AUBURN -- Directors of the Placer County Water Agency used their first meeting of the year to review the water agency's accomplishments in 2008 and to chart a path on issues confronting the agency in the coming year and beyond.

 Meeting Monday (Jan. 5) in a strategic planning workshop, the board identified several issues confronting the agency over the next five years.  Among the many items listed was concern about the possible financial impacts upon the agency from the declining economy and actions by the State to balance its $40 billion budget shortfall, issues involving the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and potential redirected impacts by the State on upstream water suppliers such as PCWA, possible implications to water supplies if climate conditions significantly change, concern about increased state and federal  mandates, and the agency’s ability to sustain its level of services in an era of  economic uncertainty.

 Board Chairman Gray Allen said the strategic planning process annually assists the board and management to better anticipate issues and minimize surprises.  He said the workshop long-term planning process will continue at future Board sessions.

 In other business, directors:
 • heard a request from Auburn mayor Mike Holmes on behalf of the Auburn City Council asking for the agency’s support on regional wastewater financing. 

Agency attorney Ed Tiedemann said the agency does not have legal authority to deal directly with or to finance wastewater services or projects but could possibly consider some aspect of the use of reclaimed water.  A letter will be sent by the agency to the City expressing appreciation for their inquiry and to offer the board’s support encouraging federal backing of regional approach on wastewater.
 • heard an update from legal counsel Janet Goldsmith on the governor’s recent Delta Vision report.   PCWA is closely tracking actions proposed by the State to ensure that PCWA’s “area-of-origin” water rights and entitlements are not adversely affected.  And that costs and mitigations to rectify the Delta ecosystem are not redirected upon the agency.  She reported the PCWA is coordinating closely on these and other issues with Sacramento Valley and regional water officials who share similar interests and concerns.
 • heard a presentation from consultant Bonny Starr on the recently completed 2008 update of the American River Sanitary Survey.  The survey is updated every five years by a group of water utilities that divert water from the American River in the region.  Starr noted that the report finds that Placer County enjoys high quality source water from the American River watershed.
 • heard a report from water customers Carol Cramer and Ann Fulweiler.  They offered a number of suggestions on issues from water usage, rates, and costs as viewed from the customers’ perspective.

 The next regular meeting of the PCWA Board of Directors will be held at 2 p.m. on Jan. 15 at the PCWA Business Center, 144 Ferguson Road, in Auburn.  PCWA board meetings are open to the public.

 Information on PCWA board meetings may be obtained through the Clerk to the Board at (530) 823-4850.