SDWD & Regular Council Meeting Livestream 05/20/2026

The City of Encinitas held a joint meeting of the Santa Fe Water District and the regular council on May 20, 2026. Key procurement-related discussions focused on the introduction and update of the San Dieguito Water District's operating and capital budget for fiscal year 2026-2027. The board reviewed the capital improvement program (CIP) execution rate, which exceeded the 75% target with $2.8 million encumbered against a $2.59 million appropriation, funded partly by project savings and carry-forward funds. The budget presentation included a 12% revenue increase assumption to cover operating and capital costs, with significant drivers being legal costs related to Lake Hodges water supply issues, inflationary pressures, and personnel costs. The district is exploring debt financing options to support capital projects such as replacing aging asbestos-cement pipes to mitigate future rate increases. The board unanimously approved upholding previously adopted water rate and charge increases for FY 2025-26 and 2026-27. Additionally, the meeting included public hearings and adoption of the water shortage contingency plan and the 2025 urban water management plan, both passed unanimously with no public comments. The meeting also covered employee vacancy rates, which remain low at 4%, and ongoing recruitment and retention efforts. No new contracts or vendor selections were reported, but the budget discussions and CIP updates indicate ongoing capital project procurement and financial planning activities.