We asked: What do you view as the biggest challenge facing CV San now, and how will you work to address it in the next four years? How does CV San impact Castro Valley, and how will you support a working partnership between your agency and the community? Finally, please address increased connection fees for residences and businesses. Are costs for CV San going up at the same rate, and are there new costs that were not anticipated? If so, what changed?

The Castro Valley Sanitary District faces several significant challenges in the next four years and beyond.  For all of our challenges, we will aggressively reach out for community input, and will incorporate that input into our decision making process.  Transparency is a core value to me, and I pledge transparency in how the District addresses these challenges.

Our current 10-year contract with Waste Management will terminate in 2019.  We are starting the planning for a request for proposals (RFP) to be broadcast to potential service providers.  This process will take considerable expertise and input from the Board.  We need to be diligent and learn from mistakes which have been made by other jurisdictions.  In addition, we have a disposal contract which extends past 2019, which we will need to evaluate for potential incorporation into a new hauler contract.  As a past business owner and with significant experience in the insurance industry, I possess significant contract expertise, and will be an asset in securing a fair contract for CVSan ratepayers.

A second challenge is maintaining our considerable District assets.  This is critical to protect our assets, and to prevent sewer system overflows.  We have over 150 miles of pipeline and 9 pumping stations which require constant monitoring, inspecting, and repairing.  Some of our infrastructure is over 75 years old, and either beyond or approaching its’ useful life expectancy.

We completed a Master Plan Update in March of 2016.  The purpose of this update was to evaluate pipe conditions and capacities, and to prioritize repair and replacement projects.  The Master Plan Update assisted us to prioritize where we need to spend our limited resources over the next several years. We have prioritized spending approximately $14 million over the next 3 years for critical issues.  Although this is a significant amount of money, the CVSan Board was forward-thinking and made the tough decision to raise rates to cover these and other expenses.  Even with the rate increase, I am proud that during my time on the Board we have maintained the second lowest sewer rates in Alameda County.

A third challenge is staying ahead of potential regulatory issues.  Regulatory bodies, such as the Regional Water Quality Control Board, continually promulgate new policies and regulations.  It is essential that we monitor their activities to stay ahead of the curve, and to anticipate future decisions which could affect our operations and associated costs.  For instance, there is a possibility for a reduction in allowable nitrate content in our wastewater effluent, which could have a significant financial impact.  We are currently evaluating potential options given hypothetical regulatory scenarios.  I bring another unique skill set to the Board – I am a professional geologist specializing in environmental consulting and hydrogeological issues, and I am an expert in environmental affairs, including federal, state and local regulations.

CVSan is recognized as an innovative and award-winning agency.  We continually conduct outreach and support to the community, such as our 4-Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle, rot) and Green Ribbon School program provided to schools; our 4-R business program for the business community; our lateral replacement grant program; twice-yearly recycles and compost give-away events; bulky waste pickups; to name a few.

We aggressively seek community input and comments through social media; the CVSan Community Advisory Committee; through Board and Committee meetings, and at a Fall Festival booth. I am always open to suggestions for increasing community involvement and access.

With your vote, I will continue to help guide CVSan’s commitment to excellence.  Above all, I will always remember that I work for you, the ratepayers, and I will continue to strive to make sure that the Castro Valley Sanitary District provides you with the best possible service at the lowest possible rates.  I sincerely appreciate this opportunity to serve the community, and respectfully ask for your vote.