November 16, 2018 – The public process to plan for the next 50 years of our community’s water is gearing up with the first Plan for Water workshops set for early December. The Nevada Irrigation District (NID) invites everyone to attend and start the dialogue about what strategies we will embrace to ensure a reliable, high-quality supply of water in the future.
Plan for Water is the process that will provide the basis for NID’s Raw Water Master Plan update.
“Participation and collaboration between all community values is the key ingredient,” says Program Manager Jim Crowley. “Plan for Water is a strategic visioning process that benefits from, and relies on the community getting together and sharing ideas.”
The first public workshops are scheduled for Dec. 1 and Dec. 10. They are designed around information-sharing and community input to build the foundation for collaborative efforts. The aim of these workshops are to gather considerations and discuss priorities pertaining to NID’s water resources and long-term stewardship of those resources. Check out planforwater.com for more information.
Grass Valley Workshop: Saturday, December 1, 2018
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Nevada County Fairgrounds, 11228 McCourtney Rd, Grass Valley, CA 95949
North Auburn Workshop: Monday, December 10, 2018
4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Rock Creek Elementary School, 3050 Bell Rd, Auburn, CA 95603
In a nod to a new Board membership starting Dec. 12, NID Directors voted to pause the formation guidelines of the public participation group process, during the Board meeting on Nov. 14.
“We’re setting up the process for success,” says NID General Manager Rem Scherzinger. “It will advance opportunities for teamwork and feedback with the new Board and the community regarding the visioning and goals for Plan for Water.”
Plan for Water is the community collaboration process to support the Raw Water Master Plan update. It is the framework for public participation and input to identify multiple visions for the community’s water future to help inform ongoing water resource management of the District. Approved by the Board in September, the Plan for Water is a new approach based on the desire of the District to foster collaborative approaches to the real water issues facing our community and the region.
“In a nod to a new Board membership starting Dec. 12, NID Directors voted to pause the formation guidelines of the public participation group process, during the Board meeting on Nov. 14.”
Why is NID moving forward with the Public Input Workshops when the formation guidelines of public participation have not yet been formed? This sounds like more “cart before the horse” promoted by Rem Scherzinger. Is he trying to push something forward alone before the 3 new NID Board members can have input? This is very concerning especially during the holiday season.
Here we go again: NID has the cart before the horse.
What part of “Pause the formation” didn’t the NID General Manager and the $800,000 consultant hear?
To pause means to stop doing. It appears to me that in their action last Wednesday, the Board approved stopping the process until the public and Board members have an opportunity to comment on and, if necessary, modify the consultant’s proposal.
There are 3 new members of the board as of December 14. NO WORK should be done on this project until they and the public have a public meeting to discuss and approve the plan.
It’s time for the General Manager to listen to the Board and public and not push his agenda.