Helix Water District Board Meeting - Wednesday, February 4, at 2pm

Dear Friends,

Here is the link for the agenda and board package for the Helix Water District Regular Board Meeting:

AGENDA

REGULAR MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Wednesday, February 3, 2015 – 2pm
7811 University Avenue, La Mesa, CA 91942-0427

Interesting Items: Item 6:  Presentation by Executive Director John Bolthouse of The Water Conservation Garden regarding the Habitat Garden Project and Development of an Education Program Exclusively for Helix Water District Ratepayers – Please note this is NOT A TYPO – He did not attend the last meeting.

Item 12, PDF Page 58, Mid-Year Adjustments to the Fiscal Year 2014-15 Capital Improvement Program Budget

This is the first time the Board has seen these numbers as we do not have a Finance Committee, it appears that we have a reduction in our Capital Improvement Program of around $400,000 (due to project savings). However, some projects have been added. One item is to update our audio visual in our Board Room, I have asked to look at video, what do you think? I will be discussing and better understanding the proposal.

However, as stated in page 62, due to lowered water consumption, the district water billing revenue is projected to be under budget by approximately $2.8 million by the end of the year. On the expenses side, expenditures are projected to be approximately $1.8 million below budget which could partially offset the projected $2.8 million in revenue loss. This would leave a potential operating budget shortfall of approximately $1.0 million by the end of fiscal year 2014-15. The district has sufficient reserves and/or rate stabilization reserves to cover this potential shortfall. In addition, the district set aside $1.0 million from the El Monte settlement that could be used for this purpose if the board directs staff to do so. There are five months before the end of the fiscal year, including several more months of winter that could impact this projection. District staff will return to the board in early April with an update of the potential operating budget shortfall and receive direction from the board on how to apply the projected capital improvement program budget savings.

Information A, PDF Page 65-89, Strategic Work Plan

Great overview of the Seven Focus areas and the work the District is planning to meet the goals…

1. Customer Service
   
   
   1. Customer service study December 30, 2015 – I hope to be able to provide input on the questions this time around.
      
      
2. Employees
   
   
   1. New MOU by June 30, 2015
      
      
3. Fiscal Integrity
   
   
   1. Cost of service study, new “fair and equitable” rate structure – by June 30, 2015
      
      
4. Infrastructure
   
   
   1. CIP plan every 5 years – by June 30, 2015
      
      
5. Water Resources
   
   
   1. Lake Jennings Water Reuse Plan – 2016
      
      
   2. Drought Awareness Public Campaign – meet the 114 gpcd goal - June 30, 2015
      
      
6. Optimizing Technology
   
   
   1. Enterprise Content Management System – overhaul of entire District system, 2017
      
      
7. Public Education & Outreach
   
   
   1. Update Website – June 2015
      
      

 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."