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Dear Friends, Attached is the agenda and board package link for our Regular Helix Water District Board Meeting: AGENDA REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Wednesday, January 20, 2016 - 2 p.m. 7811 University Avenue, La Mesa, CA 91942-0427 Interesting Agenda Items: Agenda Info A – Drought Action Plan (pdf page 76) Cumulative Decrease of 24% more than the 20% per the Governors mandate. Did I tell you that I LOVE our new website? Our new website & Senior Public Affairs Manager is in full swing www.hwd.com. Sign up for a subscription to receive Helix Water News to be sent to your email up to date information on what is happening in the water world that affects your tap! Great information and links on the drought, snowfall, water levels in Lake Mead, Cuyamaca and more all on our website! It is awesome! FYI:
As always, I welcome your comments and feedback. Per the request of the Helix Water District Board on May 16, 2012, the following language is to be added by all Board Directors in all outgoing Director correspondence. "This correspondence, and any documents attached hereto, reflects the individual opinions and positions of the above-named Director and does not represent the opinions or positions of the District's Board of Directors or the District. Pursuant to Section 9.1-11(A) of the Helix Water District Policies and Procedures Manual, individual Directors, except as otherwise authorized by the Board, shall have no power to act for the District or the District's Board of Directors." **Please note no public funds or resources were used for the distribution of this email...
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As we approach the end of the first round of drought emergency regulations, the State has been working with agencies to address the next step when the existing regulations expire at the end of February 2016. The regulations were extended by the Governor to October 2016 since we are still in drought conditions. The State Water Board heard our suggestions on December 7th, 2015 (I was there & spoke in Sacramento), with a first draft of regulations sent out to us on December 21. The regulatory framework released proposed some modifications to the existing regulation but called for a credits and adjustments to be capped at no more than 4% which I found OUTRAGEOUS! Along with many other agencies comments were sent up to the Board by January 6, 2016. Click here for my letter. It looks like the State heard us and made changes to the cap on adjustments and credits at 8%. While it still does not give Helix the full 10% (2% climate & 8% desal) it is MUCH BETTER than a cap at 4%! Thus, the Helix customers would have to maintain a water use reduction of 12% compared to 2013 versus the 20% that we have been required by the initial Governor mandate. Thank you for giving us credit where credit is due! Helix & San Diego County should not be penalized for investment and planning and our past conservation efforts! Click here for the draft regulation and a fact sheet are available here. **
Dear Friends, Attached is the agenda and board package link for our Regular Helix Water District Board Meeting: AGENDA REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Wednesday, January 6, 2016 - 2 p.m. 7811 University Avenue, La Mesa, CA 91942-0427 Happy Wet New Year! FYI Helix WD new rates will apply to water bills mailed after January 1, 2016, with this rain hopefully little is felt with the “average rate increase of 9%”. Learn more at hwd.com/rates on our new improved website. Also, as you may have noticed we have a new billing system, if you go on line, you will need to create a new log in as all customers were issued a new billing id numbers. Staff mentioned that there have been some long wait times if you called into the District-thank you for your patience as we get through this transition. December 2015 was a busy month with the dedication of the new Carlsbad Desalination Plant an investment to produce 50 Million Gallons of water a day for San Diego County, approximately 10% of local water supply. Hopefully soon (in the next few years) we can turn on another new water supply for our region. A drought is a period when supply is less than need – if you plan to meet your needs you will never be in a drought! I attended a Association of California Water Agency Conference that included much discussion about the CA State Water Project Drought. Us San Diegans who attended made it very clear to the State Board Chair Felicia Marcus of our improvements in San Diego County. Which, we made again very clear at the State Water Resources Board Public Workshop to the rest of the Board on December 7 (see previous blog). Fortunately, the SWRCB did hear us and have proposed some adjustments that address climate and desalination water supplies into consideration as credit adjustment to the emergency regulations, albeit they cap out at only a 4% reduction. I hope to have the discussion at tomorrow’s board meeting to see how we are pursuing comments on the proposal. http://fxn.ws/1MskMN5 Later in the month I attended the Colorado River Water Users Association Conference. Water level at Lake Mead is around 1075’ it has gone down 121’ since 2001. What I thought was most interesting that at Hoover Dam the production of energy is just over 50% due to the water level behind the dam is so low (which is used to offset the cost of water being pumped to MWD). The Colorado River water levels continue to decrease and the seven states need to work together to keep more water in the river. MWD spoke on many occasions and mentioned about balance, keeping more water in the system when some states can offset with local supplies, but able to use the water stored when needed in the future. Very much a battle as levels continue to go down. In October 2015, Las Vegas activated their new 3rd intake that takes water from Lake Mead at a level of 860’, thus, they are able to take water at a better location for quality and assures their quantity as well. Interesting Agenda Items: Agenda Item 5d – Budget Summary (pdf page 53 & 58) As conservation water use continues to go down…92gpcd, and our revenue and expenses too…
As always, I welcome your comments and feedback. Per the request of the Helix Water District Board on May 16, 2012, the following language is to be added by all Board Directors in all outgoing Director correspondence. "This correspondence, and any documents attached hereto, reflects the individual opinions and positions of the above-named Director and does not represent the opinions or positions of the District's Board of Directors or the District. Pursuant to Section 9.1-11(A) of the Helix Water District Policies and Procedures Manual, individual Directors, except as otherwise authorized by the Board, shall have no power to act for the District or the District's Board of Directors." **Please note no public funds or resources were used for the distribution of this blog... |
Author: Kathleen HedbergCivil Engineer in 5th Term as a Helix Water District Board Director and Past President of the Board! CategoriesArchives
April 2023
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