By Mark Dolson
Staffing and Contracting Changes, Grand Jury Response, and Election Planning
The San Lorenzo Valley Water District (SLVWD) Board has met twice since my last report. Three topics stand out as most important for our community to be informed about.
First, the Board discussed multiple initiatives aimed at enabling the District to operate more economically and/or effectively. District Engineer Josh Wolff presented an analysis showing that the District could potentially save on the order of half a million dollars over the next two years by hiring a staff Construction Inspector to handle many of the construction-management tasks currently being performed by outside contractors. The Board unanimously approved this.
Director Jayme Ackemann presented a recommendation from the Board’s Administration Committee (of which I am a public member) that the District increase its commitment to, and investment in, community outreach. With the complex and expensive Five Mile Pipeline Replacement Project on the horizon (along with other potentially sensitive issues such as the proposed consolidations with Bracken Brae and Forest Springs and a pending rate study), the Board felt that the District was in need of more technically sophisticated third-party support for engaging meaningfully with the local community (e.g., via town halls) to ensure that there is true mutual understanding. Staff will prepare a Request for Proposals from qualified contractors.
The District also promoted Environmental Programs Manager Carly Blanchard to fill its new Project Manager position following a six-month unsuccessful search for other applicants. The District will advertise for a new environmental position that will ultimately result in an overall net reduction in operating expenses. In addition, District Manager Rick Rogers reported further progress toward the District’s goal of a paperless office.
Second, the Board delegated Staff to prepare a required formal response to a recent Grand Jury report entitled “Our Water Account Is Overdrawn—Beyond Conservation: Achieving Drought Resilience.” The report appropriately calls attention to the water needs of the City of Santa Cruz, but it largely ignores the specific challenges facing the SLV and the corresponding initiatives that SLVWD is actively pursuing.
Third, the Board approved the necessary procedural steps to prepare for this November when four of the five current Board seats will be up for election. As it turns out, three of the seats will have four-year terms, but the other one (currently held by Director Ackemann) will have only a two-year term.
The next regular Board of Directors meeting will be at 6:30 PM on June 16th (still via Zoom).
