YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER ward Winning News al A pa
Vol. 7, No. 15
Including Surrounding Communities
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CSD continues funding review by Ruth Roberts Staff Writer
After receiving a detailed report from its legal counsel as to which of its functions might need separate funding, the CSD board has established a subcommittee to see if the county can pay for them. When the CSD was formed in 1998, it was charged with overseeing the town’s sewer and water services, and later added landscaping and recreation services to its primary functions. Funds to cover those activities come from fees collected from property owners benefiting from those services. Proposition 218, which was passed in 1996, requires that those fees be used only for the functions for which they are collected and for the administrative expenses required for the district to exist. At the time it was formed, the former Discovery Bay Municipal Advisory Council was dissolved, and the duty of advising the county Board of Supervisors on community issues not related to those primary functions were added to the
“ I want some more information about this issue, and I want to go before the county supervisors and see if there is a commitment for a source of revenue ...
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CSD President Ray Tetreault CSD’s responsibilities. No funding for those activities was provided or identified. The CSD has thus far paid for most of its advisory council (AC) functions from its general fund, which comes primarily from the aforementioned fees. The CSD has historically also financed some AC functions with money from the Keller Canyon Mitigation Fund overseen by District V Supervisor Federal Glover. Last year the Keller Canyon Fund provided $3,000 in unrestricted money, but future Keller Canyon funding is not guaranteed.. Discovery Bay Town Attorney John Stovall addressed those issues in an 11-page document presented at the CSD meeting on April 1. In his report, Stovall said that some of its non-sewer, water, landscape and
recreation duties could be funded by those fees. Expenses related to attending meetings about police and fire services, for example, are eligible for funding with current revenues, he said, because the CSD could choose to apply for those powers simply by virtue of its existence. But actually providing those services, should they be assumed, would require separate funding, according to Stovall’s report. Similarly, because it has already assumed the AC responsibilities, “The source of funding (for AC duties) remains an issue,” wrote Stovall. Director David Piepho, however, does not believe separate funding is needed. “I disagree with our attorney’s opinion that they (AC funding) can be pulled out,” said Piepho. “I don’t believe it can or
needs to be done … There is a lot of bad information out there.” Director Mark Simon suggested that the CSD put a stop to all AC duties until the situation is resolved. “There is such a stink about what we are doing (with the AC duties) that I think we should do nothing but CSD business until this issue is settled,” he said. “Until we know, I believe we should do nothing.” Tetreault disagreed with the idea of forgoing AC business, but agreed that more data is needed. “I want some more information about this issue,” he said. “And I want to go before the county supervisors and see if there is a commitment for a source of revenue, and also have our attorney come up with an idea of how to fund our requirements for these additional duties.” Just how much money is involved in performing AC duties is unclear. Stovall’s report says “the duties that need to be funded … only include the actual carrying out of the (AC) power, which appears to be primarily the cost of employ-
Staff Writer
Photo by Ger Erickson
A plan that could triple the size of Los Vaqueros Reservoir, above, is being considered to bolster the state’s fresh water system.
A plan to nearly triple the size of the Los Vaqueros Reservoir would result in a shutdown of recreation there – including fishing, boating, hiking and picnicking – for three years during expansion construction. That’s one of the impacts identified in a recently released draft environmental impact report (EIR) for the proposed $550 million expansion of the 100,000-acre-foot reservoir south of Brentwood. Public comments on the EIR are being accepted through Tuesday, April 21. Two options are being considered: a near tripling of capacity to 275,000 acre feet of water, and a 60-
Sell stuff!
April 10, 2009
THIS WEEK
Distinctive alums inspire
Two Liberty district grads honored for their achievements told their motivational stories to a crop of future achievers.
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Party hearty for heroes Want to help raise funds to support our troops? All you need is a talent for organizing a fun time with friends.
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see Funding page 21A
Reservoir expansion to put rec on hold by Dave Roberts
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percent expansion to 160,000 acre feet. The larger expansion is designed to increase the water supply for Contra Costa Water District customers as well as other Bay Area water providers to help meet water demand during droughts and emergencies. The expanded reservoir could be in operation in 2013. While this is good news for water users in a state that has experienced three consecutive relatively dry years, the expansion will put one of East County’s main recreational sites out of action for either two years (with the smaller expansion) or three years (for the larger expansion), with an additional two-year curtailment of water recreation. see Reservoir page 21A
Liberty pools its resources
The Panthers fielded a skeleton crew,and the Lions picked their bones clean.
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FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A