Position: Q&A

By Steve Mattos

Steve Mattos: Position Q&A

Answer: I have extensive business and management experience. Further, I am intimately familiar with the operation of local government and to a lesser degree, state government. I currently serve on the Board of Livermore's Environment and Energy Committee. I have served as Livermore's Board representative for TV30. I have also volunteered extensively for the American Red Cross. My experience is both broad and deep and includes technology, engineering, and numerous social and scientific fields. I believe it is important for each member of the community to volunteer their time for at least one activity or event that benefits the local area. If I am elected to serve as a Board member for Zone 7, I will do so collaboratively, professionally, ethically, and with absolute transparency. Further, I have no conflict of interest because my real estate ownership is limited to a single home in Livermore. I am not a large landowner and do not benefit from water allocation. Last, it is important to understand the Board primarily acts to serve three purposes: 1) To ratify or decline staff recommendations, 2) To act as an advisor and to provide guidance to Zone 7 staff, and 3) To serve as a liaison to the local community by providing meaningful and relevant information. All Board members must understand they have an important but limited role and they are in place to serve the staff and community.

Question: What will you do to ensure clean and reliable source(s) of water to the Zone?

Answer: Ensuring clean and reliable sources of water is subject to unknown variability that includes weather, state regulatory behavior, demand by current customers, demand by forecast future customers, and conservation behavior. No Board member or candidate can insure or otherwise guarantee an unlimited supply of water. Further, I believe Zone 7 will face unprecedented and difficult issues over the next few years. Both energy and water are limited resources, which will likely act to constrain or otherwise slow growth. If we are fortunate, the weather may cooperate and there will be no problem. If the weather does not cooperate or any number of other factors negatively affect our wholesale water supply, the Board and staff of Zone 7 will need to make tough decisions to fairly balance factors that include allocation, fees, price adjustments, and conservation leadership. All key factors must be evaluated and the Board members must work to serve their customers, the community, and the taxpayers.

Question: What are the critical issues facing Zone 7 and how will you address them?

Answer: Water and energy are limited resources that will need to be factually evaluated and fairly provided. It is likely the Board and staff of Zone 7 will need to work toward compromise. It is obvious that water is a limited resource. We know our local community is continuing to expand and we know our water supplies have not increased. The current path is not sustainable unless we receive a weather windfall, which is becoming increasing unlikely given the changing weather patterns. Water controls growth...no water, no growth. Zone 7 and their respective water retailers must be carefully evaluate the potentially competing needs of their customers and act to balance the outcome with all possible fairness.

Question: As a local business person why should I care about any of these issues?

Answer: Water limitations will constrain the local economy, affect customer service, and limit growth. Zone 7 must quickly and proactively work with all local government and business leaders to put contingency plans in place. For example, some businesses are more reliant on water than others. Which ones? What is the impact to their business in terms of cost? If water must be allocated, what is the plan to do so and how are the unique needs recognized? Further, Zone 7 must be prepared to rapidly respond if things do not go well for our water supply. They must not wait until it is too late to react and then are forced to act reactively. Last, a decrease in water supply will likely affect the wholesale pricing structure. This really needs thorough analysis that includes fairness and equity for all customers. For example, if costs need to be increased, I strongly prefer an annual model instead of the same rate for numerous years that is ultimately followed by a large adjustment. To put this another way, smaller changes are easier to accept than larger ones. This viewpoint reflects my general perspective about planning and vision...Zone 7 must look ahead and put contingency plans in place to optimize their limited water, financial, and people resources.

Question: What are some of your current short and long term goals for the Agency? (Why & what will you do)

Answer: I have covered many of these issues in my above commentary. Water supplies, water banking, financial reserves, drought preparation, community outreach, outreach to local businesses, outreach to local government, and flood control are all critical issues that should be addressed sooner rather than later. Decisions need to be evaluated and equitably balanced. Transparency is also a key issue for me. Zone 7 is one of those "other" agencies that few people understand. Zone 7 can benefit by enhancing communication with its customers. People want to wake up in the morning, water their lawn, and wash their car. They may not be able to do so in the future. If that happens, Zone 7 will need to take an active role to limit the impact to residential and business customers. Zone 7 can benefit by putting active communication channels in place to let everyone know their role...and prepare everyone if water supplies become increasing constrained.

Question: Are you planning to actively promote your campaign for the Zone 7 Board of Directors?

Answer: If Zone 7 Directors attend one meeting each month, they receive a stipend of $153.00. I have decided against spending money on a campaign that results in what is effectively a volunteer positon in the community. I had also considered posting election signs but decided against that action due to the potential adverse impact to the environment.