Senator Scott Wilk, R-Antelope Valley, announces the Senate Committee on Natural Resources passed Senate Bill 634, a measure to facilitate the creation of a single water district in the Santa Clarity Valley on Tuesday. The vote was 7 to 0 in support of the bill.
“I am very pleased the Committee sees the value in unifying the current patchwork of regional water management in the Santa Clarita Valley into one streamlined agency,” said Wilk. “SB 634 would establish a 21st Century modern government agency that will not only serve the needs of my district, but will become a model for water agencies throughout the state.”
This measure is the result of negotiations between the Castaic Lake Water Agency and Newhall County Water District to create a single Santa Clarita Valley Water District. The proposed water district consolidation will integrate water resource management addressing efforts to address recycled water development, groundwater, conservation and other local water resource options.
This bill is double-referred to the Governance and Finance Committee.
“This bill is a work in progress and I am committed to getting it right. That means moving forward in a collaborative manner engaging all parties, said Wilk. “I am convinced when all is said and done the new agency will provide improved reliability, water quality and allow for a unified regional approach to Santa Clarita Valley water issues, all to the benefit of the environment and ratepayers.
Testifying in support of the bill were Maria Gutzeit, President of the Newhall County Water District and Gary Martin, Board of Director of the Castaic Lake Water Agency.
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4 Comments
Santa Clarita’s other State Senator, Henry Stern, who actually has a seat on the Natural Resources committee, expressed multiple, serious concerns about SB634m and then left the hearing without casting a vote. That action hardly constitutes an “endorsement”. Testimony AGAINST the bill was entered by Los Angeles County Local Agency Formation Commission, The Sierra Club, and many others. The 634 bill was also subject to highly critical analysis from the staff of the Natural Resources Committee. The proponents of this bill continue to refuse to allow this issue to be voted upon by anyone in an election.
Gary Martin was appointed by the other Castaic Lake Water Agency board members.
One last time:
By the same logic inherent in this plan, and with only a slight reach we should be considering the consolidation of all the towns and cities in Los Angeles County under one central provider of services – LA County. We could get rid of all that wasteful duplication of effort, time and money spent in different places. We could benefit from gains in the economies of scale and in and lower costs due to local elections, local officials and their staff salaries becoming redundant. We could also enjoy the comfort that comes from knowing that everyone will be treated as equal by the new consolidated County service provider and it’s various departments. In effect, we will be better off as this will “allow for a unified regional approach” (see press release above).
Just in case it isn’t clear, CLWA is in fact a State government agency, so the analogy stands.
No matter how you slice it, a consolidation of authority and control is a reduction of an individual’s ability to participate in and to challenge that control.
I guess after losing the water rates court case in 2014 and the Appeal in 2016, CLWA found a way around having to mess with any “independent” retailers anymore.
Good luck.
Valencia Water Company is not included in Senator Scott Wilk’s SB 634.
The ratepayers of Valencia Water Company pay a stock dividend of $199,745 every quarter for a total of $798,980 a year in addition to the cost of the water they use to Castaic Lake Water Agency. Information received in my public records request to CLWA.
CLWA bought the stock of Valencia Water Company and like their gravy train.