Water Board Requests Consolidation Proposals from Neighboring Districts

As customers face 24% rate hike

TCWD board members at April 17 special meeting, L to R: Mark Anderson (elected 11/2024), John Horst (elected 11/2024), Edward Mandich (14+ years on the board), Glenn Acosta (21 years on the board) , Michael Safranski (30 years on the board)

Facing customer protests over exploding water bills and a budget emergency caused by last year’s failure of the district’s main source of drinking water, the TCWD board finally decided to reach out to neighboring water districts—Irvine Ranch and Santa Margarita—to gauge their interest, if any, in consolidating or otherwise collaborating with the TCWD.

The 4-1 vote to approve the proposal, initiated by newly-elected directors Mark Anderson and John Horst, came at an April 28 special board meeting following ongoing discussions from two previous meetings. “We have to have the data,” said Anderson, “on whether it will drive rates up or down.” “We have to take the dive to get the data we need to make an informed decision,” said Horst. Director Glenn Acosta questioned whether rate relief was possible but ultimately voted in favor. Board president Edward Mandich, who cast the lone dissenting vote, questioned whether consolidation would decrease rates, and said that all written public comments on the issue opposed annexation or the combining of services.

Our View: A Watchdog poll, which was taken before the last two rate hikes, indicated 97% support for consolidation if it would substantially reduce water rates. Is our board president against even considering rate relief through annexation with neighboring water districts whose rates are much lower than ours? And did he read these public comments submitted in February?

It looks like the old guard water board who got us into the present fix has still not gotten the message: you can’t keep raising rates endlessly while obstructing the search for alternatives! We need all readers to make sure that message gets through, loud and clear! Please make a public comment at Wednesday’s 6:00 p.m. board meeting. If you can’t be there, at least send an email before 5:00 p.m. Wednesday to mperea@TCWD.ca.gov

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Water Board Discusses Cost Savings at Special Meeting

The April 17 special meeting was requested by newly-elected board member John Horst, who has been discussing grant funding with state legislators and exploring cost sharing measures with neighboring water districts. Horst, who previously authored a successful moratorium on the district’s public relations expenditures, proposed periodic review of district vendors and contractors, especially those that cost the most. Horst also suggested scrutinizing a longstanding district contract to sell water from the Baker treatment plant, in which the district owns capacity, to the city of San Clemente to determine if the arrangement actually benefits TCWD customers.

The above followed a presentation on “Board of Directors Protocols,” and “Intergovernmental Relations” by the district legal counsel. It covered the same material presented when the new board members were seated in December, but this time appeared to be aimed at Horst’s efforts. “I guess we’re all here because I was approaching outside agencies for additional funds,” said Horst, “but I was not speaking for the district.” Horst met with state assemblyman Phillip Chen regarding the state’s budget process and potential state funds for district capital projects, including the water main repair.

Other ideas submitted by board members included selling off the Porter Ranch property adjoining Robinson Ranch to a developer or the county fire authority, or as open space for environmental mitigation. The board also discussed joining the lawsuit against the county over the Airport fire and the resulting loss of well production from Trabuco Creek.

Our View: With another rate hike of 24% scheduled for July 1, director Horst should be commended—not chastised—for breaking out of the apparent paralysis afflicting the water board old guard and seeking an alternative to simply jacking up the rates year after year.

Pipeline Repair—a Boondoggle in the Making?

As previously reported, the 4.2-mile-long water pipe that had for 61 years been carrying drinking water from the district’s Dimension treatment plant in Lake Forest up El Toro Road to TCWD customers failed last year, requiring the district to buy expensive replacement water from the neighboring Irvine Ranch Water District. Despite an estimated cost of from $7.2 to $10.3 million of unbudgeted funds to repair only the most critical sections (“Phases 1A and 1B” shown in red below), the district appears poised to undertake the project.

Aerial view showing path of failed pipeline from Dimension water treatment plant in Lake Forest to Ridgeline Drive in Portola Hills. Proposed project includes red sections, only, with blue to be completed separately later at additional cost, and white in good condition.

According to a “Technical Memorandum” from district consultant Hazen and Sawyer, the sections marked “FFRP” (flexible fabric reinforced pipe) would be lined with the FFRP material to avoid digging up the old pipe, which runs under parking lots and streets, and crosses a creek. Sections marked “Pipe Bursting / Open-Cut” would either be dug up and replaced, or broken up by machine from inside the pipe and pressed into the surrounding earth to make way for replacement pipes. Because lining the pipes will reduce their diameter, the Dimension water treatment pumps will no longer be able to force the water through the line up to the district boundary, and will need to be replaced. The replacement pump costs, along with other upgrades needed at the Dimension plant, are not included in the estimate for Phase 1.

The Memorandum describes some of the risks inherent in the project, including uncertainly in the precise location of the existing pipe, possible ground upheaval and damage to adjacent utility lines where pipe bursting is used, and a 3-month lead time for acquiring the FFRP material.

Costly Repair Project Premature?

“I’m not sure this is the right solution,” said Director Mark Anderson at the April 16 board meeting. Anderson, who chairs the district’s Engineering / Operational Committee, noted that the $12-million repair price tag does not include necessary modifications and repairs to the Dimension treatment plant. “I want to ask Irvine Ranch and Santa Margarita [water districts] what they would do, if anything, about the pipeline,” said Anderson, who has discussed alternatives to the repair involving possible collaboration with the neighboring water districts.

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Alert: Water Board Preparing 24% Rate Increase, Effective July 1

Special May 27 Board Meeting

Emailed to TCWD customers:

The proposed rate “adjustment” appears to be a 24% rate hike. TCWD customers should “share their feedback,” preferably by attending the Tuesday, May 27, 6 p.m board meeting and voicing their opinions “directly with the Board of Directors,” or, if not possible, by emailing mperea@TCWD.ca.gov.

Are Emailed Public Comments Really “Public”? Part 3

In a previous Watchdog post, we wondered why the water district solicits “public comments” on every board agenda, but declines to read them aloud at the meeting or summarize them in the minutes, as it does for in-person comments. In what sense, then, we asked, are such comments actually “public?”

We think they should be, and so decided to publish them for the benefit of our readers. Here are the results for the April 16 board meeting.

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Please attend the water board’s regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, May 21, at 6 p.m. at the TCWD office, 32003 Dove Canyon Drive, Trabuco Canyon 926779, and the Budget Workshop meeting on Tuesday, May 27 at 6 p.m. The agenda, meeting minutes and reference materials are posted 72 hours before each meeting at TCWD.ca.gov/transparency/public-meetings. Find out how your water bill dollars are being spent, voice your opinion, and size-up the possible candidates for the next water board election. You can attend the meeting and make a public comment, email comments to mperea@TCWD.ca.gov before 5:00 p.m., or participate by phone at 1 (669) 900-6833 (Toll Free) Access Code: 913-8681-1652. If you email comments, be sure to request that they be read aloud at the meeting and reported in the minutes.

Stay tuned to TCWDwatchdog.substack.com for the latest news on the campaign for affordable water and how you can help.

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