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By Joe Krovoza, May 20, 2012 9:47 am

Capitol Bike Fest 2012 w/ Sac Metro HS Team

Sacramento County Supervisor Phil Serna and I are the honorary co-chairs for May is Bike Month 2012.  Along with the crack SACOG staff, we have had a great time in the region on this project.  In 2012, we are poised to break all records for MIBM.  Follow the results here.  Sign up to logs some miles this May, and to see the great system of social networking for MIBM.

Especially rewarding were the two Op-Eds we penned to undergird the month.  One in Sacramento News and Review

(Reclaim Your Youth via Biking SN&R May 10 2012), and

Sacramento Business Journal

(Biking Boosts Regional Economy Sac Bus J 5/18/12).  This one includes some excellent data from SACOG on the discretionary dollars that will stay in the region based on implementation of the SACOG land use Blueprint.   I’ll paste the Op-Eds below too as I have text copies.

Reclaim Your Youth via Biking, Sacramento News & Review, May 10 2012, for May is Bike Month

Phil Serna, Supervisor, Sacramento County  &  Joe Krovoza, Mayor, City of Davis

Let’ go back in time. If your last experience on a bike was right before you got your driver’s license, how did you survive? Were your trips more social? Did you have more fun? More exercise, in small doses? Relaxed when you arrived? Did you pay for parking?

Bike Month is an invitation to ask: do I have to drive? Could a basket transform my bike into an errand-running machine? Add an evening ride to dinner? Could an electric bike help me commute comfortably, quicker and a bit further? Could a folding bike get me the last mile after you commute by transit? We bet “Yes.”

After your pedal-powered youth, you likely crept toward what the virtual mono-culture of driving alone. Owning, fueling, insuring, repairing and parking the average car approaches $9,000. If you get rid of a car, that’s a raise!

Our region is known nationally for bicycling. Our terrain is (mostly) flat, the weather is great, and there are bike trails, lanes, and routes everywhere. For recreation, head to the American River Bike Trail or the hills in the east. MayisBikeMonth.com has the most bike-friendly routes, info on bike safety, and events that give you an excuse to go by bike.

The costs we all pay for roads are huge, and so the more pressure we take off our existing infrastructure, the less we will have to spend on road expansion. Elected officials from across the region just adopted a transportation plan that invests in taking care of what we have and making increases in funding for bicycling, walking and transit that have real benefits to road congestion—a 7 percent decrease in congestion for the average person per day by 2035.

Bicycling means different things to everyone. Kids like it, because it gives them a sense of freedom and adventure. Parents like it when their kids have safe routes to school and around their neighborhoods, because it means they spend less time playing chauffer.

So answer the question: do I have to drive? Get started at MayisBikeMonth.com. It’s easy, free, healthy – and you’ll love it.

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By Joe Krovoza, May 3, 2012 11:59 pm

for your consideration…  Please join me in support of Measure D.   Joe

Download:  Yes on D for Davis Flyer

Op-Ed to Run Sunday, May 6, 2012

Please Vote Yes on Measure D – Support our Parks, Greenbelts, and Recreation Programs

Davis is a wonderful community to live in! Our extensive system of parks, greenbelts, and recreation facilities are an important part of our Davis lifestyle and what makes Davis special. They provide benefits to everyone who lives here by providing recreational opportunities, improving the environment we live in, increasing home values, and much more.

On June 5^th, Davis voters will be asked to renew an existing parcel tax measure, Measure D – Parks Maintenance Tax. This is NOT a tax increase. It simply renews the existing $49 per parcel per year tax which has been in existence since 1998. The entire proceeds from this tax, $1.3 million, is put into a Special Fund by the City and used only for maintenance of parks, bike pathways, green belts, playing fields, and community pools.

There are a lot of active college towns in California and many have vibrant, multi-use downtowns like Davis.  There are also a lot of cities in the state with excellent schools and top notch safety professionals like we have in Davis. But there is absolutely no place in the country that has the combination of community and neighborhood parks and the huge network of interconnecting bike corridors that we have in Davis. These bike pathways are one of the main reasons we still have the highest bike-modal transportation rate in the country.

Unfortunately, the upkeep of these parks and bike paths is costly. The renewal of Measure D is needed so that we can continue to maintain what we have now.  If Measure D doesn’t pass, we will have to cut back on Park and greenbelt maintenance including reducing lawn mowing and maintenance frequency, cutbacks on graffiti abatement, reduction in our integrated pest management efforts to reduce pesticide usage, decreased preventative tree and shrub pruning, elimination of all weekend trash pickup and cleaning of restroom facilities, and more.  All-in-all, it is abundantly clear that if Measure D fails our parks and greenscapes in Davis will become less maintained, shabbier, and a whole lot worse for wear.

Continue reading 'Yes on Measure D (for Davis) Parks, Greenbelts and Recreation Programs'»

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By Joe Krovoza, November 20, 2011 1:53 am

Our town is a place of free speech, great debate, and respect for all.  These themes define us as a community; we hold them dear.  The use of pepper spray on students passively protesting on the UC Davis Quad on Friday was shocking to me.  I am saddened that the action will detract from our community’s storied and civil history.

To clarify the City’s role, I note:  The City of Davis has allowed our Occupy protesters to camp in our Central Park for over two months without incident.  The pepper spray use on campus Friday afternoon was an action by the UC Davis police department over which the City has no control.  UC Davis is adjacent to, but not within, the limits of the City of Davis.  City Police were called to the scene as “mutual aid,” but were not involved in any direct action against the students.

Today the City issued the following press release: Press Release 11-19-11 Police.

It is incumbent on all of us to understand the economic disparities that are changing our country, and the many ways in which these disparities are casting a shadow over the hopes of

Continue reading 'UC Davis Occupy Protest and Police Reaction, November 18th'»

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By Joe Krovoza, September 18, 2011 2:33 pm

After enjoying my coffee this AM, and discussing the Pepper Peddler yesterday and today with friends, I felt inspired to create this small post.  Nobody asked me to.  Sorry if this is too much of a pitch, but for Janet and me, it’s a great part of livin’ here.  It’s excellent coffee delivered weekly or bi-weekly as you like, local, roasted by human power, and delivered by bike.  We never never end up running out for coffee at the last minute — by bike or car.  Tres Davis.

Pepper Peddler box faithfully waits on porch for a delivery.

Coffee arrives! and is revealed here :~)

Nothing seem more appropriate in Davis (other than the great water debate!), and we really hope that this hyper-local business thrives.  I’d be so bummed if they vanished.  Please join us as devoted Pepper Peddler customers.  …now back to real work for the day and night jobs.

Go here to sign up. Forward this on.  And here’s more of their story.

...and into the kitchen to do its work.

A True Davis Gem!

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By Joe Krovoza, September 18, 2011 1:29 pm

Hello All,  Want to know what’s the most cost-effective way to take the next step for energy conservation at our house?  Here’s a fantastic opportunity for Davis residents to get a free energy audit and to figure out the next best steps for energy conservation at their homes. I am going to participate.  Join me next Wednesday at the Farmers Market to sign up, and/or see more below on the details.  Grant funding for this makes it a very unique opportunity to move your conservation ideas forward.  See below.  Best, Joe

Free home energy assessments (approximate value $500) will be available to Yolo County home owners if they sign up at an upcoming Energy Upgrade California event (some restrictions may apply). A drop-in  event will take place on Wednesday, September 28 from 4:30 to 8:00pm at Central Park in Davis (in the unlikely event of rain, the Hattie Weber Museum at 445 C St., Davis, at the northeast corner of Central Park).  A second event is scheduled on October 5 from 7:00-8:30pm at Community and Senior Center in Woodland.   Homeowners will have an opportunity to connect one-to-one with contractors qualified to conduct comprehensive home energy assessments.   These events are sponsored by the City of Davis, City of Woodland, Yolo County,  Yolo Energy Watch and PG&E.  Energy Upgrade California representatives will describe rebates up to $4000.  A homeowner who has been through the programs will discuss her experience. Information about zero percent fixed interest financing is available for energy upgrades and solar panels through a grant from the California Energy Commission through the CRHMF Homebuyers Fund for income qualified homeowners.

The following is an outline of opportunities these events will be promoting:

Available for all income levels:

Energy Upgrade California     www.EnergyUpgradeCA.org

• Rebates from $1000-$4000 for residential energy efficiency improvements
• Free energy assessments for homeowners who sign up at the event*
• Opportunity to ask questions of contractors who are participating in the program

Available for homeowners with a household income between $45,480 and $121,289 in Yolo County

All of the above PLUS 0% fixed interest rate fully amortized financing

CRHMF Homebuyers Fund https://energyupgradeca.org/county/yolo/about_local_financing

• Funds can be used for energy efficiency improvements and solar
• Grants up to $1,250  or 15% of the job
• Can be used for owner occupied and rental property
• No appraisal, no credit check
• 100% financing available, no minimum or maximum loan amount
• Example of financing on $10,000, The monthly payment on a $10,000, 15-year fixed-rate CHF Loan at 0.00% interest would be $55.56 and the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) would be 0.372%.

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By Joe Krovoza, September 4, 2011 9:00 am

By Joe Krovoza and Stephen Souza (published in the Davis Enterprise, September 4, 2011)

Last week, we wrote about the new regional surface water project and highlighted Davis’ need for a high-quality and reliable water supply. This week, we will address project costs and rates.

Woodland-Davis intake will be on the right south of the I-5 overcrossing

As a quick review, the project will provide a new supply of surface water from the Sacramento River to Woodland and Davis. This will become our new primary supply. In Davis, we will keep six of our very best high-quality deep aquifer wells to supplement summer demand.

The Woodland-Davis Clean Water Agency will construct a joint river water intake and facility to treat the water before distribution to the cities. The cities will distribute the water to their citizens.

Davis’ share of the joint project is estimated to be $133 million. There will be Davis-only conveyance pipes, storage and distribution now estimated at $22 million. We must raise rates to finance this combined cost of $155 million.

As discussed last week, there are many good reasons for the project. However, the undeniable “stick” is the likelihood of expensive wastewater discharge fines in 2017, which probably would be set at levels high enough to force our compliance. The surface water project is central to meeting these state-mandated environmental regulations in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

The necessity of the project does not negate our concern for the impact of higher water rates. To set the rates, the city has been actively seeking and considering input from ratepayers — both residents and businesses. As a direct result of this input, and after a careful re-evaluation of all project costs, financing options and rate model assumptions, the recommended rates coming before the City Council on Tuesday evening are substantially lower than those published in the Proposition 218 notice.

The revised water rates would increase monthly costs for typical single-family residential customers from $34.75 to $77.18 over five years. Year one and two increases are proposed at 14 percent per year, which is half of what was published in the Prop. 218 notice. City staff members are proposing year three through five increases at 19 percent.

If adopted, these increases would be 2.2 times our current water rates for an average single-family residence. An option for spreading the rate increases over a six-year period also will be considered by the council, resulting in 14 percent increases for all six years.

Our current structure of a base rate plus two price tiers for water consumption will remain.

Customers with below-average water use now will experience lower-than-average monthly water bill amounts, while customers with above-average water use will see higher-than-average monthly water bill amounts. The city’s estimate above for an average single-family bill assumes 20 percent conservation over today’s typical use level. Thus, monthly impacts on each ratepayer will vary depending on their current water use and their level of conservation.

Specifics on the revised rate proposal are included in Tuesday’s City Council agenda packet posted online at www.cityofdavis.org (Under “Current Topics”). Please consult this for more of the story.

How do our rates compare to other cities in our region, and how will they compare in 2016? Davis water rates have been well below the Northern California average for decades. This fact was pointed out in the 2009 water rate survey prepared by the California-Nevada Section of the American Water Works Association, the most recent of its kind.

Just like us, many cities in the study are increasing their rates to modernize water systems and meet wastewater discharge requirements. Given that fact, we are confident Davis’ average rates will remain very near — or likely below — those of our Northern California cohort, even come 2016.

The City Council has expressed its strong intent to provide information and programs that assist ratepayers with conservation to help minimize rate impacts. We are also moving toward a system of monthly billing so ratepayers can more easily manage their water use.

Most importantly, the City Council will have the opportunity to refine rates each year. This is particularly relevant because construction and operation costs for the regional surface water facilities will be finalized next year. Construction bids are at historic lows, and a favorable bidding climate should work to our advantage.

Other cost-savings measures are being employed. Keeping costs down has been of paramount concern during the consideration of alternatives, environmental review, and now project design. By partnering with Woodland, we are spreading the costs of construction and operations over more users, realizing otherwise unattainable economies of scale. By teaming with Reclamation District 2035 on a shared water intake facility on the Sacramento River, we will pay only 20 percent of the cost of that facility.

For the regional facilities, the Woodland-Davis Clean Water Agency is following national best practices for a design-build-operate process, ensuring highly competitive bidding. We are aggressively pursuing state and federal grants and already have been successful as part of the effort that secured $1.2 million in Bureau of Reclamation funding for the joint intake.

The new system will be poised to meet future regulatory requirements with upgrades that cost far less than our well-only system could offer.

In total, these cost-saving measures afford us excellent long-term protection and provide opportunities to reduce the level of future rate increases.

Our new water system is well planned for cost control, quality and reliability, and it reflects our values by ensuring that we will comply with environmental regulations and cease the overuse our groundwater resource. The time for this project is now; there will be clear disadvantages and costs if we delay.

— Mayor Joe Krovoza and City Councilman Stephen Souza serve on the board of the Woodland-Davis Clean Water Agency, a joint powers authority of the cities of Davis and Woodland. Founded in 2009, the agency is responsible for delivering a reliable water supply to both cities by 2017. Learn more at www.wdcwa.com

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By Joe Krovoza, August 28, 2011 9:00 am

By Joe Krovoza and Stephen Souza (published in the Davis Enterprise, August 28, 2011)

Davis’ water system is not sustainable. Not the supply. Not the quality. Not environmentally.

Our system of groundwater aquifers for source water and wastewater treatment pond systems, built in 1972, have served us well. But, we must face the fact that our rural groundwater system was not designed to support the urban environment that now characterizes our community.

New, expensive manganese treatment facility at Chiles/Pelz Over-crossing

Knowing this, Davis has an obligation to secure a high-quality, reliable, environmentally responsible water supply on which its citizens can rely for decades to come.

On Tuesday, Sept. 6, the Davis City Council will conduct a public hearing on proposed water rates. This article addresses the reasons and process that have led to the design of our new water supply. Our op-ed piece next Sunday will focus on the required investments and how we are keeping the rates as low as possible.

The rate proposal has led some to assert that the City Council has run amok, missed a cue from state and federal regulators, or misread one report or another. Those arguments are far too simplistic for our citizenry and detract from the real issues.

The question we should be asking is, “Can we continue to rely solely on a low-quality groundwater supply that requires increasingly expensive treatment, is proven to replenish slowly, threatens or has begun irreversible land subsidence, and will violate environmental discharge requirements come 2017?”

Our response is a resounding “No thanks!”

Davis’ antiquated system has allowed us to keep water rates far lower than other urban areas. Perhaps our low rates have helped us accept the taste of our water (though some are just fine with it), or the trouble it causes our water-using appliances, plumbing and certain plants, or the need for in-home filter systems.

Groundwater alone, however, costs us much more than what is reflected on our water bill. Replacement of appliances and fixtures are additional household costs. So, too, are the costs of water softeners, filters and bottled water for drinking.

And our groundwater is not ours alone to control. We share our deep aquifer with UC Davis. As we have been forced to drill deeper in search of higher-quality water, it’s unimaginable that our single-source water supply can sustain our population of 65,000, along with UCD’s resident students and daytime staff.

Water supply reliability concerns are compounded by increasingly strict regulatory requirements that limit nitrates, selenium, manganese and salts in our drinking water and wastewater discharge. Our drinking water supply and wastewater discharge are inextricably linked, because what comes in must meet environmental standards before being discharged to our environment.

In a well-only system such as ours, treatments at every wellhead are expensive to construct and maintain. The new manganese removal facility on Chiles Road at the Dave Pelz bicycle overcrossing over Interstate 80, one of two such facilities in the city, turns a $2.2 million well into a $4.3 million expense.

If our overall supply quality doesn’t improve, we risk heavy fines come 2017. Compounds like hexavalent chromium, of the Erin Brockovich case and that can naturally occur in groundwater, will soon be regulated. Costs will be high if we are required to treat each affected well.

Other cities in our region already are paying discharge fines. Woodland, for example, pays $14,000 per month for violating selenium limits, and the maximum that could be charged is far, far higher. Dixon voted down higher rates for a new water system. The city is subject to heavy fines and still will be required to build modern water works.

Lastly, Davis prides itself on good environmental stewardship and its reputation for being green. We cannot, in good conscience, violate environmental wastewater discharge requirements at the expense of the natural environment.

Where is our wastewater discharged? It goes to wetlands adjacent to the Yolo Bypass and to the west toe drain of the bypass. Improving the health of our local waterways is our responsibility.

The search for the most cost-effective system with positive environmental attributes has been going on since the late 1980s. A 2007 environmental impact report established a Sacramento River water supply project to supplement our best deep aquifer wells as the wisest environmental and most cost-effective path forward.

In November 2009, the city councils of Woodland and Davis joined forces to create the Woodland-Davis Clean Water Agency to implement the environmentally superior project. Rights to Sacramento River water were expedited by the state and granted in January of this year.

Around that same time, the agency secured rights to scarce summer water through an agreement with the Conaway Preservation Group. After more than 20 years of planning and effort, all the pieces are coming together.

Controlling costs and keeping rates as low as possible is the second huge piece of our water puzzle. Input from residents during the city’s neighborhood meetings this summer and strong dialogue with the business community are leading to excellent progress in that arena. Next Sunday, our op-ed will explain the opportunities for reducing costs and setting the lowest possible rates over a period of years.

For Davis, the path forward is clear. We must commit to a modern water supply and wastewater treatment system to protect public health, maintain our economic viability and care for our environment.

— Davis Mayor Joe Krovoza and City Councilman Stephen Souza  serve on the board of the
Woodland-Davis Clean Water Agency, a joint powers authority of the cities of Davis and Woodland. Founded in 2009, the agency is responsible for delivering a reliable water supply to both cities by 2017. Learn more at www.wdcwa.com and further water information is linked from the city’s home page.

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By Joe Krovoza, July 8, 2011 12:30 pm

On the occasion of the store’s grand opening, SW Corner of 2^nd Street and F Street

(delivered at the ceremony by Mayor Pro Tem Rochelle Swanson, Councilmember Dan Wolk, and Joe Krovoza)

Joe Krovoza, Mayor, July 8, 2011

10.    It’s freezing in the Varsity Theater and you need a pullover, and fast!

9.      You became disoriented looking for Outdoor Davis

8.      The Band-uh just might be-a playin’

7.      Free on-street bike parking courtesy of the City of Davis

6.      Downtown Davis shops are way too hip and you want something nerdy

5. You are in desperate need of olive oil to dress the salad you’re bringing to the Davis Bicycles! potluck?

4.      $3.15 Icekrimski gelato tastes better in a $100.00 UC Davis hand-crafted Cork Oak bowl

3.      The Chancellor Linda Katehi Greek Products Boutique

2.      There is no group you trust more to spend your sales tax than the Davis City Council

1.      $7.00 UC Davis on-campus parking