CEO Report

July 27, 2023

Legislative Update | Inspector General Status | Program Update – CP 4 | September 2023 Board Meeting | Relevant Materials

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

• Enacted Legislation:
  • Senate Bill (SB) 146 – Extension of NEPA Assignment
    • SB 146 extends the sunset date of NEPA authorization from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2033
    • Provides a 10-year extension whereas previous legislation provided a 2 to 4-year extension
    • Provides certainty to the renewal process of the NEPA MOU that expires July 27, 2024, between the State and the Federal Government
  • Senate Bill (SB) 147 – California Endangered Species Act
    • SB 147 authorizes by permit the take of certain species, including the Blunt Nosed Leopard Lizard (BNLL)
    • The BNLL has been identified in the vicinity of the Authority’s alignment
    • SB 147 allows safe relocation of certain species from the construction site to a location outside of the Authority’s ROW
    • Without SB 147, the Authority would risk construction delays and cost increases

STATUS OF THE SELECTION OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL

• Last year’s legislation, SB 198, established the position of the Inspector General to provide greater oversight of the project
• The Governor is tasked with appointing an Inspector General to a 4-year term from a list of three qualified individuals nominated by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC)
• On June 19, 2023, JLAC nominated three candidates
• The Governor will make final appointment

PROGRAM UPDATE – CP 4

• Target for Guideway Completion:
  • August 2023
• Target for Substantial Completion:
  • Includes civil works and guideway
  • Fall 2023
• Schedule Pressures: Two Canal Relocations
  • Semitropic Water Storage District
    • Old Canal seeping water & complicating work, being assessed
  • North Kern Canal
    • Conflict with underground fiber optic cable

SEPTEMBER 2023 BOARD MEETING

• WHERE:
  • San Diego
  • DoubleTree Hotel San Diego – Hotel Circle
• WHEN:
  • Wednesday, September 20
    • F&A and Board Meeting will take place in the afternoon
  • Thursday, September 21
    • Workshop with Brightline will take place in the morning

RELATED MATERIALS

• Board Memo for July 2023 CEO Report.
• PowerPoint Presentation for July 2023 CEO Report.
• Video of July 2023 CEO Report, Once Available.