Why I'm Voting No On Measure TT - The Hostile Takeover

INFORMATION YOU MAY FIND VALUABLE
I know many of you have already been hovering over your sample ballot and voter pamphlets, contemplating how you will vote on the many critical issues facing Costa Mesa voters this year.  Well, let me help you with one that's particularly onerous - MEASURE TT.

MISLEADING THE PUBLIC
This issue was placed on the ballot as an advisory measure by the Board of Directors of the Mesa Water District... in theory no biggie... just taking the pulse of the community on the issue of possible consolidation of Mesa Water and the Costa Mesa Sanitary District (CMSD).  Well, apparently Mesa Water thinks it IS a biggie because, according to reports, they've spent over $300,000 on this issue!  They've plastered our local newspapers and mailboxes with ads for this measure, all of which are VERY misleading - the kindest way I can put it.

HERE ARE VIDEO LINKS
I attended the Town Hall CMSD President Mike Scheafer held last week and wrote about it HERE.  I provided you the link to the recording of that event HERE.  Today the CMSD provided an abbreviated version of that video - just over 6 minutes long - which may be very helpful to you as you consider this very important issue.  You can view it HERE.

SIMPLY A POWER GRAB
In my view, Measure TT is simply a power grab by the Mesa Water District Board - a hostile takeover attempt.  There is no compelling reason that these two special districts should be combined.  Quite the contrary, there are many excellent reasons why they should NOT be combined.  This issue is just a quick-pitch by the Mesa Water Board to stampede the voters into making a decision that will then be used to convince the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) that the community wants the combination.

WATCH THE VIDEO(S) - VOTE NO!
Take a few minutes and watch the short video.  I think you'll then choose to watch the full version to give you more information.  I know how I'm voting on this issue... a resounding NO!  I suspect you may feel the same way once you familiarize yourself with the truth of the issue.

CMSD Town Hall Sets The Record Straight

SCHEAFER LED THE WAY
Costa Mesa Sanitary District President Mike Scheafer moderated a Town Hall last night the Neighborhood Community Center designed to inform the public on the current status of the CMSD and to set the record straight on a couple issues that have been percolating around town. 

A GOOD CROWD, CONSIDERING THE COMPETITION
Around 5 dozen people attended this event - amazing, considering it competed with the final Presidential Debate and the Dodger playoff game.  Not surprisingly, the crowd was attentive as Scheafer moved crisply through his agenda and managed to finish his segment precisely at 7:00 p.m.

LOTS OF IMAGES - TAKE YOUR TIME
I warn you right now that this entry is going to be full of images, most of which you should be able to read without trouble.  If you have problems just click on the individual images and they will enlarge for you.

DEALING WITH THE ELEPHANTS
Scheafer began by speaking of the "Elephants" in the room.  He was referring to the constant drumbeat by some individuals in the community - including at least one running for a seat on the CMSD Board - about the trash hauling contract in which it is purported that the contract hasn't been negotiated EVER.  Also sucking the oxygen out of the room was the proposed hostile takeover of the CMSD by the Mesa Water District.  He went through each issue clearly, as I think the slides will show.

THE TRASH CONTRACT
He spoke about the trash contract first, indicating that there we are in the 10th and final year of the contract with our current hauler, CR&R.   That contract expires in January.  He told us we've not had a rate increase in during the duration of that contract.  In fact, rates for the 2012/2013 year were actually lower than the previous year.  No change was made in the 2014/2015 year due to the implementation of the Organics Collection program.

MEASURE TT
Then he addressed the Measure TT, the issue placed on the ballot by the Mesa Water District as a so-called "advisory" measure, to take the temperature of the public about a possible consolidation of Mesa Water with the CMSD.  He felt the need to set the record straight, and the following slides may help sort it out for you.  Basically, Mesa Water unilaterally charged forward without consultation with the CMSD, paid for two different consultants to gin-up some numbers until they got something that supported their idea of a takeover of the CMSD.  They failed to give the CMSD Board sufficient time to even consider the issue before it was placed on the ballot.  Sadly, not telling the truth seems to be in vogue this campaign season.  Scheafer provided slides that responded to misstatements by Mesa Water Board President Shawn Dewane at a meeting of the Tea Party recently.  Some of the slides show those issues.

PROGRAMS
Scheafer then explained a little more about the CMSD, their programs and partnerships to help facilitate a well-run organization.  These slides will explain those features.

THE NEW HEADQUARTERS
He also explained about the acquisition of a new headquarters building at 290 Paularino, replacing the existing inadequate facility on West 19th Street.  Among the many new features available is adequate parking for staff and guests and a large conference room that may be made available for community events since the Neighborhood Community Center will soon be demolished to be replaced by a new Library.  He also pointed out that, although some around town are referring to the new facility as costing "$5 million", it actually will end up costing a little over $2 million.  See the chart.

 A HALF DOZEN SPEAKERS
As I mentioned, Scheafer finished his presentation promptly at 7:00 and invited those with questions to step to a microphone and ask away.  A dozen people did so, with a variety of questions and statements.  Among them were: Terry Koken stepped up and presented his TiTi CaCa parody - spoken, not sung this time.

Mary Spadoni mentioned that she had attended the Tea Party meeting where Dewane had spoken and that he misled the attendees when he told them that the $650 refund that Mesa proposed would also go to the folks served not served by the CMSD.  Another falsehood.

Wendy Leece wondered about the wisdom of consolidation, but seemed satisfied with the status quo, with both entities running their own businesses.  Scheafer responded to her questions by advising that  CR&R is the ONLY hauler with the facility to handle Organics, and that other haulers are now scrambling to find a place for their waste.  He told us it took CR&R six years to build their facility, which just opened a few months ago, and that CMSD was ahead of the curve on using it and received a significant rate reduction because we dove in first.

Ann Morrow stepped up and complimented Scheafer and the Board on the operations and the timely customer service.

Lance Halestone wondered if the CMSD will offer classes on their processes as Mesa Water does.  Scheafer told him it was in the works.

COSTA MESA BRIEF IN THE HOUSE
Barry Friedland was on-hand with his Costa Mesa Brief cameras to record the event.  Scheafer also told us that Mesa Water had dispatched someone to tape the presentation - the fellow never took the lens off Scheafer the entire time - despite the fact that Mesa Water does not record their meetings.  He thought it was amusing - and many of us also thought it was peculiar.  I'll post the link to this meeting when it becomes available - probably sometime next week.

MEASURE TT BOGUS
The meeting ended at 7:15 with most folks learning a lot about the operations of the CMSD and leaving with the opinion that Measure TT is simply a way to try to influence the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) that the public actually WANTS the consolidation.  If the voters approve the measure it will certainly be due to the false and misleading information provided by Mesa Water and their surrogates.  That will be a shame.  Spread the word...

VOTE NO ON TT AND ELECT JIM AND ART
So, Vote NO on Measure TT and re-elect CMSD Board members Jim Ferryman and Art Perry to maintain the solid, professional leadership under which the CMSD has continued to be an excellent special district.