Water agencies expect delays in CWA lawsuit refunds
Refunds stemming from San Diego County Water Authority’s (CWA) victory in its lawsuit against Metropolitan Water District, which has been ordered to pay CWA about $188 million in damages, will likely not happen any time soon, according to David Barnum, general manager of Ramona’s water district.
Barnum updated Ramona Municipal Water District directors on the CWA lawsuit during the board’s 15-minute meeting Sept. 8 that also included a presentation on the Ramona Fire Department/Cal Fire new mobile data computers, and a director request to look into cost-cutting measures.
In its legal challenge, CWA, water supplier to Ramona and 23 other local agencies, claimed that Los Angeles-based wholesaler Metropolitan Water District was overcharging it by shifting unrelated water supply costs onto transportation rates, while illegally subsidizing its water supply rate to benefit the Met’s Southern California member agencies.
After five years in court, a judge issued a final decision on Aug. 28 in CWA’s favor and said it would be owed $188.3 million plus interest by the Met.
The water authority has said it will deduct its litigation expenses and return the remaining money to its 24 member agencies, including RMWD, in proportion to their payment of the Met’s illegal overcharges over the four years in dispute, 2011-2014.
Barnum, who represents RMWD on the CWA board, told directors that the Met has said it will appeal the decision.
“Oftentimes these things go a couple of years,” he said of an appeal.
Barnum said the Ramona water district has been an active participant in the litigation and any settlement received will be brought to the board.
In other business, Director Jim Hickle asked to work with Barnum and board president Darrell Beck to propose cost reduction targets. Referring to the board’s adoption last month of a 14 percent water rate increase to help offset reduced water sales and the district’s 2015-16 budget, Hickle said any business would look at cost reductions when there is a drop in revenue and increase in fees. Hickle is board treasurer. Beck said he would consider the request.
Fire Marshal Steve Foster gave a presentation on the six mobile data computers the Ramona Fire Department/Cal Fire purchased for emergency vehicles with a $25,000 grant from the San Diego Fire Foundation. The $10,000 installation cost was covered in the fire department budget, he said.
The new equipment, Foster said, will help firefighters get vital information from the 911 Emergency Command Center and provide the quickest routing directions to incidents. When an emergency occurs, the technology will show the closest fire engine or ambulance to dispatch to the location.
“We can actually see where the responding units are and how long it will take them,” he said.
According to the fire department, the equipment will improve its emergency response times and increase the chances of a patient’s survival during an emergency.
After the meeting, fire department personnel showed directors the mobile data computer in one of the fire engines.