Legislative and Regulatory Update
2019 CASA Priority Bills: Wipes, Ocean Discharge Ban and Ocean Denitrification
Several CASA priority bills will be heard this week in the Senate and Assembly Appropriations Committees. Due to the sizeable costs associated with the bills, they have all been moved to their respective Committee’s “Suspense Files” where the committee sends any bill with an annual cost of more than $150,000.

Here’s an update:
  • Both SB 332 (Hertzberg), the ocean discharge ban, and SB 69 (Wiener), the ocean denitrification mandate, will be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee.
  • AB 1672 (Bloom), flushable and non-flushable wipes labeling, will be heard by the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
  • All of the bills on the Senate and Assembly "suspense files" will be voted on during simultaneous hearings on Thursday, May 16th.
CASA Explores State Revolving Fund Program Improvements
In early May, CASA members met with staff from the State Water Board’s Division of Financial Assistance to continue discussions on the future direction of California’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund program. The Board recently released the draft Intended Use Plan, which proposes to fund 39 projects at $1.2 billion. The Water Board staff has set an annual SRF funding target of $900 million to $1.2 billion. The focus of the May meeting was on how California can further leverage or increase this funding level, given the $7 billion in demand. The participants agreed to jointly explore ideas such a higher interest rate option for rated agencies in exchange for incentives; opportunities for increased investment return at the State Treasurer’s office and incorporation of a State WIFIA loan into the portfolio.

The group also discussed opportunities for streamlining and greater efficiencies, to speed up the application and funding process including consideration of a separate planning and design funding list, eliminating the requirement for a final budget amendment and allowing applicants to complete the loan checklist with references to documentation. Next steps include forming a joint workgroup to evaluate the leveraging options and a joint meeting with DFA environmental review staff to identify process improvements of mutual benefit.
Member News
Hot off the Press! CASA’s Annual Salary Survey Now Available
The annual CASA Salary Survey report is now available. The survey provides an unscientific snapshot with data from 40 agencies. It includes recent salaries for many employee types, a six-year trend table and other valuable information.

For more information, contact  Debbie Welch .
Eastern Municipal Water District Reaches Historic Milestone
Eastern Municipal Water District recently completed work on a modern sewer system in the Quail Valley area of Menifee, marking the end of a long-awaited project to protect water quality in the region. It connected 215 properties to the sewer system and was paid for through grant funding from a variety of agencies.
Mark Your Calendar
CASA Award of Excellence Entries Due this Week
Acknowledge your team’s hard work! Apply for a CASA Award of Excellence by Sunday, May 19! We invite agency and associate members to apply together or separately in four categories:

1. Innovation and Resilience
2. Organizational Excellence
3. Outstanding Capital Project
4. Public Outreach and Education

Information, eligibility and the application can be found  here . Awards will be presented in August at the  CASA Annual Conference in San Diego .
Is Your Agency "Ahead of the Curve"? Find Out at our Annual Conference in August
CASA’s annual conference is back at the  Manchester Grand Hyatt  in San Diego from Wednesday, August 21 to Friday, August 23. Join us during the best time of year to visit San Diego and connect with colleagues who have similar issues and concerns.

Come network and hear the challenges ahead with peers from public agencies and private businesses of all sizes. Learn innovative solutions to managing your agency and how to stay relevant in an accelerated and ever-changing environment.
Prospective WIFIA Borrowers Seminar Coming May 23
The  Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Ac t  of 2014 is a federal credit program administered by EPA for eligible water and wastewater infrastructure projects.

USEPA is hosting a workshop that will cover information about available funds, eligibility, the application process and financial benefits. Hear from a panel that includes a borrower from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. Register  here !

Seminar Information
Thursday, May 23
State of Arizona, Dept. of Administration Building
100 North 15th Avenue, Room 300
Phoenix, Arizona
May 21-22, 2019
Aug. 21-23, 2019