GSA Meeting 10/14/2026

The October 14, 2026 meeting of the Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority (GA) included review of proposed 2027 budgets. Proposed communications spending was $125,000 for Westbound Communications plus a separate $25,000 pool for public notices, hearings, and workshops. Public commenters objected to the cost and asked that the work be put out to bid, including to local providers. A motion to strike Westbound from the budget received no second; board members supported maintaining public communications while considering a provider review or RFP in December. The transcript does not show a final vote approving the proposed budgets. The board also discussed restructuring Capital Core Group’s lobbying and on-demand services, potentially using separate budget pools or a retainer, with the contract to return for discussion in December. Stetson’s proposed budget was reported as 37% lower than the prior year. A multiyear right-of-way contract was discussed as having a $73,595 not-to-exceed fee, with remaining funding identified as grant-funded.

The GA reported a unanimous agreement resolving delinquent groundwater extraction charges for $62,968.92, including interest. The consent agenda was approved; discussion clarified that a $168 State Lands Commission charge covered data-logger leasing and maintenance. For the water-import project, representatives said a $5 million federal funding request was pending before a Senate committee and that discussions with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers were underway regarding a letter of intent. Board and public comments debated the project’s priorities, costs, and alternatives, but no water-purchase or pipeline contract award was made in the transcript.