Three Openings On The Ballot
By Noel Smith
Three incumbent Soquel Creek Water District Board of Directors may be running for re-election in the November 4 general election. The terms of Dr. Bruce Jaffe, Richard Meyer and Dr. Don Hoernschemeyer are ending and as of this date none of the three have filed as a candidate. However Jaffe told Times Publishing that he and Meyer would be running for re-elections as a slate.
“I’m running to finish the work I’ve started on the Board,” Meyer said. “We’re overcoming our water shortage and avoiding further seawater intrusion with effective conservation and planning a supplementary water supply. We’ve already achieved 17 percent additional water conservation in the last two months, among the best agencies in the state. I will make sure there is water for our children and grandchildren, while filling the needs of current business and residential customers.”
So far there are three that have filed a form 501 Candidate Intention Statement with the County showing their intent to file for candidacy. The three are Doug Deaver, past president of the Capitol-Aptos Rotary Club, John Prentice owner of Prentice Motorsports Group, and William “Bill” McGowan.
When contacted about his candidacy Deaver said, “I’m running because I feel our community is facing a water crisis that could have far reaching impacts for years to come. Finding a solution to this crisis involves a combination of responsible leadership, continued conservation, and sustainable strategies to increase supply. Achieving these goals requires a strong board to work collaboratively with district staff, the community, regional partners, and local government. I am running because I believe I have the required leadership and collaborative skills and because I want to be part of the solution.”
The coming election follows a contentious period for the current board during which they issued a “Will Serve” letter to the Aptos Village development then came close to declaring a building moratorium by not issuing new “Will Serve” letters to several projects that included a new school building for Twin Lakes Church until three Board meetings that had hundreds of people showing up to encourage the board to issue the letters, which they finally did.
Instead of a moratorium, the board settled for raising water rates by almost 20 percent starting July 1, voting to declare a Groundwater Emergency, and instituting the district’s plan to budget water use to 75 gallons per day per person (2,250 gallons each per month) and 85 gallons per day for those living alone starting in early 2015 as part of a program called “ConservationPlus.”
Some of the issues on the table for future water boards to consider:
- Finding and paying for a supplemental water supplies (such as recycling water, desalination, and water swaps)
- How much to ratchet up its water demand offset (WDO) programs for developers and remodelers
- The “ConservationPlus” program and the fines that will be coming for those using more than their water budget allows
- Future rate increases – how much and how often
- Possible new builder/homeowner requirements such as “gray water systems” or rainwater catchment and storage
- Finding ways to recharge the aquifers that the district depends on
- Getting those using private wells (which draw as much from the aquifers as the SqCWD) to also monitor their wells and reduce water usage.
- Determining the truth of how much the district really needs to reduce its water usage and for how long in order to allow the aquifers to recharge to prevent saltwater intrusion into the aquifers.
The current district staff seems competent to carry out whatever policies the board decides to implement. The question is whether the board will be more open in the future to working with the public and its present and future customers to reach such decisions.
When contacted about his candidacy Deaver said, “I’m running because I feel our community is facing a water crisis that could have far reaching impacts for years to come. Finding a solution to this crisis involves a combination of responsible leadership, continued conservation, and sustainable strategies to increase supply. Achieving these goals requires a strong board to work collaboratively with district staff, the community, regional partners, and local government. I am running because I believe I have the required leadership and collaborative skills and because I want to be part of the solution.”
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Incumbents
Dr. Bruce Jaffe
Current Term (2010-2014)
Resident of Aptos and a research geologist/oceanographer for USGS (U.S. Geological Service) and his PhD in Geology from University of California, Santa Cruz with a Masters in Oceanography at the University of Washington. Bruce has been a board member since 2002.
Richard Meyer
Current Term (2012-2014)
Rick owns an energy auditing business to reduce homeowner’s carbon footprint and PG&E bills. Rick was educated at Yale University and the University of California and has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology. Rick has lived in Soquel and Aptos for the last 12 years and was appointed to the Board in 2012.
Dr. Don Hoernschemeyer
Current Term (2010-2014)
Don has been a resident of Aptos since 1988. He earned a Ph.D. in chemistry, and worked as a research chemist developing new materials for commercial use. In addition, he has done technical and quality management consulting to companies in the Bay Area. Don has been a member of the Board since 2006.