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By Miriam Raftery
December 10, 2015 (La Mesa) – Helix Water District has received the “District Transparency Certificate of Excellence” from the Special District Leadership Foundation (SDLF), a nonprofit that promotes special districts that excel in governance and management.
Ironically, however, just one week after that announcement, Helix board president DeAna Verbeke asked staff not to renew the district’s membership in the California Special Districts Association (CSDA), which supports the SDLF and its goals. The CSDA promotes good governance and improved local services for independent special districts(such as water and fire boards) that deliver public services.
Kathleen Coates-Hedberg, a director on the Helix board, stated in an email to constituents, “We did a trial of one year and President Verbeke did not find it worth it. I voiced a difference of opinion, good governance and education of a Water District should go beyond just water, however, I was out voted.”
To receive the award from the Special District Leadership Foundation, a special district must complete eight transparency requirements including ethics training for board members, proper conducting of public meetings and filing financial reports in a timely manner with the state, and providing information to the public such as board agendas, minutes, and budget. Helix recently upgraded its website to make documents more easily accessible.
In addition, the district must outreach to constituents to engage the public in its governance. While the award requires outreach to the public, however, there is no requirement to actually heed the public’s concerns. Some ratepayers have voiced surprise over the transparency award, given the board majority’s recent actions that muddied public confidence.
Helix Water District has been the subject of considerable controversy after recently passing a five-year water rate hike over objections raised by more than 500 ratepayers, with no ratepayers testifying in support.
Helix Water District provides water for the cities of La Mesa, El Cajon and Lemon Grove; and Spring Valley, Lakeside, and additional unincorporated areas within the county.
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