Glendale News Press, CA
Nov 30 2007
POLITICAL LANDSCAPE:
Krekorian to address water crisis
Assemblyman Paul Krekorian and Jeff Kightlinger, general manager of
the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Water District, will discuss
pressing state water issues at a public information session from 7:30
a.m. to 9 a.m. at The Castaway restaurant in Burbank.
The event is full, but due to high interest in the event, Krekorian’s
office and the water district are planning to host a similar session
in the near future, district officials said.
Krekorian, who serves on the governor’s special committee on water,
said he plans to update attendees on competing interests in
Sacramento over proposed water infrastructure improvements.
`California is right now facing a real crisis in its water supply and
water quality,’ Krekorian said.
`The Legislature is focusing a great deal right now on infrastructure
needs and planning for future water demand, so this is an opportunity
for us to help provide some additional information to members of the
public and the business community who have concerns about where
California is in developing its water resources and for me,
conversely, to draw input from them.’ advertisement
Legislators have so far clashed over whether about half of the $10
billion in water infrastructure funds provided in Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger’s proposal should be used to create new dams and
replace an existing one, Krekorian said.
Kightlinger is expected to brief attendees on the many challenges
facing the state’s drinking water supply, including the ongoing
Colorado River drought, the recent record-setting dry rain year,
water supply and water-quality issues facing the Sacramento-San
Joaquin Bay Delta and also address proposed solutions.
Rate increases are slated for discussion
The Crescenta Valley Water District will host a public workshop on
Tuesday to weigh public opinion regarding a proposed water rate
increase for Crescenta Valley ratepayers.
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Water District, from which the
Crescenta Valley Water District buys up to half its water supply, is
slated to raise its rates in January and the local agency needs to
pass that increased cost along to its customers, said Dennis Erdman,
general manager of the Crescenta Valley Water District.
But it remains to be seen whether the district, which is led by a
five-member board of directors, will institute the type of tiered
rate structure that residents of the area have hotly opposed.
Tiered rates, already used by Metropolitan Water District and other
utilities including Glendale Water & Power, charge customers one rate
up to a set level of consumption and a second, higher rate for all
water used beyond the limit.
District staff put forth three recommendations for changing the
rates, one of which suggests charging $3.90 per 1,000 gallons for the
first 22,000 gallons consumed.
The average district customer uses 22,000 gallons per bimonthly
billing period, according to a district staff report.
Under the same proposal, for all water used beyond the first 22,000
gallons, the district would charge $4.10 per 1,000 gallons.
A second option maintains the same cost for the proposed first- and
second-tier rates, but increases the threshold to 33,000 gallons, an
option that district officials say would be easier on larger
families. Currently, customers pay a rate of $3.70 per 1,000 gallons.
District staff has recommended that the board consider tiered rates,
despite the concern shared by many residents that tiered rates
unfairly tax large families.
`We’ve heard that comment,’ Erdman said.
`We don’t agree with it . . . . When you have large
families you have to buy more food, too, so it’s one of the
consequences of making that choice in life.’
Crescenta Valley Town Councilwoman Sharon Raghavachary, who applied
for but was denied a seat on the water district board in September,
counts herself among the area’s tiered rate opponents.
Raghavachary likens the proposed system to grocery stores charging
larger families more money for their second gallon of milk.
`I don’t mind paying more, but you’ve got to charge equally for every
gallon,’ she said.
The district is also considering a uniform increase to the existing
rate, from $3.70 to $3.90.
Members of the public will be invited to speak in favor or opposition
to the proposed options or suggest other ideas at the workshop, which
is slated for 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the district office at 2700
Foothill Blvd., La Crescenta.