SAN CLEMENTE : Water District Board to Meet at Night

Starting today, the Tri-Cities Water District will temporarily switch its meetings from afternoons to evenings in an effort to be more accessible to the public.

Through June, meeting times will move from 3 to 7 p.m. The water board, which serves San Clemente and portions of Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano, meets on the first and third Wednesdays of each month.

The move was made to encourage customers to show up at the public sessions, which are usually sparsely attended, said one board member.

“Historically, the only people at the meetings are (those) who have a project before the district,” said board member Ray Benedicktus. “I can remember we had a rate increase hearing and only two people from the public were there.”

Tonight the water board will discuss eliminating health benefits for board members. It will also consider building a $500,000 water station that will reduce pressure in certain areas of San Clemente.

The only problem with the meeting time is that the San Clemente City Council also meets on the first and third Wednesdays beginning at 7 p.m.

Despite the conflict, Benedicktus said that holding the water board’s meetings at night will give water customers who work during the day a chance to speak out on district issues.

The Tri-Cities administrative office is at 851 Calle Agua.