EXHIBIT 20-A

DRAFT

Monterey Peninsula Water Management District

PUBLIC OUTREACH PLAN

 

THE PURPOSE OF PUBLIC OUTREACH

 

KEY OUTREACH MESSAGES

Public outreach messages should include, but not be limited to the following broad topics and issues:

 

1. Conserve Water

·         Reduce the amount of water used at household and business level through reuse, recycling and “drought proofing.”

·         Be aware of and observe the Expanded Water Conservation and Standby Rationing Plan at its different stages.

 

2. Augment the Water Supply

·         Capture water through rainwater harvesting (e.g., in cisterns at household level) and advocate for community level harvesting (e.g., in larger scale reservoirs)

·         Provide input on proposals, planning, development and review of new sources of water for the District, e.g., desalination, recovery and reuse of stormwater and treated wastewater through public advocacy and lobbying at local and state levels.

 

3. Protect the Environment

·         Water conservation and augmentation will help fulfill Order 95-10 and its goals in preserving and protecting Carmel River vegetation, fish and wildlife.

·         District monitoring of wells helps prevent Carmel River/Seaside Groundwater Basin seawater intrusion, toxins and septic contamination.

·         Carmel River flow gaging stations contribute to erosion protection.

 

KEY PARTNERS

In order to fulfill the District’s goal of establishing respectful and effective relationships with California American Water, the eight land use jurisdictions, the Seaside Basin Watermaster, and the general public, partnerships should be established between the District and key groups such as:

 

1. Water Utilities (Attachment 1)

California American Water

Seaside Municipal Water

Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency (MRWPCA)

Carmel Area Wastewater District

Pebble Beach Community Services District

 

2. Public Sector (Attachment 2)

Water for Monterey County (formerly REPOG)

Water Awareness Committee of Monterey County, Inc.

Carmel River Watershed Conservancy

Hospitality associations

Real estate organizations

Environmental groups

Homeowner, property, & neighborhood associations and organizations

Nurseries, garden supply providers

Educational facilities, public and private

 

3. District Land Use Jurisdictions  (Attachment 3)

City of Carmel-by-the-Sea

City of Del Rey Oaks

City of Monterey

City of Pacific Grove

City of Sand City

City of Seaside

Monterey County, including the Monterey County Water Resources Agency

Monterey Peninsula Airport District

 

4. Local, State & Federal Legislators and Regulatory Agencies (Attachment 4)

U.S. Senators

U.S Representative, California 17th District

State Senator, 12th District

State Senator, 15th District

State Assembly Member, 27th District

State Assembly Member, 28th District

State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB)

California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)

CPUC Division of Ratepayer Advocates

California Department of Fish & Game

National Marine Fisheries Service

Seaside Basin Watermaster

     

5. Local Media (Attachment 5)

Newspapers (Monterey County Herald, Carmel Pine Cone, Coast Weekly, etc.)

Radio (KAZU, KBOQ, KIDD, KWAV, KMBY, KPIG, etc.)

Television (KSBW, AMP, KION, KCBA)

     


TOOLS & METHODS

1.    Internet Website

Maintaining a website is an essential and cost-effective method to allow the public access to contact information, meeting schedules, agendas and minutes, plans, finances, projects, forms, important announcements and educational messages and materials. The website should include, but not be limited to:

 

2. Community Outreach

MPWMD Annual Report

·         Prepare and distribute updated annual progress reports to every household in the District at the end of the water year

·         Post Annual Report to website

 

Special Direct Mailings

·         Prepare mailers as needed (e.g. on emergency or critical notifications, water fact sheets, conservation tips, reports, letter from the General Manager, etc.) for general or specialized groups (e.g., legislators, general public, city officials, business or civic groups)

 

Group Exhibitions (Open Houses, Tours, Fairs)

Provide opportunities for the public to get to know the District, its staff and activities by having the public come to our offices or have staff go into the community. Have on hand packets of educational/advocacy materials, water conservation supplies, posters, District banners, and “portable booths” ready to go or use in house.

·         Hold District Open House events annually or as needed

·         Participate in and/or sponsor water and environmental-related events, local celebrations, festivals and street fairs, Monterey County Fair, school events, etc. (Attachment 6)

·         Conduct Special Interest Tours as needed (to Carmel River riparian restoration areas, ASR Facilities, steelhead rearing/protection facility, dam sites, etc.)

 

Speakers Bureaus and Trained Speakers

Reach specialized community groups through standing speakers groups such as stakeholders, business, political, charitable, and/or trade groups and public education organizations. Select and train specific staff members or hire specialized consultant to hone presentation skills, prepare speeches and visual aids (PowerPoint presentations and/or handouts) for presentations to local, civic and special interest clubs and organizations such as:

·         Chambers of Commerce

·         League of Women Voters

·         Local Business/Trade Associations/Corporations

·         Local Citizen Coalitions

·         City Councils

·         Civic clubs (e.g. Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis, Leadership Monterey Peninsula, etc.)

·         Other local organizations and clubs (Attachment 7)

     

Community Advisory Groups

Form specialized ad hoc or standing citizen groups to provide feedback and recommendations to the Board on policies, projects, specific emergency issues, water rates, bond measures, etc.

                 

3. Legislative Outreach

A proactive legislative outreach focal point is required in order to keep abreast of the vast amount of legislation and regulations affecting water that is proposed, discussed, and enacted, to keep track of incoming and outgoing legislators, to be more aware of available funding for District projects and activities, and to ensure that specific legislators are aware of District needs and issues.

·         City

·         County

·         State (Assembly, Senate, and Governor’s Office)

·         Federal

 

4. Media Outreach

In order to more effectively reach the public and broadcast key water messages and issues, the District should develop and sustain good working relationships with the media.  Media outreach requires:

·         Developing media objectives

·         Media policy and protocol

·         Training/appointing a media spokesperson

·         Identifying messages similar to public outreach

·         Identifying target audiences and matching them to specific media

·         Developing tools such as news releases, video footage, photos, editorial briefings, opinion pieces, public service announcements, advertisements, etc.

 

5. Community Presence

Encourage staff and Board participation in local organizations.  Maintain a list of staff participation (Attachment 8) to demonstrate community involvement and commitment and to help identify potential outreach portals.

 

Attachments:

1.    Water Utilities

2.    Public Sector

3.    Land Use Jurisdictions

4.    Local, State & Federal Legislators and Regulatory Agencies

5.    Local Media

6.    Local Outreach Events

7.    Local Organizations and Clubs

8.    Staff Involvement in Local Organizations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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