|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The Zone 7 Water Agency is set to hold a series of public meetings regarding water rates, stream management and to educate locals on water delivery.
For water rates, the agency has tentatively scheduled four Wednesday meetings through mid-October, focused on reviewing water rates for 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 — additional dates may be added, however. All will be held at the Zone 7 administration building, 100 N. Canyons Pkwy. in Livermore.
The first meeting is a public workshop on Aug. 29 at 5 p.m. In addition to discussing water rates, at this workshop the water agency and its retailers — the cities of Livermore and Pleasanton, the California Water Service and Dublin San Ramon Services District — also aim to educate interested community members on how water is provided to the region.
The second water rates meeting is a board workshop set for Sept. 5 at 5 p.m. The latter two are currently scheduled to take place during Zone 7’s regular board meetings in September and October: Sept. 19 and Oct. 17, both beginning at 7 p.m.
The stream management workshop is scheduled for next week, also to be held at the Zone 7 administration building.
The workshop is set for Aug. 28 beginning at 5:30 p.m., and will center on the Stream Management Master Plan, which is being updated to incorporate new methodologies.
The objectives of the amendment are to reduce flood risk, be ecologically-conscious and fiscally responsible, and to address broad watershed objectives like groundwater recharge, erosion and sedimentation management and water quality.
At the meeting, staff are seeking feedback on the draft amendment from the board and public.
Zone 7 Water rates set to rise by upto 42% again! Take action or else.
Zone 7 has proposed raising water rates by upto 42% again.
If you are happy with this, please do nothing.
If you want to make a difference or learn more — read on — taking a 3 minute action could save you $1000’s in future water bills:
Next Zone 7 meeting to go over the proposed rate hikes is
DATE: Wednesday, September 5, 2018
TIME: 5:00 p.m. (yes they picked a time where most people can not attend — I wonder why on this important issue?). 7 PM is the usual board meeting time.
LOCATION: Zone 7 Administration Building
100 North Canyons Parkway, Livermore, California
http://www.zone7water.com/images/pdf_docs/agenda-september-special/9-5-18_4.pdf
– From 2013-2018 water rates were hiked approx. 67% — the “story” was this was due to the conservation drought efforts which reduced revenues — BUT – revenues actually increased approx. $80M to $153M (2014-2018) – almost 100% increase to new record highs, and a miracle happened and all the revenue was used up. Salaries and contracting expenses went up. Now they want to increase rates again upto 42%!
– Zone 7 has been moving $ out of the fund that is for the Operations&Maintenance (fund 100 ), and then when it runs short of minimums, declaring that they have to raise rates to maintain the fund. This is how the last “drought funding crisis” caused the large water rate increase. Even though they had record revenues…
– Given the larger recent increases and revenue, the Board and GM needs to:
o Actually decrease the rates – and start optimizing expenses (you have $73M from the last revenue increases to find savings) – we are confident that a 10-20% decrease in rates is possible given the almost doubling of recent revenues – while still maintaining the excellent level of quality and service of our supply. Decreasing is an alien concept to the Zone 7 management, but one they can easily learn. Become more efficient and reduce your costs that have bloated with the huge increase of the past few years.
o Stop the transfers from Fund 100 (Operations&Maintenance) to artificially cause fund reserve issues (and then subsequent rate hikes). Any transfer must be done only with a special board meeting in emergency situations only.
If you want to make a difference:
Contact the Zone 7 Board of directors and let them know how you feel:
BoardofDirectors@zone7water.com
Contact the newspapers — lots of people will see this:
pleasanton weekly: editor@PleasantonWeekly.com
east bay times: mnletters@bayareanewsgroup.com
the independent: https://www.independentnews.com/site/forms/online_services/letter/
Join the facebook group page for ongoing information:
Citizens for Sensible Water Rates Zone 7
https://www.facebook.com/groups/sensibleh2orates/
Please pass this onto everyone you know and your friends in Livermore, and San Ramon who are also impacted by this.
There is an opportunity on the horizon for the city of Pleasanton to tap into San Francisco Hetch Hetchy water. Pondarosa homes is pondering the purchase of Castle Wood golf course. San Francisco Hetch Hetchy water district serves Castle Wood and Points south.
If the purchase is made, Pondarosa homes will ask Pleasanton to annex the Castle Wood site. in doing so, will provide Pleasanton an opportunity to secure an alternate water supply, Hecth Hectcy water for years to come.