The Water Resources Advisory Board convened for its annual January meeting, where members elected new leadership and received a comprehensive overview of planned activities for 2026. Rick Eggerth was elected Chair and Bret Beaupain was elected Vice Chair in what appeared to be a routine transition, with Beaupain noting they were "flip flopping roles." The meeting's primary focus was a detailed presentation of the 2026 work plan by Deputy Public Works Director Mike Olinger, outlining an ambitious agenda covering water system planning, sewer infrastructure, environmental protection, and public accountability measures. The work plan spans seven major themes, from basic board orientation to complex regulatory compliance issues. Staff provided updates on several critical infrastructure projects, including the settlement of the Post Point Notice of Violation with Northwest Clean Air and ongoing work on the city's water system plan. The Post Point issue has been resolved with a compliance plan extending through 2030, requiring construction to begin in 2027 and an estimated cost of over $40 million. The board also heard about changes to the state's approach to nutrient reduction requirements, with the Department of Ecology abandoning the Puget Sound general nutrient permit in favor of incorporating requirements directly into individual facility permits. This shift creates uncertainty about future compliance costs and timeline. A notable moment came during public comment when Jerry, owner of RDS landfill, advocated for an alternative approach to biosolids management, proposing a $1.2 million device that could convert sewage sludge into material suitable for landfilling rather than incineration.
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Executive Summary
Key Decisions & Actions
& Actions - **Chair and Vice Chair Election:** Rick Eggerth elected Chair, Bret Beaupain elected Vice Chair (unanimous vote) - **November 2025 Minutes Approval:** Approved with one abstention (Rick Eggerth, who was absent from that meeting) - **2026 Work Plan Acceptance:** Board received and discussed the comprehensive work plan for information - **Wastewater Treatment Plant Tour Request:** Board requested a group tour to be scheduled, potentially as a special meeting
Notable Quotes
**Jerry, on his alternative biosolids proposal:**
"I'm here to tell you folks that I believe we have a better solution than to emit PFAS into our community. There's no way our incinerators with all of the emissions controls we're gonna do that we're gonna prevent polluting our community."
**Mike Olinger, on the regulatory uncertainty around nutrient reduction:**
"Yeah, new day and we're still a little confused as to what the new day is."
**Joel Pfundt, on balancing competing priorities:**
"one person's want is another person's need, but in trying to discern what the real needs are and how to balance those different competing, you know, competing values."
**Mike Olinger, on water rights documentation:**
"we have water rights off of creeks and off of, we've got water rights all over the place, hundreds and hundreds of thousands of documents and, and things like that."
**Riley Grant, on the new utility report:**
"We would like to do more close the loop, I keep calling it, on our kind