Wrightwood CSD General Discussion

[CaptureCom]

Click on image below for the Wrightwood CSD poll



NOTICE:

WRIGHTWOOD CSD COMMUNITY MEETING
TUESDAY, AUGUST 30th  6:00PM
 
Wrightwood Community Center
Representatives from the 1st District and LAFCO will be in attendance

Wrightwood CSD Feasibility Committee
wrightwoodCSD@gmail.com

This opportunity just came together in the last 24 hours.  This will be the perfect time to ask your questions regarding the proposed Wrightwood CSD. In case you haven't read or studied the Proposal, here's a link to the entire briefing/proposal that was presented by LAFCO to the Board on the 20th of July.   http://www.sbcounty.gov/uploads/LAFCO/AgendaNotices/20160720/Item_9.pdf

This Proposal is the only valid document related to a Wrightwood CSD.  If it is not contained in this package, it is not a part of the proposed Wrightwood CSD Proposal that will be voted on in March 2017.  Many people are still studying the Feasibility Study and other artifacts that have been a part of the path to date, but none of the old products are valid.  Once the County Supervisor took this idea forward, followed by LAFCO performing research and analysis, the only document in play is the LAFCO Proposal (use the link above).  In that Proposal, LAFCO has expanded the boundaries from what was submitted in the Feasibility Study.  Additionally, they have modified the notional budget from the Feasibility Study with numbers they feel are more appropriate.  And they also expanded the Wrightwood CSD Powers to include Wastewater Planning and Engineering.  All three of these topics are captured in detail in the Proposal.  Study this Proposal and formulate questions that trace back to this Proposal.  A LAFCO representative will be at this Public Meeting to answer your questions.

Tell your friends and neighbors about the meeting.  Please plan on attending.

Patrick Stewart

[MojaveSidecar]

Bump...  looks like it might be a very well attended meeting. 

[Wrightwood]

12 meg MP3 Audio of Wrightwood CSD Meeting Aug 30th, 2016

Notes:
It's best to download file to your Hard Disk then play
The 12 meg MP3 file is 1:40 minutes long
A few audience questions/comments were low audio and were increased but may still be low.

[Cheapskate]

I'll preface with something I wrote once before:  I don't do meetings. Or watch videos of meetings.  I decide based on whatever arguments I can read...in this forum or elsewhere.

Wastewater reclamation has been added to the scope of the CSD...cool.  That sounds like the question of a parcel tax for a sewer system (for at least the downtown business district) may be in a future election.

I have a question:  once a CSD is formed, does its elected board have the power to place a tax or bond question on a ballot?

Thanks in advance for any illumination.

[Wrightwood]

Wastewater reclamation has been added to the scope of the CSD

That is not a correct statement after listening to the audio.
It only includes wastewater planning and engineering powers if sewers were deemed necessary by the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board in the future.

If the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board requires sewers and the CSD does not pass then the current CSA56 is responsible for wastewater planning and engineering powers.

[Cheapskate]

Sorry for my incorrect semantics...my point was that the CSD's scope once was simply street lights, solid waste, and parks.  Wastewater was recently added.

I'm also sorry that I don't fully understand your reply.  Suppose the mysterious (to a normal person) "Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board" DECIDES sewers are required.  Do the backhoes simply start digging, or do we get a vote?  Does the CSD or CSA 56 board make the decision what questions do or do not go on the ballot?  How does a tax parcel question appear on the ballot in such a case?

Thanks.

[treefrog]

It's too bad you don't like to hear the information directly from the source, the meetings are actually fun and a great way to be involved in the community!

Wastewater was added on July 20 by the LAFCO board because the creation of the CSD would dissolve CSA 56 and the only function left over under the jurisdiction of CSA 56 would be sewer powers (planning and engineering). The LAFCO board felt that CSA 56 should not remain in existence just to hold sewer powers (planning and engineering), and that the people of Wrightwood would be the best people to actually have a voice in sewer planning and engineering should that ever be necessary. (It is not currently necessary, the nitrate levels in our soil are the criteria the water board looks at for even starting a discussion about a new plan for wastewater management beyond what we already have (individual on site systems) and they are currently at 1 out of 10, golden state water is the agency that is responsible for testing the levels annually and that is public information and can be found on golden state's website.) Additionally, there is no mandate to have sewers in Wrightwood, in 2012 the state placed the burden of coming up with a wastewater management plan on the county and that plan has to be created by May 2018 - that does not mean there is an implementation component, just a plan. If the CSD were in existence then Wrightwood would have the authority to send an elected representative from Wrightwood to participate in the discussion regarding any sewer plan. I for one would rather have a seat at the table than sit and wait to hear what they come up with.

Yes, you would have a vote.

I hope that helps, sorry if it was wordy.

[tcaarabians]

Cheapskate.. You raised a good question. I do think S. Carroll answered it for you. I'll expand a bit here.  If the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Board does decide that sewers.. in lieu of septics.. are needed.  The question will be:  "Do you want to have a measure of local control over the how and the when?  Or, do you want to cede that local control to a far-off entity. Local control makes a heck of a lot of sense to me.

The issue of septics and the leaching into ground water is statewide.  Actually, it's a country wide issue.  There was a discussion of the issue on this forum back when the Evergreen had some septic problems.  There is good background information on septics in that discussion. I called the County and the Lahontan Board myself. The County Engineer told me then that WW has a high, water-table. Thus, leach lines are an issue. He also told me that WW hadn't been re-mapped in a good long time. I don't know if that has changed since that conversation.  The problem for the Evergreen was ultimately resolved.

The State of CA Water Quality Control Board is the big Kahuna on these issues. Water is a major issue in CA.  It has been since long before the drought.  So, as a normal person, I recommend you acquaint yourself with those powers that can impact you.  They're like the Board of Equalization.  They have so much power and nobody pays attention to them until they have to pay attention.

Whether a mandate for sewers only affects the downtown area or a larger area of WW is going to be an issue regardless of whether it's controlled by a local CSD or the County CSA.  Myself, I would vote for sewers here  in P.H.  in a nano-second. Unless they would want to run the line through my rose garden. Then I would negotiate and likely wind-up moving the rose garden.

Cheapskate.. As much as you dislike meetings .. at least you'd have the option of a meeting in WW.  I don't see the issue coming to 'a head" in the near future. But, it is "bubbling up" on the horizon. I'm loving these puns.   cheryl o7o

[Wrightwood]

Requires Google Account:
August 30th, 2016, Wrightwood CSD meeting, with presentation by LAFCO staff Minutes:

[AvocadoFlyer]

for some reason I cannot access the minutes of the meeting...It could be my computer.  Would you be able to post them here or are they too large?

[Wrightwood]

PDF Format

August 30th, 2016, Wrightwood CSD meeting, with presentation by LAFCO staff Minutes:

[Wrightwood]

Click on image below for the Wrightwood CSD poll

[tcaarabians]

There is a Q & A in the week's MP from the meeting. It may be a repeat of the minutes posted here previously.  cheryl o7o

[dean.burdi]

I may not fully understand, but no one seems to be asking where the money is coming from to support this new creation of a WW board, and dissolving of said current one.  I get that local control seems better, but it seems to me, the businesses seem to be pushing this more than residence.  I remember the Evergreen problem, smiled to myself and said, now the businesses are going to push for a sewer system, great, but only to find out for the businesses only?  Partially, not the entire town!  Why should I as a property owner in WW be willing to help pay for the business to get a sewer when we can't all benefit?  I can't help the county put restriction on their systems!  They are on mine too!  So, if I understand, which I may not, this new board that would take over wants local control to get a partial sewer, parks and rec, and lighting?  Ok, but not at the expense of another tax, that will only go up over time, and it will not benefit the entire town.  From my perspective, I have to pay for my septic system on my own, plus they want us to help pay for a business system too?  Stating that some time off in the future I may get a sewer system, if I live long enough, off on the Harrison?  No thanks!  If it can't include all of us,
No thanks, please clarify if I misunderstand.

[las]

Dear Dean-Burdi,

Businesses are not all who are behind the Wrightwood CSD The key person who started this has also started The Walking School Buss, The Wrightwood Co-op Produce Group and The Wrightwood Certified Farmers Market.  All of  which benefit our community and are being operated by outstanding  community members.

You have asked about funding the Wrightwood CSD and board members.  These questions were asked, researched, and addressed. You can verify this information on page 27 in the LAFCO document. Direct links to the document are on this thread.

Your last question/concern was about sewers.
Sewers will not happen in Wrightwood until the California Regional Water Quality Control Board finds downstream contamination above federal standards. A local CSD will not have the power to implement a Wrightwood sewer system. It will just be directly involved if or when told by the federal government or its management agency to do so. As for businesses wanting a sewer system, you and I must be talking to different people.  I only know of one who is in favor of that idea as the cost of such an ordeal would be charged to residences and businesses hooked up to it.  You can verify this as the city of Yucca Valley is currently going through this scenario.http://www.hidesertstar.com/news/article_92820e46-e7fe-11e5-883b-576eb59a2663.html

[dean.burdi]

Thank you for your timely response and taking the time to address all my questions!  You have been most helpful and clear. Thank you again.

[KW]

Can someone confirm for me....Will weekenders (non-resident property owners) have a vote on this issue? My friend is concerned about it, but lives in Quartz Hill (Lancaster area). Thanks

[treefrog]

KW,
Everyone who is registered to vote in Wrightwood will be able to vote on this. There was a rumor that only property owners in Wrightwood would be able to vote, but that is not true. Anyone who is registered to vote in Wrightwood can vote. - I  know this is not your question, but thought I would quickly clear that one up, too.

If your friend is registered to vote in Lancaster then they will not be able to vote on this.

[treefrog]

" I remember the Evergreen problem, smiled to myself and said, now the businesses are going to push for a sewer system, great, but only to find out for the businesses only?  Partially, not the entire town!  Why should I as a property owner in WW be willing to help pay for the business to get a sewer when we can't all benefit?  I can't help the county put restriction on their systems!  They are on mine too!  So, if I understand, which I may not, this new board that would take over wants local control to get a partial sewer, parks and rec, and lighting?  Ok, but not at the expense of another tax, that will only go up over time, and it will not benefit the entire town.  From my perspective, I have to pay for my septic system on my own, plus they want us to help pay for a business system too?  Stating that some time off in the future I may get a sewer system, if I live long enough, off on the Harrison?  No thanks!  If it can't include all of us,
No thanks, please clarify if I misunderstand."

dean.burdi in answer to your question regarding sewers, for further clarification...in a scenario where sewers are installed for the downtown area only (this is pure hypothetical, no one is talking about putting in sewers), we had clarification from LAFCO, that any sewers installed would be paid for by taxes levied upon those parcels where the sewers are installed. Therefore, if you were a business owner that had a sewer installed on your parcel then you would be taxed to pay for those sewers. If you own a parcel where no sewer is installed then no taxes would be levied upon your parcel. HTH

[dean.burdi]

Thank you