Helix Water District Board Meeting - Wed., March 18, 2015 2pm

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.