Alex Ramirez

This document outlines the Yorba Linda Water District's comprehensive strategic initiatives and ongoing projects, presented during a public engagement meeting. Key focus areas include significant investments in infrastructure such as a state-of-the-art PFAS Treatment Plant, Heli-Hydrants, and enhanced fire protection systems, alongside extensive preventative maintenance programs. The plan details numerous resiliency and waterline projects spanning from 2010 through 2028, supported by a structured rate study schedule. The overarching vision is to ensure a high-quality, safe, and reliable water supply while maintaining fiscal responsibility and community safety.

The Board of Directors approved and adopted the General Manager Classification and Salary, including a 4% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) and a 5.5% performance-based adjustment, effective July 1, 2025. The resolution also includes automatic increases to the General Manager's base salary based on COLA percentages received by District employees on July 1, 2026, and July 1, 2027. Resolution No. 2024-20 was rescinded.

The testimony discusses a specific problem with the emergency regulation that forces a choice between meeting conservation standards and ensuring public safety, particularly concerning wildfires. The district shares a border with Chino Hills State Park and lacks a firebreak, leading to significant water usage to combat fires. The district has invested in infrastructure for wildfire prevention, including fuel modification zones. The inflated conservation goal requires a substantial revenue cut, and reducing irrigation to meet the goal poses risks to public health, safety, and financial stability. The testimony requests consideration of these factors, highlighting the importance of fuel modification zones mandated by the Orange County Fire Authority. The district has implemented conservation measures like replacing turf with artificial surfaces and investing in IPR, advocating for IPR to be credited towards production levels.

The workshop addressed the financial impact of water sales reduction on the Yorba Linda Water District, which faces potential insolvency due to mandated conservation measures. The district is seeking credit for indirect potable reuse and addressing concerns about wildfire risks, requesting that water used for fire prevention be credited and subtracted from total production calculations.

The meeting was convened to discuss the proposed water and sewer rate schedule. Key discussion points included the district's infrastructure, valued at $1.07 billion, and the necessity of maintaining it with 79 full-time employees. The board aimed to address five priorities: maintaining the ability to pass through water and power increases on the commodity rate, considering placing the capital finance debt charge on the property tax rolls, developing more usable reserves, establishing a reserve fund equal to one year's purchase of that water, and retiring unfunded pension and OPEB debt early. The board received roughly 32 phone calls and emails specific to the rate increase and the rate structure. There was a virtual town hall held on May 12th. The public outreach efforts included mailing a notice of the evening's event to the property owners of every parcel in the district service area and all customers of record, posting to social media channels, soliciting questions and comments via email, and posting a rate calculator on the website.