Consolidate water district with city government? Proposal has been aired many times in past years

Resurfacing in the current controversy surrounding the Yorba Linda Water District's recent pricing actions is an idea that's been occasionally aired in past years – consolidate the 56-year-old public agency with another governmental body.

In the past, a takeover by city government was proposed to save what advocates termed duplicate administrative costs, including salaries and benefits for management and five elected directors.

Now, a “dissolve the district” and “look to other agencies to deliver water service” option has been raised by the Yorba Linda Taxpayers Association, with more favored proffers, such as legal action and a recall of directors, as described in last week's column.

The 5-0 decision by water board directors to “receive and file” a referendum petition, which the taxpayers group claimed “ignored their legal obligation to rescind rates or place the question on the ballot,” led to the lawsuit, recall and dissolution discussions.

The group's online PowerPoint slides don't identify what other agency might assume water and sewer services, if voters dissolve the district, but a $25,000 estimate was given to write a “foolproof initiative” and fund a campaign.

The logical panel to take over such duties would be the City Council, in a consolidation that's been proposed several times in city history, most recently when the district was criticized after the 2008 Freeway Complex fire.

Although the deadline to seek a water board seat in 2008 came before the fire, two longtime directors were turned out in 2010. Only two other incumbents have lost in 28 election cycles.

A prominent consolidation supporter was 30-year council veteran Hank Wedaa, who pushed the issue during his tenure on the panel before losing a ninth-term bid in 2008. His 1996 motion for “a report describing the process and steps needed if the city was to initiate a consolidation procedure” lost on a 3-2 vote.

Seventeen of 34 county cities have water departments, with service supplied to the other 17 cities and some unincorporated territory by 12 local water districts and one private company.

Complicating a consolidation: The Yorba Linda district serves some 3,000 accounts in Placentia, Anaheim and Brea, while a private company supplies north Fairmont Boulevard-area customers.

Administrative savings are unclear, but ratepayers wouldn't be on the hook for directors' costs – $150 for each for up to 10 meetings per month – and nearly $50,000 in annual medical, dental and vision benefits.

Of course, water board directors – 22 have served in the five positions since 1959 – oppose consolidation, noting the benefits of an independent agency that's not involved in city politics.

The once-independent Yorba Linda Library District joined the city in 1985, but that merger was backed by the council and separately elected library trustees. The current council doesn't advocate taking on water district operations.