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.