Reso 1247-07/2005RESOLUTION NO. 1247
RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
VALLECITOS WATER DISTRICT
CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY & CONTRIBUTIONS
TO ENSURING CLEAN WATER FOR CALIFORNIA OF THE.
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF SANITATION AGENCIES (CASA)
WHEREAS, the 50th Anniversary of the California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA) will be
celebrated at its annual conference August 17-20, 2005, in San Diego, marking a half century of ensuring
clean water for California; and
WHEREAS, CASA was formed at the suggestion of former State Senator John Nejedly when he
served as counsel for the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District to represent the common legislative
interests of the state's public wastewater treatment facilities in order to ensure clean water for California;
and
WHEREAS, the Vallecitos Water District (also formed 50 years ago on March 24, 1955) joined CASA
in 1988 and has benefitted immensely through the pooling of ideas and formation of policies to deal with the
multitude of environmental issues surrounding clean water; and
WHEREAS, the Vallecitos Water District Board of Directors and staff have participated in CASA as
members, directors, committee representatives, and volunteers, helping to form a strong statewide voice
for clean water; and
WHEREAS, examples of legislative success through CASA include a) defeating legislation allowing
for arbitrary increases in discharge fees and b) defeating a legislative measure that would have required
regional water control boards to impose a minimum fine of one dollar per gallon spill on POTWs for violation
of waste discharge requirements, even if the violation did not result in any harm to the environment or
danger to public health; and
WHEREAS, examples of regulatory success through CASA include a) sponsoring legislation that
gives POTWs the authority to levy civil and administrative penalties against industrial dischargers for
violations of local wastewater ordinances, b) working with the State Water Resources Control Board
(SWRCB) to develop and adopt a Water Quality Enforcement Policy that will help to ensure a clear,
consistent, and fair approach to enforcement actions by the regional boards, c) securing revisions to the
State Revolving Fund (SRF) Loan Program eligibility criteria to ensure availability of federal funding for
sewer rehabilitation projects, and d) defeating proposed amendments to the California Ocean Plan that
would have had significant adverse effects on municipal storm water and POTW discharge permits; and
WHEREAS, examples of legal successes through CASA include a) assisting the SWRCB in
defeating a challenge to the State Implementation Plan for Toxics that, if successful, could have resulted
in onerous permit conditions for POTWs and b) Ensuring that proposed revisions to the requirements for
review of regional water board actions allow for a full and fair review by defeating amendments that would
have severely constrained the scope of appeals before the State Water Resources Control Board and c)
Obtaining a Court of Appeal decision that confirms that an environmental impact report is required before
a local agency may prohibit land application of biosolids ; and
WHEREAS, CASA is the voice of the public wastewater agencies at the State Capitol in Sacramento,
where the Executive Director and staff monitor thousands of bills each year, dealing with water quality,
environmental regulation, special district issues, local finance and property taxes, public contracting, and
liability; and
WHEREAS, a CASA State Legislative Committee comprised of member agency representatives
provides policy guidance and establishes the Association's positions on specific legislative proposals,
Resolution No. 1247
Page 2
enabling CASA to achieve an excellent record of success with its legislative agenda; and
WHEREAS, CASA's Washington D.C. office provides liaison with California's Congressional
delegation with direction from CASA's Federal Legislative and Liaison Committee , advocating positions
I before Congress on the broad range of environmental, public health, and natural resource policies, including
important roles that CASA has played a pivotal role, including a) Total Maximum Daily Loads, b) State
Revolving Loan Fund appropriations, c) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and d) Clean Air Act;
and
WHEREAS, under the umbrella of regulatory analysis and advocacy CASA assists its member
agencies in understanding and complying with the ever-increasing array of federal and state environmental
regulations; and
WHEREAS, The Association represents member interests in the development of new and revised
regulations through written comments, testimony before regulatory agency boards, and participation on
advisory committees and work groups; and
WHEREAS, CASA's Attorneys Committee consists of the general counsels of each of the member
agencies providing information to the membership regarding newly enacted laws, recent court decisions,
and emerging legal issues and representing CASA in preparation of amicus briefs in important cases; and
WHEREAS, CASA meets three times each year at various locations throughout the state: in January,
May, and August to provide the opportunity for the exchange of information and feature presentations by
distinguished speakers on topics of current interest;
NOW, THEREFORE, LET IT BE RESOLVED, THAT the Vallecitos Water District reaffirms its
support and participation in CASA and its mission and salutes all of our Agency staff and Directors who have
participated over the years as well as the CASA staff, for 50 years well done!
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of Directors of the Vallecitos Water District at a special
meeting held on this 29 ' day of June, 2005, by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
ATTEST:
William W. Rucker, Secretary
Board of Directors
Vallecitos Water District
DAVY, GENTRY, HANNAN, SHELL, FERGUSON
Mafgare . Ferguson, Presid
Board erectors
Vallecitos Water District