Chapter 1.35
BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ COMPENSATION
Sections:
1.35.010 Attendance at board meetings, committee meetings and other approved functions.
1.35.020 Compensation per meeting.
1.35.030 Changes in compensation.
1.35.050 Events without compensation.
1.35.060 Maximum permissible service.
1.35.070 Payments for attendance of services.
1.35.080 Directors’ compensation list.
1.35.090 Days of service approval.
Prior legislation: Ord. 74.
1.35.010 Attendance at board meetings, committee meetings and other approved functions.
Pursuant to Sections 20200 through 20207 and 71255 of the California Water Code (commencing July 14, 1999), directors shall receive compensation daily, up to a maximum of 10 days of services monthly, for attending meetings as shown on the approved directors’ compensation list in HDWDC 1.35.080.
A. Each day’s attendance at regular, special and adjourned meetings of the board of directors.
B. Each day’s attendance at regular, standing or ad hoc committee meetings.
C. Attendance at meeting(s) listed in the directors’ compensation list which are deemed as functions which are attended in an official capacity as a member of the board of directors. [Res. 22-20 Exh. A; Res. 08-19 § 1B 2025.1].
1.35.020 Compensation per meeting.
Pursuant to Ordinance No. 74 adopted on January 21, 2004, and minute action on July 26, 2017, directors shall receive compensation in the amount of $175.00 daily for approved meetings effective October 1, 2017. Section 20201, et seq., of the Water Code further provides that such compensation, and/or increases thereof, shall be enacted by the board of directors only by ordinance adopted following a public hearing, with notice of the public hearing published in a newspaper of general circulation pursuant to Section 6066 of the Government Code. [Res. 22-20 Exh. A; Res. 08-19 § 1B 2025.2].
1.35.030 Changes in compensation.
Changes in the compensation will require the approval of the board during an open meeting of the board held at least 60 days prior to the effective date of the change. [Res. 22-20 Exh. A; Res. 08-19 § 1B 2025.3].
1.35.040 Travel expenses.
In addition to requirements of Board Policy 2030, board approval of travel authorization expenses for attendance or participation by any board member at any seminar, conference or meeting shall be considered as distinct approval of qualification for compensation for each day of attendance of said event, as long as the maximum compensation does not exceed 10 days per calendar month. [Res. 22-20 Exh. A; Res. 08-19 § 1B 2025.4].
1.35.050 Events without compensation.
Meetings or events which are not compensated include the following but are not limited to: retirement dinners, political fundraisers, sporting events, district employee events, chamber of commerce mixers, dedication ceremonies and groundbreaking ceremonies. [Res. 22-20 Exh. A; Res. 08-19 § 1B 2025.5].
1.35.060 Maximum permissible service.
No payments shall be made under these regulations for attendance or services exceeding a total of 10 days in any calendar month or for attendance at meetings or hearings for which a director is not present for at least 50 percent of the meeting. [Res. 22-20 Exh. A; Res. 08-19 § 1B 2025.6].
1.35.070 Payments for attendance of services.
A. Certain meetings listed in the directors’ compensation list (see HDWDC 1.35.080) will be assigned to each director. If more than the assigned director attends, the alternate director will not receive any compensation. If the assigned director is not in attendance and the alternate director attends, the attending alternate or other available director attending will receive compensation for a day of service.
B. If a meeting is not included in the compensation list, there must be approval from the board for compensation of attendance at that meeting.
C. Claims for reimbursement of office supply expenses incurred by directors, directly in connection with the performance of their official duties, require approval by the general manager.
D. After attendance at a meeting, each director will supply the board with a report on the meeting(s) attended at a subsequent meeting of the board. The report must be oral or written, and must include the date, the name of the meeting attended, basic highlights of the meeting, and all other pertinent information which could be useful to the board.
E. Members of standing committees may alternate as chairperson. Verbal reports on the meetings shall be given by the chairperson of the respective meeting. If the reporting director is absent from the meeting at which the minutes are included on the agenda, the second committee member shall report.
F. Board compensation for a day of service will be permitted on the day before and/or the day after each meeting or conference if the travel distance to the event location is equal to or greater than 100 miles from the Hi-Desert Water District office. [Res. 22-20 Exh. A; Res. 08-19 § 1B 2025.7].
1.35.080 Directors’ compensation list.
A. Regular board meeting – All directors.
B. Special board meeting or board workshop – All directors.
C. Adjourned board meeting – All directors.
D. Board workshop – All directors.
E. Ad hoc committees – Appointed by board president.
F. Standing committees – Appointed by board president.
G. ACWA conference – All directors.
H. ACWA Region 9 meetings and events – All directors.
I. ACWA/JPIA – Board president or delegate.
J. Repealed by Res. 22-20.
K. Association of San Bernardino County Special Districts – All directors.
L. California Special Districts Association (CSDA) – All directors.
M. Mojave Water Agency (MWA) – Assigned delegate.
N. Mojave Water Agency Morongo Basin Pipeline Commission – Assigned delegate.
O. Mojave Water Agency Technical Advisor Committee (TAC) – Assigned delegate.
P. Town of Yucca Valley – Assigned delegate.
Q. Regional Water Quality Control Board – Assigned delegate.
R. Special Districts and Local Government Institute – All directors.
S. Meetings, summits or conferences with elected officials and/or agency officials regarding matters within the subject matter jurisdiction of the district (attendees must be listed on or attached to the directors’ compensation form) – All directors.
T. San Bernardino County Water Conference – All directors.
U. Urban Water Institute Water Conference – All directors.
V. California Association of Sanitation – All directors.
W. Other meetings in conformance with HDWDC 1.35.070(B). [Res. 22-20 Exh. A; Res. 18-03; Res. 16-01; Res. 14-05; Res. 13-20; Res. 13-19; Res. 13-04; Res. 08-19 § 1B 2025.8].
1.35.090 Days of service approval.
A. At the end of each month, all directors will complete a directors’ compensation form. All compensation forms shall include meetings attended within a calendar month and should show the compensation for a day of service. Any noncompensated meeting(s) attended by directors may also be listed on the bottom portion of the designated form. Completed directors’ compensation forms shall be submitted by each board member to the secretary of the board or secretary of the board delegate.
B. All directors’ monthly reports for compensation of attendance at meetings will be reviewed by the general manager before submittal of payment.
C. Completed directors’ compensation forms, which have been reviewed and approved by the general manager, shall be submitted to the payroll department for payment on the next regular payroll register. [Res. 22-20 Exh. A; Res. 08-19 § 1B 2025.9].
1.35.100 Fringe benefits.
All board members are entitled to receive benefit coverage for themselves plus one dependent (i.e., health, dental, vision) offered to exempt employees.
A board member that opts not to enroll in the foregoing benefit coverage provided by the district may participate in the Hi-Desert Water District Board Members’ Medical Expense Reimbursement Plan (“Plan”), if he or she meets the eligibility requirements outlined in Article 3 of the Plan, Which may be amended from time to time in order to comply with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and other applicable laws. [Res. 22-20 Exh. A; Res. 14-17 § 3].