What is missing from the CCSD’s agenda for Monday? Discussion of and action on the rate increase. From the General Manager’s point of view, it makes sense. The issue has been decided, the protest failed. Anyone still carrying on about it is just a sore loser out for revenge.
In a viewpoint buried deep on page 19 of this week’s Cambrian, Mary Webb lays bare some of the reasons why this issue isn’t going away quietly:
- the lack of clear procedures for the 218 process,
- the protest numbers being quietly revised in September,
- the fact that the district did not have the authority to invalidate protests based on signatures,
- the notarized statements from disenfranchised voters delivered to the CCSD in September.
Any or all of these factors would change the outcome. For me, it hasn’t been about the extra money tacked onto my bill each month – its the flagrant disrespect for the democratic system and the law that offends me. I had hope that without litigation the Board would do the right thing and toss the whole thing and start fresh with a new proposal. One that only includes a 10-15% increase. One that has a written process for counting. There was so much confusion during the last rates debacle that only ONE number out of all the CERTIFIED totals was even correct. It’s a perfect excuse for a “do-over.” Many of the people I have spoken to about the protests of this summer and last fall understand an increase is indeed needed. Nearly all of them would not protest this charmed proposal. The CCSD would have its increased revenue, Cambrians would really feel they’d been heard and the state Constitution would remain intact.
In November, Cambrians spoke loud and clear in choosing new directors – DeMicco and MacKinnon both campaigned on more transparency and a need to communicate with the community and build trust. But that will have to wait until at least next month. Why?
The new board will not be able to take any action on the rates (or the loan) because it is not on the agenda. State laws protecting citizen’s rights to attend and comment at public meetings requires that any decisions that will be made by an elected board be published at least 3 days in advance of the meeting – so people can attend and be somewhat prepared to comment intelligently (or at least more informed than they might otherwise be.)
At its most useful, government is essentially a mechanism by which neighbors can pool their resources to develop infrastructure, like roads and sewer and water systems, and to provide services, like fire protection, that would otherwise be impractical for us each to provide ourselves. Our elected leaders must expertly pilot the ship toward the community’s vision for the future. What our elected leaders must do is balance the needs, wishes and realities of financial limitations to give us the best services and facilities we can afford….as a community. Sometimes the choices are difficult or unpopular, which is why it’s crucial that leaders can be trusted to act in the best interests of the community.
They are expected to plan for the long term well-being of the community while overseeing the district manager’s job of dealing with difficulties on a daily basis. The added pressures of limited water, no direct control of land use and a well-educated, strong-willed public can (and do) exhaust everyone involved. So nap this weekend and come give one more dollop of energy to the CCSD meeting Monday (December 15). Then it’ll be about 6 and a half weeks until the CCSD meets again. Come greet the new Board members. Be heard.
I leave off with this precise thought:
“To some degree it matters who’s in office, but it matters more how much pressure they’re under from the public.” – Noam Chomksy
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Last 5 posts by Amanda Rice
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I don’t see that we can do anything until the new board takes office.We know the lawlerly mind set of the current board so lets drop it for the present and revisit it full force later.
The longer the CCSD waits to decertify/nullify the rate increase and admit errors were made due to the many grey errors in proposition 218 the more rate payer money will have to be refunded and more rate payers dollars expended in sorting it all out. If the new board that will be seated at the beginning of the Monday Dec 15th board meeting votes to cut their losses early then we can move on as a community. This is not going away! How long is too long to wait. The rate increase certification was in August 2008. Someone made a decision to remove the 218 discussion from the Monday agenda unbeknownst to some of the Directors that were ready and willing to enter into a discussion on the subject. We have campaign promises to revisit this issue.
Now is the time not later!
Amanda in her cogent commentary failed to mention another colossal error on the part of the CCSD. CCSD staff failed to separate out ratepayers with septic tanks and no sewer service from ratepayers with both water service and sewer service. A ratepayer with no sewer service cannot legally vote to increase your sewer rates. This is a major error and on that fact alone the 218 protest succeeded and if I were paying sewer bills I would lodge my own personal protest.
Ask yourself if your protest was invalidated because the CCSD staff did not like the way your signature looked even though you stepped up with proof it was your signature. Would you sit back and wait and wait maybe forever for your protest to be counted? I think not.
There are huge issues of principle here that cannot be swept under the table; ignored, pretended it never happened. In the future we will most likely have the opportunity to once again lodge a protest under prop 218 and if we stand by and not fix things now the community faces the same actions from the CCSD staff in how a 218 protest is handled with the resultant public hue and cry.
Earlier today (12/13/08) I sent the following to the CCSD Board of Directors.
CCSD Directors:
The Agenda for Monday’s meeting contains no budget revision item. Agenda 8.B. addresses CIP and COP priorities and funding options. I assume no action will be taken on this item without revising the FY 2009-10 budget first.
The 7.A. item addresses surcharges based on a 12% rate increase. I hope this does not preclude a decision by the CCSD Directors to rescind the Board’s action verifying the minority status of the Prop. 218 protest letters. The establishing of trust needs to begin in the very first meeting of the new Board of Directors; I think rescinding the previous action is essential to this. The rescinding could be added to the Agenda during the Agenda Review. The revision of the FY 2008-09 budget could be put on the January 2009 agenda.
I thank all of you for being willing to take on the difficult public service of directing the community services in this district and for accepting the responsibility of representing the entire community after the election. May your discussions at the public meetings be candid, civil, and fully disclosing of the reasons each of you has for your position on every agenda item. As a responsible citizen I will make every effort to reach the same standards.
Elizabeth Bettenhausen
Mickie,
Thank you for correcting my omission of the difference in the number of ratepayers for water and sewer. That is indeed an very important point.
Something is missing from the CCSD meeting Agenda for tomorrow , alright….
Honesty, transparency, respect for the community; the board knows what is brewing regarding Prop 218 protest and should know that the community wants this resolved. It was my understanding that this issue was to be on tomorrow’s agenda. Why was it pulled and at who’s direction?
That is what I want to know.
AS Elizabeth said: “The rescinding could be added to the Agenda during the Agenda Review. The revision of the FY 2008-09 budget could be put on the January 2009 agenda.”
I ask the new board members to do what Elizabeth suggests.
Mary Webb in her wonderful article in the Cambrian has outlined a plan for the CCSD to get back in sync with Cambrians.
Lets hope they will find the wisdom to do so!
No, lets, continue to take action so they will have to do so!
The new board isn’t even sworn in yet and you are already outraged and ready to pounce. Is Obama a failure because our troops are still in Iraq???
Did I miss something? Did all of the pending issues and problems leave with the old board?
Citizens need to stay focused on the issues of their concern and their community regardless of the comings and goings of board members.