May 2008
Greetings from George Lange; Newsletter with photos from our April 1st regular meeting.
The President’s Page continues to communicate substantive info relating to our VCSDA organization, highlights from our individual Special Districts & more specific information that might be of importance to you & your district. Your Executive Committee is committed to OUR Special Districts Association & if there are items that we need to be addressing & are not, let us know so we can correct that.
We are fortunate to have our own Jim Acosta as President of CSDA to facilitate State level programs & information relating to the “BIG PICTURE” impacting each of our Districts.
You can make a difference by having your District featured in this newsletter under “Get To Know a District”, or be a presenter at one of our bi-monthly programs, or even become the host of a VCSDA meeting at your District offices &/or facilities. Our June 3rd regular meeting is being hosted by Camrosa Water District (7385 Santa Rosa Road, Camarillo, CA). Notify our Secretary, Shirley Ohren for available dates so you too can know that YOUR District has contributed to the success of VCSDA. Thanks FOR CONSIDERING BEING A HOST & we at least expect to see you all in attendance on June 3rd so that YOUR District is represented when the Roll is called!
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Our June 3rd Guest Speaker will
be Frank Royer, General Manger
of the Camrosa Water District. BE
THERE after YOU Vote first!
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RPRP Effectively Informing the Public about VCSDA
As noted previously February was a GOOD month for VCSDA achieving GOOD PR. Now that “RPRP”… Roving Public Relations Panel has been created YOU NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT! Any of our Panel members (Judy, Ted, Jack & myself.) will be happy to address one of YOUR Service clubs, a Regular District BOD meeting, a non-profit, Church/worship group or whatever. All you have to do is let one of us know & we’ll do the rest!
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The Annual VCSDA Membership
dues will be sent out soon. Your GM
or District Administrator will be
receiving that invoice within the
week… please encourage prompt
payment so YOUR VCSDA can
continue to “work for you & your
District.” THANKS.
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Special Highlights & photos of our regular Meeting, April 1st, 2008 …
"Photos courtesy of the Oxnard Harbor District”
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| Above; whether at a regular meeting or the Annual Dinner Meeting, VCSDA Secretary Shirley Ohren greets attendees with a FRIENDLY “You better check-in or you won’t get dinner!” (Just kidding Shirley.) |
VCSDA expresses special thanks to the Camarillo Healthcare District for providing our April program… WELL DONE TEAM! That team’s primary presenter was Kara Partridge with the support of Jane Rozanski Executive Director, Board President Peggy O’Neill, Vice President John Bailey & Staff administrator Susan Craig.
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| Kara enjoying “social time” prior to her presentation… she was great! |
Kara Partridge discussed the history, structure, funding, mandates, recognition, services and accomplishments of the District. She stated that the District was established in 1969, services include preventive assistance, health services for the aging and children’s services. The District receives 1% of 1% of assessed tax value of property within District boundaries and additional funding is from fees for service, grant/contract income, donation income, bequests, and planned giving.
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“Team HCD Camarillo”… left to right, Susan, John, Kara, Peggy & Jane.
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Jack provides Treasure’s report… & he “intently” responds to a question, & another question & another question... but he had the answers!
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LAFCO Executive Officer Kim Uhlich, presented the LAFCO update… no one had any questions of her, Jack.
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VCSDA Webmaster Lee Martin provides informative update on our Website… he encourages ALL districts to provide text, pictures, videos or logos for incorporation on our ever improving Website. When you have an up-coming event, video it to “share that info with the world!”
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Above; VCSDA’S Legislative “guru” Elaine Freeman gives us less than encouraging news from Sacramento… & reports status on various legislation relative to Special Districts.
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CSDA President Jim Acosta provides the introduction of CSDA staff member “Laura Labanieh” who covered the new CalTRUST program & also shared many CSDA valueadded services for Special Districts!
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Laura, CSDA Staff member in Sacramento pays a visit to VCSDA & introduces CalTRUST, the new investment option program.
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| Jack “concentrates on his food”, as Sheryl, Bill & Marven listen intently to IMPORTANT announcements. Actually nothing is more important than FOOD during our dinner. One thing for sure… VCSDA eats WELL! |
Lee Martin, VCSDA Web Master provides Website Status report.
Lee Martin reported the latest Website information & distributed documentation that the VCSDA website now offers a video of Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District (RSRPD), and Conejo Recreation and Park District will be the next District to be featured. WILL YOUR DISTRICT BE NEXT IN LINE??? We sure encourage your district to contribute useful material that he can incorporate “on-the-Web” about your district.
You can contact Lee via E-mail at with information on YOUR District… special upcoming events, VIDEOS publicizing your District &/or its operational activities, or any topics you think will provide your constituents with MORE information. We encourage your district to make videos of activities you have going, including open house, ground breaking &/or ribbon cutting events.
Lee will give more information at the June 3rd regular meeting.
REMEMBER TO VISIT THE VCSDA WEB PAGE (www.vcsda.org) regularly to keep up with your association’s news!
The Latest “Scoop from Sacramento”…
Elaine Freeman of Rancho Simi Rec & Park District, our Associations Legislative Analyst will provide the latest report from Sacramento at our June 3rd meeting at Camrosa Water District.
If anyone has an interest in any bill either for support or oppose, please contact me at .
“Get to Know a District”
This FEATURE in the President’s Page is intended to provide information that focuses on a different VCSDA Member district in each issue… this newsletter highlights the Camrosa Water District.
Camrosa Water District was formed in October, 1962 as a Special District mainly to supply the agricultural needs of the Santa Rosa and Tierra Rejada Valleys. Originally known as Camarillo Water District, the name was changed to Camrosa County Water District in 1965 and finally to Camrosa Water District in 1987.
The original purpose of the District was to produce, purchase and distribute water for local needs. In 1964, Camrosa also accepted responsibility for collection, treatment and disposal of sanitary waste generated within its boundaries.
Camrosa provides three types of water: potable (drinking water), non-potable water (irrigation water) and recycled water (tertiary treated wastewater). Approximately 1/3 of the District’s potable water is pumped from local groundwater aquifers and 2/3 is State Water supplied through the Metropolitan Water District and its wholesale agency, Calleguas Municipal Water District.
The District is continuously investigating new ways to produce more water from local sources and to take full advantage of the potential in every gallon of water. For example, Camrosa currently provides sewer service for eastern Camarillo, north of the 101 Freeway and the new California State University, Channel Islands. In past years residential wastewater was typically collected, treated and then discharged into Calleguas Creek. A $7.7 million Water Reclamation Facility was completed in 1997. Wastewater is now treated through a state-of-the-art filtration and disinfection system and is then piped to meet irrigation demand in the vicinity of the plant. As a result, Camrosa has only discharged into Calleguas creek on 2 occasions over the last 10 years when extended rainfall reduced irrigation demand to zero.
In 1997, the Conejo Creek Diversion Project was completed. While there were numerous agencies involved in this project, the Camrosa Water District and the Calleguas Municipal Water District committed the necessary capital to build the facilities. Camrosa Water District was the lead agency conducting the site specific environmental assessment, designing, constructing and finally operating the $11 million dollar project.
The Conejo Creek Diversion Project is definitely one of the major water management projects ever accomplished in this region, as it affects nearly half of all Ventura County residents. More than 10,800 acre-feet of water was diverted and put to beneficial use in 2007.
Over the past 40 years Camrosa has more than doubled in number of connections, making it one of the largest water districts in Ventura County. The District encompasses 31 square miles and is bordered by the cities of Camarillo, Simi Valley, Moorpark and Thousand Oaks. Camrosa Water District:
- Serves more than 30,000 people in the Camarillo, Mission Oaks and Santa Rosa Valley areas.
- Has more than 10,500 potable water, 1000 non-potable water and 8,000 sanitary service connections throughout the District.
- Delivers more than 25,000 acrefeet of water per year for residential and agricultural use as well as for business parks, golf courses, schools, apartment complexes and fire fighting.
In 1992 Camrosa embarked on a mission to implement a vision that many saw as unrealistic. Today much of that vision has been realized. Camrosa is now a leader in water resource management, well prepared to weather future droughts, comply with regulatory standards, and continue to maintain the most competitive water and sewer rates in the region.
Communicating with YOUR VCSDA Officers is important for a healthy association. You are encouraged to share YOUR ideas and comments…
Judy Cofer, Vice President ( ), Jack Curtis, Treasure ( ), your’s truly, George Lange, President ( ), and Board Secretary Shirley Ohren ( ). So throughout the year contact us if you have any questions or concerns… we are here to work with YOU for a better VCSDA!
NEXT MEETING IS JUNE 3RD AT CAMROSA WATER DISTRICT OFFICES after you vote.
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| For those of YOU NOT attending our April meeting, I WAS there! And I hope to see YOU there in June. |