CVWD Awarded Transparency Certificate

From Coachella Valley Water District:

PALM DESERT, CA - The Special District Leadership Foundation’s (SDLF) today awarded its Transparency Certificate of Excellence to Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) for its commitment to transparency and good governance.

“It’s worthwhile that the public understand through this certificate that CVWD is actively taking the steps necessary to ensure it conducts its business in the open and not behind closed doors,” said Board President John Powell Jr. “Holding evening meetings is a perfect example of one of the steps we’re taking to improve customer access to view and comment on business decisions.”

A representative from SDLF presented the certificate to CVWD’s Board of Directors at its semi-annual evening meeting.

To be eligible for the certificate, CVWD had to demonstrate it has in place numerous ordinances and regulations ensuring the district conducts its business in public and makes readily available documents produced as a result of its operations. SDLF, which is associated with the California Special District’s Association, issues the certificates “to promote transparency in the operations/governance of special districts to the public/constituents and provide special districts with an opportunity to showcase transparency efforts.”
CVWD first received the two-year certificate from SDLF in March 2014. The SDLF website has additional information about the organization and the importance of transparency in the operation of special districts such as CVWD.

Website requirements to be eligible for the certificate are extensive, as are examples of public outreach and best transparency practices.

The Coachella Valley Water District is a public agency governed by a five-member board of directors. The district provides domestic and irrigation water, agricultural drainage, wastewater treatment and reclamation services, regional storm water protection, groundwater management and water conservation. It serves approximately 108,000 residential and business customers across 1,000 square miles, located primarily in Riverside County, but also in portions of Imperial and San Diego counties.

Photo via Coachella Valley Water District.