AGENDA ITEM: 2a MEETING DATE: July.18,2024  biala , SERVICES  MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS BIOLA COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT  June 20, 2024  The Board ofDirectors of the Biola Community Services District met for its Board Meeting on June 20, 2024 at the Biola Community Center, Biola, California.  The following were present: Board of] Directors: Jennifer Duarte, Board President Carlos Rodriguez, Vice President Martha Madera, Board Treasurer Reyes Lozano, Board Member The following seat is vacant: Board of Directors: Vacancy, Board Secretary Staff-] Present. Public:  Licia Clark, Mationa Veneros, Hilariol Bolanos, R. Flores Martinez, Carmen Zamora, Natalial Meza, Angelica Cortez, Martha Palmeno, Phillip Cervantes, Mercedes Ramos, Susana Barrios, Lorena Lopez, Joaquin Soto, Elizabeth Pozos, Marial M. Cruz, Lucrecia Soriano, Maria Carbajal, Maria Vargas, Mayra Escareno, Diane Gonzalez, Maximo Pozos, C. Rodriguez, David, Pedro Carmona, Natalia Vasquez, Soledad Lopez, Leonardo Gala, Baltazar Carmona, Fabian) Reyes, Veronical Reyes, Candelario! Raya, Cecilia Paramo, Rosalba Gomez, Guillermina Cervantes, Maria Suarez, Jose Suarez, Marial Mondejar, Imelda Zarate, Gabriel Chavarin, Demecio. Flore, Jose Luis y Bernarda Zarate, Leticia Diaz, Francisco Torres, Adelal Lozano B., Linda Gloria, Juanal Hernandez, Bernardo Quintana, Griselda Hernandez, Maria Soto, Salvador Moreno, Dora' Villafana, Maria Santos, Marial Barreras, Ignacio Celis, Karla Gutierrez, Margarita Altamirano, Manuel Aguilar, Antonio Rodriguez, Javier Del Toro, Yvette Ibarra, Antonio Camacho, Marissa Herrera, Trinity Navarro, Luis Hernandez, Epifiano Hernandez. Josel Meza, and more.  Roll Call Roll Call was called. Call to Order for this meeting. Item 1.0-Public Comment  President Duarte calls thej meeting together at 6:00 PM. Spanish translation is provided  Licia Clark shares information on the summer Enrichment Program that starts July 8-25th for 5-11 years old. Anyone interested can apply.    Meliton Vasquez- Requests traffic markings in the community toj prevent cars from speeding and failing to stop for the safety of children and pedestrians. The board chair instructs the staff toj provide him with the Sheriff's contact information, as the Sheriff previously mentioned reporting speeding vehicles. Ignacio Celis- Requests to install a light on aj post on H Street.  Item 2.0- - Consent Calendar  The Board Treasurer, Madera, noted a typo ini the. June 20, 2024, agenda item 3. She  corrected the description year to: read "2024-2025." 2a. Approval of] Regular Meeting Minutes Dated May 16, 2024. 2b. Approval of] Financials ending May 30, 2024 A motion is made to approve the May minutes and financials. MSC Madera/Lozano Roll Call Vote: 4 Ayes 1 Vacancy  AGENDA ITEM NEW BUSINESS- Proposed Budget A. Open. Public Hearing C.1 Public Comments D. Close Public Hearing E. Board. Discussion.  Item 3.0- Hold Public Hearing for the. Adoption oft the 2024-2025 District The Board of Directors held aj public hearing prior to the adoption of the 2024-2025 Proposed. Budget. The following procedure was followed for this public hearing:  B.. Presentation by Elaine Cervantes, General. Manager  The Board President opened the public hearing at 6:17 PM. General Manager Elaine Cervantes presented that the budget has remained unchanged since 2018, with the same categories and four part-time employees. In 2021-2022, an audit revealed a deficit ofover $37,000, and a report on this is available. The previous board was aware oft this issue. She acknowledged that communication, especially in Spanish, needs improvement. However, including interpretation services in the budget will incur additional costs. The District has not charged late fees for customer bills since COVID-19. Notably, a large amount of customers do not pay their bills. Since 2021-2022, the District has been operating with a After her presentation, public input was received. Complaints highlighted issues with budget transparency and accessibility, including the lack of documents in Spanish, unclear financial changes, the need for audits and workshops, better access for non-tech- savvy individuals, posting information on doors, including linguistic translators ini the  deficit.  budget, and concerns about high bills and overspending. The public hearing closed at 7:15F PM.  MINUTES: BOARDI MEETING June 20, 2024  Page 2of4    Item 4.0-4 Approval ofthe 2024-2025 District Budget  Public input was received, with many comments urging against approving the budget as it currently stands. The board of directors then deliberated among themselves. The board has decided to table this item until the July agenda. They will return with detailed information and provide it for the public during a Special Meeting, with Item 5.0- Public Hearing to Consider the Water and Wastewater Sewer Rates The Board of1 Directors held aj public hearing prior to considering the approval ofwater and wastewater rates. The following procedure was followedf for this public hearing:  interpretation services available in Spanish.  A. Open Public. Hearing C.1 Public Comments D. Close Public Hearing E.L Board. Discussion.  B. Presentation by Dan Bergmann, Rate Consultant  The Board President opened thej public hearing at 7:47 PM. Rate Consultant Dan Bergmann presented the item, stating that 7% of customers aren't paying their bills and it has been 10 years since the last increase. Hei mentioned that the District is moving away from the current tiered rates and emphasized that ift the rates are not approved, the process will have to start over. This would mean incurring more costs, sending out another notice, waiting another 45-day period, thel District going further into debt, and higher rates to cover the additional debt. The District would also have no money left and would need to Brian Pacheco, County Supervisor, was also present. He stated he represents the western portion of the county. Inl his 10 years as an elected official, he has brought $7 million into the community by installing sidewalks and curbs. Brian introduced Amina Flores, Deputy Public input was received, with complaints including a demand for Spanish translations on documents and in meetings, ai need to actively seek grants, cutting unnecessary spending, highlighting the community's severe impoverishment, opposing the rate The public hearing closed at 8:56) PM. At the end oft the hearing, Board President Duarte stated that 141 protests were received, which did not constitute aj majority of votes. Item 6.0-Consider Approval of the Water: and Wastewater Rates For Fiscal Year Public input was received many comments they are aware the need for an increase, but ata A motion is made to approve Resolution 2024-09 Water and Wastewater Rates For  do more public education.  CAO from the County, noting she is an expert in budget matters.  increase, and advocating for a fairer increase instead.  2024/25 Through 2028/29 and BCSD Policy Number 2907  fair amount. The board deliberated. Fiscal Year 2024/25 Through 2028/29.  MSC Rodriguez/Lozano Roll Call Vote: 4 Ayes 1 Vacancy  MINUTES: BOARD) MEETING June 20, 2024  Page 3 of4    Am motion is made to approve the BCSD Policy Number 2907. MSC Rodriguez/Lozano Roll Call Vote: 4 Ayes 1 Vacancy Item 7.0- Board Member Communications Information  Any Board member may make an announcement, report briefly on theiractivities,  or ask a question for clarification: Item 8.0 Staff Reports  Board member Lozano inquiry project going on Biola. Ave. General Manager, Elaine Cervantes, presents her staff report.  Item 9.0- ADJOURNMENT 9:23PM  The next regular meeting of the Board of Directors is Thursday, July 18, 2024. At 9:23p.m. on June 20, 2024 the Meeting oft the Board ofl Directors was adjourned. A letter was submitted by the public to the board of directors in English and Spanish with a  list of95 signatures of concerned residents.  ,Marisol Camacho, Board Clerk to the Board: for the Community ofBiola, do hereby declare under penalty of! perjury that the above Minutes are at true report ofa all action minutes taken att the Regular Board ofl Directors meeting held on June 20, 2024 at the Biola Community Services District, 49251 N. 7th Street,  Biola, CA 93606. Approved: 7/8/24 Date  MarisolCamacho, Board Clerk  NEXT MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS July 18, 2024 - Regular Meeting, Biola, CA at 6:00PM  MINUTES: BOARDMEETING June2 20, 2024  Page 4 of4