New spirit of cooperation might have an impact on future relations between city, water district
Successful negotiations involving the city and water district for the transfer of the city’s east-side sewer system to water district jurisdiction might result in a significant spin-off: closer cooperation on community issues between the two public agencies in future years.
Wariness and suspicion among many past City Council members and Yorba Linda Water District directors kept the two bodies at a distance for decades, especially due to frequent suggestions by some municipal officials that the city absorb water district duties.
Former Councilman Hank Wedaa, whose 30-year city service included eight council terms, proposed several times—most recently in 2008—that the city take-over water district duties, but he never engineered a majority council vote to initiate such action.
But now, with a sewer agreement, promised collaboration on replacing the old Plumosa Drive water district headquarters with low-cost housing and new council and water board majorities since the 2008 and 2010 elections, a new spirit seems in the offing.
Normally, as long as water flows from household taps at reasonable cost and hydrants work in fire emergencies, the water district operates under the radar for most residents, and biennial elections for directors play third fiddle to council and school board races.
But drought conditions, rising water rates and the 2008 Freeway Complex Fire brought enough attention to water district affairs that a hotly contested 2010 election resulted in the defeat of two longtime directors and a total three new individuals in director chairs.
A first test of fresh cooperation between the city and water district will involve the vacant water district headquarters on Plumosa Drive, just north of the lower-level library parking lot and adjacent to the 76 recently renovated Villa Plumosa affordable apartments.
The city initially proposed trading the eastside sewers for the Plumosa building, but the water district demurred and instead gave the city a building at the east end of Brush Canyon Park, a facility no longer used for the chlorination of groundwater supplies,and which the city will use to store equipment and materials for use on the east side.
Both agencies want to see the old headquarters site converted to low-cost housing, as an extension of Villa Plumosa, with water district employees offered first right of refusal on units, and which would help the city meet state-mandated low-cost housing requirements.
Villa Plumosa, formerly Linda Gardens Apartments, opened January 2010 and is across from 67 Arbor Villas units opened in 1997. Both are managed by National Community Renaissance, a low-cost housing developer also planning 43 units at Savi Ranch.
The 10-page agreement between the city and water district regarding sewer service to more than 6,000 homes and businesses, generally east of San Antonio Road, will take effect July 1.
Eastside sewer assessments the city received for 2010-11 will be transferred to the district, less labor, overhead and contractual obligations. The district will complete work on a sewer lift station for seven homes on Green Crest Drive in Hidden Hills.
If the two agencies sustain this spirit of cooperation and sewers are administered at lower overall costs as promised, the sewer agreement is in contention for the “best City Council decision” in 2011.
Wariness and suspicion among many past City Council members and Yorba Linda Water District directors kept the two bodies at a distance for decades, especially due to frequent suggestions by some municipal officials that the city absorb water district duties.
Former Councilman Hank Wedaa, whose 30-year city service included eight council terms, proposed several times—most recently in 2008—that the city take-over water district duties, but he never engineered a majority council vote to initiate such action.
But now, with a sewer agreement, promised collaboration on replacing the old Plumosa Drive water district headquarters with low-cost housing and new council and water board majorities since the 2008 and 2010 elections, a new spirit seems in the offing.
Normally, as long as water flows from household taps at reasonable cost and hydrants work in fire emergencies, the water district operates under the radar for most residents, and biennial elections for directors play third fiddle to council and school board races.
But drought conditions, rising water rates and the 2008 Freeway Complex Fire brought enough attention to water district affairs that a hotly contested 2010 election resulted in the defeat of two longtime directors and a total three new individuals in director chairs.
A first test of fresh cooperation between the city and water district will involve the vacant water district headquarters on Plumosa Drive, just north of the lower-level library parking lot and adjacent to the 76 recently renovated Villa Plumosa affordable apartments.
The city initially proposed trading the eastside sewers for the Plumosa building, but the water district demurred and instead gave the city a building at the east end of Brush Canyon Park, a facility no longer used for the chlorination of groundwater supplies,and which the city will use to store equipment and materials for use on the east side.
Both agencies want to see the old headquarters site converted to low-cost housing, as an extension of Villa Plumosa, with water district employees offered first right of refusal on units, and which would help the city meet state-mandated low-cost housing requirements.
Villa Plumosa, formerly Linda Gardens Apartments, opened January 2010 and is across from 67 Arbor Villas units opened in 1997. Both are managed by National Community Renaissance, a low-cost housing developer also planning 43 units at Savi Ranch.
The 10-page agreement between the city and water district regarding sewer service to more than 6,000 homes and businesses, generally east of San Antonio Road, will take effect July 1.
Eastside sewer assessments the city received for 2010-11 will be transferred to the district, less labor, overhead and contractual obligations. The district will complete work on a sewer lift station for seven homes on Green Crest Drive in Hidden Hills.
If the two agencies sustain this spirit of cooperation and sewers are administered at lower overall costs as promised, the sewer agreement is in contention for the “best City Council decision” in 2011.
posted by Jim Drummond at 12:00 PM
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