|
Frequently Asked Questions
Measure W allows the Monterey Peninsula Water
Management District to study public ownership
of Cal-Am’s private water distribution system.
In addition, the Water Management District will
study the cost and the process for the public
to acquire that system.
Measure W asks:
"Shall
the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District
be directed to investigate the cost and process
to publicly acquire the private water utility
system presently owned and operated by the Monterey
District of California American Water (Cal-Am),
and be directed to recover up to $550,000 for
costs of the investigation as a surcharge upon
water bills of Cal-Am customers?"
Cal-Am is proposing to increase water rates
300% by 2010 and continues to treat the Monterey
Peninsula as its special cash cow.
The company continues to overdraft the Carmel
River and the Seaside Basin and has a reputation
of poor service and poor customer relations. Monterey
Peninsula residents are conserving as a remarkable
rate, yet Cal-Am can't meet its own standards
for water conservation.
Local business owners are seriously concerned
that high water rates will hurt local businesses
and force new businesses to look elsewhere.
We deserve better. The only way to get the facts,
and look at an alternative, is to vote YES
on Measure W.
Cal-Am is the private company that owns the water
supply system on the Monterey Peninsula. Cal-Am
is owned by the multinational RWE, the largest
private water corporation in the world and the
largest in the United States. Locally, Cal-Am
is regulated by the Monterey Peninsula Water Management
District (MPWMD), a public agency run by local
elected officials. Cal-Am's water rates are among
the highest in California. Cal-Am is proposing
significant rate hikes that would double our water
bills over the next three years, and triple them
in five years.
The measure would average a one time cost of an
average of $14 per Cal-Am connection. If you are
not a Cal-Am customer, you would not pay anything.
Measure W has broad support from business professionals,
homeowners, landlords, tenants, environmentalists,
and citizens fed up with Cal-Am’s high rates
and poor business practices. 85% of the United
States gets its water from public systems, not
private companies like Cal-Am.
No specific agency has been designated as the
owner of the system following public acquisition.
Measure W’s investigation will discuss various
public ownership options for public consideration.
There is no guarantee it would be any particular
agency.
Unknown at this point. Measure W will fund a study
to determine the value of Cal-Am and the cost
of a buy- out. The use of low-interest government
bonds is one option for financing a public takeover
of the water system. With information from the
study, the community will have the facts to make
an informed decision on whether to buy the water
system. A decision to buy the system would have
to be approved by the voters in a future election.
Voters in Felton (north of Santa Cruz) approved
bond Measure W by 75% on July 26 to finance a
public takeover of the Cal-Am system in their
area. Montara (San Mateo County) bought its Cal-Am
system in Fall 2004. Several other communities
around the country have formed groups to investigate
taking control of poorly maintained privately
run water systems.
All voters who reside in the Monterey
Peninsula Water Management District are eligible
to vote. You can view maps of the district
divisions here. This includes residents of
Seaside, Sand City, Del Rey Oaks, Monterey, Pacific
Grove, Pebble Beach, Carmel, Carmel Valley and
Carmel Highlands, as well as some adjacent unincorporated
areas.
The vote is set for Tuesday, November 8. The last
day to register to vote is Monday, October 24.
Absentee ballots will be mailed beginning October
8. We urge everyone receiving an absentee ballot
to return it promptly. There will also be polling
places on Election Day.
|
