Lynwood Rotary Meeting Update 09-17-2015
At the September 17th Meeting, the members and guests heard a presentation from Leticia Vasquez, Director, Central Basin Municipal Water District. Ms. Vasquez was assisted, by Priscilla Segura, Public Information Officer. Noting that she is a teacher at El Camino College, Ms. Vasquez presented a whole lot of information in her brief time available. Here is a portion of what she quickly covered. The Central Basin Municipal Water District (CBMWD) also called Central Basin, purchases water from the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) and resells the imported water to privately owned water districts and to cities. It covers an area larger than an Assembly District, encompassing 22 cities and numerous portions of unincorporated areas. In the words of Ms. Vasquez, the MWD is the “Big Daddy” which has a large infrastructure of dams, canals and reservoirs to bring water from the Colorado River to Southern California. As for Lynwood, about 6 % of the city is served by the Park Water Co. Its water rates have to be approved by the California PUC. The City of Lynwood has its own water rights to pump a certain amount of water from underground water aquifers. The Central Basin has a variety of programs to encourage reduced water usage, to include home landscaping modifications. Depending on budgeted funds residential rebates are available for such items as a high efficiency clothes washer, turf removal, high efficiency toilet, rain barrel, weather based irrigation controller, and a rotating nozzle. Other examples of Central Basin programs are displays and booths at community events and inspection trips. For example, MWD in partnership with Central Basin is hosting the following trips: Diamond Valley Lake, Nov 6, and Colorado River Aqueduct, Mar 18- 20, 2016. During these trips participants will observe MWD facilities and the manner of operation of these facilities.
Because of the seriousness of the statewide 4-year drought, Governor Brown succeeded in getting California legislation AB1 passed which has resulted in a variety of provisions to reduce water usage with an overall target of a 25% reduction statewide. In the case of the City of Lynwood, a reduction mandate of 16% was set by the city. As an example of AB1 provisions, now cities are prohibited from having city ordinances that have fines for residences having a brown lawn. Reduced water usage will be the “New Normal”, even at the end of the current drought, because the history of California is periodic droughts, especially for SoCal, since it is a desert area. The Pacific Ocean temperature at the Equator is now warmer than it has been, which is described as an “El Niño” situation. It is expected that SoCal will receive heavy rains at some point this winter, but El Niño is not likely to bring a lot of rain and snows to the mountains in the northern part of the state, from which provide water flows to reservoirs and rivers that flow towards the south.
Priscilla Segura's power point and photo presentation was equally informative. For example, photos were shown of the reduced snow pack at selected mountain areas in the Sierras over the last 20 years. Also for similar time periods, the lower water levels at several major reservoirs. As Ms.Segura stated in her presentation: “The drought is a permanent reality, history repeats itself and therefore there have to be permanent changes in our use of water.” One part of the photos showed a variety of plants, and the audience was asked which plants were drought tolerant. Some plants looked like desert plants, but other plants which were green with interesting flowers, were also drought tolerant. The message was that one can convert to drought tolerant landscaping without the look of a desert, although some like a desert looking landscape for their homes. Priscilla's photos showed an example of a plant that can be planted for a lawn: the name of the plant is Kurapia and it originates from Japan; it is a bright green with small white flowers and is very drought tolerant. Ms. Lorene Reed was in the audience and Ms. Vasquez asked Ms. Reed to describe the major changes she made in her home landscaping, and the resultant reduction in her water charges. (Note: as a result of Ms. Reed's comments, she has agreed to be the speaker on this subject for the Nov 5 Rotary meeting.)
Second Part of minutes for September 17 Lynwood Rotary Meeting
Before these presentations, President Martina Rodriguez talked about the important Rotary meeting on Thursday Noon, September 24, when the Rotary District Governor makes his annual visit to the Lynwood Rotary Club. She again emphasized that Rotary Board members need to attend a meeting with the District Governor, DJ Sun, that starts at 10:30 am in the Bateman Hall VIP Room. President Martina will hold a coordination meeting on Wed evening at 7pm at her home the day before the District Governor’s meeting with the Club on Sep 24. She will hand out the written job responsibilities for each Rotary member, as well as a copy of the budget. Each member with assigned duties is expected to make a brief and concise report to the District Governor.
Also the coming District Annual Picnic was mentioned. The date is Sunday, Sept 20 at the usual location, which is the Redondo Beach Lagoon At the picnic, which starts at 11AM, there is the annual boat race using homemade cardboard boats,. With the help of Joe Wang the cardboard boat has been constructed. . Lynwood Rotary members are encouraged to attend this fun annual picnic event organized by Rotary District 5280. We will observe and cheer on our Youthact members who will row the boat.
Marisela Santana, Public Information Officer for the City of Lynwood, talked about several coming events, to include the 3rd Annual MyLynwood Healthy Cities 5K/10K Run & Walk, Sat, Sep 19, with Registration and Check-in at 6:30am; Run and Walk Start at 8am; and Awards Ceremony at 9:45am.
And another important event for the same day: the City will host a Meet & Greet for Lourdes Castro Ramirez, a 1989 graduate of Lynwood HS. A former Planning Commissioner, Castro Ramirez is currently working under the Obama Administration. She was appointed by President Obama to lead the Office of Public Housing for the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Meet & Greet event will be held Noon to 2pm in the City Hall Council Chambers.
Also, Ms. Lorene Reed encouraged attendance at the Lynwood Bingo Club Lynwood Blues Luau Live, Sat Sep 26, 4-8 pm, at the Lynwood Natorium Patio.
The landscaping plan and planting projects at Hosler MS, organized by recently retired coach and teacher, Al Castellanos will be discussed at a latter meeting. Al Castellanos has provided a report on his work in progress and Daniel Miller has donated a group of plants, as well as make comments and suggestions in a memo to Al Castellanos.
Daniel Miller / Omar Franco Public Relations and Community Outreach for Lynwood Rotary