identified, and the YTD activity is now properly reflected in the updated Budget Detail. As the time for potential negotiations before the deadline for extension of the Peace Agreement is in FY25-26 (and the parties may wish to negotiate following that date as to Peace II or as a result of the outcome of the Safe Yield Reevaluation), we would advise keeping this in the budget. If time is not spent, the budgeted funds can be utilized elsewhere or refunded to the parties.
Date Submitted
2025-04-09
Name
Justin Scott-Coe
Party
Monte Vista Water District
Question
Recharge Budget: Would it be possible to develop a comprehensive budget for all recharge O&M in the Chino Basin? This would include all expenditures by WM (including budget items 5931/6907.39/7200), IEUA, CBWCD, and the County, and how these expenditures are paid for (WM Assessments, IEUA Rates/Property Tax; CBWCD Property Tax, County PWD expenditures). It would also be good for a similar accounting to be conducted for all recharge capital investments. This would assist parties in understanding the full costs and benefits of this important program.
PARTY:
Monte Vista Water District
QUESTION ASKED REGARDING THE BUDGET:
Regarding Account No: Recharge B
Recharge Budget: Would it be possible to develop a comprehensive budget for all recharge O&M in the Chino Basin? This would include all expenditures by WM (including budget items 5931/6907.39/7200), IEUA, CBWCD, and the County, and how these expenditures are paid for (WM Assessments, IEUA Rates/Property Tax; CBWCD Property Tax, County PWD expenditures). It would also be good for a similar accounting to be conducted for all recharge capital investments. This would assist parties in understanding the full costs and benefits of this important program.
Watermaster staff is reviewing the possibility of developing a comprehensive budget and will provide an update to the parties once available. This could also be considered for an independent project of the AP or GRCC, if desired.
Date Submitted
2025-04-09
Name
Justin Scott-Coe
Party
Monte Vista Water District
Question
5945/6061.3: The Annual Report should summarize work done over the subject year. Is there a way to eliminate consultant work on the Annual Report and ask staff to develop the summary? MVWD does not believe the Annual Report should require additional engineering work (instead, it should summarize and highlight engineering work already done during the subject year, which can be done by staff) nor the services of a public affairs consultant (this is not an advocacy document).
PARTY:
Monte Vista Water District
QUESTION ASKED REGARDING THE BUDGET:
Regarding Account No: 5945/6061.
5945/6061.3: The Annual Report should summarize work done over the subject year. Is there a way to eliminate consultant work on the Annual Report and ask staff to develop the summary? MVWD does not believe the Annual Report should require additional engineering work (instead, it should summarize and highlight engineering work already done during the subject year, which can be done by staff) nor the services of a public affairs consultant (this is not an advocacy document).
Watermaster has partnered with Rauch Communications Consultants since 2002. They provide many efficiencies in developing the format and narrative of the report. This is Watermaster’s record and report to the Judge and future Judges, and it serves as a history-preserving document. Additionally, it is not and has never been an advocacy document as it has never been distributed widely to the public. The Annual Report (AR) does not require additional engineering work. WY is involved in two ways – to help develop the narrative on tasks that are relevant to the subject year, and to help summarize data in the appendices that they collect as part of other efforts. For the latter, development of the data portal could improve efficiency in the future. Watermaster will conduct an RFP process to determine if savings can be generated for this project.
Date Submitted
2025-04-09
Name
Justin Scott-Coe
Party
Monte Vista Water District
Question
Prioritization: WM parties are facing a potential significant decline in SY, a resolution of the Appellate Court's DYY ruling, and a Peace Agreement Meet and Confer process. WM and parties need to prioritize this coming year's workload to avoid distraction so that we can achieve consensus and avoid further litigation. The following projects should be eliminated/delayed to allow prioritization of our collective limited capacity (if a project is required, ask the Court for more time):
1) Data Visualization (5965);
2) WQMP/ECMP (7502/5 related to GWQMP, 7520, and new WQ model project);
3) SRMF (7610);
4) SMP (7615).
PARTY:
Monte Vista Water District
QUESTION ASKED REGARDING THE BUDGET:
Regarding Account No: Prioritiza
Prioritization: WM parties are facing a potential significant decline in SY, a resolution of the Appellate Court's DYY ruling, and a Peace Agreement Meet and Confer process. WM and parties need to prioritize this coming year's workload to avoid distraction so that we can achieve consensus and avoid further litigation. The following projects should be eliminated/delayed to allow prioritization of our collective limited capacity (if a project is required, ask the Court for more time):
1) Data Visualization (5965);
2) WQMP/ECMP (7502/5 related to GWQMP, 7520, and new WQ model project);
3) SRMF (7610);
4) SMP (7615).
*Data Visualization (5965): This Effort is part of the continuous improvement and modernization of WM data acquisition, analysis, and presentation to provide better information for decision making. The project will be brought to the Pools for feedback and direction before approving the consultant to begin work.
*WQMP/ECMP (7502/5 related to GWQMP, 7520, and new WQ model project): As part of the upcoming Basin Plan Amendment proposed to the Regional Water Quality Control Board, Watermaster is required to update on a regular basis the WQ model.
*SRMF (7610): This effort is part of the updates to the Storage Management Plan, and it is necessary for reviewing any Storage and Recovery Program applications in the future. However, the project cost in account number 7614 was reallocated over a two-year period (into Fiscal Year 2026/27) to take both available schedule and funding resources into consideration.
*SMP (7615): This is a commitment to the Court embedded in the Court adopted 2020 Storage Management Plan.
Date Submitted
2025-04-09
Name
Justin Scott-Coe
Party
Monte Vista Water District
Question
General: MVWD appreciates the inclusion of projected ending expenses for FY 2024/25 in the proposed FY 2025/26 budget detail (budget document #1). MVWD also appreciates WM's projection that it will underspend its FY 2024/25 budget by more than $2.3M. In agreement with the Non-Ag Pool representative's comments at the Advisory Committee budget release, MVWD believes that the proposed FY 2025/26 budget should more closely align with the prior year's projected year-end actual expenses rather than the prior year's budgeted expenses, with a goal of achieving an overall budget reduction of ~$2M.
PARTY:
Monte Vista Water District
QUESTION ASKED REGARDING THE BUDGET:
Regarding Account No: General
General: MVWD appreciates the inclusion of projected ending expenses for FY 2024/25 in the proposed FY 2025/26 budget detail (budget document #1). MVWD also appreciates WM's projection that it will underspend its FY 2024/25 budget by more than $2.3M. In agreement with the Non-Ag Pool representative's comments at the Advisory Committee budget release, MVWD believes that the proposed FY 2025/26 budget should more closely align with the prior year's projected year-end actual expenses rather than the prior year's budgeted expenses, with a goal of achieving an overall budget reduction of ~$2M.
The projected year-end amounts will continue to be refined through finalizing the budget report to the Pool/Advisory and Board in May. The prior year expense will be taken into consideration for the final budget request.
Date Submitted
2025-04-09
Name
Justin Scott-Coe
Party
Monte Vista Water District
Question
General: MVWD and other paying producers are anticipating economic uncertainties over the coming year that may directly impact the affordability of water service to our customers. The following are areas where WM's proposed expenditures can be reduced without harming the Basin or negatively impacting WM's ability to administer the Judgment:
1) Reduce meeting expenses by limiting legal/staff attendance at Pool/Advisory Committee meetings, providing informational presentations only at Advisory and Board meetings, and canceling meetings when there is no business items requiring action.
2) Significantly reduce or eliminate miscellaneous, general and unanticipated expenses, relying instead on reserves or budget amendments for unanticipated expenses.
3) Eliminate items where activity is unlikely to occur during the budget year. Wherever possible, limit or forgo activities that are not explicitly required by the Judgment/CAMA or requested by a consensus of the parties. Adopt a "less is more approach.
PARTY:
Monte Vista Water District
QUESTION ASKED REGARDING THE BUDGET:
Regarding Account No: General
General: MVWD and other paying producers are anticipating economic uncertainties over the coming year that may directly impact the affordability of water service to our customers. The following are areas where WM's proposed expenditures can be reduced without harming the Basin or negatively impacting WM's ability to administer the Judgment:
1) Reduce meeting expenses by limiting legal/staff attendance at Pool/Advisory Committee meetings, providing informational presentations only at Advisory and Board meetings, and canceling meetings when there is no business items requiring action.
2) Significantly reduce or eliminate miscellaneous, general and unanticipated expenses, relying instead on reserves or budget amendments for unanticipated expenses.
3) Eliminate items where activity is unlikely to occur during the budget year. Wherever possible, limit or forgo activities that are not explicitly required by the Judgment/CAMA or requested by a consensus of the parties. Adopt a "less is more approach.
*Reduce meeting expenses by limiting legal/staff attendance at Pool/Advisory Committee meetings, providing informational presentations only at Advisory and Board meetings, and canceling meetings when there is no business items requiring action.
• Attendance of WM Board’s legal counsel is within the Board’s purview.
• Legal attendance serves two functions – to provide information to the Committees, but also to keep current with discussions at the Pool Committee to provide WM Board and staff support without having to incur additional costs to research background on issues.
• Staff attendance at committee meetings does not entail additional costs.
• Providing informational presentations to only Advisory Committee and Board might result in some Pool Committee members missing those presentations.
• Historically, meetings have been cancelled, in consultation with Committee chairs, when prudent to do so.
• In order to be efficient with budgeted expenses, both legal and engineering consultants ask the General Manager before each meeting whether attendance in person is required.
*Significantly reduce or eliminate miscellaneous, general and unanticipated expenses, relying instead on reserves or budget amendments for unanticipated expenses.
• Pertaining to Watermaster budget – we have reviewed and reduced/eliminated these expenses to help maintain the affordability of the budget.
• Pertaining to the legal budget – while parties are assessed to allow for potential services within these categories, if the services are not provided, the remaining funds are returned to the parties.
*Eliminate items where activity is unlikely to occur during the budget year. Wherever possible, limit or forgo activities that are not explicitly required by the Judgment/CAMA or requested by a consensus of the parties. Adopt a "less is more” approach.
• Since the development of the budget for FY 2024/25, Watermaster has not budgeted for or contemplated any efforts beyond the existing commitments. This practice continues for FY 2025/26. Watermaster budgets only for efforts it intends to work on over the course of the FY.