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Attached is the agenda and board package link for our Helix Water District Regular Board Meeting:
AGENDA REGULAR MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Wednesday, March 18, 2015 – 2pm 7811 University Avenue, La Mesa, CA 91942-0427 HELIX WD CONSERVATION STATUS (PDF Page 55): Thank you for conserving-we need to keep it up! Landscape rebates still available, come to our Free Helix Water Workshop, March 21 or April 18 and learn more what is available and what you can do. Pass it on! 12 Month Period ending February 2014 = 116.9 gallons per capita per day 12 Month Period Ending February 2015 = 109.4 gallons per capita per day Interesting Items: On Monday, March 9, 2015 at 10:30am Customer Gordon Place and I met with Helix staff and went over the proposed water rate structure changes that the Board was given quickly at the February 18th meeting. I expressed my concern right away about the lopsided structure of the Irrigation Rate, which the Helix staff quickly responded that they heard my concern and were also concerned, and are making changes to bring back to the Board for further discussion and conversation. Whew! We shall see what they propose in April. Item 10 (PDF Page 102): Board Approve the Memorandum of Understanding with Helix Water District Employee Associations (July 1, 2015-June 30, 2019. Over the last several months, the Board have been in negotiations with Helix Employees over a new MOU, as the existing MOU expires on June 30, 2015. As a result of these negotiations the most important area that I believe we have now addressed is the ever increasing and costly Medical Plan. Currently, Helix pays for 100% medical plan for employees and dependents. The proposed negotiation is to start cost sharing of the more expensive programs for dependents ($50/month). The initiation of the cost sharing may encourage employees to consider switching to the less expensive medical plan. This change will go into effect for immediately for new hires, and will go into effect for current employees January 1, 2017. The reason for the delay of the change is to enable a transition period, if the employee decides to switch medical plans. This is a start. Medical Plans & Monthly Costs: Kaiser: 101 Employees: Single $503; Double $1006; Family $1423 Blue Cross HMO; 81 Employees: Single $666; Double $1323; Family $1774 Blue Cross PPH: 86 Employees: Single $704; Double $1433; Family 1926 This MOU is for a four-year term and does allow for changes in the event the Affordable Care Act has new laws after June 30, 2018. As always, I welcome your comments and feedback.
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Here is the agenda and board package link for our Helix Water District Regular Board Meeting:
AGENDA REGULAR MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Wednesday, March 4, 2015 – 2pm 7811 University Avenue, La Mesa, CA 91942-0427 Interesting Items: Minutes of February 18, pdf Page 31: I asked to continue Item 10, the Water Rate Structure Cost of Service Workshop, as the Board and Public were not given any water rate structure financial and calculations ahead of time to prepare for the meeting. And that having a Workshop in the middle of a Board Meeting would make for a very long meeting. However, I was voted down, 4 to 1, with a promise that nothing would be voted on during the Board Report. Subsequently, the Board Meeting went on to 6:30pm, with at one time Director Verbeke asking to speed up the meeting. The Power Point Presentation was 50 Slides long, here is the link to the Power Point Presentation There are several areas that I have questions on, such as why the cost of the Irrigation (Not Ag) Water is less than the Tier 2, “outdoor” use of residential and also less than commercial/govt. (I would think indoor would be less that irrigation; and/or the same as outdoor). Thus, the staff will be meeting with me and others on Monday, March 9, 2015 at 10:30am to go over the numbers again now that I have had time to look at them. If you would like to join me, please let me know. Item 8: Board Meeting Schedule, pdf Page 75: As a result of a Board Team Building Meeting on February 23 (Minutes on Page 35) , it was decided by the Board to try out adding an additional monthly meeting (General Committee Meeting) to provide an opportunity for the board and public to receive information, and engage in discussion related to more complex information, programs, projects and policies (like Item 10 from the February 18th meeting). This additional meeting is long overdue and will be a great addition for better governance and public transparency. Information Item, pdf Page 112: Fiscal Year 2015-16 Budget and Water Rate Calendar (See below): We are not increasing water rates till January 1st, a time when the rates go up to us by SDCWA (a recommendation by the consultant & I have been saying all along!) I would like to see us adjust the proposed timing of the final approval of rates until we have the end of the year numbers after June 30, 2015. April 15: Board Meeting- FY 2015-16 Guidelines and Calendar May 13th (Evening): Board Workshop – FY 2015-16 Five Year Projection Workshop June 2nd (9am-1pm) Preliminary Budget Workshop June 17 Draft Water Rates & Multi Year Prop 218 Notice July 1, Board Meeting - Water Rates and Multi-Year Prop 218 Notice for Approval July 15, Issue Prop 218 Notice August 13, Distribute to Board – Final FY 2015-16 Budget September 2, Board Meeting Water Rates Hearing for Multi-Year Water Rates Approval November 1, Bill Print Message – A water bill dated Jan. 1, 2016 is for water used during November and December January 1, Proposed Water Rates Effective on Billings as of January 1, 2016 As always, I welcome your comments and feedback. |
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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