What this is

Chester Public Utility District is working toward the District Transparency Certificate of Excellence, a voluntary program run by the Special District Leadership Foundation (SDLF), a nonprofit that supports California special districts. The certificate recognizes districts that go beyond the minimum in making their operations, finances and decisions open to the public.

We are posting our progress here so you can see exactly where the District stands. Each completed item links to the document or page that meets it. Items still in progress show what we are working on next. You can read about the program on the SDLF Transparency Certificate page.

Key: ✔ Complete  |  ◔ In progress  |  ○ Not yet started  |  — Not offered

Last updated: October 2026

1. Basic requirements

These show that the Board and staff are trained, that the District has adopted core governance policies, and that required filings are kept up to date.

• ◔ In progress: Ethics training for Board members and designated staff — Ethics and Fiscal Training Records
• ◔ In progress: Harassment prevention training for Board members and staff
• ◔ In progress: Fiscal and financial training for Board members and designated staff — Ethics and Fiscal Training Records
• ✔ Complete: Brown Act (open meetings) policy and a current meeting agenda — Policies 5010, 5020 and 5030; Agendas & Minutes (CivAssist)
• ◔ In progress: Annual public hearing on job vacancies and recruitment
• ✔ Complete: Public records request policy — Public Records Requests
• ✔ Complete: Reimbursement policy — Policies 3499 and 4030
• ◔ In progress: Annual public disclosure of reimbursements over $100
• ◔ In progress: On-time filing of the State Controller’s Financial Transactions Report and Compensation Report — District Financial Information
• ◔ In progress: Most recent audit posted — Past 3 Years of Audits
• ◔ In progress: Annual Debt Transparency Report, if the District has qualifying debt

Adopted policies

• ✔ Complete: Conflict of Interest — Policy 1020
• ✔ Complete: Code of Ethics / Board conduct — Policy 4010
• ✔ Complete: Financial Reserves — Policy 3025
• ◔ In progress: Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700) cover sheets for the Board and General Manager
• ✔ Complete: Records Retention — Policy 2145

2. Website requirements

The District website must post a set of required items so the public can find key information in one place.

• ✔ Complete: Ethics and fiscal training records, or how to request them — Training Records
• ✔ Complete: Board members and their terms of office — Board Members
• ✔ Complete: General Manager and key staff contacts — Staff
• ✔ Complete: How Board members are elected or appointed — Election Procedures
• ✔ Complete: Board meeting schedule — Board Meetings
• ✔ Complete: Mission statement — Our Mission
• ✔ Complete: Services and service area — Services; Service Area Map
• ✔ Complete: Law that created the District — Enabling Act
• ✔ Complete: Current budget — Budget
• ◔ In progress: Most recent financial audit (audits through fiscal year 2021-22 are posted; newer audits will be added) — Audits
• ✔ Complete: Board meeting minutes (at least the last 6 months) — Agendas & Minutes (CivAssist)
• ✔ Complete: Link to State Controller data on Board and staff pay — Board and Staff Compensation
• ✔ Complete: Link to the State Controller’s Financial Transactions Report — District Financial Information
• ✔ Complete: Reimbursement and compensation policy — Policies 3499 and 4030
• ✔ Complete: Link to meeting agendas and Board packets — Agendas & Minutes (CivAssist)
• ✔ Complete: Catalog of District software systems (enterprise system catalog) — Enterprise System Catalog

Additional website items (at least 4 required)

• ◔ In progress: Last 3 years of audits — Audits
• ✔ Complete: Financial reserves policy — Policy 3025
• ✔ Complete: Online public records request form — Public Records Requests
• — Not offered: Audio recordings of Board meetings posted online. The District is not required to post recordings; recordings made to prepare minutes are available on request — Board Meeting Recordings
• ✔ Complete: Map of the District service area — Service Area Map
• ◔ In progress: Photo, short biography and email for each Board member — Board Members

3. Community outreach (at least 2 required)

These go beyond posting documents and actively reach out to the community. The District will complete at least two.

• ○ Not yet started: Regular newsletter or update at least twice a year
• ○ Not yet started: Press release announcing Board election filing deadlines or vacancies
• ○ Not yet started: Salary comparison survey for staff positions (at least every 5 years)
• ○ Not yet started: Special community engagement project
• ○ Not yet started: Public budget hearing with community outreach before the budget is adopted
• ○ Not yet started: Independent review of District transparency by two community leaders

Questions

Questions about this checklist or any District record can be directed to the District office at (530) 258-2171, or submitted through Public Records Requests.