Department of Water Resources
California Water News
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
July 21, 2009
5. Agencies, Programs, People –
Tempers flare at Novato Sanitary privatization hearing
Marin Independent Journal
City joins forces with Caltech, JPL
L.A. Daily News
Angels Camp water rate could drop $10.65
Sonora Union Democrat
Uncertainty floods Twin Creeks
Stockton Record
Patrolling the Lake
Ukiah Daily Journal
MMWD board seeks to replace its fallen president
Marin Independent Journal
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Tempers flare at Novato Sanitary privatization hearing
Marin Independent Journal-7/20/09
By Jim Welte
More than 120 people packed into the Margaret Todd Senior Center on Monday night for what was likely the most rancorous and chaotic meeting in the recent history of the Novato Sanitary District board.
The five-member board got an earful from its customers and employees in opposition to a plan to privatize the operation of its soon-to-be-completed, $90 million wastewater treatment plant. The meeting devolved into disarray on several occasions, with people shouting at each other and accusing the board of being asleep at the wheel and district management of being negligent.
At issue was the district's plan to privatize its new wastewater treatment plant, which lies northeast of the Novato Community Hospital and is expected to be completed in phases by the end of 2009.
The proposal calls for the district to hand over management of the facility to Veolia Water of North America, which has taken over similar plants in the Bay Area and throughout the United States.
The board will vote on the plan at its July 27 meeting.
Pam Welsh, co-founder of the recently formed Alliance of Concerned Citizens of Novato, or ACCN, said the district's management can't be trusted to make a sound decision, pointing to the recent raid of the district's office by federal agents, as well an ongoing investigation into external computer fraud that saw more than $500,000 go missing from the district's bank account.
"I have no idea why the board would place any trust in those managers for a project of this significance and for this kind of money," she said. "I urge you to postpone this journey to privatization until this investigation is complete."
Welsh was joined by dozens of ACCN members sporting matching T-shirts that read: "Private Control Wastes Public Resources - say no to wastewater privatization." Many of those members are current and former district employees concerned that the privatization plan doesn't guarantee job security beyond three years for the eight employees who will
People were standing out the door during Monday night's Novato Sanitary District board meeting at the Margaret Todd Senior Center. (IJ photo/Robert Tong)become Veolia employees upon the takeover.
District Manager Beverly James and consultant Paul Eisenhardt each gave lengthy presentations that outlined the benefits of the plan, most notably $7.2 million in savings the district would garner that James said would keep customers' rates lower than they would be if the district maintained the plant itself.
Having taken over the management of 200 plants in the United States and nearly 20 in California, Veolia has purchasing power and expertise that delivers the cost savings, James said.
Heidi Heffelfinger, a Novato resident whose brother works for the district, asked the board to consider the outpouring of opposition in its decision. "Your public is telling you no," she said. "You don't
Dennis Welsh, a member of the Alliance of Concerned Citizens of Novato addresses the Novato Sanitary District board on Monday. (IJ photo/Robert Tong)work for Beverly [James]. You answer to us."
Don Garcia of Teamsters Local 315, which represents the district's employees, said Novato Sanitary had mischaracterized the union's position on the plan. He said that while the Teamsters negotiated a deal that guarantees that all nine of the treatment plant's current employees will keep their jobs with similar benefits and pay for at least three years, the union remains opposed to the plan.
The deal was simply a precautionary measure in case the district board approves it, he said.
Board member Bill Long said that the district's regular meetings, held at 4:30 p.m., had never seen that level of attendance. Several board members said they had not yet made up their minds.
"But how can this board turn away from a savings of $7.2 million to the ratepayers?" board president Mike DiGiorgio asked.
The meeting grew highly acrimonious at times, with Lisa Maldonado, executive director of the North Bay Labor Council, repeatedly asking DiGiorgio why the board had to decide on the proposal next week.
"This is not the way you respond to a community," she said. "I'm horrified and appalled by the attitude you have towards the public."
The district has been rife with controversy in recent months. In May, federal agents with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's criminal investigation unit shut down Novato Sanitary's offices as part of a criminal investigation into apparent environmental issues.
The district is also the subject of an ongoing bank fraud investigation into the pilfering of more than $500,000 from the district's Bank of Marin account.
James said Monday that the district was cooperating with the EPA following the raid, which centered on undisclosed violations in 2006 and 2007. She said the fraud, which impacted two other Bank of Marin customers, was traced to former Soviet republics and that the district had recovered all but $70,000 of the missing money.#
http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_12880778?IADID=Search-www.marinij.com-www.marinij.com
City joins forces with Caltech, JPL
L.A. Daily News-7/20/09
By Rick Orlov
Building on a pact signed earlier this year, the city of Los Angeles, CalTech and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory agreed Monday to a three-year program to help the city cut water use and greenhouse gas emissions, develop new energy resources and create green jobs.
"(We) are standing at the forefront of the clean technology revolution that will drive the 21st century economy," Villaraigosa said at a news conference at JPL in Pasadena.
"This will harness Los Angeles' creative capital and entrepreneurial spirit to develop clean and green technologies that will spur job growth."
Earlier this year, Villaraigosa signed a memorandum of understanding between CalTech, UCLA and USC to have the three institutions work together in developing research on the commercialization and deployment of clean technologies.
The new agreement with CalTech calls on the school to focus more on practical ways the Department of Water and Power can cut its water use - or make better use of the water it has. It also calls on CalTech to help the city accomplish one of the mayor's goals to wean Los Angeles off its reliance on coal-powered electrical plants.
CalTech also will help the DWP develop policies on a variety of environmental issues, from reducing greenhouse gases to developing renewable energy resources and conserve water.
"We are proud that JPL technology and expertise will be part of this collaboration to help improve energy efficiency
and protect our water supply, one of our most precious resources," JPL Director Charel Elachi said.
The agreement calls for the institutions to work together on all aspects of energy and water efficiencies, including collaboration with UCLA and USC researchers in testing various technologies.
"The agreement we are signing represents a ground-breaking partnership," DWP General Manager David Nahai said. "Through it, we aim to develop real-world solutions based on unparalleled scientific expertise."
The mayor has made environmental issues one of his top priorities and has set a goal of having 40 percent of the city's energy needs by the year 2020 coming from renewable sources.
Under the new agreement, CalTech and the DWP will construct a "Sustainable Technology Demonstration Building" that will showcase methods, products and technologies to reduce energy and water use.
CalTech is among the nation's leaders in graduating engineers and scientists. It's been working to make all new buildings on campus green and it has developed its own photovoltaic solar plant.
Another program to be developed will be in the Owens Valley with CalTech and JPL investigating the possibility of a remote sensing system to measure the lakebed's surface moisture. The lake provides water to the city of Los Angeles with runoff from the eastern Sierras.
It also could have statewide implications with projects looking at agricultural energy and water use, looking at the availability of solar and wind energy as well as looking at technologies that reduce bio gases.#
http://www.dailynews.com/search/ci_12878771?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com
Angels Camp water rate could drop $10.65
Sonora Union Democrat-7/20/09
By Sean Janssen
Angels Camp residents may get some long-awaited relief on their monthly water bills
The city’s attorney is expected to deliver a report to the council Tuesday about plans to lift a $10.65 fee imposed on water bills following a lawsuit involving water and sewer connections to the Greenhorn Creek and Angel Oaks subdivisions.
Council members voted July 7 to end the fee.
The fee stems from the Greenhorn Creek development agreement in the early 1990s that locked in water connection fees for the development at $4,000 and $2,400 for sewer. A lawsuit filed by Angel Oaks developer Ron Davis, finalized in 1996, locked in connection fees for that development at $800 for water and $1,800 for sewer.
The current connection fees for the remainder of the city are $8,782 for water and $9,277 for wastewater.
The $10.65 fee is intended to make up some of that difference, but the council vote deemed it unnecessary. The council’s vote suspends the fee, pending a review by City Attorney Richard Matranga, who was asked to come back to the council Tuesday with a legal opinion on the action before it takes effect.
Concerns centered on difficulty the city may have in reinstating the fee if needed once it is has been suspended and the fee’s inclusion in the city water master plan.
Matranga couldn’t be reached for comment Friday.
The city is also expected to adopt a priority list for implementing measures outlined in its 2020 general plan. Among the priorities recommended by the Planning Commission are establishment of large retail facility guidelines and an annexation plan as well as updating development standards for the historic commercial district.#
http://www.uniondemocrat.com/2009072097304/News/Local-News/Angels-water-rate-could-drop-1065
Uncertainty floods Twin Creeks
Boat docks, other levee modifications could force insurance buy
Stockton Record-7/21/09
By Alex Breitler
It's been clear for two years that boat docks and other structures built on a short stretch of the Bear Creek levee could place hundreds of nearby homes into a high-risk flood zone.
And in the eyes of some frustrated residents, little has been done.
A state flood board that permits docks and other improvements visited Bear Creek last week and heard an earful from a few of these residents, who fear not only mandatory flood insurance but also the denial of federal flood rehabilitation funding should a disaster occur.
Need flood facts?
Three meetings are planned in the coming weeks regarding the new FEMA maps:
• Real estate agents, insurance agents, mortgage and lending institutions, and other industry professionals can learn more about the new regulations from 1 to 3 p.m. or 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Stockton Memorial Civic Auditorium, South Hall.
• Residents slated to be placed into a high-risk flood zone can learn more about insurance rates, building restrictions and flood-control plans from 5 to 8 p.m. July 30 at the Karl Ross American Legion Post No. 16, 2020 Plymouth Road in Stockton.
• Information: (209) 937-5089. To view the new flood maps, visit www.sjwater.org and scroll down to the FEMA logo.
"We're still in the same boat we were two years ago," neighbor Mary Moody said. "Why is this taking so long?"
It doesn't help that the convoluted process involves a half-dozen local, state and federal agencies - and loads of paperwork dating back decades.
The saga began in 2007 when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers decided the levee was "maintenance deficient" because the docks, fences, patios, a swimming pool and even a levee-top basketball court make it difficult to inspect and monitor the levee. In this post-Hurricane Katrina era, what was once acceptable on a levee is no longer.
The Corps of Engineers' decision affects another key agency - the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which has issued new flood maps for San Joaquin County that will take effect in October.
For now, the Bear Creek levee is provisionally accredited by FEMA, but that agreement expires in March. If the problems identified by the Corps of Engineers are still unresolved, about 380 homes in the Twin Creeks subdivision will be thrust into FEMA's flood zone, as have been sizable portions of central Stockton near Smith Canal.
"The speed at which this is proceeding has been making us nervous for a long time," said Mark Connelly of the San Joaquin County Department of Public Works.
Only eight properties on the north end of Twin Creeks have encroachments. But it took longer than expected to find out which structures were properly permitted and which were not, said Ben Carter, president of the Central Valley Flood Protection Board.
Residents were asked to submit new permit applications, which were filed with the board as early as February, according to county records. But before deciding which improvements can stay and which must be removed, board members agreed to see them firsthand.
"Local homeowners have made significant investments and face the potential of having to remove and alter them," Carter said. "This is something the board does not take lightly."
He said he's considering holding a special hearing for each property to expedite the process. Still, getting the encroachments resolved by March will be "tight," he said; the board, whose area of responsibility includes the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys, meets only once a month and has seen staff time chipped away through mandatory furloughs.
Twin Creeks resident Pat Tighe said she is sympathetic with those who live along the creek but said flood insurance would be a burden in a neighborhood where many elderly people live on fixed incomes.
"I just feel bad that this is happening," she said. "I wish the communication had been better - that's the biggest problem."#
http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090721/A_NEWS/907210316
Patrolling the Lake
Ukiah Daily Journal-7/21/09
By Carole Brodsky
Summer at Lake Mendocino. Families scattered along the miles of rocky beach, jet skiers whizzing across the length of the lake, a solo windsurfer waiting for that afternoon breeze to fill his sails, a group of young adults taking their first camping trip without mom or dad.
How quickly these treasured moments can transform into an unpleasant or even tragic event. Sergeant Scott Poma and Deputy Mike McBride of the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office are two of several officers responsible for the public's safety at the Lake Mendocino.
Despite the "perks" of an idyllic setting, where the team trade their squad car for a Boulton, V-hulled speedboat, the seasoned officers, who have been working this beat for about seven years, are never lulled into complacency.
Poma and McBride both feel comfortable around boats, and in the water.
"You have to be a good swimmer for this job. If you can't swim, don't bother applying," smiles McBride.
The officers spend between four and eight hours a day patrolling the entire lake, and when necessary, respond to incidents occurring in and around the camping areas.
"We try to get out every weekend and Fridays when we can," says Poma. Officers who work the Lake Patrol do so in addition to their regularly scheduled shifts.
This season, Lake Mendocino has seen fewer guests, due in part to the low levels of the water and the temporary closure of some
of the campgrounds. Despite the lower numbers, there have been three drownings in the lake this year.
"Most of the drownings that we have seen over the years are due to the combination of alcohol and heat," says Sgt. Poma. Ironically, according to Poma, most people drown in shallow water. People who are intoxicated and possibly suffering from dehydration may become disoriented and not realize they are in only a few feet of water.
McBride and Poma spend the majority of their workday dealing with many of the same issues that they encounter on dry land. Their boat, which is outfitted with a beaching plate on the bottom, is thoroughly checked before the pair leaves the dock. The officers are equipped with the tools they would use in their squad car- including guns and the handy citation pad.
"We check boating registrations in the same way that we would check registration on a vehicle," says Deputy McBride. If the boat is not currently registered, it will be towed back to the dock and the owner will be expected to take care of it.
The team's first priority is to provide safety for the boaters, swimmers, and campers at Lake Mendocino.
"We deal with erratic drivers and jet skis coming too close to swimmers," says McBride.
The pair have made their share of "BUI" or, boating under the influence arrests. Being arrested for a BUI is exactly the same as a DUI, explains Poma. "Alcohol can be consumed on a boat, but the driver of a boat cannot possess alcohol in the driving area," says Poma. The legal limit - .08 - is exactly the same for boaters, as are the resultant restrictions to one's driver's license and increase in insurance rates if convicted of a BUI.
Poma and McBride have seen several serious accidents involving jet skiers, who have driven over swimmers or people on inner tubes. They carry a supply of orange safety flags in their boat, and keep watch on boats that are not displaying their flag when a skier or swimmer is in the water. At that point, the officers will approach the boat and inquire if there is a flag on board.
"We remind boaters that they must display their flag when someone is down. If they don't have one, will give them a flag," says Poma.
Generally, first time offenders are given a warning, but if they continue to ignore the rules, they will be cited. Officers will also ask boaters to show that they have enough life vests for the number of people on board.
The Sheriff's Department works in tandem with the Army Corps of Engineers, who utilize a barge and a patrol boat on the lake. Corps staff are also able to issue citations. Problems in the campgrounds are generally limited to fights. The Lake Patrol will receive notification of any problems through their dispatch office and respond accordingly.
Poma and McBride agree that working at the lake can have its benefits. Their boat pulls into a quiet cove. In the shallows, ducks, geese, an egret and a great blue heron quietly forage for food. The pair have spotted eagles competing with vultures and observed a pair of river otters. They once assisted a pelican tangled up in fishing line, which they were able to return back to the wild.
But the peace lasts only a moment. Suddenly, an angry boater pulls up and notifies the officers that a reckless jet skier is careening past his children, despite two warnings. The Lake Patrol speeds off, ready for their next assignment.#
http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/ci_12881402
MMWD board seeks to replace its fallen president
Marin Independent Journal-7/20/09
By Mark Prado
The Marin Municipal Water District Board of Directors must determine how to fill an open seat after the death earlier this month of board president Alex Forman.
The board has two options and likely will decide a direction when it meets Wednesday.
It can seek applicants and appoint someone to the board, which would have to occur by Sept. 7 under state rules. That person would have the seat until November 2010, at which time he would have to win re-election on the ballot for a two-year term if he wanted to remain on the board.
The board also could decide to hold an election to fill the balance of Forman's term, through 2012. But because the vacancy occurred within 130 days of the November election, state law requires the vote be held in April. That election would cost the district at least $30,000.
The district staff is recommending that the board appoint the new board member for Division 2, which encompasses San Rafael.
"We will present a timeline to the board," said Paul Helliker, district general manager. "The board typically puts out requests for interest and takes resumes from people and has an interview process."
Board member David Behar, who will take over as president through January, says he believes appointing a successor makes the most sense.
"There are so many important things, so many issues on our plate," he said. "I think we would want to fill it as soon as possible to deal with those issues."
The new director will join the board at a critical time, when the future of Marin's water supply could be determined.
The board is wrestling with a decision to proceed with a $105 million, 5-million-gallon-a-day desalination plant that could protect the county if it is faced with a drought.
But members of the community are pushing the district toward conservation to meet needs, although the board maintains it has one of the most aggressive water saving plans in the state.
Forman died July 9 at age 62 after a long battle with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. He was first diagnosed in May 2005.#
http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_12877936?IADID=Search-www.marinij.com-www.marinij.com
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