Friant retreats from holding retreat at swanky Paso resort, opts for Exeter instead

Friant Water Authority’s annual offsite three-day retreat looks a little different this year, taking place at a venue outside of Exeter instead of a luxury Paso Robles resort as in years past.

The 10th annual retreat starts Tuesday at Merryman Station, a former packing shed turned event space that is a stone’s throw from the authority’s most important piece of infrastructure — the Friant-Kern Canal. 

Merryman Station is also within Friant’s service area — the San Joaquin Valley. That was the thrust of a lawsuit filed last year by three Friant contractors who accused the authority of Brown Act violations for holding the retreat in Paso Robles wine country. 

The lawsuit, filed by Porterville, Saucelito and Terra Bella irrigation districts, nearly derailed the 2024 retreat, which would have cost Friant $50,000 in cancellation fees.

After a judge ruled that, no, Friant could not hold meeting retreats outside its boundaries, an agreement was hammered out to allow one last Paso event to avoid the cancellation fees.

But all future retreats must be within Friant boundaries.

“Exeter is a fine place and I’m planning to attend,” said Sean Geivet, general manager of the three districts who sued. 

Geivet said he and the board members of his districts don’t object to the retreats, in general, and regularly attend.

“There are good team building exercises, and that’s where the value is,” he said. “The Friant family spends two to three days in deep thought trying to lay out the plan for the next year. And that’s always good.” 

Matt Leider, board president of Tea Pot Dome Water District, blamed a “few bad apples” for inconveniencing the entire Friant family. 

“They yanked the rug out from under us and it’s complete chicken s**t and they’re the reason why it’s in Exeter,” he said of Geivet’s districts’ lawsuit.  “It never seemed to be an issue with them until they didn’t get their way and in my eyes they’re just acting like spoiled rotten kids. It’s incredibly petty and everyone sees right through it.”

He referred to Friant’s attempt to collect a portion of the costs to fix the sinking Friant-Kern Canal from several districts, including Geivet’s.

Repairs have been underway but have fallen short and in August 2024, the Friant board voted to assess extra fees adding up to between $90 million and $250 million to those districts.

The districts sued over the fees and then peppered Friant with a number of other lawsuits, including the one alleging Brown Act violations over the out-of-district retreats.

While the retreat was downscaled, Friant is gearing up to host a “beautiful evening with views of the downtown skyline and Coronado Island” Dec. 4 during the fall conference of the Association of California Water Agencies at the Sheraton San Diego Resort. 

The dinner will be attended by elected and appointed officials, water agency staff and other water professionals who are attending the conference. 

Friant Chief Operating Officer Johnny Amaral said the dinner is not a new event, nor an end-run on the judge’s ruling to hold the retreat within authority boundaries. He declined to cite the exact cost of the dinner saying it is consistent with the budget that is approved by Friant directors during the annual budget process. 

“Friant has for many years taken the opportunity to coordinate a dinner where primarily non-director representatives of the member agencies can gather together and strengthen working relationships in an informal setting,” he said in an email. “Friant executive staff also take the opportunity to meet with government officials, water agencies and authorities, and water experts to discuss important water issues and to further our efforts to remain a leader on California water policy.” 

Geivet said he doesn’t see an issue with the San Diego dinner. 

“I’m two years away from retirement. I don’t play those games anymore,” he said. “But it depends on where you sit. If you’re (Friant CEO) Jason Phillips, you want to feel like the Big Cheese and have a big dinner at ACWA to invite all the folks, that’s fine, it’s just not my personality.” 

Members of the public may attend the open session of the Friant retreat in Exeter. To make arrangements, call Administrative Officer Vivian Garcia at 559-920-7376.