HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-01-07; Municipal Water District; 350; Approve Membership in Water Agency Coalitionc, . n I
DEPT. HD. ‘FT&f
CARLSBA; MUNICIPAL WATER DISTR& - AGENDA BILL
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AB# ?SO TITLE: APPROVE MEMBERSHIP IN WATER AGENCY
MTG. 01/07/97 COALITION, APPROVE CMWD PRESIDENT AS VICE-
CHAIR AND APPROVE CONTRIBUTION OF $5,000 TO
DEPT. CMWD ANALYZE OPTIONS TO WITHDRAWAL FROM CWA
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
CITYATTY. !0+
CITY MGR. +
Approve CMWD membership in the coalition of water agencies that currently are considering
withdrawal from the San Diego County Water Authority; approve the appointment of the CMWD
President as representative to Vice-Chair of this coalition; and approve a $5,000 contribution to
this coalition for the purpose of retaining attorney Michael Cowett, of Best, Best and Krieger to
analyze the options available to the coalition regarding possible withdrawal from the County
Water Authority and the formation of another agency that would be eligible for Metropolitan
Water District of Southern California membership.
ITEM EXPLANATION:
At the County Water Authority Board of Directors meeting, on December 12, the Board
exercised a little used provision of its state law authority and instituted a weighted-vote system
that gave the City of San Diego control of the Board. This weighted-vote is a vote based on the
assessed valuation in the jurisdiction of the board member voting.
Under this voting method, the City of San Diego’s 10 seats on the 34 member Board actually
count for 48 percent of all the votes, meaning San Diego has to have only one or two other
Board members vote with it in order to have a majority on any issue.
This weighted vote was called for, at the last Board meeting, to select officers of the Board. The
decision the City of San Diego wanted was to elect a chair and a vice-chair, both from the San
Diego delegation, bypassing a power-sharing arrangement among various water agencies that
has worked since 1944.
The ability of the remaining water agencies in the county to control their own destiny and
negotiate water prices and availability have been seriously threatened by this call for a
weighted vote.
As a result, a number of water agencies, mostly from north county at this time, have formed a
coalition with the goals of :
l Restoring the health and integrity if the San Diego County Water Authority.
l Chanoina the weiahted-vote provision.
l Obtaining a new election of officers of the San Diego County Water Authority.
l Working toward appointments to the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Water
District and the Colorado River Board.
*Creating a new Organization eligible for Metro membership, if necessary to withdraw.
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Page 2 of Agenda Bill No. .=%Z)
This coalition of water agencies has selected officers and the Carlsbad Municipal Water District
Board President has been chosen to be Vice-Chair of this Coalition subject to approval of the
CMWD Board. Also, this coalition has agreed to analyze its options including the possibility of
withdrawing from the San Diego County Water Authority and forming another legal entity that
would be eligible to become a member of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
In order to fund this activity each member of the coalition, there are approximately 12 members
at this time, each agency has been asked to contribute $5,000 for retaining Michael Cowett, of
Best, Best & Krieger, to analyze the options the coalition may have to help achieve its goals.
The above course of action was developed at an informal meeting of potential coalition
members on Monday, December 30, 1996. The Board President recommendation is to change
the weighted voting formula to one based on water purchases as the first option. If that is not
successful, the option of pursuing a new agency could be further investigated.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There are sufficient funds in the Water Fund Budget to absorb the $5,000 contribution cost.
San Diego
COUNTY WATER COALITION
Discussion Request List for
San. Diego County Water Authority Workshop
Thursday, January 23,1997
Items to be Reauested bv Counti Water Coalition at CWA Workshop:
1)
2)
3)
4
5)
6)
7)
8)
Voting representation for ten years based on water sales.
New election of top officers.
Hold off on appointment of new appointments to Metropolitan Water
Board and Colorado River Water Board.
No block voting (one man - one vote).
City of San Diego to have only two Metropolitan Directors.
San Diego to have only one-third of officer positions.
San Diego to have only one-third of commission chairs.
Want the new Metropolitan and Colorado River Board director
appointments to be deferred until after the workshop.
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