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Golden State Water Public Hearing in Stanton

admin — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:44:09 +0000

The California Public Utilities Commission, in response to public pressure, has scheduled a local public hearing about the proposed rate increases. This is your opportunity express your views on the past large price increases and object to the proposed price increases. The hearing will be held on Friday, March 2, 2012 at the Stanton city hall. This is 2 days before the FCA Annual and Town Hall Meeting

Hearing Announcement

Two page Map to Stanton City Hall.

Hope to see the local GSW customers there.

FCA Annual & Town Hall Meeting 3/5/2012

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:29:42 +0000

The Foothill Communities Association (FCA) will hold its Annual and Town Hall Meeting on Monday, March 5, 2012. Everyone is welcome. The meeting will be held at Hewes Middle School in North Tustin. Map for Hewes Middle School. Open a printer friendly version of this page. The agenda is

6:30 to 7:00 pm Discussion by members with FCA Committees and and County Service Providers; voting for 2012 Board

7:00 Presentation session begins with opening remarks by President Richard Nelson

7:15 Address by Todd Spitzer, Candidate for 3^rd District Supervisor

7:30 Address by Deborah Pauly, Candidate for 3^rd District Supervisor

7:45 Address by Dr. Gregory A. Franklin, Superintendent of Tustin Unified School District

8:00 Q&A with Speakers

8:30 Informal discussion with Meeting Speakers, FCA Committees, and County Service Providers

9:00 Meeting adjourned

Attendance provides an opportunity to discuss withcandidates forSupervisorand our new School District Superintendent how they will represent your interests.

The following organizations will have tables and will welcome your questions and input.

OC Parks	FCA Fire Safety Council
California Highway Patrol	OC Roads Department
FCA “No-Rezoning” Committee	OC Sheriff’s Department
FCA Welcoming (& Picnic) Committee

The Foothill Communities Association (FCA) is a nonprofit corporation founded in 1964 with a mission to preserve and enhance North Tustin. FCA is now in the 48^th year of operation.

Send Objection to Rate Increase to CPUC

admin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:35:22 +0000

The magnitude and impact of our water cost increase over the last two years has outraged many of you, as it has us. Here is coverage in the current issue of The Foothills Sentry.

In addition, their new rate increase shown on the hearing notification mailed by Golden State Water Co. (GSW) a few weeks ago, which we strongly oppose, is confusing and difficult to understand.

Here is a chart comparing the cost of water from several providers. The chart shows you the cost for any quantity of water from each provider.

The following is a brief explanation of the effect of the notification and what is ahead if we do not make our collective written voice heard often this year in opposition. At the end is a letter that you can have sent by email to the CPUC.

We are in Region 3, which includes Cowan Heights, Lemon Heights, parts of Orange and some 30 other wide spread cities and communities.

According to Golden State Regulatory Affairs Department:

Our residential water rate increase in 2010 was 28.7% over years 2008 and 2009.

The rate increase in year 2011 was 1.24% over the 2010 rate, the rate increase beginning January 1, 2012 is 1.8% over the cost of water in 2011.

Now, GSW is asking the California Public Utility Commission to approve another rate increase of 10.20% ($12,346,100 in revenue) over the 2011 year for 2013.
Plus, based on their current forecast for inflation, additional increases of 2.50% for the cost of water service in 2014 over 2013 and 3.20% in 2015 over 2014, all yet to be approved.

If approved, the CPUC assures GSW $12,346,100 in revenue. This is estimated by GSW to translate into an additional 24.54% increase to the average ratepayers monthly bill beginning January 1, 2013. The $12,346,100 revenue increase, if approved, divided by the number of ratepayers, factoring in the GSW decreased water sales forecast, equals a 24.54% increase in our monthly bills. This, provided their forecast use of water per household is unchanged.

Our water rates are dependent upon the amount of revenue the CPUC approves for GSW for each year and the actual amount of water they sell. We believe that Golden State asking for more money in these times is exorbitant and unnecessary. Golden States Water revenue stream, once approved, is assured in the CPUC rate process.
The proceedings are ongoing and a decision expected at the end of this year.

To stop these increases from occurring each of us will need to be active by writing many letters of opposition to the CPUC and by supporting the Foothill Communities Association as we continue our opposition to Golden State effort to raise rates.
(more on this to come)

You can send an objection to the proposed GSW rate increases via email by filling out the following blanks.
Click here to see what will be sent using the form.

[contact-form-7]

Lawsuit Documents

admin — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:10:06 +0000

All of the documents filed in the lawsuit against the County of Orange for improperly rezoning property along Newport Ave are available below for your review. The trial filings and court appearances are now complete. The final event will be the ruling by the Judge, hopefully finding for us. That ruling will be posted here as soon as available.

1. Opening Status Conference 7/26/2011

2. Our Initial Filing 10/31/2011

3. County of Orange Response 12/5/2011

4. Diocese of Orange and Kisco Response 12/5/2011

5. Our Final Brief 12/21/2011

6. Supplemental Filing by County & Real Parties of Interest (Dioceses of Orange and Kisco)

7. Our Response to Supplemental Brief

Email info@FCAhome.org or call 714-730-7810 for further information.

Earlier Posting on Litigation

White House Gardens Exhibit

admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:41:17 +0000

Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition on White House Gardens, at Casa Romantica Cultural Center in San Clemente

On January 12, 2012, “The White House Garden” Smithsonian travelling exhibition will open at Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens in San Clemente – the only west-coast showing of this beautiful and educational exhibit that tells the story of the oldest continuously landscaped gardens in the United States (and also references the many presidential families who have resided at the White House). The White House gardens have remained a source of beauty, tradition and national pride for Americans everywhere and we are honored to bring this outstanding exhibition to south Orange County.

Casa Romantica is open from Tuesday-Friday from 11:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M., Saturday and Sunday from 10 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. The exhibition will be on display to the public from January 12 through February 26. There is a nominal entrance fee of $5 for non-members. Children 12 and under enjoy free admission.

We invite you to share the information about the exhibition with your members and hope you will take the opportunity to enjoy this unique exhibit while it is on display at Casa Romantica. We are also delighted to welcome tour groups to the Casa and will be happy to provide your members with a docent-led tour of the exhibition galleries, the Casa’s own stunning gardens and the nationally-registered historic Spanish Colonial revival home of San Clemente’s founder, Ole Hanson. Please call 949.498.2139 ext. 17 to schedule a group tour.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

Best regards,

Karen Ahola

Karen Ahola
Director of Marketing
415 Avenida Granada
San Clemente, CA 92672
949.498.2139 Ext. 11
www.casaromantica.org

North Tustin Community Picnic Recap

admin — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 19:45:22 +0000

In the Fall of 2011, FCA organized an “Old Fashion” Community Picnic for residents of North Tustin, CA. To our knowledge, this was the first community event for everyone who lives in North Tustin. It was a great success. Approximately 250 people attended. There is a concensus that it should be repeated in 2012.

Video of Community Picnic.

Fun Stuff Provided By FCA
Face painting
Twisted balloons
Helium balloons
Bounce house
Magic Show
Walk Around Magic
Pretzel & Kritters, clowns
Fire Truck (courtesy of OCFA)
Games (lots of)

Provided by the Park
Irvine Park Activities
Bicycle & Aquacycle Rentals
Children’s Pony Rides
Irvine Park Railroad (10am-4pm)
Horseback Tours
Pumpkin Patch
OC Zoo

Food was provided by Barcelona Bistro & Tapas (Spanish Cuisine), Nieuport 17 Restaurant (chili), and OC Fire Authority (OCFA, our Fire Department, ice cream).

Picnic Sponsors
We are grateful for the following sponsors who made this event possible (and resulted in FCA losing only a few hundred $$ on the event):

AA Jewel Box
Adams Wealth Group
Centaurus Financial
The Colton Company
Lynn Davis		President, TUSD Board of Education
Francine Scinto		Member, TUSD Board of Education
Richard (Rick) Nelson		President, Foothill Communities Association
Nieuport 17 Restaurant
Todd Spitzer		Past Third District Supervisor
Properties by Sutton & Associates

California Fire Safe Council Recognizes FCA FSC

admin — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 22:50:54 +0000

The California Fire Safe Council is the organizing body for the FSCs within the state. The organization also provides grants to the individual FSCs in order to help facilitate local projects. Thanks to Co-Chairs Jeff Martin and Dennis Fischel, we have received a letter of recognition.

Fire Safe Council Formed

admin — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 02:21:39 +0000

The FCA Fire Safe Council has organized and held their first two monthly meetings.

Here are the minutes of the November meeting. December’s minutes will be posted soon. The major effort is to organize the projects to be undertaken in 2012.

The Council meets on the first Tuesday of the month at 7:00pm at the OCFA HQ (corner of Tustin Ranch and Jamboree roads).

Contact either of the Co-chairs Jeff Martin (goldencow_76@yahoo.com 714-573-7169 ) or Dennis Fischel (dfischel@live.com 714-731-4963) to get involved.

Sheriff’s Report – October 2011

admin — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 01:25:32 +0000

The Sheriff’s Report for October 2011 shows that we live in a low crime area.

We have a new interface with the Sheriff’s Department. Deputy Julie Webb will be attending the FCA board meetings on the first Thursday of every month (except March, when we hold the Annual Meeting).

Local Job Openings

admin — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:43:29 +0000

Bar None has an opening for a truck driver

Adam Guss has an opening at his State Farm Agency