What is Foothill Municipal
Water District?
Foothill Municipal Water District (FMWD) is a wholesale water agency serving approximately 80,000 people from Altadena, through La Cañada Flintridge, to the city of Glendale. The District contracts for water from Metropolitan Water District (MWD) treats it, and pumps it to its member agencies. There are eight member agencies -- four of which serve La Cañada Flintridge. Some member agencies use a combination of groundwater and MWD-imported water and some must rely almost totally on that imported water. Governance of FMWD is provided by a five-member Board of Directors who are individually elected by residents of the specific division they represent.
Foothill Municipal Water District’s mission is to provide its member agencies with an adequate and reliable supply of quality water to meet their projected demands in a cost-efficient and climate responsible manner.
Because you want to know when you turn on the tap that that you will have adequate quality water!
Why am I running?
I was appointed to the Division 4 seat the Board of Directors early this year to replace long-time Director Rich Atwater who was forced to retire early because of illness. The four-year term of that seat ends in November. Division 4 covers most of LCF north of Foothill Blvd and west of Crown Ave.
I feel strongly that the guaranteed delivery of sufficient safe water to our homes faces increasing threats. As supply from the stressed Colorado River becomes less reliable, there will be increased pressure to find alternative sources of water. Those water sources will be more expensive. Aging infrastructure must be replaced. Our resilience during emergencies such as fire and earthquake must be ensured. All of which needs to be accomplished with an eye toward impacts on us taxpayers.
Addressing these serious issues requires both expertise and experience. Each of the four FMWD directors with whom I serve possess water expertise, having been involved in the water community for years. But a robust board is a well-rounded one utilizing all the necessary skills needed to work together successfully. My twelve years on the LCF City Council, including three terms as your mayor, have given me the knowledge and relationships to work effectively with the Council and staff. My background as a government affairs consultant will be invaluable as we petition the state and the federal governments for funding.
It is my broader experience that was the deciding factor in my appointment to this seat. Now I ask for your vote to continue working on your behalf.
What do I offer the Board?
My background is not in engineering, construction or contracts. What I offer is a background in political and government affairs consulting to complement the existing water engineering, construction and contract management expertise of the other four members of the Board. And, if not even more important, I have the deep knowledge of this community as your former Mayor and Councilmember. When we need to lobby Sacramento or Washington D.C. for grant funding, or when we need to collaborate with the City of LCF on a project, my broad-based contacts, relationships and knowledge can be put to great use.
My skill set is different from my fellow board members and because it is so, we have a well-rounded board that can call on any board member for his or her expertise.
I am endorsed by our community’s leaders because they have worked with me, know me, and trust me to make thoughtful, informed, and quality decisions.
Who am I?
I am the appointed incumbent Director representing Division 4 of the Foothill Municipal Water District. I have served twelve years on the City Council of La Cañada Flintridge with three terms as Mayor, eight years on the Planning Commission and four years on the Public Works Commission.
I am currently a member of the Board of Directors of Descanso Gardens and former member of the Board of Directors of the YMCA of the Foothills. In addition to a term as the President of the Contract Cities Association, I have served on the boards of the Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge, the Lanterman Museum Foundation, and the LCF Educational Foundation Flintridge. I was named La Cañadan of the Year in 2009 and received the Les Tupper award in 2007 for service to the community. Now retired, I owned a government affairs consulting company, putting to use for my clients my 30 years’ experience in campaign management and political consulting.
Foothill Municipal
Water District in Numbers
80,000
residents
22
SQUARE MILES
60%
imported through the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
about 40% comes from local groundwater + other local sources like the colorado river