Water districts to host town hall meeting Nov. 17

FALLBROOK – With the San Diego Local Agency Formation Commission expected to vote soon on whether the Fallbrook and Rainbow water districts can change water suppliers, the two districts will host a town hall meeting Nov. 17 to update the public on the status of their effort, which is expected to save ratepayers millions of dollars a year on water costs.

After years of enduring rising water costs and having to pay for pipes and other infrastructure they don’t use, the Fallbrook Public Utility District and Rainbow Municipal Water District are seeking to change water suppliers – from the San Diego County Water Authority to the Eastern Municipal Water District in Southern Riverside County – in a move that is expected to save ratepayers $7-10 million a year.

For the past year, an advisory committee established by LAFCO has been reviewing the districts’ applications to switch wholesalers and analyzing several issues. LAFCO retained a consultant to examine these issues and leaders from the Fallbrook and Rainbow districts will brief attendees on his conclusions.

If LAFCO approves the districts’ applications, voters in the Fallbrook and Rainbow districts would have the final say in an election held in each of the two districts’ service areas.

The town hall will include a presentation from LAFCO Executive Officer Keene Simonds, who has been invited to provide an update on the LAFCO review process and timeline. Also scheduled to speak are Jennifer DeMeo, president, FPUD board of directors; Hayden Hamilton, president, RMWD board of directors; Jack Bebee, general manager, FPUD; and Tom Kennedy, general manager, RMWD.

The public will have an opportunity to engage with participants through a question and answer session.

The town hall begins at 6 p.m. at the Fallbrook Public Utility District, 990 East Mission Road. Light refreshments will be served. For those unable to attend, the meeting will be live-streamed at http://www.fpud.com and will be available for viewing beginning the following day on the same website.

Submitted by Fallbrook Public Utility District and Rainbow Municipal Water District.