Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 5:30 pm by Director Wanda Carpenter.
1. Roll Call
  
  Present: Director Wanda Carpenter, Director Susan Doran, Director Dan Kearns, Director Roger Cherry
  
  Absent: Director Andy Meyers
2. Pledge of Allegiance
  Led by Director Wanda Carpenter
Approve agenda Director Dan Kearns motioned to approve. Director Roger Cherry seconded the motion.

The motion passed with the following vote:
4 In Favor Opposed
Abstained 1 Absent Recused
Utility Manager Report
The Utility Manager will provide an update on recent improvements to the Crescent Mills water plant, including temporary system adjustments that have increased production capacity. A permanent repair plan for the spring line is in development. Staff are also preparing for smoke testing of the sewer system to identify infiltration points, with testing anticipated to begin in early August.
Adoption of Interim Budget for Fiscal Year 2025–2026
Staff presented an interim budget for FY 2025–2026, based on the prior year’s adopted budget, to allow continued operations and payment of expenses while a full draft budget is being finalized for Board consideration. It was clarified that, per Government Code, a budget must be adopted prior to July 1 in order for a public agency to legally expend funds in the new fiscal year.
A written public comment was received stating that the District had been operating illegally since June 30 due to the lack of an adopted budget. Staff acknowledged the oversight and explained that the delay was due to administrative workload and transitional challenges, not an intentional disregard of the law. Staff emphasized that adopting an interim budget at this time is necessary to correct the compliance issue and avoid further risk or disruption to District operations.
Board members discussed the importance of moving quickly to restore legal standing while allowing adequate time to review and adopt a complete budget. The interim budget was approved by motion and roll-call vote, with direction to include a clearly labeled fiscal year heading on the final version.
Director Dan Kearns motioned to approve. Director Roger Cherry seconded the motion.

The motion passed with the following vote:
4 In Favor Opposed
Abstained 1 Absent Recused
Review and Adoption – Policy 5035: Public Comment Conduct
The Board reviewed proposed Policy 5035, which seeks to define standards for public comment conduct at meetings, including limitations on “personal attacks,” “abusive,” and “defamatory” language. The draft policy also included provisions allowing staff to redact or withhold public comments from the record based on content.
During the meeting, two public comments were submitted online and read into the record. The first, from Ashley Sims, strongly criticized the proposed policy as unconstitutional, citing First Amendment protections under the Brown Act and relevant case law. The speaker argued that the policy posed legal risks for the District by enabling viewpoint discrimination and unauthorized censorship, especially concerning the redaction of critical or offensive comments. A second anonymous comment, heavily laced with profanity and personal insults, appeared to reinforce the kind of content the policy aimed to address.
Board members held a candid and wide-ranging discussion. Director Susan moved to table the item pending consultation with legal counsel, citing concern over potential violations of civil rights protections. Director Dan emphasized the importance of maintaining open, uncensored public forums, stating that while discourteous or vulgar comments are unproductive, limiting public speech—even offensive speech—can lead to a dangerous erosion of free expression. He added that such comments often speak more to the speaker’s credibility than to the officials being criticized.
Director Wanda raised concerns about hate speech, particularly language targeting protected groups, and whether such speech should be considered outside the bounds of protected public comment. Board members debated the line between free speech and discriminatory speech, ultimately agreeing that legal guidance is necessary to determine what, if any, limitations can be placed on public comment while remaining compliant with state and federal law.
Board agreed to table Policy 5035 and consult with legal counsel before bringing it back for further consideration.
Director Susan Doran motioned to approve. Director Roger Cherry seconded the motion.

The motion passed with the following vote:
4 In Favor Opposed
Abstained 1 Absent Recused
CivAssist Software: Potential Benefits and Considerations
Director Dan introduced the item by reading the agenda summary and an anonymous public comment, which questioned the cost-effectiveness of the CivAssist platform and raised concerns about potential suppression of critical public feedback. Public opinion was that although this agenda item was framed as a software discussion, the conversation appeared partially driven by recent public comments that had been sharply critical of the Board, prompting renewed scrutiny of how online comments are submitted and displayed.
Staff clarified that CivAssist is a subscription-based service used to manage agendas, minutes, and public comments, with an annual cost of approximately $790. Patti noted there is no formal written contract in place, and the software functions much like other administrative tools such as Microsoft Office.
Susan inquired about the feasibility of returning to standard agenda templates, and staff explained that while technically possible, doing so would significantly increase administrative workload—especially given the volume and frequency of meetings.
Dan raised broader concerns about regulatory and data security standards, asking whether platforms like CivAssist are subject to any state or federal compliance requirements. He requested follow-up from the developer regarding:
- Administrative access controls (including removal of former employees)
- Whether changes to published records are tracked or timestamped
- What cybersecurity protocols are in place to prevent unauthorized edits or backdoor access
Staff agreed to follow up with the software provider to clarify these technical and procedural issues.
General Manager Job Description
Review of two separate GM job descriptions. With the Board included emphasizing the need to prioritize regaining public trust, balancing educational qualifications with relevant operational experience, and incorporating necessary licensing to ensure adequate operational coverage. Compensation discussions proposed a starting salary around $130,000 with a probationary period and merit-based raises, contingent on further financial clarity.
During deliberations, a comprehensive wish list for the ideal candidate emerged—combining engineering licensure, grant writing prowess, and operational certifications—prompting concerns about feasibility given the district’s scale. Staff highlighted the rarity of such a combination, especially locally, while the Board noted that engineers typically handle grant writing (although often subcontracted in practice).
In light of these complexities and the absence of an active Personnel Committee to perform a detailed review, the board was encouraged to reinstate this committee at the upcoming July 16 special meeting. This schedule allows a focused, one-week window for the committee to finalize recommendations for the July 23 regular meeting, ensuring a purposeful and timely process.
Director Dan Kearns motioned to approve. Director Roger Cherry seconded the motion.

The motion passed with the following vote:
4 In Favor Opposed
Abstained 1 Absent Recused
Administrative Associate Job Description
The board confirmed that the Administrative Associate job description was previously approved in March, including authorization to proceed with hiring. Due to candidate withdrawal, hiring was paused.
Staff highlighted that the Administrative Associate’s duties—such as invoice processing, filing, and office management—are essential to free up others to focus on budgeting and grants. While a General Manager could ease some board and manager workload, they would not replace these core tasks.
The board agreed to have the Personnel Committee, once reinstated, review the job description and financial considerations to finalize recruitment plans. Board recommendation to approve the current job description and prepare to advertise the position at the next appropriate meeting, pending committee review.
Strategic Planning
Dan read public comments and a review of the board’s priorities, emphasizing the long-standing challenge of restoring public trust. Charles pointed out a communication gap between field staff and residents and suggested adding a public works page to the website for project updates. Fiscal responsibility and transparency were flagged as critical, with a focus on making financial info clear and keeping the community informed about grants and projects. Dave reminded everyone that staff have been working hard and that trust isn’t something new that just appeared or disappeared. Dan proposed a newsletter to keep residents updated across all departments and stressed prioritizing quality over quantity in services. On infrastructure, Dan advocated better use of Round Valley water, including restoring flow to the cemetery, which Roger agreed should be done since pumping costs are negligible. Charles noted grant funding is allocated to repair the water line from Round Valley to the plant.
Dan floated a forward-thinking idea to install an irrigation and fire water line feeding customers with gray water to save on treatment and support fire suppression; Roger cautioned this would require new infrastructure, but Dan suggested exploring feasibility studies and installing a turbine to power fresh water pumps. Fire department priorities are urgent, with meetings upcoming about taking over Crescent Mills Fire Department and plans to assess equipment once the transition happens.
Wanda recommended expanding focus to cover both water and sewer infrastructure, while Charles emphasized the system’s lack of redundancy, noting the need for a backup well or tank. When asked about the park well, Charles confirmed it’s old and shallow, only suitable for irrigation. Wanda raised the idea of a Town Center, but Dan quickly shot it down as outside the CSD’s scope given current financial and staffing strains, warning against taking on more projects at this time.
Amid all this, it was recognized that the district’s existing mission statement doesn’t fully capture these evolving priorities—especially the commitment to transparency, trust, and community engagement. The board agreed that revisiting and redefining the mission and vision statements is critical and would require a dedicated, possibly all-day, workshop. This would serve as their “Northern star,” guiding future project prioritization and aligning both staff and board on what they truly want to achieve.
Closed Session
1. Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation Pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54956.9 (d)(1)
Adjournment