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Ch. 833 — 14 —

(3) For the retail division of the agency that corresponds with the Newhall
County Water District area, changes to the volumetric, nontiered retail rate
structure that existed for the Newhall County Water District area as of
December 31, 2017. This paragraph does not include changes to the tiered
retail rate structure.
(b) On or before January 1, 2019, the agency shall develop a ratesetting
process that includes an independent ratepayer advocate to advise the board
of directors and provide information to the public before the adoption of
new wholesale and retail water service rates and charges. The ratepayer
advocate shall be selected by and report directly to the board of directors
and shall be independent from agency staff. The ratepayer advocate shall
advocate on behalf of customers within the agency’s boundaries to the board
of directors. The ratepayer advocate shall have access to all pertinent agency
documents and information to independently advise the board of directors
and inform the public. The board of directors shall develop and adopt any
necessary rules and procedures to further define the role of the ratepayer
advocate. The board of directors shall not eliminate the ratepayer advocate
role before January 1, 2023. On and after January 1, 2023, the board of
directors may eliminate the ratepayer advocate role with an affirmative vote
of four-fifths of its membership.
(c) Until December 31, 2024, the board of directors may dispense with
the four-fifths vote requirement for the actions described in subdivisions
(a) and (b) at any time upon an affirmative vote of four-fifths of the
membership of the board of directors.
(d) On and after January 1, 2025, the board of directors may at any time
dispense with the four-fifths vote required for any action described in
subdivisions (a) and (b) by a majority vote of the membership of the board.
Sec. 15. (a) No informality in any proceeding or informality in the
conduct of any election, not substantially affecting adversely the legal rights
of any citizen, shall be held to invalidate the incorporation of the agency
and the legal existence of the agency and all proceedings in respect to the
incorporation and the legal existence of the agency shall be held to be valid
and in every respect legal and incontestable.
(b) An action to determine the validity of any bonds, warrants, promissory
notes, contracts, or other evidences of indebtedness of the kinds authorized
by this act may be brought pursuant to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section
860) of Title 10 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
Sec. 16. At its first meeting, or as soon as practicable, the board of
directors shall, by a majority vote of the membership of the board, appoint
a general manager, secretary, and treasurer or auditor. The board shall define
the duties of these appointees and fix their compensation in accordance with
Division 12 (commencing with Section 30000) of the Water Code. The
board may employ additional assistants, employees, engineers, attorneys,
professionals, and other consultants as the board deems necessary to
efficiently maintain and operate the agency.
Sec. 17. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this act and in subdivision
(b), the agency has and may exercise the powers expressly granted or

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