Tag Archive for: Board of Directors

Ashley Beard received the Helix Water District’s Robert D. Friedgen Scholarship, and Agostinho Soto-wang received the Dr. Lillian M. Childs Scholarship. L to R: Helix Water District Division 2 Director Andrea Beth Damsky, Helix Division 3 Director Mark Gracyk, Ashley Beard, Helix Board Vice President Joel Scalzitti, Agostinho Soto-wang, Helix Board President Dan McMillan and Helix Division 4 Director Kathleen Coates Hedberg. Photo: Helix Water District scholarships

East County Students Win Helix Water District Scholarships

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Two exceptional East County students received $1,000 college scholarships awarded by the Helix Water District at the May Board of Directors meeting. They are Grossmont High School senior Ashley Beard and El Capitan High School senior Agostinho Soto-wang,

Ashley Beard Seeks Role As Legal Advocate

Midway through their senior year, Beard had a 4.87 weighted grade point average and Soto-wang had a 4.91.

Beard plans to earn a degree in political science and go on to law school, a decision she made after a senior year internship at a San Diego law firm showed her how legal advocacy can transform underserved communities.

Beard is an athlete: captain of her varsity softball, soccer, and flag football teams, named first team All-League in the CIF San Diego three times, and honored twice as a Mission Fed Credit Union CIF San Diego Section Scholar Athlete.

Agostinho Soto-wang Aims To Demystify Nutrition Science

Soto-wang plans to major in bioengineering and bioinformatics. When the COVID-19 pandemic closed schools, he developed an online gaming platform for housebound students and discovered he loves to code. He wants to pursue a career in biomedical research and use machine learning and data to demystify nutrition.

Soto-wang serves on the Student Senate at his high school and is captain of the cross-country team. He is also an AP Scholar with Distinction, president of the medical club, and founder of the literature club.

Helix Water District Scholarships Honor Legacy of Leadership

Helix Water District is a local government agency responsible for tap water in San Diego’s east countysuburbs. The district’s regional water treatment plant serves 500,000 residents and the district distributes water to 278,000 residents in La Mesa, El Cajon, Lemon Grove, Spring Valley and other unincorporated areas. Photo: Helix Water District scholarships

Helix Water District is a local government agency responsible for tap water in San Diego’s east county suburbs. The district’s regional water treatment plant serves 500,000 residents and the district distributes water to 278,000 residents in La Mesa, El Cajon, Lemon Grove, Spring Valley and other unincorporated areas. Photo: Helix Water District

Helix scholarships are $1,000. The Robert D. Friedgen Scholarship was established upon his retirement in 1998, after serving as the district’s general manager for 19 years. Friedgen provided the seed money, and the board and others contributed additional funding.

The Dr. Lillian M. Childs Scholarship was started by the Helix board in 1999 to honor Dr. Childs upon her retirement from the board and recognize the 20 years of service and leadership she had given to the district. Applicants must live in the district’s service area, have excellent academic standing, and excel in community service and extracurricular activities.

The Otay Water District received the District Transparency Certificate of Excellence from the California Special District Association’s Special District Leadership Foundation at an Otay board meeting (L to R): Gary Croucher, Otay Board Director; Jose Martinez, Otay General Manager; Chris Palmer, CSDA Senior Public Affairs Field Coordinator; Francisco Rivera, Otay Board Director; and Mark Robak, Otay Board Director. Photo: Otay Water District

Otay Water District Awarded Transparency Certificate of Excellence

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The Otay Water District received the District Transparency Certificate of Excellence from the Special District Leadership Foundation (SDLF) in recognition of its outstanding efforts to promote transparency and good governance and reaffirm its commitment to openness and accessibility for its constituents and local stakeholders.

“This award reflects the Otay Water District’s dedication to open government,” said Board President Jose Lopez. “I commend our staff for empowering the public with information and encouraging engagement and oversight.”

Award Recognizes Transparency in District Governance

The Otay Water District's commitment to transparency was recognized with the Special District Leadership Foundation award. Photo: Otay Water District

The Otay Water District’s commitment to transparency was recognized with the Special District Leadership Foundation award. Photo: Otay Water District

To receive the award, the District demonstrated that it had completed essential governance transparency requirements, including ethics and harassment prevention training for all board members and staff, properly holding open and public meetings, promptly filing financial and compensation reports with the State Controller, and fulfilling other key transparency practices.

SDLF also notified the legislators representing the District’s service area about the achievement. Assemblymembers Marie Waldron, David Alvarez, Akilah Weber, and Senators Steve Padilla and Brian Jones received letters commending the District for its open and transparent practices and recognizing it as a model of best practices for California agencies.

SDLF is an independent, nonprofit organization that promotes good governance and best practices among California’s special districts through certification, accreditation, and other recognition programs. For more about SDLF, visit www.sdlf.org.

Special districts are independent public agencies that deliver core local services to communities, such as utilities, wastewater treatment, fire protection, parks and recreation, healthcare, sanitation, mosquito abatement, ports, libraries, public cemeteries, and more.

The Otay Water District is a public agency providing water, recycled water, and sewer service to approximately 238,008 customers within approximately 125 square miles of southeastern San Diego County, including the communities of eastern Chula Vista, Bonita, Jamul, Spring Valley, Rancho San Diego, unincorporated areas of El Cajon and La Mesa, and east Otay Mesa along the international border with Mexico.

For more information about the Otay Water District, visit otaywater.gov.

 

Olivenhain Municipal Water District Logo landscape design workshops

OMWD Still Accepting Applications for Vacancy on Board of Directors

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Encinitas, Calif. — Olivenhain Municipal Water District is calling for applications to fill the Division 1 vacancy on its Board of Directors. Departing director Marco San Antonio resigned from OMWD on January 24.

OMWD’s board intends to conduct interviews at its March 19 board meeting to fill the vacancy. The newly appointed director will represent Division 1 through December 4, 2026, filling the remaining 20 months of the four-year term.

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Jose Lopez Re-Elected as Otay Water District Board President for 2025

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Spring Valley, Calif. – At its January meeting, the Otay Water District board of directors elected Jose Lopez as president for 2025, marking his second consecutive term. Lopez represents division four. The board also elected board member Gary Croucher (division three) as vice president and Francisco Rivera (division one) as treasurer.

Lopez will serve until January 2026, when officer elections will again occur. He has served most recently on the District’s board since December 2020. He also served on the Otay board from 2001 to 2016.

“I am honored to serve as board president for a second term,” says Lopez. “I look forward to collaborating with our leadership team to enhance the District’s programs and processes, always striving to minimize rate increases for our customers. Together, we will address the opportunities and challenges ahead.”

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Olivenhain Municipal Water District Logo landscape design workshops

OMWD Seeks Replacement for Departed Director

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Encinitas, Calif. — Olivenhain Municipal Water District is seeking a new member of the board to replace departed director Marco San Antonio. Mr. San Antonio resigned from OMWD on January 24 and was sworn in as a newly appointed member of the Encinitas City Council.

OMWD’s board intends to conduct interviews at its March 19 board meeting to fill the vacancy. The newly appointed director will represent Division 1 through December 4, 2026, filling the remaining two years of the four-year term

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Leaders from the Metropolitan Water District join SDCWA board Chair, Secretary and General Manager at the August 2024 Board meeting.

Water Authority Welcomes MWD Chair to Discuss Regional Water Future

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On Thursday, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) Chairman Adán Ortega and Interim General Manager Deven Upadhyay addressed collaboration between two of the largest wholesale water agencies in Southern California in light of MWD’s major long-term planning effort. This process aims to chart a course for meeting Southern California’s water resource management needs while rising to the challenges of a changing climate and maintaining its financial sustainability.

Speaking to the Board of the San Diego County Water Authority, Ortega praised the work of Water Authority Board Chair Mel Katz, Vice Chair Nick Serrano and General Manager Dan Denham during an era of change at both agencies.

“Through your leadership, barriers between our member agencies are coming down opening new possibilities for greater interdependence in our region that can result in greater reliability, value for our residents, and fiscal health for the entire water supply chain,” Ortega said.

Members of the Metropolitan Water District join the August 2024 SDCWA Board meeting for a robust discussion.

This spring, Katz and Denham spoke to the MWD Board about growing the agencies’ relationship based on water security, affordability and mutual benefits.

Ortega touched on similar themes regarding MWD’s ongoing effort to prepare for a changing climate over the next century via its Climate Adaptation Master Plan for Water effort. MWD is trying to chart a course forward with its 26 member agencies that meets the needs of the region while keeping water affordable all in the face of uncertainties caused by the changing climate. Through this process, MWD will consider potential multi-billion-dollar supply projects.

Ortega said the work of the San Diego region’s delegates to the MWD Board have been crucial for helping to chart Southern California’s water future. He thanked Director Tim Smith for leading MWD’s Finance and Asset Management Committee in implementing a two-year budget that was approved without opposition ; Director Marty Miller for his efforts to ensure financial accountability; MWD Secretary Lois Fong-Sakai for establishing a tone of civility at the MWD Board; and MWD Vice Chair Gail Goldberg for her work on MWD’s complex climate adaptation plan.

“Together, during the last two years we have made great progress in steps that are modernizing Metropolitan in the task of climate adaptation,” Ortega said.

Vallecitos Water District Meets Highest Transparency Standards

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The Vallecitos Water District (VWD) was honored by the Special District Leadership Foundation (SDLF) for achieving re-accreditation with a “Transparency Certificate of Excellence.” SDLF recognizes organizations for their outstanding efforts to promote a transparent, well-governed public agency.

“This award is a testament to Vallecitos’ commitment to open government,” said Vallecitos Board President Dr. Tiffany Boyd-Hodgson. “The Board of Directors along with district staff are to be commended for their contributions that empower the public with information and facilitate engagement and oversight.”

Government Transparency Requirements Met

The SDLF certification indicates the highest level of public transparency. Photo: Vallecitos Water District governance

The SDLF certification indicates the highest level of public transparency. Photo: Vallecitos Water District

Special District Leadership Foundation Senior Public Affairs Field Coordinator Chris Palmer presented the formal certificate to the Board of Directors at its August meeting upon its successful completion of its essential governance transparency requirements.

The requirements include:

  • Conducting ethics training for all board members
  • Properly hosting open and public meetings
  • Filing financial transactions and compensation reports to the State Controller in a timely manner

The district also fulfilled 19 individual website information requirements, allowing members of the public easy access to important information including board meeting agendas, past meeting minutes, the current Vallecitos Water District budget, and its most recent financial audit.

The final requirement in the certification process assessed the Vallecitos Water District’s community outreach effort and public engagement in the district’s governance, fulfilled through regular distribution of newsletters and public budget hearings.

SDLF Fosters Good Governance Practices Among Special Districts

Engineering Technician Alison Fisher is among the Vallecitos Water District employees providing transparent service to ratepayers. Photo: Vallecitos Water District

Engineering Technician Alison Fisher is among the Vallecitos Water District employees providing transparent service to ratepayers. Photo: Vallecitos Water District

The Special District Leadership Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization formed to promote good governance and best practices among California’s special districts through certification, accreditation, and recognition programs.

To receive the recognition, the Vallecitos Water District website must post information meeting SDLF’s strict transparency requirements, including:

  • Election procedures and deadlines
  • Posted board meeting schedules and agendas
  • Current District budget
  • Recent financial audit
  • Compensation of Board members and staff (or link to the State Controller’s webpage)

The Vallecitos Board of Directors and executive staff must also show proof of educational training in public governance, as well as compliance with ethics and harassment prevention training.

More information on VWD’s transparency efforts can be viewed at www.vwd.org/transparency.

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Otay Water District to Fill Division One Vacancy Through Appointment Process

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Spring Valley, Calif. – The Otay Water District announced at its Aug. 7 board meeting that it will fill its division one board vacancy through an appointment process. The application deadline for candidates interested in filling the seat is Monday, August 26, 2024, by 5 p.m.

The vacancy occurred following the resignation, effective Aug. 2, of former board director Tim Smith, who represented division one. The board’s four remaining members, at its August meeting, unanimously voted to fill the vacancy through an appointment process, as outlined in Government Code § 1780.

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Otay Water District to Discuss Replacement Process for Board of Directors Division One Seat Aug. 7

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The Otay Water District announced that board member Tim Smith, representing division one, has resigned from the Otay board of directors after nearly a decade of service to the community on water issues.
Smith was first elected to the Otay board in December 2014 and has successfully been re-elected to the office since. His resignation, effective August 2, was formally submitted in a letter. The Otay board will discuss the process for selecting a replacement, either by appointment or election, to serve the remaining two years of Smith’s term during its meeting on August 7.
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SoCal Will See Spike In Water Rates, Taxes to Cover Rising Costs and Conservation Efforts

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The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California has announced that it will increase rates and property taxes throughout the region over the next two years as the state grapples with fundamental changes to its water supply and usage.

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