PALMDALE – The Palmdale Water District received the District Transparency Certificate of Excellence by the Special District Leadership Foundation (SDLF) in recognition of its outstanding efforts to promote transparency and good governance.
“This award is a testament to Palmdale Water District’s commitment to open government,” said Dennis LaMoreaux, General Manager. “The entire district staff is to be commended for their contributions that empower the public with information and facilitate engagement and oversight.”
In order to receive the award, a special district must demonstrate the completion of eight essential governance transparency requirements, including conducting ethics training for all Board members, properly conducting open and public meetings, and filing financial transactions and compensation reports to the State Controller in a timely manner.
The Palmdale Water District also fulfilled 15 website requirements, including providing readily available information to the public, such as board agendas, past minutes, current district budget, and the most recent financial audit.
Finally, the district must demonstrate outreach to its constituents that engages the public in its governance through a regular district newsletter and a special community engagement project.
The Palmdale Water District produces an average of 6.83 billion gallons of clean, healthy water each year using more than 400 miles of pipe, 24 wells, 20 tanks, two reservoirs, and a state-of-the-art treatment plant.
The District is governed by a five-member board of directors, with the District’s water service boundaries divided into five different areas or divisions. A Director is elected in odd years (i.e., 2011 or 2013) to serve a four-year term from each of these divisions. Directors must live in the division they are elected to serve. Directors are elected by all customers of the District.
SDLF is an independent, nonprofit organization formed to promote good governance and best practices among California’s special districts.
Special districts are independent public agencies that deliver core local services to communities, such as water, fire protection, parks and recreation, health care, sanitation, mosquito abatement, ports, libraries, public cemeteries and more.
Districts are established by voters, and their funding is approved by voters in order to meet specific needs through focused service. They can be specially molded to serve large regions or small neighborhoods, depending on the need.
“We are honored to have received this certification from the SDLF, and will continue to pursue other accreditations that further our commitment to the community,” said Joe Estes, Director of the Palmdale Water District Board. “We could not be more proud of our staff for everything that they do every day to ensure openness, demonstrate professionalism, dedication to our community, and our progressive manner of how we problem solve.”
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Mark says
They sure couldn’t get a Transparency Certificate for their water. PWD water has so much sediment in their water it ruins whites in the washer and leaves a ring around the bathtub before you even get in it.
They also have terrible customer service.