The Sunset Advisory Commission took a unanimous vote to sweep the board of the Sulphur River Basin Authority during their meeting Monday in Austin. All board terms would end Sept. 1, 2017, if the recommendations are approved during the next legislative session this spring.
"I think when we testified, we knew we could not make enough progress in a month or two to justify changing the staff recommendations," Sandefur said. "We're not surprised. We are pleased with the progress we have already made, and are really looking forward to the strategic planning session at our next meeting."
That planning and board training was included in the recommendations the Commission adopted Monday, along with the hiring of an executive director, seeking local financial investment in water development projects, seeking bids for the next phase of the feasibility study and implementing best practices to address the lack of transparency in the board's dealings with press, its stakeholders and the public.
"We've been doing board training every meeting lately," Sandefur said. "We're on the right track, I believe, but haven't been on it very long, thus the recommendations remain justified. But until the Legislature approves this in a bill, nothing has happened."
Sandefur's term is to expire in 2021, along with that of McCoy and Board Member Katie Stedman, who were all appointed to the board in March by Gov. Greg Abbott.
Terms for Board Members Brad Drake and Wally Kraft will expire in 2019, with Russell and Board Member Patricia Wommack's terms ending in February 2017.
McCoy said he wasn't surprised the recommendations were adopted, and said he agreed with a lot of them.
"Hiring an administrator was good, and getting local funding," he said. "I think those were all positive points that the commission made."
Drake said he was happy to serve on the SRBA board, but the decision isn't one he agrees with.
"While I respect the purpose of the Sunset Commission, I disagree with the board sweep and look to move forward with our tasks as hand, including our work on sedimentation and our strategic plan."
If the Legislature approves the full sweep of the board, members forced to leave could put their names back in the hat for reappointment. Sandefur and McCoy said they would both be interested in continuing their service, with Drake and Kraft having no comment. Stedman was unreachable by phone Wednesday.
Sunset was created to review state agencies to determine their effectiveness and necessity. The commission has the authority to abolish many state agencies, but House Bill 3123, passed in May 2015, excludes SRBA from being abolished. It does, however, have the ability to enforce change and regulations within each agency.
SRBA is primarily funded by the Joint Commission for Program Development, which includes the city of Dallas, the city of Irving, North Texas Municipal Water District, Tarrant Regional Water District and the Upper Trinity Water District-all entities seeking water for their growing populations.
JCPD has solely funded SRBA's feasibility studies in the past several years, and Sandefur said that will change, along with SRBA taking steps to include an executive component in the board's leadership.
Rep. Gary VanDeaver, who attended Monday's meeting, said he believes SRBA is moving in the right direction, and agreed with Sunset Commission's recommendations.
"I'm pleased they adopted what they adopted," he said. "We'll see what the final outcome is when it comes to the legislature in session in the spring. It's hard to predict, but I assume all indications are that the bill will contain all recommendations from the Sunset Commission."
It could possibly be amended to reflect the changes SRBA makes in the meantime.
"I think a lot of it depends on SRBA," VanDeaver said. "They've definitely made a giant step in the right direction, and I believe they will continue to do that. What they get accomplished between now and then very well could have an impact on any changes they might consider in the bill."