KATHLEEN HEDBERG HELIX WATER DISTRICT, DIVISION 4
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2PM Wednesday, November 18 -  HELIX WD REGULAR BOARD MEETING

11/16/2015

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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, November 18, 2015 - 2 p.m.
7811 University Avenue, La Mesa, CA 91942-0427
 
Drought Update:
 
During the month of October we decreased water use 22% compared to 2013 and since June we have an overall cumulative decrease of 27% meeting the 20% California mandate on Helix.

Interesting Agenda Items:

 
Agenda Item 6 – The Helix Water District Board of Directors Discuss Board Decorum (from October 7, Water Rate Hearing)

  • On November 4, Ms. Nichols attended the Board Meeting and expressed concern that an item regarding Director Muses conduct at the Water Rate Hearing on October 7 was not on the agenda. She was also concerned that the Board Secretary did not forward the letter of her request she made to the Board. (see Minutes pdf page 23).
  • Board President DeAna Verbeke stated that the item would be placed on the next agenda (November 18).
 
No Board Report Provided – should be an interesting discussion….
 
Agenda Item 7  – Public Hearing for the Policies and Procedures Manual Annual Review (pdf Page 69)
  • Change the time for the public hearing set for December 9 from 2pm to 4pm.
 
Why set it for 4pm and not for 5pm so the PUBLIC can attend the PUBLIC HEARING?
 
Agenda Item 9  – Authorize the General Manager to Execute Two Amendments for Professional Services between Helix Water District and Raftelis Financial Consultants for the Cost of Service Study (Water Rate Study) (pdf Page 73)

  • Helix Water District and Raftelis Financial Consultants Inc. in the amount of $99,773 which included $87,634 for the cost of service study and miscellaneous fees and a $12,130 for an optional water budget analysis (NOT DONE).
  • Amendment 1  - $22,320 (additional meetings and scope of work)
  • Amendment 2 – $14,332 (additional analysis due to Governor Brown Executive Order)
  • Total $124,286 an increase in contract amount of nearly 30% (huge change order increase)!
 
I have a meeting with the General Manager tomorrow to go over the amendment changes, as there is much confusion in the dates in the Board Report of when the request was made by Raftelis (Amendment 1 - Report states March 6, but letter from Raftelis is February 25, with no follow up on dates of the additional meetings). It is also curious that Amendment 2 – came after the final report (October 7) was issued on October 23rd, was there forewarning of the increase in cost? Change of scope since August 20, 2014? I hope to get the facts tomorrow and clear up in public with discussion at the Board Meeting on Wednesday.

  • NEW Rebates for WATER TANKS (200+gallons - $300)! www.socalwatersmart.com
 
  • Do you know a Middle or High School Student who wants to win $1500 (split between student(s) & school) for a VIDEO CONTEST on Special Districts – go to www.SanDiegoCSDA.Weebly.com for all the information (I am the Video Contest Chair – Deadline March 2016 – spread the word).
 
 
As always, I welcome your comments and feedback.
 
Blog is on my website of past meetings & comments…check it out!
 
Kathleen Coates Hedberg, P.E., M.P.H.
Director, Helix Water District Board
11263 Explorer Road
La Mesa, CA  91941
H619.660.7487
C619.994.6900
www.VoteHedberg.org
www.hwd.com
www.lakejennings.org
Thomas Paine Liberty Torchbearer Award Winner
 

 
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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2PM Wednesday, November 4 -  HELIX WD REGULAR BOARD MEETING

11/2/2015

0 Comments

 
**
Dear Friends,
 
Here is the board package link for our Regular Helix Water District Board Meeting:
 
AGENDA
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Wednesday, November 4, 2015 - 2 p.m.
7811 University Avenue, La Mesa, CA 91942-0427
 
Interesting Items:
 
Agenda Item 5 – c)i Minutes from October 7, Public Hearing on Water Rate Structure (pdf Page 32)
The vote was 3 (to 2 to adopt the 5 year plan as presented by Helix Staff and Consultant . Director Joel Scalzitti and I had proposed a two year plan adoption, due to the uncertainty of the water conditions/drought and many other unknowns, however, we lost the vote 2 (Hedberg, Scalzitti) to 3 (Muse, Verbeke, Linden). At the last board meeting I requested that the minutes be revised to include a couple of my statements. The Board Secretary decided to type up a transcript of a portion of the public hearing. Please let me know if you have any questions.
 
Agenda Item 5 – c)ii Minutes from the October 21 Meeting (pdf Page 39) includes public comments made from Larry and Susan Nichols regarding the October 7 Public Hearing (statements attached). Ms. Nichols pointed out a violation of the District’s published Policies and Procedures and Guidelines for conduct had occurred at the Public Hearing by comments made by Director Muse and had requested that the Board President include an item at the next Board Meeting for discussion. This item was not added to the agenda.
 
Agenda Item 8 - Policies and Procedures Manual Annual Update (pdf Page 64)
Every year the District Updates the Policy and Procedure Manual with new fees, changes. There are quite a few changes, nearly 50 changes. Here are a few that I found interesting.

  • 2.12-2(8)(2) Adds "Tier 2" to the following sentence, "Medical Necessity Class will be billed one-half of the Tier 2 Domestic Class rate for the first 20 units."
 
This is the very first time I have heard about this - where did this come from and why did we not have this discussion with our water rates or cost of service study? Very surprising!

  • 8.1-5(1) Adds "Whistleblower Protection" policy.
 
  • 8.1-13(C) Adds the following item to list of causes for disciplinary action, "Recording (audio or video) a private conversation while at work without the other person's expressed verbal or written consent."

Schedule for adoption:

  • 11/04/15 Consider changes to the policies and procedures manual and approve Wednesday, December 9, 2015, at 2 p.m. as the date and time for the public hearing.
 
  • 11/12/15 First publication of intent to change fees.

  • 11/19/15 Second publication of intent to change fees.

  • 12/09/15 Public Hearing: Resolution to adopt the policies and procedures manual and approve changes in fees and charges effective January 1, 2016.
 
 
As always, I welcome your comments and feedback.
 
Blog is on my website of past meetings & comments…check it out!
 
Kathleen Coates Hedberg, P.E., M.P.H.
Director, Helix Water District Board
11263 Explorer Road
La Mesa, CA  91941
H619.660.7487
C619.994.6900
www.VoteHedberg.org
www.hwd.com
www.lakejennings.org
Rebates www.socalwatersmart.com
Thomas Paine Liberty Torchbearer Award Winner
 

 
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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    Author: Kathleen Hedberg

    Civil Engineer in 4th Term as a Helix Water District Board Director and Past President of the Board!

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