A public briefing on Senate Bill 1337 will be held at Zone 7 Water Agency's office on Thursday evening to explain the legislation's purpose, which is to align the Zone 7's scope of authority with the territory it serves.

Zone 7 provides regional flood protection for eastern Alameda County plus supplies wholesale water to retailers who deliver to more than 200,000 people in the cities of Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin and the Dougherty Valley portion of San Ramon.

As long as Zone 7 remains part of the Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, residents served in Contra Costa County do not have the right to vote for or serve on Zone 7's board of directors. SB 1337 would establish Zone 7's operations as separate from Alameda County.

The legislation would allow Zone 7 to adopt streamlined business practices, potentially saving customers money and minimizing future water rate increases, according to a press release from Zone 7.

Zone 7 has sponsored the bill, which was introduced in the California State Senate on Feb. 24 by Sen. Mark DeSaulnier, with Sen. Loni Hancock and Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan as co-authors.

The authors' staff members will host the public workshop Thursday. Zone 7 staff also will be available to answer questions.

The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. May 10 at Zone 7's Office, 100 N. Canyons Parkway, in Livermore.

— Dolores Fox Ciardelli

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