‘Water is the new oil’
‘Water is the new oil’
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Posted by editor Tue Nov 30, 1999 00:00:00 PST
Viewed 2121 times
0 responses 7 comments At the Sept. 17 Tehachapi City Council meeting, council member Deborah Hand spoke passionately about the proposed amendment, known as the Urgency Ordinance adopted in October 2006. The moratorium is set to expire Oct. 1, 2007. The council voted on the issue, with the directive to add some modifications, which came from Deborah Hand, who wanted water conservation rights and affordable housing to be blended into the mix.
Hand’s issue was clear and direct to the council members, as she spoke about the water issue being the key to development in the region.
In a separate interview, Hand stated, “Water is the new oil. Without water in this region, we cannot do anything. The discussion about development is a moot point if we are not going to address the real issue: water rights.”
Hand cited the proposed growth of the Cummings Valley Water District region as a sure sign that citizens have not fully understood the ramifications of unbridled development. The proposed idea of building another 2,000 homes in the Cummings Valley, according to Hand, “will destroy the community services of Tehachapi.”
“Water holds the key. We cannot build if we don't have the water supply. The adjudicated public water basins and other sources are being pumped up the hill at a cost of $345,000 per month for the CVWD. The city of Tehachapi is only being charged a fraction of that cost. CVWD is pumping up the hill from the Edmunds water supply,” she explained.
Hand continued, “We have the public basins and CVWD project and even some private water rights on the land around here, but we are constantly asking, 'What is the quality of that water?'”
She cited citizens' concerns that the CVWD supply and the California Department of Corrections facility water may be contaminated with a high concentration of nitrates.
“We need clean, quality water. But most of all we need the water. Period,” she said.
Hand said that city officials must continue their work with architects and urbanists such as their existing contractual firm, Pasadena, CA-based Elizabeth Moule & Stefanos, Polyzoides and their representative Dave Sargent. Hand praised his work as the project manager for the Tehachapi general plan update.
She cautioned that Kern County officials are beginning their similar planning sessions and should take under advisement the great work of Dave Sargent's group.
“Until we all have a map in front of us, showing the entire water shed area, which includes the area from Lake Isabella to Frazier Park, we are going to be at a disadvantage here in Tehachapi as well as in the entire San Joaquin Valley,” she said.
“I am hopeful that Kern County officials are including that entire planning area as outlined in the Blueprint Project as part of their proposed new general planning process. It's crucial,” Hand insisted.
“I believe it is my duty to alert the public that our entire watershed needs to be included: public water sources, the Cummings Valley Water District and the private water rights holders. We need to protect all our areas around here-especially the vulnerable area of Capital Hills,” Hand explained.
Hand stressed that while water is indeed the new oil for any future talk of development in Tehachapi and the region, there is an even more burning question no one wants to discuss.
“What are the real costs to the public?” Hand queried. “People need to concentrate themselves within the city for the city services we provide. Does anyone look at the cost of public safety protection, the busing of school children, the impact on Highway 202 as new homeowners drive from Cummings Valley, Bear Valley Springs and Stallion Springs?”
“Do we even address that if 2,000-plus homes are built out there in Cummings Valley, who builds the police stations, the first stations, the 202 as a freeway to carry all those residents?” she asked.
Hand cited that for the Tehachapi Unified School District, it costs $1.23 million annually just to bus 1,383 school children on the 21 buses to class. She said only four of the 21 buses on the roads between Sand Canyon, Bear Valley Springs, Keene, Stallion Springs and other outlying areas have clean air diesel capabilities “so now pollution is also a key factor,” Hand stated. “Do we in town need to pay for other people's desire to live their rural lifestyle?”
“So who is going to pay? The developers? They might say they will but we don't need to ask them at all. We do not want water to be the determining factor in our growth and future development. We want the cost of public services and amenities to hold the key to sound, fiscal government on our part,” Hand stressed.
Hand's solution is look at the possibility of the Kern County officials in their master planning to look at having first right of refusal to pay these outlying areas a fair market value price to not to develop the land, to make a payoff for the water rights. Hand said, “We do that same purchasing now with airport hangars. It has worked in the past.”
“In the grand scheme of things, the purchasing of the land for our future is a much more valuable commodity. Kern County officials should have it in their general plan that they have the right of first refusal. Yes, it would be expensive. But the cost of not doing it is a continual cost. Buying rights is a one time cost. Land trust companies such as the Sierra Club and Land Conservancy could help in the initial purchases,” she surmised.
Hand stated, “The cost of not doing it is we continue to pay for more and more expensive services and the quality of life goes down. We can't keep doing it. It will end up on the backs of all the people. We shouldn't have to pay for others' speculation.”
“I'm sure some will say I am a radical thinker. I encourage the city and the county to think just as radically. The future of Tehachapi, our water, our services, our growth needs to have an influx of radical thinking. No matter what the final Kern County master plan is, the citizens of Tehachapi have to have 'a say' in where we are going,” Hand resolved.
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Whoever wrote this story surely wasn't at the same meeting that I was. Hand is speaking to the Cummings Valley building 2,000 new homes yet she voted along with Smith, Vernon, and Grimes on the Urgency Ordinance. Their votes LIFTED the ordinance allowing builders to start building in Tehachapi again.
MRS. HAND, If you are so concerned about water in the area, why did vote the way you did? ALSO, a direct quote from Hand to a builder, "I am sure you will build in a manner that is beneficial to the citizens of Tehachapi." Yeah, we ALL know that builders don't care about their bottom line; they only care about serving the communities they build in. Pleasseee give me some of that fairy dust!
Sign me: More disgusted every day!
This is why I read the Desert News out of California City too so that I can get an objective accounting of what really happened at our Tehachapi council meetings from Susan Wiggins.
This article is a bit misleading. It leads one to believe that Hand stated this in the council meeting. If one reads further down one can note that this was a "separate interview." Hand didn't state any of this at the 9/17 City Council meeting I attended and I was there till the bitter end. And, I seriously doubt that she wrote this without a LOT of help from someone. Now who could that be?
The only reason the Urgency Ordinance was voted in by the Council in October 2006 is because there were three seats up for election in November 2006 and public outcry to stop the council's approval of haphazard building was at an all time high.
NOW, council members HAND, Vernon (who should know better), Smith and Grimes voted to LIFT the Urgency Ordinance and allow developers to start building another 2,500 homes within Tehachapi City limits.
HAND must think it is OK to allow Tehachapi to build 2,500 new homes, BUT it is NOT OK for other communities in the area to build homes, i.e., Cummings Valleys' 2,000 proposed homes.
Beckham is the only council member that voted NO on lifting the Urgency Ordinance, citing lack of water as one reason and further softening an already soft real estate market among other reasons.
Jason Caudle assured everyone that there was plenty of water to take care of new developments.
So, why did Hand vote to LIFT the Urgency Ordinance if she believes what she wrote above?
If, according to Jason Caudle there is plenty of water to be had, why is Hand concerned with the watershed in, "...epecially Capital Hills...?" Could it be that she is concerned that the public might actually like a new City Hall and Civic Center over in Capital Hills as opposed to just a tacky little City Hall in a shopping mall complex behind Phil Smith's house on West D Stree so he could walk to the City Hall as he usually does and that is why he is always late?
Either way Hand and Smith must recuse themselves from discussion of the new City Hall or they are in violation of the Brown Act and I for one would be happy to report them to the Fair Politcal Practices Committee so that they can receive nice, juicy fines.
In other words, Hand speaks with forked tongue. She says one thing then votes directly AGAINST what she says. Do you see that the story above is just blowing smoke?
Let's here from Shane the Pain on this one?
I stand for controlled and well planed growth of Tehachapi. Lets face it we will not stop the growth but we can make sure what is built in town is right for us. I feel KB has done a big disservice to our town. If Mrs. Hand wants affordable housing, I think she will get exactly that with the construction of 2,000 more new homes. Our property value will go down and homes will be sold cheap.
Also if she voted yes on lifting the moratorium then how can she now say she is still concerned? What's the difference in building 2,000 new homes in Cummings Valley and building 2,000 homes in town? Doesn't the water come from the same place?
I know the city will do better in tax collections if people build in town, but you can't call the people living in the outlining areas stupid or parasites. We are all in this together.
Hand and Smith should not vote on the Wells school site or any other site as long as the Wells site is still on the table.
We can all say what we will do or what we want to do, but it comes down to your word and your vote!
