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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter received at Steering - Donald Bauer.pdf Mr tut rx tuG' z7 October 2015 Tina Richards Foothills Sentry editor@foothilissentry.com SUBJECT: Orange County Sanitation District Service Area 7 Dear Editor, We have lived in North Tustin (in Sewer Service Area 7) since igg5. The Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) is currently determining whether East Orange County Water District (EOCWD) or Irvine Ranch Water District(IRWD)should maintain Service Area 7 in future years. We have reviewed the EOCWD,IRWD and LAFCO websites and believe that IRWD is best able to provide service. • SANITATION EXPERIENCE: o EOCWD provides water services to customers in and around Orange and Tustin. EOCWD provides NO sewer services;its full-time staff of 6 includes NO sewer crews or equipment. o IRWD provides water and sewer services to customers in Tustin, Orange Park Acres, Irvine, Costa Mesa, Newport and Lake Forest. IRWD has a staff of about 350, including highly trained sanitation crews and sophisticated sanitation and recycling equipment. • SANITATION RATES: o Based on information provided by the two districts, IRWD can provide sewer services to our area for a rate substantially lower than we currently pay, and lower than the rate we would pay with EOCWD • CAPITAL RESERVES FOR SEWER IMPROVEMENTS: o EOCWD capital reserves for water services total less than$25 million(it has no reserves for sewer services). EOCWD is uncertain whether reserves would be adequate to fund future improvements in its service area and indicates that it may need to borrow funds to do so. o For Fiscal Year 20i5-2oi6 alone, IRWD has capital reserves of $92 million for its sewer services(not including water). • WASTEWATER RECLAMATION: o EOCWD and IRWD are both member agencies of Orange County Water District(OCWD), which enables both agencies to pump from the groundwater basin at favorable rates. o As members, both agencies are equally vested in the success of OCWD basin management practices,including the Los Alamitos Seawater Intrusion Barrier. o IRWD and EOCWD have committed to continue sending flows from Service Area 7 to the Orange County Sanitation District; our treated sewer flows will equally serve beneficial uses and conserve potable resources under either scenario. • FUTURE REGULATIONS: Regulations governing sanitation and water services are extensive, and will become more extensive and costly as California's population grows. Donald and Sandra Bauer 12p Tropicana Lane♦Santa Ana,CA 927 S Donaldrla by ar gran,*Sandon0boea ,.con, M:714.397.3301♦Off:7 4.508.2522+H:714.838 2240 o IRWD has long engaged in policy and regulatory development at the state level, and has the funds,staffing and experience to influence future legislation to keep our costs low. o EOCWD is a small agency with limited staff and declining reserves; it does not have the resources to significantly participate in proactive policy and legislation. • LOCAL CONTROL: o IRWD and EOCWD Boards of Directors have 5 members that live in the service area, are elected by other residents of the service area,and serve for 4-year terms. o Service Area 7 residents will have many opportunities to seek election as Board members and participate in local control,whetherthrough EOCWD or IRWD. • OUR FUTURE WATER SERVICE: Most important is the future of our water service. Many Service Area 7 residents hope to replace Golden State(GS WC)as our water supplier. o GSWC charges by far the highest water rates in Orange County: roughly$34o a month for a large lot,compared with sizo in IRWD and s25o in EOCWD. o Ojai and Claremont are also trying to terminate Golden State in favorof local service. o Ojai's legal battle(ratepayers have already paid over$7.3 million)reached a milestone this April:the Court of Appeals found that the Mello-Roos Act can be used to finance Casitas Municipal Water District's acquisition of Golden State's water system in Ojai using eminent domain;with Casitas,Ojai has had a very strong partner in this effort. o IRWD has the financial depth, staffing and legal resources (including eminent domain, if required)needed to win this battle. o If our sewer services go to EOCWD, we will lose the chance to have IRWD as a powerful partner in our fight against Golden State Water. To better understand the choices, we hope to arrange a meeting at our home with representatives of IRWD and EOCWD present to answer questions and share information about their proposals. All of our Service Area 7 neighbors would be welcome to participate. We will provide notice in the Sentry if we are able to schedule this meeting. Please call us 714.508.2522 if you would be interested in attending, or have any questions. Sincerely, /s/Donald Bauer /sl Sandra Bauer Donald and Sandra Bauer 1271 Tropicana Lane♦Santa Ana,CA 92PS Donald(ftcaunc cam♦SandraOboesincconn M:R4.3W.330¢♦Off:74 508.2522♦H: 7m 838 2140