**
Dear Friends: 
Here is the board package link for our Helix Water District Board Meeting: 
AGENDA
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Wednesday, December 5, 6pm
7811 University Avenue, La Mesa, CA 91942-0427
 
Interesting Agenda Items:
 
Item 7 (Page 107). Election of Officers
 

• Tomorrow marks the last day of my Presidency of the Helix Water District Board (yes, it  took me 11 years to get there). But now per our policy that was adopted in 2017, the board will elect new officers annually, and in my opinion it should be rotated. Furthermore in my opinion, no board member is of greater stature than the other board members and we are only as strong as our weakest link. We must work together and respect each other to do the best we can for the people we serve. I have had the pleasure to serve as Board President and during my leadership we have excelled and increased transparency and outreach to our customers. I am so proud of the Helix Water District in embracing new ideas, new technology and new approaches. Thank you for allowing me to serve you.

 
Item 10 (Page 121). Professional Services Agreement for Lake Jennings Event Center Project CIP19020

• Preliminary design services for the Lake Jennings event center project with proposed uses to include weddings, picnics, reunions, commercial, community and school events, luncheons, dinners and parties.

 
As always, I welcome your comments and feedback.
 
Blog is on my website of past meetings & comments…check it out!
Please feel free to forward this email.
 
Kathleen Coates Hedberg, PE, MPH
President, Helix Water District
www.HWD.com
Board Director, San Diego County Water Authority
www.SDCWA.org
619.994.6900
www.VoteHedberg.org
www.lakejennings.org (go fishing & camping - teepees)
www.socalwatersmart.com  (rebate link)
Thomas Paine Liberty Torchbearer Award Winner
  
**Please note no public funds or resources were used for the distribution of this email...
***If you want to be removed from my list…let me know! J
****If this email was forwarded to you and you want to be added to my list…let me know!
*****Transparency, don’t just say it – do it!

**
Dear Friends: 
Here is the board package link for our Helix Water District Board Meeting: 
AGENDA
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Wednesday, November 14, 4pm
7811 University Avenue, La Mesa, CA 91942-0427
 
Due to the Thanksgiving Holiday next week we moved up our Board Meeting to take care of Helix business. Due to timing the Treasurers Report will be presented at the meeting tomorrow.
 
Interesting Agenda Items:
 
Item 6 (Page 35). The Board Consider Approval of the Term Sheet for the Proposed Agreement for Implementation of the East County Advanced Water Purification Program

• Over the last eight months, the project partners have worked to develop a framework for potential future agreements required if the program is implemented. The framework is identified as the term sheet and specifies common points of understanding covering the following topics:
  • Agreement terminology • Negotiating and approval process • Terms and conditions of the joint powers agreement • Wastewater and water purchase agreements, and • Permitting, design, construction and operation considerations.
  • The ECAWPP has a potential of producing up to 12,800 acre-feet of local water supply that would be delivered to Lake Jennings.

 
Item 9 (Page 71). Update Regarding Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory

• Discussion of the past study and future development of an energy policy and project to evaluate future projects at the district.

 
As always, I welcome your comments and feedback.
 
Blog is on my website of past meetings & comments…check it out!
Please feel free to forward this email.
 
Kathleen Coates Hedberg, PE, MPH
President, Helix Water District
www.HWD.com
Board Director, San Diego County Water Authority
www.SDCWA.org
619.994.6900
www.lakejennings.org (go fishing & camping - teepees)
www.socalwatersmart.com  (rebate link)
 
**Please note no public funds or resources were used for the distribution of this email...
***If you want to be removed from my list…let me know!
****If this email was forwarded to you and you want to be added to my list…let me know!
*****Transparency, don’t just say it – do it! 

​**
Dear Friends: 

Here is the board package link for our Helix Water District Board Meeting: 
AGENDA
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Wednesday, November 7, 6pm
7811 University Avenue, La Mesa, CA 91942-0427
 
Happy Election Day! 12 years ago I was elected to the Helix Water District Board of Directors and I have worked hard for you! As an engineer and your current Board President, I can tell you much has changed in these 12 short/long  years at Helix Water District. There has been continuous improvements at the district and I want you to see them, too. From new online payment options, to award-winning communications and financial management policies, this district works hard to provide you with exemplary service, and to be a resource and a good neighbor. This year I was up for re-election, however, no one ran against me, so, it is my pleasure to serve you for another 4 years! Thank you to all of you who voted today, there are many elections, local, state and federal that affect us all. I voted, and I will continue to be the voice for you at all levels. Water agencies cross many jurisdictions (ie. local wholesalers, state and federal regulations and funding) and I am always ready to be a voice for safe, reliable and affordable water for Helix Water District and for you!
 
Interesting Agenda Items:
 
Item 9 (Page 142). The Board Consider Changes to the Policies and Procedures Manual and Set the Date and Time of the Public Hearing

• Eight pages of noted proposed changes. This did not go through any Board committees, so we will be going through the proposed changes at the meeting tomorrow. Much of it is clarification and some district fee changes. (Section 2.12 – Pages 200‐218 Miscellaneous fee changes)

 
As always, I welcome your comments and feedback.
 
Blog is on my website of past meetings & comments…check it out!
Please feel free to forward this email.
 
Kathleen Coates Hedberg, PE, MPH
President, Helix Water District
www.HWD.com
Board Director, San Diego County Water Authority
www.SDCWA.org
619.994.6900
www.lakejennings.org (go fishing & camping - teepees)
www.socalwatersmart.com  (rebate link)
​
**Please note no public funds or resources were used for the distribution of this email...
***If you want to be removed from my list…let me know! J
****If this email was forwarded to you and you want to be added to my list…let me know!
*****Transparency, don’t just say it – do it!

**
Dear Friends: 
Here is the board package link for our Helix Water District Board Meeting: 
​AGENDA
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Wednesday, October 17, 5pm
7811 University Avenue, La Mesa, CA 91942-0427
 
Interesting Agenda Items:
 
Item 6 (Page 77). The Board Receive the Audited Annual Financial Statements and Independent Auditor's Report for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2018 (with Comparative Information for 2017)

• The Audit Committee – Deana Verbeke and Dan McMillan have been meeting with the auditor and will give their report along with the Auditor at the meeting.
• No deficiencies were found – this is the first audit with our new billing system.
• Page 90 gives an overview of the financial highlights compared to the year before.
• Page 95 The audit now includes the pension and OPEB liabilities. The district has recorded a net pension liability of$43.5 million and a $28.6 million net OPEB liability. These balances represent the differences between the plans total pension and OPEB liabilities and fiduciary net positions. The district's funded status for its pension and OPEB plans as of the most recent valuations at June 30, 2017 were 67 percent and 30 percent, respectively. It is important to highlight that these are not new liabilities for the district and every employer with a qualifying pension and/or OPEB plan will record these liabilities on their balance sheets.
• The difference (operating revenue reduction) between 2018 and 2017 is due to the wet year we had in 2017.

 
Upcoming Events:
 
Find more information on these events on our the links below or www.hwd.com.

• 10/20/18 WaterSmart Landscape Makeover Series @ OC, first of four class series which runs every Saturday through November 10.
• 11/03/18 Autumn Fest and Plant Sale @ The Water Conservation Garden, 10am - 3pm
• 11/07/18 WaterSmart Landscape Workshop for Homeowners @ OC, 6pm - 9pm

 
As always, I welcome your comments and feedback.
 
Blog is on my website of past meetings & comments…check it out!
Please feel free to forward this email.
 
Kathleen Coates Hedberg, PE, MPH
President, Helix Water District
www.HWD.com
Board Director, San Diego County Water Authority
www.SDCWA.org
www.lakejennings.org (go fishing & camping - teepees)
www.socalwatersmart.com  (rebate link)

**Please note no public funds or resources were used for the distribution of this email...
***If you want to be removed from my list…let me know! J
****If this email was forwarded to you and you want to be added to my list…let me know!
*****Transparency, don’t just say it – do it! 

​**
Dear Friends: 
Here is the board package link for our Helix Water District Board Meeting: AGENDA
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Wednesday, October 3, 6pm
7811 University Avenue, La Mesa, CA 91942-0427
 
Interesting Agenda Items:
 
Item 5.c) Ratify Checks Operating Account Checks Submitted for Ratification:       

• Nothing of concern, but I wanted to point out that we have more detail and a running balance of our check registers as a result of our new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system that is a new comprehensive business management program.  We also modified our monthly treasurer report (following board meeting packet). The Board likes this new system and is asking more questions on the detailed information (great transparency).

 
Water Stuff:
 
Water Talks!
Come Check out our Award Winning Helix Water Talks hosted at the Operations Center in El Cajon this Saturday. See where all our pipe and other water distribution system items are stored (meters, fire hydrants) and ask questions! Over 100 people have RSVP’s and there is room for more! October 6, 2018 8:30am-11am. This is also the start of Water Professionals Appreciation Week, so be sure to say thanks!
 
Power Your Drive!
Also, in September we had a SDG&E Ribbon Cutting of the activation of our Power Your Drive Charging Stations, these stations were installed “free” and we now have several Prius Prime Hybrids that we can use with these chargers and it is estimated that we will save over $1000 per vehicle in fuel costs!
 
Upcoming Events:

• Find more information on these events on our the links below or www.hwd.com.
  

​10/06/18 Helix Water Talks @ OC, 8:30am - 11:30 am
10/20/18 WaterSmart Landscape Makeover Series @ OC, first of four class series which runs every Saturday through
11/03/18 Autumn Fest and Plant Sale @ The Water Conservation Garden, 10am - 3pm
11/07/18 WaterSmart Landscape Workshop for Homeowners @ OC, 6pm - 9pm
 
As always, I welcome your comments and feedback.
 
Blog is on my website of past meetings & comments…check it out!
Please feel free to forward this email.
 
Kathleen Coates Hedberg, PE, MPH
President, Helix Water District
www.HWD.com
Board Director, San Diego County Water Authority
www.SDCWA.org
www.VoteHedberg.org
www.lakejennings.org (go fishing & camping - teepees)
www.socalwatersmart.com  (rebate link)
 
**Please note no public funds or resources were used for the distribution of this email...
***If you want to be removed from my list…let me know! J
****If this email was forwarded to you and you want to be added to my list…let me know!
*****Transparency, don’t just say it – do it!

Good Afternoon,

I know some of you have been wondering where I have been, well, I have all over our beautiful country this summer. Texas, Massachusetts,Pennsylvania, New York and Atlanta with a side trip up to Canada to visit Beautiful Niagara Falls! Taking my kids to visit colleges, summer camps and lacrosse tournaments. 
All whilst preparing for a potential campaign (up for re-election 2018) and fighting Sacramento on the Water Tax!
So, success!

• No one put their name in the hat to run against me - so, yes, I have another 4 years to Represent the great constituents of Helix Water District (Division 4)!
• The SB845 Water Tax failed, never made it out of Appropriations Committee for a vote (yay!). I made quite a few calls up to Sacramento to Senators and to the Appropriations Committee asking for a NO vote. 
• Unfortunately, SB998, passed, regarding shutting off water for non payment - it is on the Governors Desk and (we) Helix WD have sent a letter requesting him to VETO the bill. It would drag on the shut off process and we may end up giving more free water away when people don't pay their water bill.
• I have said, time and time again, and I am getting LOUDER our biggest challenge in the water industry is Sacramento! These bills are causing more regulations and requirements on us water systems, when we have had enough challenges getting through drought and costly water system upgrades and improvements! Enough is Enough!

Things at Helix are going well, we had a slight increase in our budget due to regulations (see above), but overall, we kept he rates down to around 3% increase (January 2019). This year we will be busy evaluating and addressing our CALPERS retirement unfunded liabilities and working with our employees on renewing the MOU. Currently, we hired a company to do a comprehensive salary and benefit analysis, looking at other local agencies and also private agencies. So, we have quite the task ahead. I will keep you informed!
  
A few exciting water events coming up:

• East County Water Festival - Padre Dam MWD - Saturday, September 8, 9am-1pm 
• Lakeside Chamber Event at Lake Jennings - Thursday, September 20th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m​

Water Turf Rebates are back!    
​
Take care and be water wise!
As always, I welcome your comments and feedback.
 
 Kathleen Coates Hedberg, PE, MPH
President, Helix Water District
www.HWD.com
Board Director, San Diego County Water Authority
www.SDCWA.org
619.994.6900
www.lakejennings.org (go fishing & camping - teepees)
 
**Please note no public funds or resources were used for the distribution of this email...
***If you want to be removed from my list…let me know! J
****If this email was forwarded to you and you want to be added to my list…let me know!
*****Transparency, don’t just say it – do it!
 
 

​**
Dear Friends: 
Here is the board package link for our Helix Water District Board Meeting: 

​AGENDA
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Wednesday, June 6, 4 pm
7811 University Avenue
La Mesa, CA 91942-0427
 

Water Politics:
On May 23rd, I joined other local water leaders to oppose a proposed $135 million per year tax on drinking water in California. Here is an article on the new Water News Network that San Diego County Water Authority.  No to the Water Tax the tax proposal is being advanced through Senate Bill 623 by state Sen. William Monning (Carmel) and a Brown Administration budget trailer bill related to safe drinking water. Be sure to make sure your Legislature votes no! They need to hear from you or we will be required to add a tax on your water bill – and this tax (money) will not be coming back to us, but to other water systems that have groundwater contamination! There are other funding opportunities available to provide for communities that have water contamination as us water agencies have pointed out to the Governor.  The  concern is that if the State starts taxing water bills, it will open the door to more and more taxes! Call, email, tweet your legislatures!
 
Last Helix Meeting Recap (Friday, May 25):
Last meeting the Board met and went over 5 additional proposed water rate scenarios (initially the Board rejected the first staff three proposals -rate increase around 5+%). After much discussion the Board went with Scenario 6 which will be approximately 3.5% increase to the average customer of 21 units.
 
Scenario Selected
Scenario 2 Local water supply from rainfall gradually reducing to zero by fiscal year 2022-23 (we discussed evaluating annually).
Scenario 6 Utilize scenario 2 and then offset the proposed rate increase by: • increasing water sales by 3 percent to 28,500 acre-feet versus the fiscal year 2017-18 budget of 27,700 acre-feet; • using $975,000 from the El Monte Reserve to partially fund the cast iron pipeline replacement program for fiscal year 2018-19; • not making a $750,000 prepayment to CalPERS in 2018-19; and • refilling the rate stabilization fund in fiscal year 2018-19 only to 4 percent versus the 5 percent minimum set by the district's reserve guidelines and revisiting bringing the reserve to the minimum 5 percent level during the fiscal year 2019-20 budget process.

• San Diego County Water Authority anticipated water rate increase is 0.6% of the total increase (included below).

 
Current 2017-18 – 18 Units $151.19
Scenario                                          6
%                                                3.5%
$ Increase                                 $5.33
Proposed 2018-19                $156.52

**This is less than the anticipated 2015 Water Rate Study of 7.1% - 218 Notice.
 
Interesting Agenda Items:
Item 8. Page 92 Action Item - The board adopt the fiscal year 2018-19 preliminary operating budget in the amount of $78,480,100 and the preliminary PayGo capital budget in the amount of $11,093,000.

• The board met on May 2nd and spent over 5 hours reviewing the draft preliminary budget. Here is the updated version that includes some changes that we made when we discussed potential water rate reductions on May 25th.  

As always, I welcome your comments and feedback.
 
Please feel free to forward...
 
Kathleen Coates Hedberg, PE, MPH
President, Helix Water District
www.HWD.com
Board Director, San Diego County Water Authority
www.SDCWA.org
www.VoteHedberg.org
www.lakejennings.org (go fishing & camping - teepees)
www.socalwatersmart.com  (rebate link)
 
**Please note no public funds or resources were used for the distribution of this email...
***If you want to be removed from my list…let me know! J
****If this email was forwarded to you and you want to be added to my list…let me know!
*****Transparency, don’t just say it – do it!
 

**
Dear Friends: 
Here is the board package link for our Helix Water District Board Meeting: AGENDA
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Friday, May 25, 3 pm
7811 University Avenue, La Mesa, CA 91942-0427
 
Last week the Board met and went over 3 proposed water rate scenarios. The Board rejected ALL three proposals. After quite a bit of discussion and suggestions from the Board, we asked staff to modify the scenarios and come back with them slightly modified to discuss today at 3pm. The staff brought back an additional 5 scenarios, proposed new rate scenarios reduce the rates 1% or more!
Here is what has been proposed:
 
Proposed Scenario Descriptions
Scenario 1 Local water supply from rainfall at 660 acre-feet in fiscal year 2018-19 and then at the historical average of 1,220 acre-feet in fiscal years 2019- 20 through 2022-23
Scenario 2 Local water supply from rainfall gradually reducing to zero by fiscal year 2022-23.
Scenario 3 Local water supply from rainfall gradually reducing to zero by fiscal year 2022-23. Additionally, the $2.5 million of budgeted revenues in excess of budgeted expenditures for fiscal year 2017-18 being placed in the rate stabilization fund and then available to offset rate increases in fiscal year 2018-19.
Scenario 4 Utilize scenario 2 above and then increasing water sales by 6 percent to 30,000 acre-feet versus the fiscal year 2017-18 budget of 27,700 acre-feet
Scenario 5 Utilize scenario 2 and then offset the proposed rate increase by: • increasing water sales by 3 percent to 28,500 acre-feet versus the fiscal year 2017-18 budget of 27,700 acre-feet; • using $975,000 from the El Monte Reserve to partially fund the castiron pipeline replacement program for fiscal year 2018-19; • not making a $750,000 prepayment to Cal PERS in 2018-19; and • refilling the rate stabilization fund to the 5 percent minimum set by the district's reserve guidelines.
Scenario 6 Utilize scenario 2 and then offset the proposed rate increase by: • increasing water sales by 3 percent to 28,500 acre-feet versus the fiscal year 2017-18 budget of 27,700 acre-feet; • using $975,000 from the El Monte Reserve to partially fund the castiron pipeline replacement program for fiscal year 2018-19; • not making a $750,000 prepayment to CalPERS in 2018-19; and • refilling the rate stabilization fund in fiscal year 2018-19 only to 4 percent versus the 5 percent minimum set by the district's reserve guidelines and revisiting bringing the reserve to the minimum 5 percent level during the fiscal year 2019-20 budget process.
Scenario 7 Utilize scenario 2 and then offset the proposed rate increase by: • increasing water sales by 3 percent to 28,500 acre-feet versus the fiscal year 2017-18 budget of 27,700 acre-feet; • using $975,000 from the El Monte Reserve to partially fund the castiron pipeline replacement program for fiscal year 2018-19; • not making a $750,000 prepayment to CalPERS in 2018-19 and • keeping the rate stabilization fund at its current level of $2.3 million or 2.8 percent of water billings and revisiting bringing the reserve to the minimum 5 percent level during the fiscal year 2019-20 budget process.
Scenario 8 Utilize scenario 2 and then offset the proposed rate increase by: • increasing water sales by 6 percent to 30,000 acre-feet versus the fiscal year 2017-18 budget of 27,700 acre-feet; • using $975,000 from the El Monte Reserve to partially fund the castiron pipeline replacement program for fiscal year 2018-19; • not making a $750,000 prepayment to Cal PERS in 2018-19; and • keeping the rate stabilization fund at its current level of $2.3 million or 2.8 percent of water billings and revisiting bringing the reserve to the minimum 5 percent level during the fiscal year 2019-20 budget process.

• San Diego County Water Authority anticipated water rate increase is 1.4% of the total increase (included below).

 
For the average customer using 21 Units of water in a two-month period.
​
Current 2017-18 - $151.19
Scenario 1
% 4.6
$ Increase $6.99
Proposed 2018-19 $158.18

Scenario 2
% 4.9
$ Increase $7.47
Proposed 2018-19 $158.66

Scenario 3
% 4.9
$ Increase $7.47
Proposed 2018-19 $158.66

Scenario 4
% 4.2
$ Increase $6.37
Proposed 2018-19 $157.56

Scenario 5
% 3.9
$ Increase $5.89
Proposed 2018-19 $157.08

Scenario 6
% 3.5
$ Increase $5.33
Proposed 2018-19 $156.52

Scenario 7
% 3.4
$ Increase $5.14
Proposed 2018-19 $156.33

Scenario 8
% 3.0
$ Increase $4.56
Proposed 2018-19 $155.75
 
**This is less than the anticipated 2015 Water Rate Study of 7.1% - 218 Notice.
 
MY thoughts for discussion…

• Great new scenarios…

 
As always, I welcome your comments and feedback.
 
Blog is on my website of past meetings & comments…check it out!
Please feel free to forward this email.
 
Kathleen Coates Hedberg, PE, MPH
President, Helix Water District
www.HWD.com
Board Director, San Diego County Water Authority
www.SDCWA.org
www.lakejennings.org (go fishing & camping - teepees)
www.socalwatersmart.com  (rebate link)
 
**Please note no public funds or resources were used for the distribution of this email...
***If you want to be removed from my list…let me know! J
****If this email was forwarded to you and you want to be added to my list…let me know!
*****Transparency, don’t just say it – do it!

**
Dear Friends: 
Here is the board package link for our Helix Water District Board Meeting:
 AGENDA
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Wednesday, May 16, 5 pm
7811 University Avenue, La Mesa, CA 91942-0427
 
Interesting Items:
Item 9. Page 92 Board Discussion - The Board Review the Five-Year Projection Scenarios and Provide Guidance to Staff for Updating the Fiscal Year 2018-19 Water Rates
 
On April 4, 2018, Helix Water District staff presented the fiscal year 2018-19 budget guidelines and principles to the district's board and members of the public. Staff then met with the board at a public workshop on May 2, 2018 to review a draft of the fiscal year 2018-19 preliminary operating and capital budget. From the fiscal year 2018-19 preliminary budget and five year projection staff has prepared three, five year projection scenarios that are detailed below.
 
Proposed Scenario Descriptions
Scenario 1 Local water supply from rainfall at 660 acre-feet in fiscal year 2018-19 and then at the historical average of 1,220 acre-feet in fiscal years 2019- 20 through 2022-23
Scenario 2 Local water supply from rainfall gradually reducing to zero by fiscal year 2022-23.
Scenario 3 Local water supply from rainfall gradually reducing to zero by fiscal year 2022-23. Additionally, the $2.5 million of budgeted revenues in excess of budgeted expenditures for fiscal year 2017-18 being placed in the rate stabilization fund and then available to offset rate increases in fiscal year 2018-19.

• San Diego County Water Authority anticipated water rate increase is 1.4% of the total increase.

For the average customer using 21 Units of water in a two month period.
​Current 2017-18 - $151.19
Scenario 1
% 4.6
$ Increase $6.99
Proposed 2018-19 $158.18

Current 2017-18 - $151.19
Scenario 2
% 4.9
$ Increase $7.47
Proposed 2018-19 $158.66

Current 2017-18 - $151.19
Scenario 3
% 4.9
$ Increase $7.47
Proposed 2018-19 $158.66
 
This is less than the anticipated 2015 Water Rate Study of 7.1%.
 
MY thoughts for discussion…

• In scenario 3 the excess funds from the end of the year is placed in the rate stabilization reserve to be used to lower the rates, the amount taken out to be used should be discussed.
• In all three scenarios, the annual local water supply estimate is adjusted. Over the past 5 years, the local water supply (rain/snow at Lake Cuyamaca) has been very inconsistent (Rainy year 5000 AF, this year 660AF), should we count on a baseline amount or zero and any rain is bonus? We have been estimating 1200AF.  
• Not mentioned, or used, but should be discussed is the El Monte Reserve, we received $8,975,000 in land sales this last year. Perhaps used toward our a Capital Improvement Project  - what do you think?

 
Helix Water District Community Events

• 05/19/18 FREE Customer Appreciation Day @ The Water Conservation Garden, 10am - 2pm I will be there!
• 06/02/18 Landscape Design Workshop for Homeowners @ OC, 9am - 12pm

 
Lake Jennings Events

• 05/25/18 - 05/28/18 Catfish Opener: Night Fishing
• Lake Jennings Photo Contest - Open to all from March - May, 05/31/18 deadline

 
DIY Videos
 
We have created the first of our DIY videos, which shows the step-by-step process of how to replace your traditional sprinkler nozzles with high-efficiency rotating nozzles. The video is available on our www.hwd.com website under Conservation/DIY Projects. The video is being advertised in the March - April newsletter, which also highlights the current rebate of $4 per rotating nozzle (minimum purchase of 30) available through www.socalwatersmart.com .
 
As always, I welcome your comments and feedback.
 
Please feel free to forward...
 
Kathleen Coates Hedberg, PE, MPH
President, Helix Water District
www.HWD.com
Board Director, San Diego County Water Authority
www.SDCWA.org
www.VoteHedberg.org
www.lakejennings.org (go fishing & camping - teepees)
www.socalwatersmart.com  (rebate link)
Thomas Paine Liberty Torchbearer Award Winner
 

 
**Please note no public funds or resources were used for the distribution of this email...
***If you want to be removed from my list…let me know! J
****If this email was forwarded to you and you want to be added to my list…let me know!
*****Transparency, don’t just say it – do it! 

​**
Dear Friends: 
Here is the board package link for our Helix Water District Board Meeting: 
AGENDA - BUDGET WORKSHOP
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Wednesday, May 2, 4 pm
7811 University Avenue, La Mesa, CA 91942-0427
 Interesting Items:
Item 6. The Board Receive the Staff Presentation of the Draft Budget Schedules and Provide Direction Regarding the Development of the Fiscal Year 2018-19 Operating and Capital Budgets
 
The budget presentations are scheduled to take place on May 2 from 4 p.m. - 9 p.m. and if needed continue on to May 3 from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. as follows:
 
• Water Quality/System Operations Budget
• Operations Budget
• Engineering Budget
• Administrative Services Budget
• Capital Budget
 
Although we will not be talking about rates at this meeting, that will be on May 16, we will be hearing everything that staff wants to put in the budget and where increases and decreases are being proposed. Since we weren’t blessed with an abundance of rain like last year, we will have to plan to purchase more water from San Diego County Water Authority, the largest increase in proposed expenditures is Water Purchases, from $35,886,900 to $40,510,300. This morning I met with our GM and asked him for a copy of the Schedule anticipated estimated year end expenditures.
 
Budget Expenditures
2016/17  $71,365,400 - Actual $68,726,598
2017/18 $72,159,900 - Estimated ?
Proposed 2018/19   $79,548,700

​Water Purchases Budget
2016/17 $36,056,500 - Actual $35,014,241
2017/18 $35,886,900 - Estimated ?
Proposed 2018/19 $40,510,300

The Budget Schedule format this year looks a bit different as with converting to a new administration billing system, the budget includes retirement and PTO into each schedule, as opposed to leaving it out. This way, we know where employee costs are applied to each schedule. Concurrently, they still left a summary of Schedule 468 as a breakdown of insurance costs.
 
Please feel free to come to the meeting and ask questions on the Budget, we should be there till at least 8pm, with possible continuance to Thursday evening, but we hope to wrap up Wednesday evening by 9am.
 
CA Water Politics:

• On April 10, 2018, Metropolitan Board approved funding for full-scale, two tunnel CA Waterfix. The MWD Chair did not allow for any substitute motions or to table the item, he wanted a vote Yes or No. Without the Support of  the largest agencies, San Diego County Water Authority and the City of Los Angeles, the vote still passed.
• MWD says that the project impact to the ratepayer will increase an average up to $4.80 a month while San Diego County Water Authority analysis says otherwise. This project has a long way to go, environmental and legal issues, design, construction all with the ultimate goal of fixing the Bay Delta problems and ensuring our water supply is delivered South. I sure hope that the price of this reliability doesn’t go more than $4.80 as MWD says – but only time will tell.

 
Helix Water District Community Events

• 05/19/18 Customer Appreciation Day @ The Water Conservation Garden, 10am - 2pm

 
DIY Videos
 
We have created the first of our DIY videos, which shows the step-by-step process of how to replace your traditional sprinkler nozzles with high-efficiency rotating nozzles. The video is available on our www.hwd.com website under Conservation/DIY Projects. The video is being advertised in the March - April newsletter, which also highlights the current rebate of $4 per rotating nozzle (minimum purchase of 30) available through www.socalwatersmart.com .
 
Campaigns, Contests and Scholarships

• Lake Jennings Photo Contest - Open to all from March - May, 05/31/18 deadline

 
As always, I welcome your comments and feedback.
 
Kathleen Coates Hedberg, PE, MPH
President, Helix Water District
www.HWD.com
Board Director, San Diego County Water Authority
www.SDCWA.org
www.VoteHedberg.org
www.lakejennings.org (go fishing & camping - teepees)
www.socalwatersmart.com  (rebate link)
 
**Please note no public funds or resources were used for the distribution of this email...
***If you want to be removed from my list…let me know! J
****If this email was forwarded to you and you want to be added to my list…let me know!
*****Transparency, don’t just say it – do it!