Water board reviews general counsel candidates
After hearing presentations from three law firms vying to become general counsel for Ramona Municipal Water District, the water board was unable to make a final selection at its Feb. 10 meeting.
That means Best Best & Krieger (BBK) will remain general counsel for the district for at least another month as the water board only meets once a month. BBK, which has served as the district’s general counsel for the past 18 years, announced its intention to step down as legal representation in July 2104.
The water district requested proposals for general counsel candidates and received responses from eight law firms from the San Diego and Los Angeles areas. District staff reviewed the proposals and recommended three for the board to consider.
“All eight of the firms were very good,” said David Barnum, district general manager. “These firms just had more specific experience.”
The three firms giving a presentation at the board meeting were: McDougal, Love, Eckis, Boehmer & Foley (McDougal Love); Nossaman; and Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch (Procopio).
Jennifer Lyon, a partner with McDougal Love, said the firm was established in 1946 in east San Diego County and has an office in La Mesa. Lyon said the firm specializes in municipal special district law and its clients include the cities of Coronado, El Cajon, Imperial Beach, Poway and Calexico, and the Borrego Water District.
Representing Nossaman, Alfred Smith, chair of the firm’s water practice group, said he has devoted his career to water law and public agency law. Smith said he serves as general counsel to the Olivenhain Municipal Water District and has represented the Association of California Water Agencies. The firm, which has an office in Los Angeles, recently opened a location in Carlsbad, he said.
Greg Mosser, a partner with Procopio, said the firm works with many public agencies, and his clients include Encina Wastewater Authority, Rainbow Municipal Water District and Alpine Union School District. His office is in downtown San Diego.
Procopio is handling the Ramona water district’s lawsuit filed by Eugene Plantier against the district. In the civil complaint, commercial property owners Plantier and Orrin Day claim the district’s sewer service billing system violates state law and overcharges customers.
Following the presentations, the water board met in closed session for about 1-1/2 hours, reconvening the meeting at 5:05 p.m. and said there was no reportable action.
In other business at the meeting, the board approved the purchase of a new dump truck for a cost of approximately $102,000.