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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."
 
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