Public buy-out of Cal Am looks like it's heading for ballot
By JIM JOHNSON Herald Staff Writer, 01/13/2014
EXCERPT HIGHLIGHTS:
Water district General Manager Dave Stoldt said county elections officials are expected to be finished by next week authenticating a Public Water Now-backed petition, which could allow the matter to go before the district board at its Jan. 29 meeting.
If the petition has enough valid signatures, Stoldt said the board would consider validating the petition and a resolution aimed at placing the initiative on the ballot by the organization's June 3 target date, or at a special election. Adding the initiative to the June 3 primary election would cost the district up to $100,000, Stoldt said, while a special election would cost about twice as much.
The initiative would require the district to conduct a feasibility study of a public purchase and create an acquisition plan within nine months of passage, and would also require the district to consider public ownership of any water system in its boundaries as a matter of policy.
Water district General Manager Dave Stoldt said county elections officials are expected to be finished by next week authenticating a Public Water Now-backed petition, which could allow the matter to go before the district board at its Jan. 29 meeting.
If the petition has enough valid signatures, Stoldt said the board would consider validating the petition and a resolution aimed at placing the initiative on the ballot by the organization's June 3 target date, or at a special election. Adding the initiative to the June 3 primary election would cost the district up to $100,000, Stoldt said, while a special election would cost about twice as much.
The initiative would require the district to conduct a feasibility study of a public purchase and create an acquisition plan within nine months of passage, and would also require the district to consider public ownership of any water system in its boundaries as a matter of policy.
WHO: Public Water Now, “a community-based organization dedicated to publicly owned water NOW on the Monterey Peninsula. We are composed of ratepayers growing increasingly alarmed at the coming high cost of water which will more than double our water bills. The group is advocating for public ownership as the greatest weapon against the future high cost of water.”
WHAT: Planning Meeting
General planning meeting will occur once a month on the second Tuesday of each month. Everyone is welcome to attend. And, a water news update and discussion of an upcoming debate.WHEN: January 14, 2014 @ 7:00 P.M.
WHERE: Unitarian Universalist Church of the Monterey Peninsula
490 Aguajito Road
Carmel, CA 93923
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Public Water Now
1120 Forest Ave. #208
Pacific Grove, CA 93950-5145
Email: info@publicwaternow.org
Phone: (831) 204-8641
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