One of the biggest weaknesses of the Joint Powers Authority has been that the two members serving on it were actually not representative of where the council majority was on the water issue. Stephen Souza and Joe Krovoza were the two strongest supporters and proponents of the water project, at least at the time of the September 6 water rates.
On September 6, the ultimate vote was 4-1, but more as a practical matter, in that Rochelle Swanson and Dan Wolk had supported a one-year rate hike plan, but Sue Greenwald, wanting to go further, did not join them on the vote. As a result, Mayor Pro Tem Swanson and Councilmember Wolk, at that time, joined the 4-1 majority.
Councilmember Souza went so far as to oppose efforts by Davis residents to put the water rates on the ballot.
In retrospect, this community was not as well served as it could have been on the JPA. As the city moves forward onto a better path for water, the mayor had to replace Mr. Souza, who was defeated in last month’s election.
Mayor Krovoza’s choice of Brett Lee, the strongest critic on the council of the water project, who actually worked to collect signatures for the water referendum, signals the willingness of the city to scrutinize the JPA and give a real shot to the West Sacramento option.
The mayor, in comments to the Vanguard, focused on Councilmember Lee’s expertise on the water issue.
“Brett’s strong knowledge on the water issue goes back to his earliest days of deciding to run for Council,” the mayor wrote in an email. “His engineering and finance backgrounds make him perfect to advance Davis’ interests in the lowest possible cost project that provides a sustainable supply for the community.”
At the same time, the mayor indicated that this was part of a plan overall to utilize the expertise of all members of the council.
“The council’s goal with its new assignments is to best use the expertise of all of our members,” the mayor said, but also indicated that the fact that Councilmember Lee would challenge the city to make better decisions was a factor: “I believe we are already seeing the fruits of a culture that is highly collaborative — but also where each council member challenges the body to improve the quality of our decisions.”
This represents yet another sea change in the evolving view of the council, as they move from the large and expensive project that was agreed to on September 6 toward a more affordable and process-driven approach that fixes many of the problems which led up to that fateful decision.
As we noted in our story on Monday, the council has evolved overall in how it deals with major policy decisions. The decision by Joe Krovoza to name Brett Lee to the JPA continues the move in that direction.
“I have no doubt that we will set rates that are better for the overall management of our water resources, and fairer for our ratepayers,” the mayor said in an email to the Vanguard. “On project selection, the WAC, city and JPA work to right-size the Woodland-Davis project and drive down costs is being effective. That’s all positive.”
It was Brett Lee who on Tuesday night shaped the debate in the direction the city took on water. His original motion, that would delay Davis’ monetary payments to Woodland until after the WAC could further study the issue, set the stage for the ultimate motion to remove a joint bid payment from consideration at this time and move the discussion of the rest to August 21.
That motion keeps all options open. Councilmember Lee told the council, “I do think there are some experts that would need to be called by the WAC, which may or may not be available in time for them to make a definitive decision on which project to recommend by the 21st.”
“If, in fact, the WAC is not able to reach consensus or they are not able to get the experts that they need, because they will need a regulatory expert and a legal expert to help them determine the transferability of the water rights…” Councilmember Lee said, “There is an answer, that answer essentially puts us where we are today, which is we’re not really sure if we’re going to West Sac or Woodland.”
“The Davis City Council, by our Aug. 21st deadline, would like the WAC to advise us on the Woodland option or the West Sacramento option, or to tell us to keep our options open,” Mayor Joe Krovoza said.
“I am nervous that one month is not enough time to get to the end of this decision and get it right,” the mayor said on Tuesday. “I hope I am wrong. I want a decision. I want the community and the council to move forward, but I don’t want to rush the WAC. I would rather buy a little time and make sure we get it right.”
It is that sentiment that drove Brett Lee to support the water referendum last fall, and that now has us in that position.
“I believe that a smarter, less expensive, voter approved project will be the direct result of the referendum,” he told the Vanguard on Friday. “As a result of the successful signature gathering effort last Fall, the rate increases were stopped and the Water Advisory Committee (WAC) was formed.”
“I decided to participate in the signature gathering process for the water rate referendum because fundamentally I believe that any large tax/utility increase should go before the voters,” he said. “We get to vote on a 6 year $49/yr Parks tax supplement and yet I don’t get to vote on a proposed $400-$500 increase in my yearly utility rates that is going to last for the next 20-30 years?”
“From the beginning I have supported the idea of accessing surface water for our community. But I thought that we as a community should get to weigh in on the decision before committing to such a large project,” Councilmember Lee said.
“The voters of Davis have shown time and again that we are willing to pay more in taxes for things we believe are important for our community. By 2/3rds majorities we have supported Parks, Schools, Libraries and Open Space. The water project vote will require only a simple majority vote; I do not believe it is asking too much to allow us to vote on it,” he added.
Now Councilmember Lee will get to take that expertise and those guiding principles to help the city navigate its way through a very delicate and extremely complicated process where there is little time and not much margin for error.
Though, in a real sense, the mayor could not have gone wrong with any of the members of council he could have chosen for the second spot on the JPA, from a political and practical perspective it was a good decision by Mayor Krovoza – a strong signal that we will not revert back to what happened leading up to the September vote in the wee hours of the morning.
Councilmember Lee got a late comment to the Vanguard this morning.
“I must admit I was at first concerned about the public perception of me being appointed to the JPA because I don’t want people to think that it implies my support of the Davis/Woodland project as the best project for Davis. The best project for Davis has yet to be determined,” Councilmember Lee told the Vanguard.
Councilmember Lee said he was also appointed to represent the city, along with Mayor Krovoza, in talking with the West Sacramento City Council.
“Importantly, prior to my appointment to the JPA, I was also nominated, along with the Mayor to be the representatives of the Davis City Council in fact finding talks with the West Sacramento City Council,” he said. “So importantly, I will be meeting and working with West Sac to learn more about the prospects of a partnership with them, as well as joining the existing Woodland/Davis JPA to represent Davis’ interests.”
Councilmember Brett Lee concluded: “I continue to have an open mind as to what surface water approach will be best for our community.”
—David M. Greenwald reporting
I could not be more pleased with the selection of Council member Brett Lee as the replacement member on the JPA. Brett has been to every single WAC meeting, and followed the entire process diligently. His comments have been thoughtful and thought-provoking.
He’s there every time I have attended the WAC.
One thing that came to mind after this morning: Isn’t Joe the Brown Act partner with Lucas, meaning: how can Joe and Brett go to water meetings and discuss?
Joe Krovosa doesn’t not do things with political ends in mind. That’s why people like and trust him. I don’t think any of the current council members do things with political ends in mind, especially Brett Lee.
Mike, It’s hard to respond to you because: a) Answer is simple; b) As a former council member and attorney you should know; and c) I told you the answer to this when we met on Saturday. Either you are forgetting what I said, or your question is remarkably disingenuous.
Just wanted to note that Brett Lee sent the Vanguard some comments this morning and they have been added to the end of the article.
[quote]Councilmember Brett Lee concluded: “I continue to have an open mind as to what surface water approach will be best for our community.”[/quote]
This is a profound and extremely important statement. It is vital that not only City Council members, but all citizens keep an open mind until we have all the information necessary to make an informed decision…
Ryan: I like Joe, I respect Joe, but if you don’t think Joe thinks strategically which includes politically at times, I think you are being incredibly naive. That’s a judgement on your comment and not intended as a putdown.
[quote]Ryan: I like Joe, I respect Joe, but if you don’t think Joe thinks strategically which includes politically at times, I think you are being incredibly naive. That’s a judgement on your comment and not intended as a putdown.[/quote]
I took Ryan’s comment to mean Joe doesn’t do things with ONLY political ends in mind. Or to put it a different way, every person holding office has to think politically, that is a given, else they never could have gotten elected. Nevertheless the ends should be for the betterment of Davis, not simply for one’s own political agenda. And I think Ryan believes (as do I) that Joe typifies that admirable philosophy. What say you, Ryan?
Everything the CC does is political; they were not hired by contract with the City to sit up there. Nothing wrong with politics.
I’m pleased that Brett is going to the JPA, and will be also working directly with the West Sac CC. With Joe. My question about the Brown Act was about the process; as all of you know, I care a lot about people following the rules fairly and equally.
With my comment above, I was not being critical, or judgmental, or spoiling for a fight. I just want the CC to follow the rules.
I believe that Joe takes his job as representing the community seriously and works for the betterment of Davis. If serving the community means that he needs to work strategically to move issues or project forward, then I support that. I don’t see evidence of special interest groups or handlers behind the scenes dictating what to do or voting for personal political ends.
Likewise with the other Council members. Mike Harrington, early on in the election, posted disapproval that Brett Lee made a statement about his stance on the water project without running it by people (the committee, I think Mike referred to) first. (I think he pulled his endorsement of Brett over this.) My respect for and interest in Brett Lee increased four-fold when I read this.
“I don’t see evidence of special interest groups or handlers behind the scenes dictating what to do or voting for personal political ends.”
I agree with you here.
The water rights can be both partitioned and/or transferred. There is a process. It might take some time, but it will also take time to complete the Davis/West Sacramento project and pipeline.
It looks like Brett Lee is going to be the financial conscience of this council. We can already see him questioning every expenditure. He seems to be bringing his training in economics and his experience is business to the dais. He also seems to understand that if you don’t say too much the meetings go faster. My guess is that he will be an effective leader in managing the finances of Davis, and, as he does so, he will earn the respect of the community and the other members who will take his suggestions on fiscal matters seriously. In fact, I think the other members would be well advised to listen carefully to what he offers on fiscal matters.
Mr. TOad: You are correct, from early returns. Anyone remember the CC meeting a few weeks ago that considered the “green business development contract”? It was for not a lot of money in the grand scheme of things. However, that first contract was a stepping stone to more levels. I did not realize that until Brett spoke up first thing and asked staff to explain how much was the full program. (I dont think it was in the staff report? Maybe it was, but Brett did not know the numbers.)
The answer from Ken H was about $600K. If you were in the room, you could feel the silence …. sort of like a parent walked in a room and caught a kid with the hand in the cookie jar. It felt that way.
The point is Brett is the one who asked the question, or at first asked the money question.
It’s the new world we live in, and it’s one of the reasons the water project simply has to be cut down to size. The overall budget is next.
The first item on that overall budget is downsizing the 4 member fire crews back to 3, which is the staffing standard for about 95% of California cities.
Thank you, Ryan for your comments. Glad I got you to vote for Brett?
BTW, anyone know why Woodland needs such a huge water plant? Because the Sacramento developer wants a high tech park in Woodland, and there is actually a deal for it. A tech park uses huge amounts of high quality water, and dumps it out in horrible condition.
Let me ask Steve and Joe: did you know about that plan, since you were JPA Board members? I’m sure Saylor knows.
THeir plan for the Davis component was also hugely overbuilt.
Again, the Woodland JPA is not about taking care of the ratepayers; its about water for huge growth and sprawl. But more later.
I think Brett will go up there, ferret out the true story, and bring it back to us.
I wish Davis could attract more tech companies that would provide jobs and business to business sales tax. If water is an issue, we should plan for that.
Ryan: good point. West Sacramento way, way overbuilt its water plant; we can build into the contract allowances for additional commercial if needed.
[quote]BTW, anyone know why Woodland needs such a huge water plant? Because the Sacramento developer wants a high tech park in Woodland, and there is actually a deal for it. A tech park uses huge amounts of high quality water, and dumps it out in horrible condition.
Let me ask Steve and Joe: did you know about that plan, since you were JPA Board members? I’m sure Saylor knows. [/quote]Nice… no factsa that folks can check. Let’s sling some feces and see what sticks.