Carolyn Balazs, environmental sustainability coordinator in the district’s policy and planning department, presented the Sacramento Area Sewer District’s Confluence Regional Partnership Program annual report for fiscal year 2024–25 at the board’s Oct. 8 meeting.

Balazs said the program uses discretionary funds that do not come from customer rates or fees but from other district receipts such as asset sales, biogas and recycled water revenue. "That discretionary funding does not come from rates or fees. It actually comes from other sources, like the sale of our assets, the biogas, recycled water, just to name a few," Balazs said.

Staff reported the program obligated just under $4.9 million in grants during the year. Major elements reported included:
- Sewer Lifeline Rate Assistance Program: more than $2 million in rebates to eligible low‑income customers and facilities (eligible customers can receive up to $195 per year); enrollment increased after targeted outreach and coordination with SMUD and PG&E.
- Septic conversion grants: roughly $230,000 across 21 grants, covering design and construction costs, impact and tap fees, main and lateral work and, newly, repair or replacement of low‑pressure pump systems for previous grant recipients.
- Franklin Channel Reforestation and Restoration: over $300,000 committed to the Sacramento Tree Foundation to plant more than 800 native trees and milkweed to support pollinators.
- American River Parkway: funding for the American River Parkway Foundation’s "Protect the Parkway" project (trash and invasive species removal) and a recommendation to extend outreach to other nonprofits that conduct cleanup work.
- Economic development: the annual allocation of $650,000 for sewer impact fee discounts (50% for qualifying commercial/industrial projects that create at least one full‑time job) was fully awarded; staff reported 25 grants and 763 full‑time jobs tied to those awards.
- Sewer impact fee waivers for affordable housing: more than $900,000 awarded across five residential projects under the district ordinance that waives fees for qualifying low‑income or affordable housing developments.
- Public education and MOSAC: funding includes a multiyear commitment of about $1.5 million to the Museum of Science and Curiosity (MOSAC) and a multi‑year student education grant to the Center for Land‑Based Learning (SLU program) to support hands‑on watershed stewardship education.
- Other projects: a $50,000 Sycamore Trail planting project with the Rotary Club of West Sacramento that installed 400 fruit trees.

Board members used the presentation to press staff on outreach and oversight. Director Dickinson and others asked that the district provide a mid‑year status update on Confluence obligations so board members can identify under‑subscribed categories before staff reallocated dollars across line items. Staff said the district performs a quarterly district engineer report and agreed to include obligation status in those public materials.

Director Guerra asked about outreach in annexed neighborhoods on septic conversion and low‑pressure pump issues; staff said they would follow up, including sharing contacts for neighborhood outreach. In response to a question about coordination with county assistance programs, outreach staff said the district had targeted SMUD and PG&E customer lists and distributes a bill insert in all utility bills; staff said they had not yet coordinated directly with the Sacramento County Department of Human Assistance but would do so on request.

Director Villegas urged broader outreach to River City Water Alliance, noting the group’s work in lower reaches of the American River Parkway; staff confirmed River City Water Alliance had received funding previously and said they would proactively reach out.

Director Villegas and others also urged the district and MOSAC to strengthen public‑education exhibits that connect everyday household plumbing and sanitation to wastewater treatment and resource recovery, with an eye toward workforce development and public awareness.

Balazs closed by noting the Confluence program strengthens relationships with local nonprofits and agencies, citing letters of appreciation and partnerships with the Sacramento Valley Conservancy and regional water boards. Staff said application volume for the coming year is already rising and proposed returning in roughly six months with an update on obligated funds and available balances.

No public comment was recorded for the Confluence report at the meeting.