1. Name: Don Hall
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) Not answered
3. Phone Number:
(503) 804-9827
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment. [×] Energy
6. Comments:
I would like to add solar panels to my home to increase renewable energy sources. I had to cancel my plans to do so because IID will not accept excess energy production and give credit for future energy needs. I would like to see IID have a plan to allow for solar energy production by home owners that makes financial sense for the home owner. I like your service now, It is excellent. Would like to make it better for the future.
1. Name: Brian DeGraf
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) Not answered
3. Phone Number:
(125) 367-7501
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment. [×] Community Projects & Services
6. Comments:
At least for the next 18 months, install a way by which customers can help their community by making donations so the very neediest get help with their electric bill. Do this by offering a place on the bill itself whereby a box would be checked and a donation amount would be entered---anything from $1 on up. Collect this "extra" money each month and apply it to customers in threat of having power turned off due to back bills. Then, each month post how much was received and how many customers helped, so that we know money is being applied properly. I would start by assisting individuals, and then, if successful, use for small businesses.
1. Name: Julian Martinez
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) Not answered
3. Phone Number:
(310) 927-2284
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment. [×] Energy
6. Comments:
1. Name: Ms. Linda Starr
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) Not answered
3. Phone Number:
(760) 668-4679
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment. [×] Energy
6. Comments:
I just think IID is terrific. I have received help from some of your services and I so appreciate it. Thank you so so much!
1. Name: Robert M Peterson
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) Not answered
3. Phone Number:
(425) 773-5200
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment. [×] Energy
6. Comments:
IID must address the issues associated with enabling its customers to effectively use solar panels to mitigate their energy costs. The current rules in place precluding feeding solar energy back into the IID grid are absurd and not helpful in addressing our global needs to de-carbon electric energy.
It is my understanding that the unwillingness of IID to invest in the infrastructure necessary to enable efficient use of residential solar energy is the principal constraint. You must change the attitudes, plans and investments to rectify this backwards looking approach to residential solar energy.
1. Name: Thomas Brasfield
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) n/a
3. Phone Number:
(760) 771-3790
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment. Not answered
6. Comments:
Electric Vehicle Impact. New Transmission lines, Substations, Larger transformers, Equipment upgrades, Additional Personnel and trucks etc., Impact studies, Garage Charger sales by IID, Impact on current Maintenance requirements/schedules, IID Vehicle charger stations, Effects on all other general ledger accounts, Supply yard enhancements and locations, Phased in cost studies for rate payers, Keep ratepayers informed - NO SURPRISES.
1. Name: Eric M Reyes
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) Not answered
3. Phone Number:
(760) 550-5153
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment.
[×] Water
6. Comments:
A combination large reservoir ,to place water in under run years or when over conservation occurs as in 2019 (40,000 acre feet) to payback future overruns of a year’s allotment of acre feet occurs which will also create hydroelectric power to enhance the district’s energy portfolio; while also creating a recreational area for the region that will create economic opportunities for the region through water recreation, fishing enthusiasts, marsh and wetlands enthusiasts, bird watching enthusiasts and camping/recreational areas for locals and visitors from other regions in the opportune weather periods. This reservoir could be a joint project with stakeholder entities such as the bureau of land management, fish and wildlife, other water districts looking for storage space, tribal entities, Environmental NGO’s, business entrepreneurs and others with the vision to create a needed storage reservoir with multifaceted uses that enhance the District’s storage and long term planning vision while promoting positive health and environmental practices with economic and recreational opportunities.
1. Name: Eric M Reyes
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) Not answered
3. Phone Number:
(760) 550-5153
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment. [×] Community Projects & Services
[×] Water
6. Comments:
The revenues from the San Diego County Water Authority and Coachella Valley Water District should be more equitably allocated to mitigate the Health and Environmental impacts caused by water transfers and the receding Salton Sea. The receding Sea is negatively impacting the Health and Environment while the District receives over a hundred million dollars yearly now ($140 million in 2020 tentatively); which will grow into billions of dollars over the life of the transfer agreement while causing health and environmental impacts on the community. Transfer revenue should be invested in health and Environmental projects throughout the Irrigation District (such as New River projects, Alamo River projects, tree planting Carbon absorbing projects, health projects in Asthma etc..) to offset the impacts of that transfer and resulting receding Sea and exposed playa and wind blown dust particles laced with pesticides. Salton Sea projects should be created and existing projects proposed should be enhanced with transfer revenues to accelerate the mitigation efforts in and around the Sea. The transfer revenue should also fund a Health and
Environment Committee/Department with in the IID to fund projects that help the Health and Environment of the community. Projects may be proposed that will be reviewed for effectiveness and impact and region being serviced for an equitable funding of projects throughout the irrigation district service area we are all sharing impacts of. In the 2019 On Farm Conservation Program there was an over conservation of 40,000 acre feet (that went to Metropolitan Water for free) at over $205 per acre feet for an approximate $8 million of transfer revenue that could have been put to better use for Health and Environment Projects that did not impact the district in the other areas of its distribution of transfer revenues in 1) transferring water transfer revenue to the water department to balance yearly water department revenue to keep the price of acre feet of water at $20 per acre foot for water users and 2) system improvements and maintenance and
administrative costs. The cost of the Health and Environment of our community is well worth investing in to continue the forward progress of the region in the face of the receding sea and impacts related to it. I hope this conversation of how best distribute the billions of dollars the transfer is generating will include, as an equal portion or approximately equal portion, the Health and Environment of our regions and residents.
1. Name: Eric M. Reyes
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) Los Amigos de la Comunidad
3. Phone Number:
(760) 550-5153
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment.
[×] Water
6. Comments:
With the importance of the upcoming Colorado River negotiations and the ongoing drought conditions and overuse of the River's capacity, the Water Conservation Advisory Board (WCAB) should have more
stakeholders on it to represent the future goals of the community in regards to growth, equitable distribution and management. The advisory board should incorporate representatives (members on the advisory board) of municipalities to ensure their needs and goals are considered, environmental justice advocates or organizations to offer ideas and best practices, to analyze before, and consider, the
environmental impacts of any water conservation and use decisions in regards to the environmental health of our region now and into the future and industry/business members to give input from the
industry/business sector for their needs now and into the future.
This reconfiguration of the WCAB would make the advisory board; 1. A more equitable representation of stakeholders than is currently allowed by the restrictive bylaws of the advisory board to ag/farm owners. 2. It would bring a more diverse advisory board in regards to stakeholders representing different areas of interest in regards to water use and management and how to best conserve water, ie. on farm conservation versus other means of conservation that may create opportunities to diversify the economy and offer more opportunity to different sectors of the community to be involved and participate the effort. 3. A
reconfiguration of the advisory board to include more stakeholders would lead to the opportunity to diversify the board membership to better reflect the demographics of the Imperial Irrigation District Service area in areas of race, ethnicity and gender; the current makeup of the board in these demographic areas do not reflect the makeup of the community.
The District is facing serious scrutiny in all of its operation and its representative processes from many outside forces looking to find fault and assault our region's allotment of Colorado River water (The largest in California which does not sit well with the politically and economically powerful Los Angeles area). By creating a true stakeholder advisory board reflective of the all stakeholders in the future of the districts water conservation efforts will embolden the District's bargaining position with outside legislations as the process moves forward. It will take all stakeholders on board with the District's vision on water use,
conservation and management to present a unified front as the negotiations build to the upcoming changes to Colorado River use in our generation and beyond. Only by being inclusive in its representative practices and including all stakeholders in the process will that unified movement become part of the Districts strength to outside forces intent on pressuring more destructive actions to our region.
1. Name: James E. Taylor
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) Not answered
3. Phone Number:
(760) 801-4733
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment. [×] Energy
6. Comments:
It is with great pleasure that I submit some suggestions to the IID Board focusing on the Energy Division. Please consider the following:
* Provide a roadmap, including seeking technological resources, for State Compliance regarding measurable energy savings
* Also sequenced measurable goals for 100% contractor permit compliance
* Programs utilizing verification services that provide measurable, locatable, verifiable data from HVAC systems that can be utilized within state registries and form a basis for national studies in efficiency, sustainability and restorative efforts.
* Research non-profit public accessible registry services that provide secure data bases and block chain systems, i.e. Building Change.
* Create a standardized, equitable and competitive bid process for all energy programs and include targeted measureable kWh energy savings.
* Motivate ECAC to form a COVID-19 working advisory committee, considering these unusual times, that includes getting ahead of the curve on sustainability and efficiency efforts through workshops.
* Form a Curriculum Committee that prepares lessons in energy efficiency and sustainability for the children of the Imperial Valley (a la Dippy Duck)
* Align all planning with SB350 and SB1414 and conform to anti-trust laws * Re-examine Martha Brooks (CEC) recommendations for compliance planning. * Research the Go Green Financing 100% Consumer Protection funding Gratefully sent,
1. Name: Maggie Hamilton
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) Not answered
3. Phone Number:
Not answered
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment. [×] Energy [×] Support Services [×] Water 6. Comments:
I am curious to see your plans about water since we may be in drought conditions again, have you been modernizing the grid, not like Texas, I hope and continued support for residents who have been affected by the pandemic. The pandemic is not going away all that quickly.
Thanks,
Maggie Hamilton Indio
1. Name: David Perez
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) Not answered
3. Phone Number:
(760) 554-4244
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment. [×] Board Governance
6. Comments:
1. Name: Kelly Ranasinghe
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) Attorney
3. Phone Number:
(858) 395-2144
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment. [×] Energy
6. Comments:
Good Morning,
My comment would focus on the use of renewable and sustainable energy. Nearly 30,000 MW of solar energy can be tapped into, if we increase and diversify solar energy platforms in the eastern and western desert area. I would encourage IID to apply for federal and state grants in this area, and establish a renewable energy committee (with consumer input), as well as liase with the future lithium committee.
1. Name: Jon W Trujillo
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) Not answered
3. Phone Number:
(760) 604-0045
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment. [×] Energy
6. Comments:
1. Name:
Kay Pricola
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable)
Not answered
3. Phone Number:
(760) 482-8032
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment.
[×] Finance
6. Comments:
Establish financial internal control based on the following 1. Objectives of Internal Control:
1. to safeguard all assets;
2. to assure the accurate and dependable recording of business transactions and all financial and operating information;
3. to promote operational efficiency and effectiveness; and
4. to promote and encourage adherence to prescribed management policies and procedures. 2. The main principles of internal control:
1. Establish responsibilities, 2. Maintain records, 3. Insure assets, 4. Segregation of duties,
5. Employee rotations when possible, 2. Principles- continued:
6. Use technological controls, and 7. perform regular independent reviews and verifications.
3. The 7 internal control Procedures are: 1. Separation of duties,
2. access controls, 3. physical audits,
4. standard documentation, 5. trial balances,
6. periodic reconciliations, and 7. approval authority.
4. Three major types of Internal Controls: 1. PREVENTIVE CONTROLS-
Designed to prevent errors and irregularities Before they have occurred.
4. Major types- continued: 2. DETECTIVE CONTROLS-
Designed to detect errors and irregularities After they have Occurred.
3. DIRECTIVE CONTROLS-
Policy and procedure directions that explain “how to do” a given process or set of duties.
5. Overview of internal control system: 1. A defined and consistently applied system of accounting policies,
procedures, and recording of transactions. 2. Monthly reconciliations of all bank accounts.
3. Monthly schedule of receipts and disbursements for all bank accounts. 5. Overview- continued:
4. A detailed monthly report at the end of each month’s period of: a. an aged accounts receivable list,
b. an aged accounts payable list, and, c. all tax and regulatory reports due for the next 60 days, including the amounts of taxes and/or
estimated amounts due.
5. A monthly Balance Sheet and Income Statement completed by the 15th of the end of each monthly period. 6. A financial report to the Board of Directors each month that includes: Items #3, 4, and 5 listed above. 7. All blank checks be secured and accounted for, including any voided 5. Overview- continued:
or re-issued checks. All checks must be issued sequentially,
and all checks must include a copy of the vendor’s current statement or the invoices being paid before the payment check is signed.
8. There should be three different authorized signers on all bank accounts, with two signatures required for all payments.
9. The bank statements for all accounts must be sent to a non-signature third
party Officer and opened by this designated individual. 10. All incoming mail should be directed
unopened to the Chief Operating Officer on a daily basis.
The most significant issue in internal control is CASH. This is especially true in smaller, more compact business organizations where segregation of duties and rotations of personnel are not practically or economically possible. The same limited number of persons deal with all aspects of the accounting and financial reporting process and handle all of the incoming and outgoing cash resources of the entity.
In accounting and auditing principles and practice, there is a fundamental internal control resource known as “The Fraud Triangle” which identifies the underlying elements of all forms of fraud: Opportunity, Motivation, and Rationalization. All three must exist must be present for fraud to occur, and management should recognize that it occurs and also how and why it occurs. When this issue is carefully considered and
appropriate controls are incorporated, the probabilities of fraud are substantially neutralized and minimized. CASH CONTROLS- RECEIPTS:
1. Establish responsibility- only designated personnel are authorized to handle cash receipts.
2. Segregate duties- different personnel receive, record, and hold cash receipts.
3. Document procedures- invoices, statements, receipts, copies of checks received and bank deposit slips. 4. Independent verifications of cash received transactions, and regular bank
deposits by separate and different personnel. CASH CONTROLS- DISBURSEMENTS:
1. Establish responsibility- designated personnel who are authorized to issue payments.
2. Payments to be pre- approved by authorized management personnel before the issuance of payments. 3. Checks only to be issued when approved
statement and/or invoices are attached and in sequential check number order. 4. Payments should be tendered on a
Regular scheduled basis; e.g. weekly or bi-weekly to ensure prompt and consistent payment practices and procedures.
5. Signature of checks and mailing to be performed by personnel other than the preparer of the check being issued.
1. Name:
Kay Pricola
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable)
Not answered
3. Phone Number:
(760) 482-8032
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment.
[×] Water
6. Comments:
With direct relationship to the Salton Sea and its future, coordinate with the County of Imperial based on the MOU completed in 2017 to obtain available funding from the Federal source. The Department of Interior signs an MOU previously under the prior Federal Administration $30 million. Additionally, the 2018 Farm Bill had language gear to the Salton Sea situation. The County, if they are serious, about the stabilization of the Salton Sea should be willing, and eager to coordinate with IID for real action.
1. Name:
Not answered
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable)
Not answered
3. Phone Number:
Not answered
4. E-mail Address:
Not answered
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment.
[×] Finance
6. Comments:
There needs to be a serious investment in the water billing services. Too many times we are shown as delinquent when payments have been miss-applied or even lost or left in a drawer somewhere!!
1. Name: Kay Pricola
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) Not answered
3. Phone Number:
(760) 482-8032
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment. Not answered
6. Comments:
CSP improvement was an area of concern in the first strategic plan. It continued to be an issue as
documented by various meetings and letter with Mr. Martinez and Mrs. Gilbert. The plan for 2021 should include the following:
. Increase staffing and training for IID energy CSP staff to that the turnaround time on project request is within 2-3 weeks maximum once the developer provide requisite information. Provide to all developer a check list for the requisite information
1. Name: Kay Pricola
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) Not answered
3. Phone Number:
(760) 482-8032
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment. [×] Board Governance
[×] Executive
6. Comments:
1. Conduct internal audits for the following areas
a. OFECP funding since inception (revenue by year, expenses by year0 b. Legal fees for the last five years
c. Energy Department Customer Project fees by area for the last five years d. Mileage audit for all vehicles
2. Develop a succession plan for the following positions a. General Manager
b. General Counsel c. Chief Financial Officer d. Internal Auditor e. Energy Manager f. Water Managers (2) g. Secretary to the Board h. Water Master
i. Manager of Emergency Services
3. Update the governance policy manual annual as needed
1. Name: Kay Day Pricola
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) Not answered
3. Phone Number:
(760) 482-8032
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment. [×] Energy
6. Comments:
Good afternoon. For the strategic energy plan discussion tomorrow, I submit the following items. I will be traveling so I will listen in on my return and look forward to the final plan for 2021/22 on this important process.
1. While the 2021 Capital Projects for the Energy Department was on the agenda and accepted in the February 2 board meeting, I would like this and future capital projects for the energy department to detail the following so that each project prior to its approval and inclusion in the capital budget plan have an identified basis.
a. The reason for each project within the following categories 1. Reliability
2. Growth 3. Compliance 4. Revenue(wheeling)
b. Additionally, as an independent balancing authority in California, each project should identify the reduction to the carbon footprint and if the project lessen IID's dependence on CASIO.
2. For the short term (2021), what is IID doing to meet the projected short fall based on demand in 2021 The WECC's published report that Arizona, New Mexico and specifically IID will have a short fall in July 2021 of over 1400 MW at best and potentially 13% forecast uncertainty is of concern and should be made available to the IID ratepayers. This last summer, IID shed load with a notice from CASIO that it would not be able to provide power due to the extreme heat throughout California. It is my understanding that the one
interruptible agreement was not implemented. The result was that residents and businesses paid full rate were on rolling outages while the large facility with discounted rates received power without interruption. In addition to implementing the conditions as indicated in the interruptible power agreement, what other steps are being taken to preclude a reoccurrence of the load shedding?
3. For the long term and the real purpose of a strategic plan, what will be included to preclude projected and increasing shortage during peak times? With coal-fired and other baseload resources shut down by California mandate, and as demand from electric cares and greater home use of batteries increases, the variability in demand will continue to grow. Other utilities have or will by 2025, a time of use program. With IID's current resource portfolio mix that has the "duck curve" for solar, it seems that a time of use plan is long overdue. 4. While a minor issue in comparison to the significant one for load shedding that is expected this summer, the demand charge incurred by the ag accounts needs to be revisited and revised. The coolers, in particular,
are for the most part very low energy users during the peak summer months, but they pay a high demand charge based on their usage in the winter months when IID has more than sufficient locally generated energy available. This is simply wrong thinking.
5. The last item on my list is the inclusion and implementation of a pole replacement plan. The most recent study on the poles which was done in 2009 indicated a large number of poles that should have been replaced by now. This along with the other failing infrastructure must be addressed.
1. Name: Holly Larsen
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) Not answered
3. Phone Number:
(503) 708-2605
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment. [×] Energy
6. Comments:
1. Name: Andrew Leimgruber
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) Leimgruber Farms
3. Phone Number:
(760) 455-9835
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment.
[×] Water
6. Comments:
Continue to emphasize utilizing our additional underrun water inside of the Imperial Valley. Whether that be expanding farmable acres inside the imperial unit, leaching programs to increase the productivity of our farm acres in the valley, mitigating more Salton Sea playa by bringing it back to productive farm ground, and advertising available water in Imperial Valley to other industries.
Our water serves the most beneficial use to the Imperial Valley by utilizing it here. Not by what it can be sold for in new transfers out of the valley. The strategic plan should look to further develop our water here.
1. Name: Mark Etherton
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) TransCo.Energy, LLC
3. Phone Number:
(602) 809-0707
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment. [×] Energy
6. Comments:
Thank you for the opportunity to participate and comment as the Strategic Plan update for 2021 continues, specifically related to Energy matters.
1. Name: Nate Fairman
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) IBEW Local Union 465
3. Phone Number:
(858) 531-9209
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment. [×] Energy
[×] Water
6. Comments:
On behalf of your 900 frontline hourly employees at the IID I want to weigh in on the IID's 2021 Strategic Plan. Your strategic plan should be one that focus your employees and ensuring their working conditions, wages and benefits are strong and competitive with the industry standard. A simple google search will show you that compared to neighboring utilities, LADWP, SMUD and even Turlock Irrigation District, the wages of your workers and the proposed 1% COLA that your negotiation team is offering your workers is well bellow the industry standard. The hourly wage of your linemen is $7 to $10 lower than every neighboring utility. Your strategic plan should include a commitment to not allow your employees to work under expired agreements either. Our contract expired on 12/31/2020 which has left your workers in limbo with no certainty and no security. Your employees deserve an industry standard wage increase and a fair contract. That should be a part of your static plan. Taking care of your workers.
1. Name: Ray OConnell
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) Not answered
3. Phone Number:
(805) 312-5087
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment. [×] Energy
6. Comments:
This is in response to request for public comment for planning.
While I appreciate the low rates that we enjoy vs most other suppliers the current support for solar production on users homes seems short sighted.
If it is allowed by law could we possibly go to net metering that zero's out annually? The idea being we would get to have solar that makes sense to help bring down crazy usage in summer and supply some extra during the rest of the year. Under this plan at the end of the year, what ever that equates to, anniversary of solar startup, fiscal or calendar year, what has been used and and has been generated is added up. If consumer used more than generated they get a bill for balance. If the balance is negative it is zeroed out and the new year starts at zero, 0. This is how the system worked with SCE back when it started, at least in Ventura County where we moved from.
Benefits to this plan is it encourages individuals to buy solar to help balance out the load and reduce IID's costs as well as the consumers expense for electrical and flatten out the increasing demand and cost of acquiring power.
1. Name: Susan Rosenberg
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) Not answered
3. Phone Number:
(760) 902-2545
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment. [×] Energy
6. Comments:
1. Name: Jack Kunkel
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) Not answered
3. Phone Number:
(760) 851-2413
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment. [×] Energy
6. Comments:
Solar power seems to be taking hold, many houses are seen with panels. This seems like a good way to save on energy bills. Will it be advantageous to promote more Solar Panels.? Let’s devise a way to get more energy at wholesale.
1. Name: DAVID j CUETO
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) resident
3. Phone Number:
(181) 880-4172
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment.
[×] Water
6. Comments:
HOW CAN WE LOWER THE EVAPORATION RATE OF OUR WATER SOURCE DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS? AQUADUCTS ARE EXPOSED TO THE HIGH TEMPERATURES. IS THERE AN ECONOMIC WAY IN THE FUTURE, (NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS THAT WOULD GET A TAX TO OFF SET THE COST) TO BURY SOME OF THE WATER CANALS, OR COVER THEM WITHOUT INTERUPTING SERVICE. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE
PERCENTAGE OF WATER LOSS IS CAUSED BY EVAPORATION. BUT BECAUSE WE LIVE IN A DOUGHT AREA ANY FUTURE GROWTH TO THE VALLEY WILL IMPACT OUR WATER CONSUMPTION.
1. Name: Vicenta Adams
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) Not answered
3. Phone Number:
(310) 717-8881
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment. [×] Community Projects & Services
6. Comments:
I live in the La Quinta Cove and would love it if the electrical poles and wires were not visible. Any chance that they can be put in the ground?
1. Name: Letizia
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) Soto
3. Phone Number:
(760) 883-0302
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment. [×] Board Governance
[×] Energy
6. Comments:
1. Name: Jose Manuel Torres
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) Not answered
3. Phone Number:
(760) 609-9492
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment. [×] Energy
6. Comments:
1. Name: Velia
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) Not answered
3. Phone Number:
(760) 909-8132
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment. Not answered
6. Comments:
1. Name: Vanessa Villafana
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) Not answered
3. Phone Number:
(831) 442-4814
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment. [×] Energy
6. Comments:
1. Name: TomGreer
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) Not answered
3. Phone Number:
(760) 564-1075
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment. [×] Energy
[×] Water
6. Comments:
I believe IID should take a more active role in energy and water conservation. For instance, they could implement customer friendly programs that encourage users to install solar systems. They could also introduce tiered pricing to help balance the load in high peak periods.
With water, similar programs that encourage (financially) customers to convert landscaping and in house systems to low use would be useful.
Many customers in this area are seniors with limited energy and sometimes means to undertake
conservation. The programs I’m envisioning would help the customer from identification of problems and opportunities through design, and implementation. The agency might consider a cultural shift from a utility to a community facilitator.
Page 1
1. Name:
Karen Patterson
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) Not answered
3. Phone Number:
(310) 617-6129
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment. [×] Energy
6. Comments:
Rescind your solar plan and go back to net billing...You have managed to make solar installations unprofitable for customers in a community where the sun shines over 12 hours per day....I would like to get solar panels but you have made that difficult and costly.
Page 1
1. Name:
Beatruz aguilera
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) Not answered
3. Phone Number:
(760) 693-0447
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment. [×] Energy
6. Comments:
1. Name: Leslye
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) Not answered
3. Phone Number:
(442) 234-2192
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment. Not answered
6. Comments:
Page 1
1. Name:
David
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) Not answered
3. Phone Number:
(760) 562-6242
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment. [×] Community Projects & Services
[×] Energy
6. Comments:
We need to start innovating. We should be planning for the future. The district should be investing in new technologies and better systems. Why not begin microgrid pilot projects in areas with poor infrastructure to improve the system reliability. We need to ensure the reliability of our grid is for future generations and to continue to be a regional energy asset. Residential solar should be an option afforded to residents and rate payers, not big business and corporations who only seek to profit. We could afford our local residents the opportunity to improve their homes, save money, and be a resource to the district in the same manner that a large solar developer who puts needed lands out of commission. This would super new industry locally and allow IID to avoid the large solar developments which are 1 time infusions that will hamper the residents ability to have solar on their own homes. Improving the infrastructure and innovating for the future should be a top priority to keep the district competitive and agile. The district could be a model for the region, state, and nation if the priority's were shifted. Too much time and money is spent on replacing antiquated systems and equipment. Reinvest in new technologies and better foundational assets to be a leader moving forward.
1. Name: Luis Olmedo
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) Comite Civico
3. Phone Number:
(760) 587-9952
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment. [×] Board Governance
6. Comments:
Advisory Committee
The strategic plan update strategy must create an advisory committee to assure there is meaningful engagement and input from disadvantaged and environmental justice communities of the Imperial Valley. The following are examples where disadvantaged communities and environmental justice have been recognized as part of the strategic plan and policies. IID is encouraged to begin with adopting policies and resolutions to assure the strategic plan considers the following definitions and examples.
CPUC-Disadvantaged communities refers to the areas throughout California which most suffer from a combination of economic, health, and environmental burdens. These burdens include poverty, high unemployment, air and water pollution, presence of hazardous wastes as well as high incidence of asthma and heart disease. https://www.energy.ca.gov/about/campaigns/equity-and-diversity/disadvantaged-communities-advisory-group
CEC-The Guiding Principles of the DACAG are the following: 1. Increase access to clean energy technologies for disadvantaged communities. 2. Maintain or enhance the affordability of energy service in disadvantaged communities, by considering potential rate impacts of any proposed program. 3. Increase the benefits of clean energy programs in disadvantaged communities (e.g., by supporting growth in local employment and small business development, as well as other non-energy benefits including reducing pollutants and health risks).
file:///Users/comitecivico/Downloads/TN232679_20200406T160544_DACAG%20Charter%20Revised%20Ma rch%202020%20(1).pdf
USEPA-Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. This goal will be achieved when everyone enjoys:
https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice
IID- “IID believes that the !RP Guidelines should not restrict discussion of disadvantaged communities” "The Imperial Irrigation District is a fiscally responsible public agency whose mission it is to provide reliable, efficient and affordably priced water and energy service to the communities it serves." Similarly, IID's adopted Vision Statement states: "The Imperial Irrigation District will protect the Imperial Valley's water rights and energy balancing authority, deliver the highest level of customer service and maintain system reliability for the sustained benefit of the regional economy, the environment and the communities it serves in a fiscally responsible manner." IID is bound by and committed to those goals to provide affordable, reliability service to its
customers. IID is particularly attuned to initiatives to assist those communities and programs and circumstances that impact those communities.
tion_District_Comments_in_Res.pdf
Structural Racism-system in which public policies, institutional practices, cultural representations, and other norms work in various, often reinforcing ways to perpetuate racial group inequity. It identifies dimensions of our history and culture that have allowed privileges associated with “whiteness” and disadvantages
associated with “color” to endure and adapt over time. Structural racism is not something that a few people or institutions choose to practice. Instead it has been a feature of the social, economic and political systems in which we all exist. https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/structural-racism-definition/
Coalition Members
Luis Olmedo - Comite Civico
Luis Flores and Daniela Flores IV Equity and Justice John Hernandez- Our Roots
Eric Reyes & Isabel Solis - Amigos de la Comunidad Blanca Morales - Calexico Wellness
Miguel Hernandez - Comite Civico Raul Urena
1. Name: Shelby Dill
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) Imperial Valley Vegetable Growers
3. Phone Number:
(760) 550-4906
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment.
[×] Water
6. Comments:
IID Annual Work/Strategy Plan 2021 1. Protect Imperial Valley’s Water Right.
2. Protect Imperial Valley’s Water Allocation (Entitlement).
In order to protect Imperial Valley water allocation – all water allocated/delivered must be used beneficially or counted as conserved because conserved water is classified as beneficial use
3. Document all unused water as “conserved” when possible.
By documenting as conserved all unused (over conserved) water helps secure IV allocation and ensures future use of total allocation in IV when needed. (Any or all of allocation) Always use allocated water for the benefit of the Valley first.
♣ In order to help classify and document all unused allocation, or underrun, (over conserved water) as conserved water – need to have all conservation measures, that are recognized by other areas, made available to Imperial Valley. (As well as other appropriate measures.) The expanded conservation measures and exhibits (toolbox) have been written by WCAB and presented to IID and are available for review, consideration, and implementation. (Some revamping is needed and the WCAB sub-committee is available to do this).
4. Help defend IV water from outside challenges and build IID's reputation as a leader on the river by providing solutions to help the water shortage, by encouraging IV on-farm conservation, and making extra conserved water available to IV first and river partners second. This can help the entire river community, (big picture)
Prioritize IV for the first use of additional conserved water. First, offset any agricultural overrun, have water available for increased agricultural use, and new or expanding industry.
Until IV has a use and or need for all conserved water, have a strategy for partners to benefit from extra conserved water. No long-term commitments and no water transfers. Partner through a water rental or lease basis to prevent CEQA and NEPA.
Leased water is to be compensated. Protect growers and compensate appropriately that are doing the conserving (Not just efficiency). If technology helps with conservation measure or becomes normal practice, should continue to be counted as conserved water and compensated. Farm community that is conserving the water needs to cover reasonable costs as well as consideration for the investment cost and effort to conserve.
Salton Sea as well as community fund to benefit the public sector for cities, hospitals, schools, youth centers, senior centers, humane society, and others.
Partner Opportunities:
Lease stored water from Lake Mead storage. (Basic plan available and vetted with Bureau) Elevation Building Plan (Presented to IID by WCAB – Plan available)
5. Can Do Attitude, Get it Done, Think Outside the Box.
Discuss and vet ideas and plans submitted or presented from WCAB and Ag groups. Promote new technologies that provide better and most efficient use of water. Investigate opportunities to have water more readily available through 1. Mid-lateral reservoirs –
makes more water available for pumps & or 8-hour delivery.
2. Investigate cost vs return – Example - Most IID laterals can have a “Kate’s Lake type scenario giving more storage than the East Highline Reservoir for the same investment.
3. Promote local suppliers and labor for conservation projects. 6. Underground Canals near Feedlots
7. After system conservation capital investment is covered, additional money goes towards lowering delivery costs
8. When new equipment or updates are performed, the IID should keep the charges at the actual cost 9. Continue working with cooling facilities to keep energy cost adjustments and demand charges as low as possible
10. Increasing capacity
Critical and careful attention to engineering of system improvements so as NOT to reduce capacity 11. Canal lining
1. Name: Brea Mohamed
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) Imperial County Farm Bureau
3. Phone Number:
(760) 562-1316
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment. [×] Finance [×] Legal [×] Water 6. Comments:
1. Protect Imperial Valley’s Water Right.
2. Protect Imperial Valley’s Water Allocation (Entitlement).
In order to protect IV water allocation, all water allocated/delivered must be used beneficially or recognized as conserved, because conserved water is classified as beneficial use.
- IID should showcase Imperial Valley conservation efforts to proactively defend its water use.
- IID should pursue annual water use being looked at as a ten-year rolling average with all conservation being included. (This will be especially beneficial in the upcoming negotiations.)
3. Document all unused water as “conserved” when possible.
Documenting all unused (over conserved) water allocation as conserved helps secure IV allocation and ensures future use of total allocation in IV when needed (any or all of allocation). Always use allocated water for the benefit of IV first.
- In order to help classify and document all unused allocation (under run/over conserved water) as conserved water, we need to have all conservation measures that are recognized by other areas made available to IV as well as other appropriate measures.
- The expanded conservation measures and exhibits (toolbox) have been written by WCAB and presented to IID and are available for review, consideration, and implementation. These exhibits include On-Farm Efficiency Conservation Program, Organic Farming, Seasonal Cropping, and Deficit Irrigation. (Some revamping is needed and the WCAB sub-committee is available to do this.)
- IID should begin by internally recognizing all conserved water, even in times where there is not storage available or approved exhibits. IID should prioritize the use of conserved water within the IV first, pursue storage opportunities, have exhibits prepared for recognition by the river community once the opportunity is presented, and advocate for conservation efforts made in IV.
4. Help defend IV water from outside challenges and build IID reputation as leader on the river by providing solutions to help the water shortage, by encouraging IV on farm conservation and making extra conserved water available to IV first and river partners second. This can help entire river community, (big picture) Prioritize IV uses first for use of additional conserved water. First, excess conservation should be used to offset any over run. Then, excess conservation should be made available for increased agricultural use (leaching, bringing in new farmed acreage, planting of new crops that have different water needs, etc) and new or expanding industry. Ag to urban transfers within the Imperial Valley should be prioritized.
- Until IV has a use and/or need for or storage options for all conserved water, IID should develop strategic partnerships with those who can benefit from our excess conserved water. There will be no additional water transfers. Instead, partnerships should be through a water rental or lease basis to ensure the water’s return to Imperial Valley once we have a use for it and prevent CEQA and NEPA.
-> Leased water is to be compensated. This protects growers and IID by compensating those that are doing the conserving appropriately. If the technology or conservation measure becomes normal practice, it should continue to be counted as conserved water and compensated. Water conservation payments need to cover actual costs accrued by the farm community that is conserving the water as well as consideration for the investment cost and efforts to conserve. IID would receive actual cost of lost water sales.
-> Partner Opportunities: include leasing stored water from Lake Mead storage. (Basic plan available and vetted with Bureau of Reclamation)
5. Salton Sea Mitigation
The Salton Sea mitigation should be a priority for the IID. The IID should engage the State and Federal Governments with the goal of IID and the IV agricultural community crafting and implementing a program for mitigating exposed playa dust in the southern part of the Sea. The plan would be funded by the State and Federal Governments and possibly the water contractors.
6. Can Do Attitude, Get it Done, Think Outside the Box.
Discuss and vet ideas and plans submitted or presented from WCAB and Ag groups.
Promote technologies and methods that provide better and most efficient use and delivery of water as well as implementation of IID programs.
Investigate opportunities to have water more readily available through
1. Mid-lateral reservoirs – makes more water available for pumps & or 8-hour delivery.
2. Investigate cost versus return on projects (Example - Most IID laterals can have a “Kate’s Lake” type scenario giving more storage than the East Highline Reservoir for the same investment).
3. Promote local suppliers and labor for projects.
4. Review and address capacity issues and delivery constraints of IID’s water delivery system. 5. Evaluate current OFECP and review potential improvements that provide stability to both IID and conserving parties (growers and landowners) including Farm Unit Based Program and Pay Per Conservation Measure Pilot Program.
7. Minimize Legal Risks & Legal Fees
IID should make all efforts possible to minimize its risks and exposure to potential litigation. 8. Budget
1. Name: Isabel Solis
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) Imperial Valley Community Health Coalition
3. Phone Number:
(760) 604-2157
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment. [×] Community Projects & Services
6. Comments:
IID Strategic Plan
Canal capping in towns creating jobs and green spaces:
A plan to underground all canals in city limits will spur growth with housing developments and creating environmentally beneficial green spaces and open recreational areas that benefit the community to meet the community project component of the Strategic Planning session. First area of concern to health and safety is the All-American Canal in the city limits of Calexico which has been a safety issue for generations, a haven for disease carrying mosquitos and been detrimental in the urban planning of the city. Capping the All-American Canal would create local good paying jobs during the construction of the undergrounding of the canals benefitting the general economy and creating environmentally beneficial green spaces will enhance the health of the residents and offer healthy opportunities to enhance the quality of life of the residents. Partnering with the city and civic groups to ensure green paths with carbon imprint trees, plants and greenery is an offset to the environmental issues facing our region. The State of California has earmarked hundreds of millions of dollars for underserved communities in the passage of Prop 68 in 2018 and a partnership to create these green spaces are a benefit in many ways for the community as a whole and the capping/putting underground of canals will help foster more investment by the state in green areas for our underserved area.
The California Proposition 68 passed in 2018
The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, And Outdoor Access For All Act Of 2018 (Proposition 68) funding for CDFW grants for projects that:
· improve a community's ability to adapt to the unavoidable impacts of climate change
· improve and protect coastal and rural economies, agricultural viability, wildlife corridors, or habitat · develop future recreational opportunities, or
· enhance drought tolerance, landscape resilience, and water retention
The Project Solicitation and Evaluation Guidelines for Proposition 68 Grant Programs were finalized in October 2019. These Guidelines provide the basic requirements for project proposals; however, the information in the current solicitation supersedes any discrepancies among the documents.
The following entity types are eligible for funding by Proposition 68 grants: public agencies, non-profit organizations, public utilities, federally recognized Indian tribes, state Indian tribes listed on the Native American Heritage Commission's California Tribal Consultation List, and mutual water companies.
The CDFW Watershed Restoration Grants Branch distributes Proposition 68 funds on a competitive basis to projects that address these priorities:
· River and Stream Restoration - Restoration of rivers and streams for fisheries and wildlife · Southern Steelhead Habitat Restoration - Restoration of Southern California Steelhead habitat
· Fish and Wildlife Habitat Restoration - Improvement of conditions for fish and wildlife in streams, rivers, wildlife refuges, wetland habitat areas, and estuaries
Proposition 68 funds supports three types of projects: 1) planning, 2) implementation, and 3) acquisition projects.
Member Names
Jose Luis Olmedo - Comite Civico Luis FLores- IV Equity and Justice Daniela Flores- IV Equity and Justice Hugo Castro- CHIRLA
John Hernandez- Our Roots
Eric Reyes - Los Amigos de la Comunidad IV Isabel Solis - Los Amigos de la Comunidad IV Blanca Morales- Calexico Welness
Miguel Hernandez- Comite Civico
1. Name: Eric M Reyes
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) Los Amigos de la Comunidad IV
3. Phone Number:
(760) 550-5153
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment. [×] Community Projects & Services
6. Comments:
IID Strategic Plan
Canal lining in towns creating jobs and green spaces:
A plan to underground all canals in city limits will spur growth with housing developments and creating environmentally beneficial green spaces and open recreational areas that benefit the community to meet the community project component of the Strategic Planning session. First area of concern to health and safety is the All-American Canal in the city limits of Calexico which has been a safety issue for generations, a haven for disease carrying mosquitos and been detrimental in the urban planning of the city. Capping the All-American Canal would create local good paying jobs during the construction of the undergrounding of the canals benefitting the general economy and creating environmentally beneficial green spaces will enhance the health of the residents and offer healthy opportunities to enhance the quality of life of the residents. Partnering with the city and civic groups to ensure green paths with carbon imprint trees, plants and greenery is an offset to the environmental issues facing our region. The State of California has earmarked hundreds of millions of dollars for underserved communities in the passage of Prop 68 in 2018 and a partnership to create these green spaces are a benefit in many ways for the community as a whole and the capping/putting underground of canals will help foster more investment by the state in green areas for our underserved area.
The California Proposition 68 passed in 2018
The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, And Outdoor Access For All Act Of 2018 (Proposition 68) funding for CDFW grants for projects that:
• improve a community's ability to adapt to the unavoidable impacts of climate change
• improve and protect coastal and rural economies, agricultural viability, wildlife corridors, or habitat • develop future recreational opportunities, or
• enhance drought tolerance, landscape resilience, and water retention
The Project Solicitation and Evaluation Guidelines for Proposition 68 Grant Programs were finalized in October 2019. These Guidelines provide the basic requirements for project proposals; however, the information in the current solicitation supersedes any discrepancies among the documents.
The following entity types are eligible for funding by Proposition 68 grants: public agencies, non-profit organizations, public utilities, federally recognized Indian tribes, state Indian tribes listed on the Native American Heritage Commission's California Tribal Consultation List, and mutual water companies.
The CDFW Watershed Restoration Grants Branch distributes Proposition 68 funds on a competitive basis to projects that address these priorities:
• River and Stream Restoration - Restoration of rivers and streams for fisheries and wildlife • Southern Steelhead Habitat Restoration - Restoration of Southern California Steelhead habitat
• Fish and Wildlife Habitat Restoration - Improvement of conditions for fish and wildlife in streams, rivers, wildlife refuges, wetland habitat areas, and estuaries
Proposition 68 funds supports three types of projects: 1) planning, 2) implementation, and 3) acquisition projects.
1. Name: isabel Solis
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) Los Amigos de la Comunidad IV
3. Phone Number:
(760) 604-2157
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment. [×] Community Projects & Services
6. Comments:
IID Strategic Plan
Community Educational Center
1. Community Educational Center on the San Diego County Water Authority/IID, Coachella Valley Irrigation District/IID Water Transfers:
In accordance with strategic planning session one on Community projects we propose: The Community Educational Center which would incorporate the educational and outreach component needed from the publicly owned Imperial Irrigation District for community and stakeholder engagement as stated in Governance Policy Number G-3 that the board shall; Develop and use outreach mechanisms to ensure that the board hears the strategic viewpoints and values of customers, owners, the community and other
interested stakeholders. A centralized location of higher learning institute should develop in partnership with the IID an educational center (Imperial Valley College would be ideal as it is centrally located and available for all students from grade school to Jr High, High School, Community College and University level and currently offers environmental science classes, health classes, certificates and degrees and agricultural certificates and degrees) that will foster community communication and research on the impacts of the water transfers on those fields.
The Community Educational Center will have readily available all relevant information, data and contracts signed, current status and future plans of the transfers and develop an environmental and health tracking quantifying mechanism impacted by the transfers. The Education Center would be open to the public for community meetings, outreach, research and continuous updated displays and presentations, financial quantitative data, future obligations in terms of water to be transferred (moved), financials of revenues received and expenditures and future revenues and expenditures as the revenues and acre feet of water transferred increase. The Education Center would facilitate work on a community created vision for the future of the community as the transfer continues and how best to leverage the revenues to make the community whole as water is transferred; and the Salton Sea recedes exposing playa that will become air borne and further impact an already damaged air basin, the impacts to the air basin quantified with science and data, the impacts to the residents and how best to mitigate those impacts.
The Community Educational Center will also be a student center for students of Agricultural studies environmental science and health science students so they may create the links to the community, the tie-ins of adapting agricultural practices and environmental health to human health and careers and specialties in the health field that are related; respiratory illness and specialist training careers, heart health etc… as they study their respective classes and career interest. Human Health and Environmental Health careers are among the largest growing career fields in education1 and the imperial County historically has a high unemployment rate2 and a low wage-earning base as educational opportunities have been limited locally3.
The Imperial Valley lacks behind other regions in being able to meet the needs of those fields and the center will facilitate more opportunity for students in that career field and interest. The IID would be investing in the future of the community while presenting relevant data and researchable data in real time and into the future. Other entities would be able to facilitate much needed research and studies that will lead to more leveraged outcomes for improving environmental and human health.
1 Bureau of Labor Statistics; bls.gov for 2020 with Wind Turbine Service Technicians at 61%, Nurse practitioners at an estimated 52% growth rate as the highest occupation need in the next ten years. 2 California Employment Development Department; edd.ca.gov: State of California in December the unemployment rate was 9.0% while Imperial county had the highest unemployment rate in the state at 17.7% which is lower than previous months as the harvest season started lowering the rate.
3 United States Census 2019; census.gov. While the State of California has an average of people 25 and older of a Bachelor’s degree at 39.3%, the Imperial County has an average of 15.2% with Bachelor’s degrees in part to the socioeconomic level of the county and also the lack of widespread secondary institution located in the county to offer opportunities for residents and lack of high paying occupations to attract or keep highly educated residents.
1. Name: Benjamin Silva
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable) citizen
3. Phone Number:
(619) 884-9496
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment. [×] Board Governance
6. Comments:
To whom it may concern, I recently returned back to the Imperial Valley after spending most of my life in San Diego , working for the dept. of defense. I'am now planning to retire soon, and reside in my home that I bought three years ago in El Centro. Since then I as a citizen have noticed nothing but bickering and
maneuvering to see who is at the head of the food trough, my point is stick to your mission statement. All of you are good and smart individuals capable of accomplishing your responsibilties. Your mission statement pretty well speaks for itself. Thank you for time Respectively, Ben Silva
1. Name: Ralph Mesa Jr
2. Organization/Company: (If applicable)
County of Riverside Emergency Management Department
3. Phone Number:
(760) 427-6026
4. E-mail Address:
5. Please select the subject category that best addresses your comment.
[×] Government Affairs
6. Comments:
