Water board fails bid to become an elected body
By Sophia Fischer sfischer@theacorn.com

A motion that would turn the Triunfo Sanitation District board of directors into an elected body was defeated at a TSD meeting April 30.

Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks, a member of the Triunfo board, was behind the move, but the only support she received from the five-member panel was from Chair Janna Orkney.

Three members of the water board are appointed, two are elected.

"I'm concerned that residents don't have the right to vote for the majority of the board that sets their water rate," Parks said. "My strong conviction is that things work better when everyone is elected."

Triunfo provides potable and wastewater services to 3,798 customers in Oak Park; 7,567 in Thousand Oaks; 804 in Bell Canyon and 694 in Lake Sherwood.

Parks made several motions to try to satisfy board members' concerns, including an all-elected board, giving up her own appointed seat for election, or allowing one appointed seat for Thousand Oaks. All suggestions failed.

Instead, the board agreed to allow Triunfo's attorney to contact the state attorney general for input on changing the board's makeup, and on the legality of allowing Ventura Regional Sanitation District board members to also lead Triunfo.

Currently, the seats of Triunfo board members Orkney and Ron Stark are elected by voters; the seats of Parks, Thousand Oaks City Councilmember Tom Glancy, and James Acosta, a Saticoy resident, are appointed.

In addition, Acosta sits on the Ventura Regional Sanitation board, which Parks feels is a conflict of interest because Triunfo contracts with Ventura Regional Sanitation for services.

Ventura Regional also oversees Triunfo's financial investments. A dispute arose last fall when it was discovered that Triunfo's multimillion-dollar checking account had not earned interest for more than two years. At the time, Parks stressed the need for independent auditing and legal oversight to ensure Triunfo's best interests.

Stark expressed concern that an all-elected board would cut representation for Thousand Oaks. He said the city has indicated it would use a different sewage provider if it did not have a representative on the Triunfo board.

"That would double the rates for the rest of us," Stark said. "We already have one of the highest rates around."

Parks tried to address Stark's concern by offering the motion to ensure a seat chosen by Thousand Oaks voters, but was unsuccessful.

In voting no, Acosta said he felt the board had always put residents' needs first. He accused Parks of wanting to end Triunfo's contract with Ventura Regional Sanitation.

"You've wasted our time and constituents' time here tonight," Acosta said.

Parks disagreed with Acosta's assessment.

"I don't have a problem with VRSD, but with VRSD members sitting on Triunfo," Parks said.

In supporting Parks, Orkney said it was important to avoid "inappropriate relationships."

Orkney said she was surprised when three years ago the Triunfo board extended Ventura Regional's contract for 10 years.

"How can you extend a contract without a public discussion?" Orkney said.

Among residents expressing support for changing the board's makeup were Jay Kapitz, Bonnie Biddison and Mike Paule of Oak Park.

"I think it's astonishing that this is not a fully elected board," Paule said. "The majority at any given time decides all the issues regarding sanitation and water in our community. We're not being given the right to have a say in who makes those decisions for us."

A Thousand Oaks resident at the meeting said she would support an all-elected board and asked Glancy how he would vote.

"I generally don't make up my mind until I hear everyone's comments, so you got me," Glancy said.

The board hopes to have an answer from the state attorney general by its next meeting May 21.