Because of the near certainty of mandatory water use cuts beginning next year, the VC Municipal Water District board last week adopted new rules for implementing those cuts—with penalties for overuse.
For the first time residences and not just farmers would be required to cut use.
• Residences that use at or under their allocation would be billed at the usual rate.
• Residences that use more than their allocation will be billed at two times the usual rate for the amount that they go over up to 15%.
• Those who use more than 15% over their allocation will be charged at four times the normal rate for the amount that they go over.
All customers will be able to carry forward conservation credits. Credits can be used to offset over usage and earn back penalties incurred in previous months or be used in a future month to offset over usage and penalties.
The credits won’t be carried forward from year to year.
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The district has been informed by the Metropolitan Water District, the big supplier to most of Southern California that if the upcoming winter rain and snowfall is below normal that there will be mandatory cuts that could translate into reductions ranging from 5–15% in San Diego.
Farmers would be cut even more under these rules, over and above the 30% cuts from last year that they are already working under.
However, since the Met recently adopted a procedure for phasing out agricultural discounts, by the end of five years, it is expected that growers will begin withdrawing from the program as soon as they are able, although many will remain at least for 2009.
Growers who are currently part of the Interim Agricultural Water Program will be allowed to “opt out” of that program starting in January. Once out they can’t go back into the program.
The current discount of $131.60 per acre foot will remain for 2009 but starting in 2010 the discount will go down each year until it ends in December of 2112.
For more information about the program, visit the water district’s Web site: www.vcmwd.org/
Monday night the VC Planning Group in an 11-0 vote asked the County to adopt road standards that don’t shoehorn rural community’s roads to fit urban and suburban needs.
They quickly sent an email to other rural planning groups with the text of the motion to try to get them on board to meet the County’s deadline for comments later this week.
The County’s Department of Public Works (DPW) is revising public road standards and has asked for planning group comments.
Planner Andy Washburn, who with planning Vice Chairman Ann Quinley attended a recent county workshop on the standards described them as, “almost like a cook book in that there are recipes and for the next few years those are the only things you will be able to cook. Those are the only roads you will be able to build.”
He added, “We’ve had problems with the road standards because they are either urban or suburban, and we are neither.”
Quinley and Washburn urged the group to ask the County for more flexibility and more attention to the type of community VC is and to include a set of rural road standards that are “not so fast, not so wide, not so straight, not so flat, not so treeless, and with fewer curbs and gutters.”
“You can build roads without a sidewalk. You can build a road without curbs. We have a lot of those roads and it is definitely an element of community character,” said Washburn.
Planning Chairman Oliver Smith added, “Relatively narrow roads without the usual urban amenities are a part of Valley Center.”
An additional problem with such standards is that the County is likely to start requiring curbs and gutters on existing roads whenever it processes lot splits.
The motion also asked that rural planning groups be included in the design of rural standards.
It also included this language: “Under current regulations developers may appeal decisions of the Department of Public Works but local Planning Groups may not. We urge the Department of Public Works to change this inequity and allow communities the same appeal rights that developers enjoy.”
Open Forum
At the group’s open forum community member Pam Jardine, a Banbury Drive resident, pleaded for help in getting around a “brick wall” that she and her husband have hit.
A new development, built Trimark Development, has allegedly caused drainage to undermine their driveway.
They contacted Terry Williams of the Dept. of Public Works, because DPW approved the drainage plans and were told to submit a claim. But, according to Mrs. Jardine, the County turned down the claim.
“I feel like we are beating our head against the wall,” she said.
Fire Prevention Measures
The planners also received an update on San Diego Gas & Electric Co.’s fire prevention measures from Juanita Hayes, public affairs manager and J.C. Thomas III, regional manager, regional public affairs.
The most controversial part of the plan, the “proactive” shut-off during high winds and low humidity, has been postponed for a year after the California Public Utilities Commission requested that it file an application before carrying out the policy.
According to Hayes, “CPUC says there is no CPUC rule or regulation that would override SDG&E’s professional judgment but that it wants to see the plan.”
However the utility is implementing other measures.
They are replacing wood poles with steel poles in some areas, using heavier wire and increasing the distance between the poles.
They are also looking at power easements from the air and from the ground to ID vegetation that should be cut.
They also plan to stage personnel at the ready when high wind conditions arise to be ready in case of emergency.
Hayes added that in the past the company worked with various groups that might be impacted by the proactive outages.
Part of the controversy last month arose because SDG&E neglected to talk to affected water districts, which then took the utility to court.
Hayes noted that they have now talked with water agencies and committed to work with community leaders, sponsor groups and planning groups. “We want to keep this whole momentum countywide,” she said.
SDG&E will host a public information meeting Monday, Nov. 17, 6–8 p.m. at the Maxine Theater. The public is invited.
SDG&E serves 1.4 million electric meters and 800,000 gas meters in the county.
Planners asked some questions of the two representatives. During the discussion some interesting points came out:
• Residents are required to register portable electric generators with SDG&E because they could feed back into the system, unless the generator is used to power appliances directly.
SDG&E is pledged to help medical patients who need assistance during proactive shutdowns, but not with generators.
“We’re not in the generator business,” said Hayes.
Washburn asked about undergrounding power lines. Hayes commented, “The cost to underground is a million dollars a mile.”
Thomas said that currently undergrounding can only be used for scenic roads or roads being widened. SG&E would like to see that applied to high fire risk roads as well.
Scout Troop 619 helps raise the flag at Tuesday’s Veterans Day observance at Valley Center Cemetery.
Valley View Casino’s Executive Pastry Chef Daniel Sampson shows off some of the holiday treats that the kitchen is baking and will be available to the general public starting Dec. 1 at Sweets.
Most people are aware of the historic election of the first black president in American history, Barack Obama, so following our longstanding tradition of covering only local contests, or elections that directly affect local residents, here are the final results from last Tuesday’s ballot.
A veteran school board member who was defeated two years ago, Barbara Rohrer, was returned to the VC-P board. The top vote getter on the VC planning group election was Dave Anderson, an orange grove owner whose family has lived in VC since 1929.
Local veterinarian Don Brust failed in his attempt to pry open the Palomar-Pomerado Health board establishment, coming in fourth, with the top three being elected.
A local chicken ranching family, the Armstrongs, lost big when a state initiative, Prop. 2 (state confining farm animals), passed by large margins. The family, which also operates Armstrong Feed & Supply, had said that they won’t be able to keep their egg ranches open under the new rules being forced on them. The proposition passed with 66.12% of the state electorate voting yes.
Kevin Jeffries, of the 66th Assembly District, was reelected to a second term, with 66.73% of the vote, compared to his challenger, Grey K. Frandsen, with 33.27%.
Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District Board. Two seats were filled in this election. Results were as follows, Don Martin, 4,206, 36.79%; Barbara P. Rohrer, 3,305, 28.91%; Terry Van Koughnett, 2,009, 17.58%; Karen Burstein, 1,911, 16.72%.
Deer Springs Fire Protection District board had two seats open. Robert H. Frey, 2,208, 29.48%; Tim Geiser, 2,179, 29.09%; Laurel Nicholson, 1,702, 22.72%; Joan Van Ingen, 1,401, 18.70%.
Palomar Pomerado Health, full term, Linda C. Greer, 71, 436, 25.96%, Nancy L. Bassett, 68,369, 24.85%; Marcelo R. Rivera, 57,178, 20.78%; Donald L. Brust, 33,874, 12.31%; Evelyn L. Madison, 26,110, 9.49%; John A. Amodo, 18,158, 6.60%.
Valley Center Community Planning Group. Eight seats were open.
Dave Anderson, 3,262, 12.20%; Deborah E. Hofler, 3,220, 12.04%; Hans Britsch, 3,067, 11.47%; Ann. G. Quinley, 2,970, 11.11%; Oliver J. Smith, 2,708, 10.13%; Christine Lewis, 2,691, 10.06%, Rich Rudolf, 2,504, 9.36%; Brian Bachman, 2,359, 8.82%; Paul J. Smith, 2,023, 7.56%; Paul Herigstad, 1,939, 7.25%.
Valley Center Parks & Recreation. Two seats were open.
Tom Litchfield, 2,773, 31.95%; John Scibilia, 2,772, 31.94%; Jon Vick, 1,595, 18.38%; Jim Quisquis, 1,539, 17.73%.
Valley Center Fire Protection District. Two seats were open.
Weaver Simonsen, 3,081, 41.05%; William L. Palmer, 2,765, 36.84%; Brandon Cesmat, 1,659, 22.11%.
Commenting on coming in fourth, Dr. Brust predicted that VC will be a long time in getting its promised clinic.
“As they say in the Olympics, fourth place gets no medal. Incumbent is a very powerful word to overcome. Obviously the electorate did not do their homework to see the pickle incumbents have put PPH in. Probably be a cold day in hell before Valley Center enjoys one of the bond allocated outpatient clinics, especially with no one to champion it as was my goal.”
He added, “My latest information was it is not only at the bottom of the barrel but under the barrel due to money pooped away needlessly. So Valley Center residents will continue driving into Escondido IF the road is passable, which it may not be in times of fire or other disasters. The people have spoken and I honor that but in 2 years with adequate community financial support…hmmm.”
The Valley Roadrunner
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