Water district responds to challenges to keep the voters’ Clean, Safe Creeks Plan on track

Oversight committee praises progress; expresses concern
about the program’s future

Contact:

Susan Siravo
Office: (408) 265-2607, ext. 2290
Mobile: (408) 398-0754

SANTA CLARA COUNTY—The Santa Clara Valley Water District has taken proactive measures to keep the 15-year Clean, Safe Creeks and Flood Protection Plan on schedule in the face of rising construction and real estate costs and shrinking federal and state funding, according to the annual report of the Clean, Safe Creeks oversight committee.

Acknowledging that construction costs across the state had escalated at an unprecedented rate of 10 to 15 percent per year during the last three years, David Ginsborg, chair of the Clean, Safe Creeks and Natural Flood Protection Plan Independent Monitoring Committee, said “The water district has been proactive in responding to these strategic challenges.”

While the committee was satisfied with the water district’s annual progress, it has expressed concern during the past two years about the widening gap between projected revenue and expenses that is expected to reach and possibly exceed $65 million by 2016. Ginsborg said, “The committee’s single-biggest concern relates to the district’s long-term financial capacity to construct all of the major flood protection and clean, safe creeks projects promised to the voters.”  Presenting the committee’s report, Ginsborg “urged the water district to fully recognize the severity of the situation and take steps this upcoming fiscal year to minimize the long-term impact.” 

The water district board chair Rosemary Kamei acknowledged that minimizing the impact of the current projected shortfall to promised flood protection and clean, safe creeks projects was critical to its long-term success. In a recent letter to Ginsborg, she said the district staff was evaluating the status of each capital project and developing options and strategies on how to proceed with each project and address the anticipated funding shortfall.

Kamei emphasized that the district’s internal effort, outreach with the monitoring committee and members of the public is expected to be completed this spring, with recommendations to the board anticipated before the end of this fiscal year.

Ginsborg welcomed Director Kamei’s response, saying “she has taken the monitoring committee’s concerns seriously.”

The annual report pointed out that the water district had already initiated some efforts to address the upcoming challenges to the program, including accelerating capital projects by carrying out planning, design and building work in parallel.  Staff is also working to expedite consultant contracts and working with other local agencies on the timing of project bidding. 

The November 2000 ballot measure created a “pay as you go” countywide special parcel tax to fund the Clean, Safe Creeks and Natural Flood Protection Plan.  The four major outcomes of this program are:

1. Homes, schools, businesses and transportation networks are protected from flooding
2. There is clean, safe water in our creeks and bays
3. Healthy creek and bay ecosystems are protected, enhanced or restored

1. There are additional open spaces, trails and parks along creeks and in the watersheds

The report provides detailed status, including major accomplishments and concerns for each of the many projects that comprise the above four outcomes. 

In 2006-07 the parcel tax generated $29.7 million and a total of $163.8 million since the water district started collecting funds in Fiscal Year 2001-2002.  The completion of some of the projects is predicated upon receiving funds from local, state and federal governments.  At the plan’s sunset in 2016, there will be no continuing debt payments.  All four outcomes were promised to be completed over the course of a 15-year period.

Ginsborg said “The water district is successfully implementing the Clean, Safe Creeks Plan, and they are doing so in a spirit that not only demands flood protection, but also requires a natural approach to that protection, as well as promising new trails and a healthier ecosystem.”

More detail on these projects can be found in the IMC’s annual report at www.valleywater.org and David Ginsborg can be contacted via e-mail at imc@valleywater.org.

The Santa Clara Valley Water District manages wholesale drinking water resources and provides stewardship for the county's watersheds, including 10 reservoirs, hundreds of miles of streams and groundwater basins. The water district also provides flood protection throughout Santa Clara County