NEWS RELEASE

Date: May 10, 2002

Former county supervisor to lead flood-management, stream-stewardship monitoring committee

SAN JOSÉ - An independent committee has been formed to assist the Santa Clara Valley Water District board of directors carry out a 15-year program to provide flood protection; reduce pollutants in local creeks; protect, enhance and restore ecosystems in local creeks, as well as San Francisco and Monterey bays, and create opportunities for additional open space, trails and parks in the county.

Former Santa Clara County Supervisor Susanne Wilson will serve as chairwoman of the Clean, Safe Creeks and Natural Flood Protection Independent Monitoring Committee.

"The obligation to monitor this project is one that can be rewarding," said Wilson, "and I believe the committee is composed of such committed and savvy people that the citizens of Santa Clara County can be assured of two things -- the committee will be accessible to the public and will spend the time to do a great job for the citizens."

The committee is charged with monitoring the district's execution of a $25 million-a-year program in Santa Clara County called the Clean, Safe Creeks and Natural Flood Protection program. The 15-year program is funded by proceeds from a modest parcel tax.

The Clean, Safe Creeks program was approved by county voters in November 2000. The initiative, which appeared on the ballot as Measure B, promised formation of a monitoring committee responsible for providing an annual written review of the program's implementation.

"Formation of an independent monitoring committee demonstrates the water district's commitment to manage resources in partnership with the community we serve," said Rosemary Kamei, chairwoman of the district board of directors.
During the committee's inaugural meeting April 29 at the water district offices in San José, members elected Wilson as chairwoman and John Neece of the Madison Forbes Group as vice-chairman.

The monitoring committee consists of 15 members. Along with Wilson - owner-principal of Solutions by Wilson - and Neece, committee members are:

• Teresa Alvarado, director of public affairs for the San Jose Convention and Visitors Bureau;

• Craig Breon, executive director of the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society;

• Margaret Bruce, director of environmental programs for the Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group;

• Don Burnett, former Cupertino councilman;

• Jim Cunneen, chief executive officer of the San Jose-Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce;

• Rod Diridon Sr., former county supervisor, representing the League of Conservation Voters;

• Trixie Johnson, former San Jose councilwoman, research director for the Mineta Transportation Institute;

• Danny Garza of the Plato Arroyo Eastgate Neighborhood Association (San Jose);

• David Ginsborg, director of special programs and external affairs for the Santa Clara County Assessor's Office;

• Joe Gonzales of Calero Ranch Stables;

• Nancy Hobbs, Leagues of Women Voters;
  

• Mark Lazzarini of the Community Home Builders and Associates
  

• Trish Mulvey, co-founder of CLEAN South Bay.

At its inaugural meeting, the committee formed four subcommittees and Wilson appointed chairpersons for each of them.

One of the subcommittees, chaired by Ginsborg, will monitor capital improvement expenditures. Johnson will chair a subcommittee to monitor progress of achieving clean and safe water in our creeks and bays. A subcommittee to monitor protection and restoration efforts of creek and bay ecosystems will be chaired by Breon. And Burnett will serve as chairman of a subcommittee to monitor creation of new trails, parks and open space preserves for public use.

The full committee is tentatively scheduled to meet next in October.

The Santa Clara Valley Water District manages Santa Clara County's wholesale drinking water resources, coordinates flood protection for its 1.7 million residents and provides stewardship for the county's 10 reservoirs and more than 700 miles of streams.