Recently in Water districts Category
Live downstream from the Whittier Narrows or Santa Fe Dams? You have reason to worry, according to a new report.
Speaking of water, one of the areas most prominent local innovators for water projects died recently. Tim Jochem spent almost a decade as the general manager of the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District.
I know presents are more important, so I saved these important weekend links for you. This is a one-time offer exclusive that you can't get anywhere else!
How did the past week's rainfall help our water coffers? Rebecca Kimitch has some answers.
After years of haggling, the city finally agreed to sell the site of a former bowling alley to a developer - taking an $8 million write-down in the process.
And finally, if you Christmas spirit and holiday hope is beginning to wane, read Hector Gonzalez column from Friday where he writes updates us on a story from long ago.
Email: daniel.tedford@sgvn.com | Twitter: @dgtedford @sgvtribune | Facebook: SGVTribune
A lot of national news this weekend dominated the headlines including the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell and the defeat of the DREAM Act. While you were absorbing all that, here are some of the things you might have missed.
An ethics scandal may have ended former congressman Jay Kim's political career and marriage, but in failure he found a new love.
Everything you want to know about the new smart meters rolled out by Edison.
Email: daniel.tedford@sgvn.com | Twitter: @dgtedford @sgvtribune | Facebook: SGVTribune
I'm a little late getting this up (just a whole day) but here are some of the stories you missed this weekend (and maybe Monday too, I know I did). I was out sick Monday, so Tuesday is the official start of my week. Anyway, weekend in review is upon us, in case you were worried.
The defense talks about the Manling Williams hung jury and what this decision means for the future punishment of the convicted killer. (Don't forget about the discussion of the death penalty at this earlier blog post. Note: sometimes peddling my own blog posts to garner readership makes me feel guilty. And sad.)
Everybody's favorite: A water board story (not water boarding, water board.) Some long time members of the San Gabriel Water Quality Authority have left, forcing a lot of changes.
And Rosemead School District board members may raise their stipends 5 percent. They currently make between $262.55 and $266.72 per month.
Email: daniel.tedford@sgvn.com | Twitter: @dgtedford @sgvtribune | Facebook: SGVTribune
I am not sure what news could overtake the bittersweet emotions of the Angels losing three out of four to the Rangers, moving to seven games out of first place, and trading 8-year Angel veteran Joe Saunders while getting a great pitcher (and hometown hero?) Dan Haren from the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Haren went to Bishop Amat High School and owns a home in West Covina, so in a way, he heads home by being traded to the Angels and can become something of a hometown favorite with them.
And in a similar twist of fate, Saunders is traded to Arizona where he owns a home in Phoenix. If that is solace to Saunders who fell just short of tears when speaking to reporters is unknown.
As for the remainder of the weekend news from the Tribune, look no further than the links below. (Actually, if you browse the website for a bit you will find many tales of lore and city road construction projects. These are just some highlights.)
As for the week ahead, special council meeting in Azusa tonight at 6:30 pm. at the Azusa Light and Water Conference Room, 729 N. Azusa Ave., will discuss purchasing a new police vehicle and a new contract with the Azusa Chamber of Commerce.
Glendora's council meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at City Hall, 116 E. Foothill Blvd., will look at, among other items, fees for city services.
Also Tuesday, San Dimas City Council will consider a request for the Five Cities 10K run on Nov. 6.
Email: daniel.tedford@sgvn.com | Twitter: @dgtedford @sgvtribune | Facebook: SGVTribune
For those of you busy watching the World Cup over the weekend, I got your local news for you right here.
How the free environmental pass to the Industry Stadium is affecting others.
As for what's to come this week, San Dimas and Glendora both have city council meetings tomorrow.
On Glendora's agenda is a request to change the City Clerk's administrative assistant position to Deputy City Clerk and increasing the position's salary by about $11,000 a year. The city hopes this can help to innovate and better services from the department.
The San Dimas City Council and Planning Commission are having a joint meeting to discuss the ongoing City Hall renovation project and the potential NJD Project Development in the northern foothills.
Two final items of note. Congratulations to my all time favorite baseball player Tim Salmon. Salmon, who has the most career home runs at 299 without ever appearing in an All-Star game, was the MVP of the All-Star Celebrity Softball Game in Anaheim Sunday.
Secondly, for your viewing pleasure and to stay fresh on Internet lingo, this is so double rainbow.
Email: daniel.tedford@sgvn.com | Twitter: @dgtedford @sgvtribune | Facebook: SGVTribune
Lots of local government stories over the weekend, both by the Trib and even the Times, which featured a story about El Monte.
Valley County is hiking its rates for water users in Irwindale, Azusa, West Covina and Baldwin Park. Read more.
The owners of the indoor swap meet, Covina Mini Mall, finally came forward and agreed to fix 39 code violations. Read more.
Is horse racing dead? Not yet, but just about. Read more.
Monrovia City Hall will remove brush from public property, much to the relief of the residents, who were previously told it was the responsibility of homeowners. Read more.
The late Thelma Powell, whose husband opened Powell Camera Shop in Covina in 1952, was "one of those sweet little ladies," writes Martiza Velasquez. Read more.
Overhaul of the 10 and 605 freeway interchanges could start a year earlier than expected. Read more.
Public safety in El Monte could take another hit, only this time around, its the fire fighters. One of the city's four fire stations could be closed as a result of a growing deficit. Read more.
Meanwhile, the LA Times writes an overview this weekend of El Monte, its history, and how the city has been hit especially hard by the recession. Read more.
Monterey Park officials scratch head wondering why bus ridership is falling in their city as it climbs everywhere else. Read more.
Residents in Bradbury, Duarte, El Monte, Irwindale, Monrovia, Rosemead, San Gabriel, San Marino, Temple City and some Los Angeles unincorporated areas are being hit with a 56 percent water rate hike. Read more.
As some cities struggle to get their tagging under control, West Covina has been combating it with volunteer Glenn Kennedy, the police department and the hired clean-up company. Read more.
San Gabriel Valley's only pot dispensary closes up shop after a judge granted a temporary restraining order. Read more.
Montebello OKs metal recycling plant in an industrial area. Read more.
Newly appointed Labor Secretary Hilda Solis will come back home at 2 p.m. on Saturday and give a talk at La Puente High School titled, "Pathways to Success: Achieving Goals through Education." Solis was the first in her family to go to college and attend Cal Poly Pomona. Read more.
Baldwin Park Mayor Manny Lozano cleared by District Attorney's office, which investigated a 2007 trip taken by Lozano to China. Read more.
For those who care about water news, here is an update that some may find interesting:
At the first board meeting with Director Al Contreras taking over as President, the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal District board voted 3-1 to replace Tony Fellow on the board for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Fellow was the vice chairman and was Chairman Timothy Brick's right-hand man.
Fellow was replaced with Bill Robinson, who has served as 20 years on the Upper District but never on the MWD. Fellow served 16 years on the MWD, and has been on the Upper District for 18 years.
President Contreras said he wanted to give the other people on the Upper District a chance to serve on the different boards. But some think that the move just shot Upper District and the San Gabriel Valley in the foot when it comes to water issues.
As Brick put it, "This is all politics. But now Upper District will have to get in the back of line."
In the spirit of the New Year, this week's Leftovers column looked at the "Top 5" news stories based on reader comments and interest on the blog:
It's 2009 and there's no telling what tidings the new year will bring our local cities. But before we dive in, let's take a look back.
Here's a list of five stories that garnered the most comments and interest from blog readers in 2008 (in no particular order):
*In May, accusations surfaced that El Monte Mayor Ernie Gutierrez showed up at a sister city event drunk and shouting vulgarities. The allegations kicked up a whirlwind in City Hall, and criticism from residents who questioned Gutierrez's ethical standards as an elected officials. An in-house investigation cleared Gutierrez of the allegations.
But soon after, the mayor was arrested on allegations he was involved in a domestic argument with someone he was dating -- and not his wife. Charges weren't filed, but some City Council members expressed disappointment over the incident. Gutierrez eventually was removed from a commission over the arrest.
*Three Valleys Municipal Water District member Xavier Alvarez was found guilty in July of violating the Stolen Valor Act of 2005, which makes it a crime to lie about receiving certain medals.
He was sentenced to three years probation, and was fined $5,000 for falsely claiming to be a Medal of Honor recipient.
Alvarez continues to sit on the board and faces more legal trouble. He faces three felony charges for grand theft of personal property, insurance fraud and misappropriating public money.
*South El Monte Mayor Blanca Figueroa recently received international acclaim when her colleagues voted to ban her from working in her City Hall office past 11 p.m.
Figueroa has a habit of working late -- sometimes as late as 3 a.m. -- and some of her colleagues have accused her of living her in office.
She's denied those claims, but does admit to making the office her own. She decorates it with accolades, photos, beta fish, plants, a plasma television and snacks.
*A Montebello trash contract dispute that already was getting a lot of attention took an interesting turn when a group leaked documents detailing City Councilman Robert Urteaga's criminal history on the Internet.
In 1998, he pleaded no contest to grand theft of personal property totaling $30,000, according to court documents.
Urteaga said his conviction dated back to his years as a UCLA student when he was 21. Putting himself through school, he took up sports gambling to make extra money. He said he was remorseful.
*Baldwin Park school board member Sergio Corona is serving three years probation for a misdemeanor charge stemming from his May arrest.
The board's youngest member pleaded guilty in October to resisting arrest and obstructing a police officer. He was sentenced to one day in jail, fined $150 and was ordered to pay $100 in restitution fees, she said.
Corona, 34, was Tased and arrested on May 22 after allegedly breaking the windows of a home on Sandstone Street while shirtless and sweaty.
Following the incident, Corona then faced a myriad of criticism from parents and City Council members, especially over initial police reports that said Corona admitted he had smoked methamphetamine and marijuana the night he was arrested.
Subsequent toxicology reports did not support those allegations and Corona denied the claims. He did, however, say he took "full responsibility" for the arrest.
Former Central Basin Water District Director Charles Trevino will be sworm in tonight as the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District director at its office in El Monte. The event is basically just for Trevino's supporters, friends and family. Trevino replaces long timer Frank Forbes, who served on the board for nearly 16 years.
Trevino, who resigned from the Central Basin water board in 2003, is the same candidate who stated he was prepared to raise up to $100,000 to get elected, acccording to a story I wrote on Sept. 27, 2008.
"Money is always a key factor in anything political," said Charles Trevino , who as of June collected $39,000 and is the top fundraiser among the candidates running for the El Monte-based Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District. "I am prepared to spend between $80,000 to $100,000 if I have to."
When the campaign records become available in January, we'll just have to see how much it really took him.
Few stories of interest spotted here and there:
Rowland Heights efforts for cityhood failed, for now. Read here.
El Monte hopes that its more than $43 million transit village will come to fruition. Read more.
Three Valleys Water Board Director Xavier Alvarez is facing three felony charges. His arraignment was postponed on Thursday. Read more.
After a year hiatus, the Covina Christmas parade returns tonight beginning at 6:30 p.m. Read more.
Moe still missing. Read more.
The presidency wasn't the only think at stake in Tuesday's historical election.
Here's a breakdown of some of the local candidates and measures that failed or passed:
*Measure CC, which would have changed Rosemead from a general law city to a charter city failed. Voters rejected it by a 63 percent to 37 percent margin.
*Former Assemblyman Ed Chavez took over Leon Garcia's seat in the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District. Chavez is the husband of former La Puente Councilwoman Renee Chavez, who was outsed in 2007.
*Assemblyman Ed Hernandez, D-West Covina, will serve a second term in the 57th District. He walked away with 67 percent of the votes versus Baldwin Park resident Victor Saldana's 33 percent.
*Pico Rivera got its wish with the passage of Measure P, the one-percent sales-tax increase that officials say won't likely to take effect before April. Measure P is expected to bring in $6 million annually.
*A half cent sales-tax increase was approved by 71 percent of voters in El Monte. Measure GG will fund public safety and infrastructure as well as rebuild the city's emergency reserves.
Not enough for ya? For more on the elections, visit our special elections page here...
There were some suprising results out of the water district elections. Three incumbents were ousted from their seats:
Three Valleys Municipal Water District
John Mendoza Votes: 7,833 Percent : 55.52
JW "Fred" Lantz Votes: 6,315 Percent: 44.48 (Incumbent)
Mendoza was also running for Pomona City Coucil. Lantz served on the board since 2000.
Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, Division 2
Charles Trevino Votes: 15,615 Percent: 44.45
Clarence Wong Votes: 9,214 Percent: 26.23
Frank Forbes Votes: 7,138 Percent: 20.32 (Incumbent)
Arthur Munos Votes: 3,165 Percent: 9.01
Incumbent Frank Forbes, 84, sat on the board for 16 years. Trevino previously served on the Central Basin Water District and now works for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, Division 2
Ed Chavez Votes: 18,653 Percent: 53.04
Leon Garcia Votes: 12,221 Percent: 34.75 (Incumbent)
Lizet Angulo Votes: 4,297 Percent: 12.22
Leon Garcia, who was appointed to the board in 2005 and then was elected in 2006, was ousted by former Assemblyman Ed Chavez.
To get final election results, go here.
Central Basin and West Basin were happily married for 16 years. And then came the bitter divorce in 2006, followed by two lawsuits and likely the squandernig of thousands of rate payers dollars.
Of course, neither agency had that number at their fingertips when I asked them how much it cost them to litigate over the past two years. At West Bast, General Manager Rich Nagel assured that the costs were "minimal," whatever that means. And at Central Basin, the costs are significant enough that they are asking West Basin to pay for attorney's fees.
Here is the most recent in their break-up:
Water districts remain at odds
By Jennifer McLain, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 10/29/2008 11:44:55 PM PDT
COMMERCE - A court order last week still won't bring an end to a bitter divorce between two water districts that serve nearly half of Los Angeles County.
The West Basin and Central Basin municipal water districts have waged war against one another after the two split joint operations more than two years ago, this time disagreeing over how much each should pay for employee retirement expenses.
Judge Robert Heff on Oct.20 ruled that West Basin Municipal breached a settlement agreement with its former business partner, Central Basin Municipal Water District.
Central Basin officials said West Basin owes their district $1.09 million in employee retirement expenses.
But West Basin said that number is about $350,000 too high.
"We believe the information provided by Central Basin to the court was inaccurate," said West Basin General Manager Richard Nagel. "We've been discussing with the board how to correct that step."
After the judge ruled, Central Basin said it wants legal fees from West Basin.
Nagel said the West Basin's board will have to decide whether to appeal.
West Basin and Central Basin from 1990 to 2006 carried out joint operations from a building in Commerce.
Just before the partnership ended in 2006, West Basin filed a lawsuit against Central Basin because the two parties could not agree what they owed one another, such as employee liabilities.
West Basin provides water to the
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western portion of Los Angeles County, from as far north as Beverly Hills to as far south as Rancho Palos Verdes, and as far west from Hermosa Beach to as far east as Carson.
Central Basin serves areas from Lakewood to Montebello, Willowbrook to La Habra Heights, including Pico Rivera, Monterey Park and Whittier.
Central Basin General Manager Art Aguilar said he hoped the recent court judgement would put an end to the ongoing legal battles with West Basin.
If fights continue, Aguilar places the blame on West Basin.
"To continue this is a waste of rate payers money," Aguilar said.
jennifer.mclain@sgvn.com
(626) 962-8811, Ext. 2477
www.insidesocal.com/sgvgov
Albert Robles was cleared of all charges he was facing for allegedly violating campaign codes, Airan Scruby reports.
Albert Robles serves on the Water Replinishment District of Southern California, and unfortunately shares the name with the former South Gate treasurer who was convicted to 10 years in prison of corruption.
Robles, 39, of the WRD, out of Lakewood, has served on the board since 1992.
Today I finally got around to a record's request that La Puente Valley County Water District has kept for me for about a month now. The request was inspired after I received a series of anonymous calls asking me to look into RC Foster, a contracting company that Valley County and other water agencies in the SGV has used for several years to build water clean up facilities.
I don't know whether there is a story there. I just asked for invoices, bid submittals, contracts and minutes, and still need to review the docs at one more agency.
Back to today. While going through the minutes, I came across a familiar name: La Puente Councilman Louie Lujan, who apparently got his start in politics on the La Puente Valley County Water District. I didn't realize that until I came back to the office and checked out Lujan's bio:
At the age of 23, he was the top vote getter among three candidates vying for two positions on the La Puente Valley County Water District in November of 1999.
In past stories about water districts, some have said that water boards are the springboard of political careers, while I've heard others say it is the landing pad. And then, there is that group that just get stuck there, and end up serving on the board for 20 years plus.
It seems that water politics is a mixture of both, although it would be an interesting story to see how the demographics, including age and gender, on our water boards, and city councils, have shifted today compared to 10 years ago.
Would you guys read that story?
Dolores Holguin, former director on the Valley County Water District in Baldwin Park, pleaded guilty today to one count of misusing public funds.
Investigators said that Holguin improperly charged personal expenses to the district, including meals, attorney's fees and telephone bills. She was ordered to pay back the district $6,200.
Deputy District Attorney Edward Miller said that he hopes the case serves as an example to public officials.
"It is a message that public officials are supposed to exercise the utmost care when spending the public's money, and if it is not an actual and necessary expense for their function, it is probably illegal," Miller said.
Jennifer McLain had a very interesting story that ran in today's paper about the Main San Gabriel Basin Watermaster, which isn't a public agency but sure does get some very "public" benefits.
The Watermaster is a nonprofit, court-ordered agency that is afforded public benefits, uses public money and and does not have to adhere to state open-meeting laws.
****
Under the court order, the Watermaster is required to post its meeting agendas and minutes. It also allows members of the public to sit in on the meetings, will answer public records requests, and provides annual reports that include budgets, water rights and water uses.
*****
Records show that administrative costs continue to grow as service expenditures, such as lower water quality monitoring and management costs, decline.
In 2007-08, director Williams received $172,700 a year, and received a $700 a month car allowance. In 2006-07, she received $166,400 a year including the car allowance.
Board members are compensated for their work on the Watermaster, receive dental and optical benefits, and get travel allowances.
Over two years, the Watermaster paid out nearly $24,500 to 12 board members for meeting attendance, and about $13,000 in travel expenses for five board members and the executive director.
"Our board member expenses are very low," Williams said.
While by traditional definition it is not a public agency, employees receive public retirement benefits provided by CalPERS and get public health benefits.
What do you guys think?
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