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Q & A Alison Costa El Dorado Irrigation District Sandra, we don’t have vacation and sick time. We have PTO. Maximum accrual for someone with 15 + years of service is 280. If there is more than 280 left in their bank at the end of the year, it rolls over to another “bank” that is available if they are on FMLA/CFRA leaves. We will allow employees to cash out up to a maximum of 40 hours of PTO. We have increased that to 80 hours because of COVID-19 and people can’t take vacation. We’ve also increased the maximum accrual by 40 hours because of COVID. People can’t take or don’t have anywhere to take a vacation. Yesenia Parra Administrative Services Officer, Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission Each of our staff members earn vacation at a different rate and the maximum for each is 2.5 times what they earn in a year. We do not allow buy backs. But we do allow cash out. Vacation Allotment Sandra Willingmyre Solano County Water Agency Hello, I was wondering if anyone can share their Districts maximum vacation allotment? Does your District have a cut off for maximum vacation? Do you allow your employees to buy back vacation? Please share the amounts. Our employees can accrue a maximum of 320 hours and buy back 80 hours within a 12 month period. CSDA Disclaimer: This section is not intended to be legal advice. Members should always seek legal counsel. The information contained here is for general reference purposes only. Engage with your peers and ask questions on CSDA’s Open Forum community!

Healthcare Districts As Flexible, Immediate Responders During Times of Crisis – The Peninsula Health Care District’s COVID Story

By Ashley McDevitt, MS/HSA, Community Engagement Director, Peninsula Health Care District

Peninsula Health Care District (PHCD) is located on the San Francisco Peninsula and serves approximately 220,000 residents living in the cities of San Bruno, Millbrae, Burlingame, Hillsborough, San Mateo, and Foster City. Our residents are diverse in age, race, ethnicity, socio-economic factors, and health status. PHCD’s vision is that “all residents have the opportunity to achieve their optimal health through access, prevention, and education.” We strive to achieve this vision by regularly assessing health needs, health disparities, and gaps in health programs and services and then addressing them by establishing new programs and supporting community service partners.

The COVID pandemic has impacted every sector of our County, most notably to the Peninsula Health Care District, every health service provider and District partner such as County Health, hospitals and health systems, communitybased non-profit providers, and the education system from pre-school through junior college. When the pandemic hit our community, PHCD took immediate action to fulfill its strategic role of serving as a flexible and immediate responder during times of crisis (natural disasters, emerging health epidemics) and carried out a multi-focused, prioritized approach response.

First Priority – District Programs

THE TROUSDALE: At the district’s 124-unit assisted living and memory care facility, every assisted living resident was given an Alexa Dot to help them stay connected with the outside world and “have company” during shelter-in-place. More recently, iWave technology was installed throughout the building to enhance the air filtration system.

SONRISAS DENTAL HEALTH: This district affiliate, non-profit dental organization serves all by removing financial, physical, and cognitive barriers to care. The two centers provide over 11,000 visits per year, 70% of which are uninsured or Medi-Cal Dental. When COVID hit, Sonrisas maintained emergency care services, upgraded the Center’s air filtration systems, and pivoted its community outreach programs. Virtual oral health education programs were provided to elementary school students, oral health education and tooth-brush kits were distributed to children and families by partnering with food distribution sites; and recently, a drive thru oral health screening program for children was launched.

HEALTH AND FITNESS CENTER: This district fitness and educational facility focuses on promoting healthy aging through exercise, education, and social connection. The district’s team immediately pivoted services and launched an at-home series of virtual exercise and wellness classes. Social connection is the greatest priority, and the Center Director stays in touch with every member through phone calls, written notes, email check-ins, and sharing links to a wide range of services and educational programs.

Countywide Support

When the initial surge began in March, the district was asked to help fill a gap in funding to establish an alternative care facility for vulnerable patients recovering from COVID-19 to help keep hospital bed capacity open. Within 72 hours, the District Board made support available to make it happen and donated ten hospital beds and over-bed tables to help outfit the rooms.

Additionally, within the first three months of the pandemic, PHCD: • Relieved grant restrictions for current PHCD grantees. • Established a COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund

for Health and Human Services agencies focused on addressing mental health, food insecurity, PPE, and social isolation. • Donated gift cards to low-income families to help meet basic needs. • Launched a youth-driven social media campaign to promote healthy coping strategies. • Donated critical PPE to service providers such as skilled nursing facilities and hospice care. • Expanded and promoted an Older Adult Resource Line in partnership with a community-based organization.

Mental health and wellness needs have been exacerbated for all ages by the pandemic. Thus, PHCD’s work has focused on addressing this critical need through the following interventions: • Launched a parent engagement and education series focusing on mental health and parent support. • Launched a mental health care coordination program for students, parents, and school staff members. • Provided grants to community-based organizations to increase access to mental health services such as free and low-cost counseling services, Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Center services, and peer counseling services as several examples. • Supported the ongoing work of its Youth Advisory Group to launch community projects and social media campaigns to promote mental wellness for young people.

Peninsula Health Care District’s immediate and ongoing response to the COVID pandemic is a prime example of how Health Care Districts provide critical and locally responsive health services, especially in times of crisis. In addition to pivoting our direct service programs, PHCD has launched and supported new programs across multiple sectors of our local health system and has impacted thousands of residents through its COVID relief efforts. Now in this ever-changing environment and ongoing through recovery, the District will continue to regularly assess the most pressing needs and work in partnership with others to identify solutions to fill gaps and leverage existing resources to meet the needs of our community.

For more information about PHCD’s COVID response, programs or for general information, please contact Ashley McDevitt, Community Engagement Director at Ashley.mcdevitt@peninsulahealthcaredistrict.org

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WEST BASIN WEST BASIN

West Basin Recycled Water Projects Boost Water Reliability in Los Angeles County

By West Basin Publications Staff

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, at a time when severe drought was occurring throughout California, the West Basin Board of Directors made a calculated and strategic decision to begin developing a new and sustainable water supply for the coastal region of Los Angeles County. This new water supply would come in the form of recycled water. In taking this action, West Basin sought to reduce its reliance on imported water supplies and strengthen the District’s overall water supply portfolio with a local and drought-proof water source.

Since 1995, West Basin has invested more than $600 million in its recycled water program, with more than 220 billion gallons of recycled water being delivered to a wide variety of customers. The District operates the only recycled water network in the world that creates five different types of customer-specific recycled water. West Basin recycled water is used for irrigation, industrial cooling towers, high and lowpressure boiler feeds, and seawater barrier protection that also replenishes the groundwater basin. Much of the District’s investment has been supplemented by local, state, and federal grants that have allowed West Basin to produce and deliver recycled water as a cost-effective and affordable water supply alternative to drinking water. Every drop of water that West Basin recycles is a drop of drinking water conserved for area residents and businesses.

Each year, West Basin’s robust Capital Improvement Program seeks to strengthen and expand the District’s vast recycled water system. While the District currently delivers approximately 40 million gallons of recycled water per day,

West Basin has future plans to expand its production to approximately 70 million gallons per day as customer demand increases. The District continues to work closely with business, industry, and civic leaders to identify and develop future recycled water projects in the service area.

In total, West Basin has 20 recycled water sites currently under development. Several other projects have recently been completed. Each completed project helps further West Basin’s recycled water goals for the region. The District is also in the midst of finalizing a Recycled Water Master Plan that will help guide future investments in new recycled water projects throughout the service area. West Basin is working closely with numerous local public and private organizations to help information the implementation of the plan.

Dominguez Technology Center - Carson

West Basin partnered with a team of public and private organizations to bring recycled water to the Dominguez Technology Center (DTC), in Carson. The project successfully converted DTC’s landscape irrigation system to use recycled water instead of potable water. The 300-acre industrial park, located adjacent to California State University, Dominguez Hills, now uses locallyproduced, recycled water from West Basin to irrigate the property’s sizable landscape, saving more than 40 million gallons of drinking water per year.

In June, DTC was awarded the Recycled Water Customer of the Year from WateReuse California. The annual award recognizes innovative organizations who have advanced the use and acceptance of recycled water.

With the project complete, West Basin anticipates delivering more than 40 million gallons of recycled water per year to 36 different landscape irrigation sites located within the business park’s campus, saving enough drinking water annually to serve more than 400 single(SoFi Stadium water feature uses recycled water)

family households. In addition to partnering with property owners Watson Land Company and Carson Companies, West Basin collaborated with private water purveyor California Water Service - which owns the recycled water distribution pipeline within the site - to provide the campus with recycled water. A video about the project is viewable online.

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SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park - Inglewood

West Basin has completed construction of a new recycled water project at the SoFi Stadium and Entertainment District in Inglewood. SoFi Stadium and Entertainment District will serve as the new home of the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League.

The project delivers approximately 80 acre-feet (26 million gallons) per year of recycled water to the stadium and surrounding areas. Recycled water is provided to the following areas: • Lake Park (Lake fill & Irrigation) • Stadium Inner Loop (Irrigation) • Green areas in parking lots and streetscapes • Casino • Inglewood Transit Center • Other Miscellaneous Irrigation Sites

The project was completed in August 2020.

Torrance Commerce Center

In June, West Basin completed a recycled water project at the Torrance Commerce Center (Center). Located on the former Toyota North American Headquarters property, the Center will use recycled water instead of drinking water to irrigate the landscape surrounding three recently constructed office buildings. The project is expected to save approximately 1 million gallons of drinking water per year.

West Basin partnered with local developer, the Sares Regis Group, to develop a long-term eco-friendly recycled water strategy at the Center that serves the dual purpose of supporting local industries in the South Bay, and improving water supply reliability throughout the region. West Basin will continue to explore additional opportunities to expand recycled water use at the Center as future development occurs.

West Basin is currently working with other local partners to expand recycled water supplies at six other sites at nearby parks, schools and public green spaces.

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