Mark Dolson
Board updates Policy Manual.
Only a few members of the public attended the April 15th Board Meeting for the SLVWD and for good reason: there was only a single item on the agenda, and it was of interest primarily to the four current members of the Board. The goal, which the Board was successful in achieving, was to agree on a final version of the Board Policy Manual. Proposed revisions have been under Board review since this past January as part of an annual process that seeks to regularly update Board operating procedures in light of evolving experiences. To their credit, the Board members deliberated carefully and constructively and unanimously approved the proposed final draft with four additional detailed changes introduced during the course of the meeting. A recurring area of disagreement involved the optimal balance between procedures that promote efficient Board meetings and those that maximize the freedom of individual Directors and members of the public to expand at length on issues of concern. The final thirty minutes of the (two-hour) meeting provided opportunities for questions and comments about routine Departmental, Committee, and Director reports. It was revealed that a public member of the Budget and Finance Committee has resigned, and this development will be placed on the agenda for the upcoming May 6th Board meeting. It was also announced that the District expects to close escrow April 16th on the purchase of the Naccari property in Ben Lomond. This property provides the District with a superior location to construct a new water storage tank to replace a leaky and inadequate older tank; however, the purchasing process turned out to be unexpectedly complex and challenging. It’s also sometimes helpful to be reminded of items from past Board meetings which will be coming back to the Board for further consideration when suitable progress has occurred. The controversial SLVWD/Scotts Valley Water District consolidation proposal will be revisited in May when the two District Managers complete their initial report on potential benefits and drawbacks. The District’s Fire Management Plan is still in development and will likely also be brought to the Board in May. The FY2021-2023 Budget is similarly under development and must be approved by the Board in June. The recent City of Santa Cruz petitions to modify the city’s use of San Lorenzo River water have no immediate impact on the District and are likely to be subject to a lengthy review process.
