HomeMy WebLinkAbout12.a.1) General Manager Announcements A?
Board Meeting of March 17, 2016 • Q-
Written Announcements:
CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE
a) Employees to Attend California Water Environment Association
Annual Conference in Santa Clara, CA, from April 26 — April 29,
2016
The California Water Environment Association's (CWEA) 88th Annual Conference will be
held at the Santa Clara Convention Center and the Hyatt Hotel from April 26 through
April 29, 2016. Up to 20 employees will be attending from Central San for a variety of
purposes:
• To attend the Collection System Committee and workshops,
• To serve on the Safety Committee and judge team challenges,
• To serve as presenters, and
• To remain current on best practices in the industry.
In addition, this conference will provide the opportunity to connect and build relationships
with other water and wastewater professionals from around the state at a time when the
District is looking to collaborate with other agencies on a variety of issues. It also allows
attendees to speak directly with exhibitors who offer the latest technologies and advances
in the industry.
LEGISLATIVE MATTERS
b) District Sends Letters in Support of Reinstating Clean Water State
Revolving Fund Monies
President Obama's proposed 2017 budget includes significant cuts to the Clean Water
State Revolving Fund (SRF) Loan program. The Clean Water SRF is a vital water
infrastructure program used by wastewater agencies across California, and cutting
funding would impose significant hardships on communities throughout California.
This would have a direct, negative impact on California's utilities, including Central San,
and result in vital projects potentially going unfunded in the future.
At the request of the Board, the District has authored a letter requesting the reinstatement
of$2 billion to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund Loan program to the following. The
letter was signed by General Manager Roger Bailey and mailed to the following federal
representatives:
The Honorable Dianne Feinstein, United States Senate (copy attached)
The Honorable Barbara Boxer, United States Senate
The Honorable Mark DeSaulnier, United States House of Representatives
The Honorable Jerry McNerney, United States House of Representatives
The Honorable Eric Swalwell, United States House of Representatives
The Honorable Mike Thompson, United States House of Representatives
Central Contra Costa Sanitary District
Protecting
public health and the el7vironlnent , ,
March 10,2016 PHONE:(925)228-9500
FAX..(925)676-7211
www.centralsan.org
ROGER S.BAILEY
The Honorable Dianne Feinstein General Manager
United States Senate KENTON L.ALM
331 Hart Senate Office Building Counsel for the District
Washington, DC 20515 (510)808-2000
or CWSRF ELAINE R. BOEHME
RE: FY2017 Fundin
S.f Secretary of the District
Dear Senator Feinstein:
Central Contra Costa Sanitary District(Central San)writes to request your support to provide a minimum
of$2 billion in fiscal year 2017 to support the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Water
State Revolving Loan Fund Program (CWSRF).This funding commitment will allow water quality
agencies such as ours to initiate vital infrastructure projects that improve water quality and develop water-
recycling projects to mitigate the impacts of drought. Central San provides wastewater and recycled
water services to over 475,000 East Bay residents. Central San has previously utilized over$2 million of
SRF loans to expand the reach of our Recycled Water Program and conserve drinking water resources.
The Administration's fiscal year 2017 budget request for the CWSRF would significantly cut this vital
water infrastructure program, creating significant hardships on communities throughout California. We
urge you to reject this request.The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently published the Clean
Water Needs Survey. This survey documents that more than $270 billion water quality infrastructure
needs exist nationwide,with $26 billion in California alone. It is important to highlight that the identified
needs only consider federally eligible projects. Agencies such as ours must address other critical
infrastructure and ongoing operations and maintenance demands that increase the funding needs to protect
our state's streams, lakes, rivers, and coastal waters.The decision by the Administration to reduce its
commitment to improve our nation's water quality infrastructure is counterproductive to its stated desire
to improve water quality. The increasing number of federal mandates that agencies such as ours must
comply with, in addition to the burdens of maintaining the existing water quality infrastructure, makes
funding of the CWSRF at$2 billion imperative.
Since 1987,when the CWSRF was first authorized, the federal government has served as an important
partner with local and state agencies to support meaningful assistance in addressing our nation's water
and wastewater infrastructure needs. Unfortunately, over the past several years,this partnership has been
stressed to an unreasonable degree as appropriations reductions in the CWSRF have resulted in
exacerbating the fiscal pressures that local communities must bear in protecting the public's health.The
priority to protect our nation's waters and public health must be addressed through a robust federal
partnership.Again,we urge that you support funding the CWSRF program at$2 billion in fiscal year
2017.
Si erely,
Roger S. Bailey
General Manager
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