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Home My WebLink About09-03-25 Board Minutes 1 MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS OF THE OTAY WATER DISTRICT AND OTAY WATER DISTRICT FINANCING AUTHORITY September 3, 2025 1. The meeting was called to order by President Lopez at 3:35 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL Directors Present: Directors Gonzalez, Lopez, Rivera, and Robak (arrived at 3:38 p.m.) Directors Absent: Director Croucher Staff Present: General Manager Jose Martinez, General Counsel Dan Shinoff, Chief Financial Officer Joe Beachem, Chief of Administration Adolfo Segura, Chief of Operations Andrew Jackson, Asst. Chief of Finance Kevin Koeppen, Public Services Manager Kevin Cameron, District Secretary Tita Ramos-Krogman and others per attached list. 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA A motion was made by Director Rivera, seconded by Director Gonzalez, and carried with the following vote: Ayes: Directors Gonzalez, Lopez, Rivera, and Robak Noes: None Abstain: None Absent: Director Croucher to approve the agenda. 5. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING OF AUGUST 6, 2025 A motion was made by Director Rivera, seconded by President Lopez, and carried with the following vote: Ayes: Directors Gonzalez, Lopez, Rivera, and Robak Noes: None Abstain: None Absent: Director Croucher to approve the minutes of the regular board meeting of August 6, 2025. 2 6. PRESENTATION OF 2025 “BEST IN DISTRICT” WATERSMART LANDSCAPE CONTEST WINNER Communications Assistant Eileen Salmeron provided a PowerPoint Presentation to the board and announced that the winner of the 2025 “Best in District” WaterSmart Landscape Contest is Mr. and Mrs. Spence. Their property is in Division 2, Director Gonzalez’s division. Mrs. Spence responded to questions and comments from the board. 7. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION – OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD ON ANY SUBJECT MATTER WITHIN THE BOARD'S JURISDICTION BUT NOT AN ITEM ON TODAY'S AGENDA District Secretary Tita Ramos-Krogman noted that no one wished to be heard in person at the board meeting. However, she indicated that a copy of written comments and supporting materials from Mr. Jeff Shelton was provided to board members and will be included in the September 3, 2025, board minutes. PUBLIC HEARING 8. PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PUBLIC HEALTH GOAL REPORT THE BOARD WILL BE HOLDING A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER APPROVING THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH GOAL REPORT. THE BOARD INVITES THE PUBLIC TO PROVIDE COMMENTS ON THE REPORT. a) APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATIONS STATED IN THE 2025 PUBLIC HEALTH GOAL (PHG) REPORT TO TAKE NO FURTHER ACTION IN REDUCING THE LEVELS OF THE FIVE CONSTITUENTS LISTED IN THE REPORT TO LEVELS AT OR BELOW THE PHGs Water Systems Supervisor Marciano Santos provided the staff report to the board. President Lopez opened the public hearing at 4:04 p.m. Mr. Santos responded to questions and comments from the board. With no public comments, President Lopez closed the public hearing at 4:13 p.m. A motion was made by Director Rivera, seconded by President Lopez and carried with the following vote: Ayes: Directors Gonzalez, Lopez, Rivera, and Robak Noes: None Abstain: None Absent: Director Croucher 3 to approve the recommendations stated in the 2025 Public Health Goal (PHG) Report to take no further action in reducing the levels of the five constituents listed in the report to levels at or below the PHGs. CONSENT ITEMS 9. ITEMS TO BE ACTED UPON WITHOUT DISCUSSION, UNLESS A REQUEST IS MADE BY A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OR THE PUBLIC TO DISCUSS A PARTICULAR ITEM: A motion was made by Director Robak, seconded by President Lopez and carried with the following vote: Ayes: Directors Gonzalez, Lopez, Rivera, and Robak Noes: None Abstain: None Absent: Director Croucher to approve the following consent calendar item: a) ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 4461 APPROVING THE SEWER ANNEXATION OF THE PROPERTY OWNED BY TIMOTHY AND TARA HOLLIS, 10825 CALAVO DRIVE, LA MESA, CA 91941, APN: 497-112-03-00, TO THE OTAY WATER DISTRICT’S SEWER IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NO. 18 ACTION ITEMS 10. BOARD a) DISCUSS THE 2025 BOARD MEETING CALENDAR District Secretary Tita Ramos-Krogman indicated that a special board meeting will be held on September 8, 2025, to tour the district’s 870-2 Reservoir. In addition, a CPRL&L Committee meeting is scheduled for September 15, and the Finance and Administrative Committee Meeting is scheduled for September 17. There were no other changes to the board calendar. General Manager Jose Martinez stated that a board retreat will be scheduled in November 2025 to begin the district’s strategic plan process. A survey will be sent to board members to inquire about their topics they would like to discuss for the board retreat. President Lopez shared that he will be on vacation in September and assigned Directors Rivera and Gonzalez to convene the Finance and Administrative Committee meeting on September 17, 2025. 4 INFORMATIONAL ITEM 11. THE FOLLOWING ITEM IS PROVIDED TO THE BOARD FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. NO ACTION IS REQUIRED ON THE FOLLOWING AGENDA ITEM: a) FOURTH QUARTER OF FISCAL YEAR 2025 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM REPORT UPDATE Public Service Manager Kevin Cameron provided a PowerPoint Presentation to the board and responded to their questions and comments. Director Gonzalez inquired about the CIP budget exceeding $3 million this fiscal year (2025). Mr. Cameron stated that in 2024, there were project delays that resulted in overall expenditure throughout the fourth quarter totaling $6.46 million (42% of the 2024 budget). As those projects from 2024 began in this fiscal year, it impacted the 2025 CIP budget. Mr. Cameron noted that exceeding the CIP budget is not negative when looking at the overall 5-year CIP budget average. REPORTS 11. GENERAL MANAGER REPORT General Manager Martinez shared that the district’s Purchasing Department was awarded the National Procurement Institute’s 2025 Achievement of Excellence in Procurements. 12. SAN DIEGO COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY UPDATE Director Robak provided and update on CWA matters that included the Agreement for Water Service to the Barona Band of Mission Indians. 13. DIRECTORS' REPORTS/REQUESTS Written reports from Directors Gonzalez, Lopez, Rivera, and Robak were submitted to District Secretary Ramos-Krogman, which will be attached to the minutes for today’s meeting. 14. PRESIDENT’S REPORT A written report from President Lopez will be submitted to District Secretary Ramos-Krogman and will be attached to the minutes for today’s meeting. U 15. CLOSED SESSION The board recessed to closed session at 5:01 p.m. to discuss the following matters: 5 a) CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION [GOVERNMENT CODE §54956.9] MARK COZIAHR, ET AL. vs. OTAY WATER DISTRICT, CASE NO. 37-2015-000-CU-MC-CTL RETURN TO OPEN SESSION 16. REPORT ON ANY ACTIONS TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION. THE BOARD MAY ALSO TAKE ACTION ON ANY ITEMS POSTED IN CLOSED SESSION The board reconvened from closed session at 6:47 p.m. and General Counsel Dan Shinoff reported that no reportable actions were taken. UOTAY WATER DISTRICT FINANCING AUTHORITY 17. NO MATTERS TO DISCUSS There were no items scheduled for discussion for the Otay Water District Financing Authority board. 18. ADJOURNMENT With no further business to come before the Board, President Lopez adjourned the meeting at 6:47 p.m. President ATTEST: District Secretary OTAY WATER DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS PER-DIEM AND MILEAGE CLAIM FORM Pay To: Jose Lopez Period Covered: Employee Number: From: 08/01/25 To: 08/31/25 ITEM DATE MEETING PURPOSE / ISSUES DISCUSSED 1 08/01/25 East County Chamber First Friday Breakfast – Presented an Award from Chamber 2 08/06/25 OWD Regular Board Meeting 3 08/12/25 OWD Meeting with GM Martinez 4 08/14/25 OWD Committee Agenda Briefing with GM 5 08/14/25 FLOW Friendship Latinos on Water Mtg. NO CHARGE 6 08/15/25 South County EDC Economic Development Forum 7 08/22/25 Albondigas Monthly Luncheon (NO CHARGE) 8 08/25/25 CSDA Fall Conference – Monterey, CA 9 08/26/25 CSDA Fall Conference – Monterey, CA 10 08/27/25 CSDA Fall Conference – Monterey, CA 11 08/27/25 OWD Board Agenda Briefing Mtg. w/ GM (NO CHARGE) Public Comment – Fluoridation & Transparency (3 minutes) Good afternoon, Board Members. My name is Jeff Shelton, a resident of Chula Vista. I’m here to raise an urgent concern shared by many ratepayers: the continued presence of fluoride in our drinking water and the lack of local oversight or informed consent. Fluoridation is effectively a mass‑medication policy—applied without individualized dosage, monitoring, or consent. Recent federal and peer‑reviewed research has raised credible concerns about potential neurodevelopmental effects for pregnant women and young children. I recognize Otay Water District does not add fluoride on site; our supply is fluoridated upstream by wholesalers (SDCWA/Metropolitan Water District) under state policy. But that does not absolve this Board of its duty to practice transparency, evaluate health risks, and advocate for customers. •Agenda: Place fluoridation on an upcoming agenda for public discussion and staff research. •Disclosure: Publish agreements/MOUs and treatment specifications with SDCWA/MWD related to fluoride. •Independent review: Commission an independent health‑impact literature summary focused on current federal evidence. •Advocacy: Formally request non‑fluoridated deliveries from wholesalers or an opt‑out pathway, and transmit a resolution to state officials seeking flexibility under current law. We have a right to clean water—not medicated water for theoretical benefits we did not individually consent to. I ask the Board to lead with transparency and to act on these steps. Thank you. — Jeff Shelton • Chula Vista, CA • jeffshelton3@protonmail.com • 707‑761‑5374 What You Need to Know About Fluoride in Otay Water (1‑page) Who adds fluoride? Metropolitan Water District (via San Diego County Water Authority) fluoridates treated water supplied to Otay. Otay passes through this water and does not add fluoride locally. Why this matters: Fluoridation is a one‑size‑fits‑all exposure without individualized dosing or consent. Recent federal reviews have examined potential neurodevelopmental risks for infants and during pregnancy. •Transparency: Publish contracts/specifications with wholesalers that govern fluoridation. •Independent review: Commission a concise, independent literature summary focused on current federal findings. •Local options: Explore opt‑out or non‑fluoridated deliveries; adopt a Board resolution urging state flexibility. Key references (bring or email the PDFs): •NTP (2024) Monograph – Fluoride Exposure & Neurodevelopment (Executive Summary). •Green et al. (2019) & Till et al. (2019/2020) cohort analyses related to prenatal/early‑life exposure and child IQ. Contact: Jeff Shelton • Chula Vista, CA • jeffshelton3@protonmail.com • 707‑761‑5374 Study Abstract Summary — Till et al. (2019) Citation: Till C. et al. 2019. Fluoride Exposure from Infant Formula and Child IQ in a Canadian Birth Cohort. Environment International. Design: Prospective cohort assessing fluoride exposure from formula prepared with fluoridated vs. non‑fluoridated water; child IQ outcomes later in childhood. Key Findings: Children who consumed formula reconstituted with fluoridated water showed lower mean IQ compared with those in non‑fluoridated areas, after adjustment for covariates. Relevance: Highlights potential risk from early‑life exposures when intake per body weight is highest (infancy). Limitations: Observational design; potential residual confounding; variation in formula preparation practices. Why include for Otay: Underscores precaution for infants in fluoridated service areas and supports calls for transparent local risk review. Study Abstract Summary — Green et al. (2019) Citation: Green R. et al. 2019. Association Between Maternal Fluoride Exposure During Pregnancy and IQ Scores in Offspring. JAMA Pediatrics. Design: Prospective Canadian cohort (MIREC). N≈512 mother–child pairs. Maternal urinary fluoride (MUFe) and estimated fluoride intake from water and beverages during pregnancy; child IQ at ages 3–4. Key Findings: Higher prenatal fluoride exposure was associated with lower IQ in children, with sex‑specific patterns reported. Associations persisted after adjustment for key confounders. Relevance: Suggests prenatal period may be a sensitive window. Although not a U.S. cohort, exposure sources (water, beverages) are comparable to North American settings with fluoridation. Limitations: Observational design; exposure misclassification possible; generalizability and effect‑size precision debated. Findings should be weighed alongside other studies and reviews. Why include for Otay: Helps frame precaution and the need for updated, independent review when local water contains added fluoride upstream. California Public Records Act Request — Metropolitan Water District (Fluoridation) Date: September 8, 2025 To: Public Records Office, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (publicrecords@mwdh2o.com) From: Jeff Shelton, Chula Vista, CA • jeffshelton3@protonmail.com • 707‑761‑5374 Subject: Records relating to fluoridation of drinking water delivered to San Diego County Water Authority and retail agencies (2015–present). Pursuant to the California Public Records Act, please produce electronic copies of records (2015–present) including: •Policies, SOPs, treatment specifications, and dosing targets for fluoride addition (e.g., 0.7 mg/L). •Procurement records, product safety data sheets, and vendor contracts for fluoride chemicals. •Contracts, MOUs, or service agreements with SDCWA or member agencies that reference fluoridation. •Internal or external risk assessments, incident reports, deviations from target levels, and customer notifications related to fluoride. •Communications (Board, executive, water quality, operations) discussing suspension, opt‑out, alternative supplies, or legal constraints related to fluoridation. •Any pilot studies or feasibility analyses regarding non‑fluoridated deliveries or segmentation. I request rolling production and a fee waiver in the public interest. Please provide responsive records in searchable electronic format. If any portion is withheld, please cite specific exemptions and release segregable material. Thank you for your prompt attention. — Jeff Shelton