Big Bucks Spent in Santa Clara Valley Water District Race

One of the most overlooked races this election cycle focuses on one of our most precious resources: water. It’s that stuff college bros cavalierly waste one squirt gun and slip-n-slide kegger at a time. (We’re in a drought—drink beer; save water, heathens!) Gary Kremen, founder of Match.com, has taken the fight to enviro nerd Brian Schmidt, the Santa Clara Valley Water District’s North County trustee. And it’s getting expensive. At the end of September, Kremen had racked up more than $303,000 in campaign expenditures, most of which he loaned to his cause. By comparison, Schmidt had only spent $8,200. All things considered, it’s believed to be the most expensive water race in state history. So, why so spendy? Kremen bristled over money talk when reached by Fly, saying he genuinely cares about water issues after serving as a director for the Purissima Hills Water District. “I have enough money to run for Congress,” he says, “but I’m not interested in that.” What Kremen has an interest in, he says, is unseating an ineffective Water District incumbent who has saddled North County residents with higher water taxes, allowed a dangerously inadequate infrastructure to remain in place, shipped water south with little recourse to recoup the H20 in times of emergency (a.k.a. now) and funded a bloated budget. Schmidt repeatedly cried foul to Fly, claiming Kremen has twisted facts to suit his attacks while both have traded conflict-of-interest barbs. But Kremen’s full-throttle effort to win a down-ballot race appears to have swayed more than a few former Schmidt supporters. Kremen has snagged elected labor and pro-business supporters who previously backed the incumbent in 2010. “The issue isn’t how you beat an incumbent,” Kremen says, “it’s does the incumbent serve well and has he helped provide safe drinking water.”

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5 Comments

  1. Sad as i addressed and emailed the directors about waste @scvwd and Brian also did nothing.
    Well Tuesday they will announce wanting to spend over 1.5 million in the board room, when in fact its not needed.
    They would have more money for water, rebates, classes etc. But disregarding facts, previous upgrades, documentation, the SCVWD is lying there way to build and waste yet another million plus dollars, (1st boardroom was 3 million, upgrades, just AV- during 2001-2012 equaled or passed 100K) on said boardroom. Even though there is nothing wrong with the system now. The only thing wrong is the District is not being truthful about what really is going on in the boardroom, The system is upgradeable, software programming is current and can be done, as a matter of fact there is an outstanding PO to Anderson Integration(10K) for work stopped by SCVWD. there is also over 40k worth of improvements just sitting. Read what they want to do then watch and read these prior statements to the board, CAO’s, staff, and see the real truth. Pretty much 90% of what is claimed is just plan not true.

    http://cf.valleywater.org/About_Us/Board_of_directors/Board_meetings/_2014_Published_Meetings/MG55522/AS55533/AI55560/DO55650/DO_55650.pdf

    handout ON DEC 11TH 2012 WERE I BLOW THE WHISTLE. http://scvwd.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=3&clip_id=962 ITEM 1.4 FROM VALLEYWATER.ORG

    http://cf.valleywater.org/About_Us/Board_of_directors/Board_meetings/_2012_Published_Meetings/MG47843/AS47844/AS47848/AI49234/DO49236/1.PDF Handout and speech

    JOE HANDOUT SAME INFO GIVE TO DIRECTORS AND 2 CAO?????

  2. WATCH THE ACTING IT MANAGER LIE, SAME LIES AS THIS BOARDROOM IS BASED ON….http://scvwd.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=3&clip_id=1043 ravi acting unit manager timestamp 2.38- 6.17 sept 10 13 FROM VALLEYWATER.ORG

    SANTA CLARA VALLEY WATER DISTRICT BOARD ROOM UPGRADE LIES

    YOU WOULD THINK PUBLIC OFFICIALS WOULD NOT LIE???????

    http://cf.valleywater.org/About_Us/Board_of_directors/Board_meetings/_2014_Published_Meetings/MG55522/AS55533/AI55560/DO55650/1.PDF

    THIS IS ALL LIES, THE AMX CONTROL SYSTEM IS CAPABLE OF HANDLING VOTING WITH MULTI SCREEN UPGRADES, SYSTEM IS CAPABLE GEORGE, FRANK, JESUS, BUEA. THEY ARE ALL LIES WE CAN PROVE THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN UPGRADED 4 TIMES AND MONTHLY BY THE AV CREW. GEORGE LIED ABOUT PAUL GOELTZ, HE IS LYING ABOUT THE BOARD ROOM, THIS IS YOUR TAX. i BROUGHT THIS UP 12/11/12 ITEM 1.4 AND SENT PAPERS TO 2 DIFFERENT CAO SHARON AND OLGA WHO DID NOTHING. ASK GEORGE WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SOFTWARE CONTRACT, AND WHAT IS WRONG WITH http://WWW.AMX.COM FOR A CONTROL SYSTEM? ASK GEORGE DID WE NOT HAVE A MEETING AND I PROVIDED INFO ON USING THE SYSTEM NOW FOR VOTING, TAXPAYERS WOULD NOT BE ON THE HOOK FOR A 1.5 MILLION DOLLARS PLUS. FC 1025 (09-20-13)Meeting Date: 10-14-14 Agenda Item:Unclassified Manager: S. Tikekar Extension: 2424 Director(s): All BOARD AGENDA MEMO

    SUBJECT: Resolution Providing for the Notice of Time and Place of the Public Hearing on the Engineer’s Report for the Boardroom Audiovisual Modernization Project, Project No.60101011 (San Jose)

    RECOMMENDATION:Adopt the Resolution (Attachment 3) Providing for the Notice of Time and Place of the Public Hearing on the Engineer’s Report (Attachment 1) for the Boardroom Audiovisual Modernization Project for 6:00 p.m. on October 28, 2014, at the Santa Clara Valley Water District, Boardroom,at 5700 Almaden Expressway, San Jose, California 95118.The Board’s approval of the recommendation to adopt the Resolution and set the time and place for the public hearing will allow the Boardroom Audiovisual Modernization Project to proceed. If the Board does not approve this recommendation, staff requests Board direction regarding further action for the Project.SUMMARY:The objectives of the Boardroom Audiovisual Modernization Project are to implement a new audiovisual system for the boardroom, its conference rooms and integrate an electronic voting(e-voting) system.

    This Project will:a. Improve the Board-meeting viewer’s experience by incorporating state-of-the art AVequipment in the delivery of broadcast services.b. Create a reliable, media-friendly boardroom that will facilitate AV presentations forvarious meetings including the District’s board meetings, and those of civic groups.c. Create high quality and high definition state-of-the-art digital AV system to facilitate anddocument District meetings, voting records, and presentations, and which can be madeavailable via cablecast, broadcast, or the internet, either in simulcast or for subsequentdistribution.d. Create a high quality, user-friendly AV system with enhanced capabilities for person(s)with disabilities.3.8SUBJECT: Resolution Providing for the Notice of Time and Place of the Public Hearing onthe Engineer’s Report for the Boardroom Audiovisual Modernization Project,Project No. 60101011 (San Jose)10-14-2014Page 2 of 3

    BACKGROUND: ( SYSTEM WAS UPGRADED LAST 2007, AND OVER 100K ADDED 08-2012, OR IS SITTING OR SURPLUSED… THEN ON GEORGE HALTED ALL WORK AND SOFTWARE CONTRACTS. )The Boardroom’s audiovisual system was designed in 1997 and built in 2000. In addition to theboard’s own public meetings, the existing system is used for the District’s many internaldivisional, unit, and group meetings, and frequently for other general district and communityevents of a business, educational, outreach, or celebratory nature.The existing legacy analog-based audiovisual system, uses technology designed over 17 yearsago and does not provide for enhanced features of an e-voting and high resolution multi-screenviewing, archiving, editing, broadcasting and streaming of digital audio and video signals.This system is not capable of integrating a sophisticated digital e-voting system and relatedfeatures, nor does it have enough capacity or compatibility to provide for additional multi-signalswitching of wired and wireless digital devices that can accommodate multi-scenario featuredmeetings.The existing system requires dedicated staff resources to insure basic operation during boardmeetings. The reliability of this aged system is unpredictable and on many occasions hasexperienced audiovisual devices and power-related deficiencies and failures.Because of the new features requirements, technology limitations and exiting issues, the Project scope will completely overhaul the AV system and provide for a modern electronic voting system.

    ENGINEER’S REPORT Section 12 of the District Act requires the Board to conduct a public hearing to hear testimony on a project when: 1) the project is new construction and 2) the project is funded by a single or joint zone of benefit. As the proposed Project meets both conditions, staff prepared anEngineer’s Report titled “Boardroom Audiovisual Modernization Project Engineer’s Report”dated June 2, 2014, (Attachment 1) for the purpose of public disclosure. The Notice of PublicHearing for the Engineer’s report is provided in Attachment 2.FINANCIAL IMPACT:The estimated total planning, design, construction and District labor costs for the Project areapproximately $750,000 to $940,000 (FY 2015 dollars). A budget adjustment will berecommended to the Board later this fiscal year to provide the funds needed for planned Projectconstruction work.CEQA:Recommendation: The recommended action does not constitute a project under CEQA becauseit does not have a potential for resulting in direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physicalchange in the environment. SUBJECT: Resolution Providing for the Notice of Time and Place of the Public Hearing onthe Engineer’s Report for the Boardroom Audiovisual Modernization Project,Project No. 60101011 (San Jose)10-14-2014Page 3 of 3ATTACHMENTS:1. Boardroom Audiovisual Modernization Project Engineer’s Report.2. Notice of Public Hearing3. Resolution to Set a Public Hearing4. Project Delivery Process Schematic

    Boardroom Audiovisual System Modernization ProjectPROJECT NO. 60101011ENGINEERING REPORTPrepared by:George Kamenjati, Office Automation AdministratorThe information presented in the Engineering Report is consistent with the design plans thathave been prepared under the direct supervision of the undersigned, who hereby certifies thathe (she) is a Licensed Electrical Engineer in the State of California.Information Technology Services DivisionFrank Fung Sudhanshu TikekarInformation Technology Unit Manager Deputy Administrative OfficerJesus Nava Beau GoldieChief Administrative Officer Chief

    1. PROJECT BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTIONThe Boardroom’s audiovisual system was designed in 1997 and built in 2000 to provide thatera’s state of the art technology platform for the district’s board to communicate with thecommunity it serves. In addition to the board’s own public meetings, the existing system is usedfor the District’s internal divisional, unit, and group meetings and for other general district andcommunity events of a business, educational, outreach, or celebratory nature.The existing analog-based boardroom audiovisual system, uses technology design

    The existing system requires dedicated staff resources to insure basic operation during boardmeetings. The reliability of this aged system is unpredictable and on many occasions hasexperienced audiovisual devices and power-related deficiencies and failures

    Because of the new features which can’t be integrated in the existing system and due to the (THAT IS A PURE LIE ANYONE CAN CALL ME THE SR TECH AND I WILL PROVE THIS DOCUMENT WRONG 408 759 2613)previously presented issues of reliability, supportability and limitations, it was decided to provide the needed technology by planning a comprehensive system upgrade.The upgrade Project objectives were established by staff, and used to design a new audiovisual ( ASK THEM WHAT STAFF, ANY TECHS? NO THEY ARE TO ASHAMED!)system for the boardroom and conference rooms.This Project will:a. Improve the Board-meeting viewer’s experience by incorporating state-of-the art AVequipment in the delivery of broadcast services.b. Create a reliable media-friendly boardroom that will facilitate AV presentations forvarious meetings including the District’s board meetings, and civic groups.c. Create high quality and high definition state-of-the-art digital AV system to facilitate anddocument District meetings, voting records, and presentations, and which can be madeavailable via cablecast, broadcast, or the internet either in simulcast or for laterdistribution.d. Create a high quality, user-friendly AV system with enhanced capabilities for person(s)with disabilities.

    LOOKS LIKE THEY READY TO PASS IT LIKE MOST THINGS MINDS MADE UP ON LIES…

    Providing for the Notice of Time and Place of the Public Hearing on the Engineer’s Report forthe Boardroom Audiovisual Modernization ProjectResolution No. 14-RL13098.docx Attachment 3Page 2 of 2PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of Directors of Santa Clara Valley Water District by thefollowing vote on October 14, 2014:AYES: DirectorsNOES: DirectorsABSENT: DirectorsABSTAIN: DirectorsSANTA CLARA VALLEY WATER DISTRICTBy: _______________________________TONY ESTREMERAChair/Board of DirectorsATTEST: MICHELE L. KING, CMC

    thank you

    any

    questions please [email protected]

    @pgoeltz

  3. > Kremen had racked up more than $303,000 in campaign expenditures,

    Gary Kremen:

    http://www.garyforwater.com/homeless_and_creeks

    ” •Stop demonizing the homeless by referring to where they live as “Illegal Encampments.””

    Good grief!

    This guy sounds like a huge dork.

    He wants to buy his way onto the Water District Board so he can command politically correct language for talking about the urban aborigines that are befouling the creeks.

    “Not to worry folks. Those turds floating in your drinking water DID NOT come from illegal encampments. They’re just picnickers.”

  4. Attend the bi-monthly public board meetings at the Santa Clara Valley Water District (Tuesdays, 6pm) and you will learn that Gary Kremen is a big water fluoridationist. The best information on fluoride and water fluoridation you will ever hear is posted at the top of the MaeBrussell(dot)com homepage. Dr. Lee, Dr. Yiamouyannis, Dr. Mullenix, and Joanie Greaggins explain the history and effects of this industrial toxic waste.

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