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Extracted from Consolidated Report

This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.

San Benito County Grand Jury • 2025-2026

Transparency Issues at Sunnyslope County Water District

Published: June 03, 2026 21 pages

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⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.

⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.

Findings 8 findings

Sewer rates were changed without the public noƟce required under ProposiƟon 218.

The easement acquisiƟon process appears inconsistent and may not fully align with established procedures.

The decision by the Sunnyslope Board to bypass the established steps in conﬂict resoluƟon contributed to addiƟonal conﬂict among Board members and the airing of grievances in the public forum.

CommunicaƟon and transparency issues are signiﬁcantly aﬀecƟng interacƟons among Sunnyslope management, staﬀ, Board members, and the public.

When the general manager is negoƟaƟng contracts, such as those for the easements and the contract with the City of Hollister, the Board is not receiving all of the perƟnent details.

When Sunnyslope creates a recording of a Board meeƟng, it becomes a public record, subject to CPRA and the Brown Act. Sunnyslope currently records Board meeƟngs; however, the existence and availability of these recordings are not clearly communicated to the Board or the public.

Sunnyslope accepted an outside rate study that did not include methodology templates from the contractor, which hindered their ability to fully analyze the recommendaƟons within the report.

Current hiring pracƟces for management posiƟons are creaƟng confusion within the District.

Recommendations 17

R1

Review and, if necessary, suspend implementaƟon of the revised sewer rates pending compliance with ProposiƟon 218 noƟce requirements.
R1A

Rebate or credit back any increase of sewer charges to impacted customers.
R1B

In alignment with ProposiƟon 218, begin the process to raise sewer rates, including a 45- day public noƟce, a public hearing, and the creaƟon of an oﬃcial ordinance by the Board.
R1C

Update the Sunnyslope website to reﬂect new sewer rates once the ordinance has passed.
R2

All contracts for easements should be made available to the Board in wriƟng prior to approval.
R2A

The board should take a more acƟve role in the development of contracts on behalf of Sunnyslope, such as developing a detailed set of procedures for the General Manager to follow.
R2B

The current easement contracts should be immediately available to the public.
R3

All policies and steps for dispute resoluƟon need to be followed.
R3A

In the event that the established conﬂict resoluƟon policy needs to be amended, an 36 agreement between board members needs to be reached within the conﬁnes of Board meeƟngs.
R4

Management needs to give staﬀ clear direcƟon when policies, prices, or procedures change by puƫng them in wriƟng.
R4A

The Board of Directors should conduct training so that the general manager and the Board are familiar with the Sunnyslope County Water District Policy Manual.
R4B

Using the Sunnyslope website, news sources, and social media, noƟfy the public concerning new programs and iniƟaƟves.
R4C

The Board should approve the use of recordings at Board and commiƩee meeƟngs. These recordings should be retained and posted on Sunnyslope’s website so the public can parƟcipate in the process.
R5

Management needs to follow established policies for communicaƟng with the Board so that they receive informaƟon regarding contracts or changes to contracts.
R6

Sunnyslope should immediately post all Board and commiƩee meeƟng audio recordings within its possession on its website. 37
R7

Require, as a sƟpulaƟon, outside contractors to provide methodology templates to management.
R8

Develop a clear hiring process for management to include wriƩen agreements when promoƟng from within the organizaƟon.